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Environmental experiences trigger widespread changes in brain cell connections

Experiences and changes in environment cause widespread alterations in connections between brain cells, influencing brain activity, research suggests.

11 Nov 2026

BNP hormone may actively promote blood clot formation, study finds

A hormone found in the blood and long viewed as a biological "check engine light" may do more than signal cardiovascular distress, according to researchers with the Texas A&M University Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy at Texas A&M Health.

11 Nov 2026

Declining thermogenic fat activity may explain age-related cold sensitivity

Researchers from City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the country, have uncovered the biological reason for why we become more sensitive to cold as we get older.

11 Nov 2026

New molecular approach shows promise against treatment-resistant prostate cancer

Many modern cancer drugs typically target a specific protein or signaling pathway to treat tumors.

11 Nov 2026

$7.2 million NIH funding supports research into long-lived plasma cells

Central to many immune responses are antibodies, which identify foreign substances and help remove them from the body. The immune cells that produce them are called plasma cells, and they can mature into long-lived plasma cells that persist and provide protection for years or even decades.

11 Nov 2026

Vaping frequency linked to declining lung function in young adults

Long term vaping in young people may induce persistent changes in lung function, suggest preliminary findings published online in the journal Tobacco Control.

11 Nov 2026

Positive psychology may help young adults build lifelong resilience

For a long time, scientists thought that brain development was an exclusive feature of childhood, but now we understand that the brains of older teenagers and young adults undergo one of the most remarkable reorganizations in human lifetime.

11 Nov 2026

Chronic stress promotes oral cancer through a brain–immune pathway

Chronic psychological stress is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for cancer, but how the brain communicates with the immune system to promote tumors has remained unclear.

11 Nov 2026

Gut microbial metabolites may reshape fat tissue through Wnt pathways

Fat tissue grows in two ways: existing fat cells swell, or progenitor cells spawn new fat cells. When new-cell formation falls behind long-term energy surplus, lipids pile up inside aging fat cells-bringing inflammation, insulin resistance, and fat deposits in the liver and muscle.

11 Nov 2026

‘Forever chemicals’ linked to slightly lower muscle mass in middle-aged women

A study of 551 middle-aged women found that higher blood concentrations of certain PFAS chemicals were associated with slightly lower muscle mass, particularly when researchers examined multiple chemicals together. However, these associations did not correspond to poorer muscle function, and the largely cross-sectional findings could not establish whether PFAS exposure contributes to muscle loss.

11 Nov 2026

Exercise benefits mental health, so why is the genetic evidence so mixed?

A systematic review of 61 Mendelian randomization studies found limited and inconsistent genetic evidence that general physical activity causally improves mental health or cognitive outcomes; 30 studies reported only null or directionally opposite findings. More consistent evidence emerged for aerobic exercise and reduced depression risk, and for physical fitness traits, particularly muscle strength and muscle mass, in relation to better mental and cognitive health, although methodological limitations prevent definitive causal conclusions.

11 Nov 2026

The way food feels in your mouth could change how much you eat

A scientific review examines how food texture and mouthfeel interact with oral sensory receptors, saliva, and brain pathways to influence food preferences, eating speed, appetite, and fullness. The authors suggest that understanding these mechanisms could help develop healthier, more satisfying foods, although their long-term effects on metabolic health require further investigation.

11 Nov 2026

Replacement PFAS chemical still harms developing zebrafish embryos

Publishing in the Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, researchers from Kyushu University used zebrafish embryos to study the health effects of the PFAS called PFBS (Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid), a substitute PFAS thought to be safer than traditional compounds.

11 Nov 2026

Experimental cell therapy helps ordinary skin mimic tough palm tissue

In a phase I clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have partially transformed ordinary human skin cells into volar skin - the durable skin found exclusively on the palms and soles that resists friction and pressure.

11 Nov 2026

Blocking serotonin receptors makes eye cancer cells sensitive to drugs

By studying G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling in a range of uveal melanoma cell lines, Jenna Aumiller and colleagues have discovered a way to make these cells more sensitive to compounds that inhibit cancer-linked (or oncogenic) signaling pathways.

11 Nov 2026