It’s hard to change people’s minds. Controversial topics such as climate change and vaccines are not exempt from our inherent obstinateness. Scientists assume the solution to persuasion is more effective communication. A wealth of podcasts, Twitter accounts and YouTube channels are dedicated to the digestion and dissemination of scientific information. Even Bill Nye attempts to “save(...)
Perspectives in Research
Hypnosis: Trick or Treatment?
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchA couple of weeks ago I indulged in a morsel of nostalgia along with my fellow millennials and went to see Incredibles 2. If you’ve seen the movie, you know that the villain uses hypnosis as a weapon. When I exited the theater and stepped out into the musky night, I was in a post-movie(...)
The F-Word in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchA recent study, published in Nature Genetics, has found an interesting new link between the F-word and metastatic prostate cancer. Before you let your imagination run wild, this is not the four-letter F-word but the other F-word — fat. Fat is an important constituent of all living cells, as it is a critical component of(...)
Recent Study Reveals How the Brain Learns from Others’ Mistakes
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchLast month, my friend came back from Mount Kosciuszko with stunning photos and a seriously painful-looking sunburn. As I prepared to undertake the same hike based upon his enthusiastic recommendation, I decided to pack some SPF 50 and planned to reapply every 30 minutes. Without experiencing a sunburn firsthand, I knew to stay sun-safe, thanks(...)
Modern Papers for Modern Science
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchIn the past 400 years, science has revolutionized the planet several times over. Modern medicine has eradicated diseases that once decimated populations, while physicists manipulate the very building blocks of the universe. Travel and communication are instantaneous worldwide. Should we one day unravel the secret of time travel, we might bring Sir Isaac Newton (b.(...)
That’s Not Fair! — The Neuroscience of Injustice
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchAs a kid you probably found some decisions by your parents utterly unjust. Perhaps you proclaimed, “That’s not fair!” when you were forced to eat spinach, or if your sibling got something you didn’t. As adults, we still experience intense sensations of injustice, sometimes in response to more serious issues such as human rights, health(...)
Sleep May be a Curious Piece in the Alzheimer’s Disease Puzzle (Part 2)
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThis blog post is part of an in depth look at research linking sleep and Alzheimers. Read part 1 on the importance of sleep. How is chronic sleep deprivation linked to Alzheimer’s disease? Sleep deprivation refers to the ongoing shortening or complete loss of sleep due to externally imposed restrictions, such as choosing to binge on just(...)
Sleep May be a Curious Piece in the Alzheimer’s Disease Puzzle (Part 1)
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThis blog post is part of an in depth look at research linking sleep and Alzheimers. Think about your sleep quality for the past few months. Has your sleep been routinely interrupted or has it been restful? Has your sleep become worse with age? Perhaps the stresses of your daily life have intruded upon your ability(...)
Does Anesthesia Knock Out Plants, Too?
Posted by | Perspectives in Research, Recently PublishedIn 1796, an English scientist by the name of Edward Jenner expounded on the observation that milkmaids were generally immune to smallpox. He inoculated people with pus from cowpox blisters from the hands of milkmaids as a method to prevent smallpox, and the concept of vaccination was born. Many radical advances in medicine happen in(...)
Why Winners Keep Winning
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchYou are on a roll. In the morning, you delivered a compelling business proposal. You were the center of attention at lunch and your colleagues loved your witty remarks. In the afternoon meeting, you stood your ground and brilliantly defended your case with irrefutable arguments. When it’s your day, you feel invincible. What gives you(...)