Summary: Engineers developed a compact robot that reproduces the mechanics behind the mantis shrimp’s exceptionally powerful and rapid strike. Source: US Army Research Laboratory Researchers, supported by U.S. Army funding, have built a robotic model that reproduces the mantis shrimp’s punch mechanics. This work reveals how small devices can achieve extreme accelerations and could influence … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified neural and genetic factors linked to romantic love and its maintenance in newlyweds. Sustaining romantic love engages not only subcortical reward regions but also higher-order cortical areas. Genetic variability in systems tied to dopamine, vasopressin, and oxytocin appears to influence the tendency to maintain romantic attachment. Source: UC Santa Barbara If … Read more

Gauges, thermometers, controls, and dials — instruments tell us whether a system is functioning as it should. But how do we monitor and report on an abstract concept like self-leadership? Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement. If you can’t measure something, you can’t understand it. If you can’t … Read more

Summary: New research demonstrates that humans can use a form of “remote touch” to detect objects buried in sand before making direct contact. Volunteers sensed concealed cubes by feeling subtle mechanical reflections transmitted through the granular medium as their fingertips moved across the surface. Participants performed near the theoretical limits predicted by physical models of … Read more

Eli Lilly’s Donanemab: Independent Panel Recommends FDA Approval for Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Treatment Summary: An independent advisory panel has recommended that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve Eli Lilly’s monoclonal antibody therapy Donanemab for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The recommendation follows clinical trial data showing the drug slows disease progression, though notable … Read more

How do we motivate ourselves and others to act? The answer lies largely in motivation. People respond to both external incentives—money, status, promotion, or social approval—and internal drivers such as beliefs, values, and personal goals. While external rewards can prompt action, intrinsic motivation is usually more powerful and more sustainable over time. Feeling autonomous—like the … Read more

New research indicates that older women who report memory problems are more likely to receive a diagnosis of memory or thinking impairment years later. The study was published online October 28, 2015, in the journal Neurology. “Subjective memory complaints can be an early sign of a slowly progressing process such as Alzheimer’s disease,” said Allison … Read more

Anxiety is a normal part of life and something most of us experience from time to time. When worry, nervousness, or fear begin to dominate your days, it can feel overwhelming. Many people develop effective strategies to cope with occasional anxiety, but when anxiety starts interfering with daily life, seeking professional support is an important … Read more

Summary: A new Columbia University analysis shows depression burden in the United States is highest among women, adolescents and young adults, while treatment levels remain low. Source: Columbia University A recent study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the City University of New York reports widespread increases in depression across … Read more

Summary: New research from the University of Eastern Finland indicates that a prior traumatic brain injury (TBI) raises the likelihood of developing frontotemporal dementia (FTD) among people without a known genetic cause. The studies also find that, on average, people with FTD have lower educational attainment than those with Alzheimer’s disease, and that some cardiovascular … Read more