Researchers from 12 countries have launched the World Diet Initiative, a global project designed to document and analyze heritage diets before they disappear. Published in Nature Medicine, the initiative aims to build a comprehensive atlas of traditional food systems to understand their biological impact on human health, metabolism, and the immune system. Mapping Global Dietary … Read more
New research from New York University mathematicians indicates that schools of fish and flocks of birds move through environments by mimicking the behavior of soft crystalline materials. According to the study published in Physical Review Fluids, individual animals act as “atoms” in a lattice, maintaining orderly, repeating patterns that allow for rapid, collective responses to … Read more
What Happens When You Swap Animal Proteins for Plant-Based Alternatives? A new Dutch study published in Nutrients reveals that shifting to plant-based diets can lower intake of critical nutrients like protein, vitamin B12, and calcium, particularly for older adults and adolescents. The research, conducted by a team including J. de Vries and colleagues, analyzed data … Read more
A plant-forward, low-protein diet supplemented with precise amounts of the amino acid methionine increases healthspan and reduces frailty in mice, according to a study published in Cell Metabolism by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC). Led by Valter Longo of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, the team found that balancing specific … Read more
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified a specific circuit of neurons in the brainstem that acts as a control center for selective spatial attention. By silencing these neurons in mice, scientists observed that the animals became hyper-distractable, failing to filter out competing visual information. This discovery, published in Nature Communications, suggests that the biological … Read more
High-dose fish oil supplements do not improve memory or prevent brain cell loss in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published in eBioMedicine by researchers at Keck Medicine of USC. Despite evidence that the omega-3 fatty acid DHA successfully reaches the brain, the two-year clinical trial found no significant cognitive … Read more
Angler Elliot Sudal successfully removed a fishing hook from a nearly nine-foot great white shark off the coast of Nantucket on June 7, highlighting the growing intersection between recreational fishing and protected marine predators. While the shark was released unharmed, the incident underscores the strict federal regulations governing interactions with white sharks, which are managed … Read more
The Dissolving Boundary: The Rise of Urban Wildlife Encroachment For decades, the line between the rugged wilderness of the Angeles National Forest and the manicured lawns of cities like Pasadena was clearly defined. But lately, that line is blurring. Recent sightings of mountain lions in heavily populated residential areas—ranging from the foothills of Pasadena to … Read more
Rice-Fish Farming: The Triple-Win Solution to Schistosomiasis, Poverty, and Food Security In the fight against schistosomiasis—a debilitating parasitic disease affecting over 220 million people globally—scientists have uncovered a groundbreaking, sustainable approach that could transform public health, agriculture, and economic development in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. Research published in Nature Sustainability reveals that … Read more
The Blue Revolution: Why the Future of Sustainable Eating is Hidden Beneath the Waves For decades, the conversation around sustainable eating has been dominated by the “meat vs. Plant” debate. We’ve been told to cut back on beef to save the planet and lean into legumes to stay healthy. But a massive shift is occurring … Read more