Researchers have shown that the phenomenology of 'mind blanking' challenges the belief that the human mind is always thinking.

Some solid materials have a memory of how they have previously been stretched out, which impacts how they respond to these kinds of deformations in the future. A new study lends insight into memory formation in the foams and emulsions common in food products and pharmaceuticals and provides a new method to erase this memory, which could guide how materials are prepared for future use.

Over a 50-year period, logging on B.C.'s Central Coast preferentially targeted the highest value locations on the landscape, according to new research. The systematic depletion of high-value components of the environment raises concerns about future sustainability and intergenerational access to natural resources. Led by SFU PhD graduate Jordan Benner and professor emeritus Ken Lertzman and...

A team of researchers has developed a new, ecologically sensitive way to produce these nanocrystals through a process called high-humidity shaker aging. The new technique represents an advance over existing methods in that it costs less, uses less water, and eliminates the need for toxic solvents, all while producing higher yields.

Blue-green algae (AKA cyanobacteria) have a superpower which likely helps them be highly successful as invaders of waterways. They have an extraordinary ability to store energy and nitrogen in their cells for times of need. But how exactly they do so remains only partly understood. Now researchers have uncovered an intriguing hitherto unknown ability of the enzymes (known as cyanophycin...

Scientists are exploring the elaborate interplay between genes, sex, growth, and age and how they influence variation in longevity.

Healthy study volunteers whose red blood cells contained higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids were found to have better brain structure and cognitive function in middle age.

Researchers have pioneered the CMU Array -- a customizable, 3D nano-printed, ultra-high-density microelectrode array platform for next generation brain-computer interfaces. This technology can transform the way doctors are able to treat neurological disorders.

A proposal to cover Arctic sea ice with layers of tiny hollow glass spheres about the thickness of one human hair would actually accelerate sea-ice loss and warm the climate rather than creating thick ice and lowering the temperature as proponents claim. Sea ice, by reflecting the majority of the sun's energy back to space, helps regulate ocean and air temperatures and influences ocean...

A study provides compelling evidence of the important role of hepatocyte adenosine kinase in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD.

Researchers report that viewing, feeling, and touching real dogs leads to increasingly higher levels of activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. The study shows that this effect persists after the dogs are no longer present, but is reduced when real dogs are replaced with stuffed animals. The findings have implications for animal-assisted clinical therapy.

The fear of missing out (FoMO) on rewarding and fun experiences is something that most people feel at some point in life. Among college students, the degree to which someone experiences FoMO is associated with their risk of participating in maladaptive behaviors including academic misconduct, drug and alcohol use, and breaking the law, according to a new study.

New research from marine scientists raises potential red flags for sharks that are caught and released by recreational anglers. The team has discovered that the ocean's iconic predators typically spike temperatures after they have been caught, which may have physiological and behavioral impacts.

Synthetic biology strives to achieve robust control of biological processes in order to create designer organisms for a variety of industrial, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. Researchers have developed RNA origami sponges and CRISPR-based regulators for advanced genetic control of enzymatic pathways in microorganisms to improve production of valuable biochemicals.

Tracking blue whales by their booming vocalizations, researchers have revealed how these ocean giants find dense aggregations of food.

Trying to understand people we disagree with can feel like a lost cause, particularly in contentious political environments. But new research finds that valuing empathy across party lines can make our political arguments more persuasive.

A team of researchers was able to use a combination of genomic sequencing and song analysis to identify a rare hybrid bird, whose ancestors haven't shared the same breeding location or lineage for 10 million years.

Researchers have developed a customizable, RNA-based platform to target cells rather than genes. CellREADR enables scientists to add any protein to a designated cell type. Initial evidence demonstrates the new technology works for brain tissue in rodents and humans and its design relies on an enzyme found in every animal cell, suggesting easy adoption for other creatures and organs. It may provide...

A new screening test app could help advance the early detection of Parkinson's disease and severe COVID-19, improving the management of these illnesses. Developed by a research team of engineers and neurologists, the test can produce accurate results using just people's voice recordings.

A new study of a tiny Triassic fossil reptile first discovered over 100 years ago in the north east of Scotland has revealed it to be a close relative of the species that would become pterosaurs -- iconic flying reptiles of the age of the dinosaurs.

A team uses nanomaterials made from seaweed to create a strong battery separator, paving the way for greener and more efficient energy storage.

In a recent study, researchers predict disruptions in the immune system that can lead to long-term or severe COVID-19.

In the brain of adult mammals neural stem cells ensure that new nerve cells, i.e. neurons, are constantly formed. This process, known as adult neurogenesis, helps mice maintain their sense of smell. A research team recently discovered a second stem cell population in the mouse brain, which is primarily involved in the production of new neurons in the olfactory bulb of adult mice.

Older people exposed to food flavors from their youth were able to 'time travel' back to the past with an enhanced memory of the event. For food memory, the researchers worked with the participants to create bespoke flavor-based cues for each one. The 3D printed flavour-based cues are small edible balls, modelling the original food. A striking outcome was the large number of memories cued by...