Stories by Jordana Cepelewicz

Biologists have demonstrated for the first time that a controversial genetic engineering technology works, with caveats, in mammals

Some species have the equivalent of many more than two sexes, but most do not. A new model suggests the reason depends on how often they mate

A new theory may change the debate over evolution and self-interest among ants, bees and other social bugs

The findings add to the longstanding debate over which were the first self-replicating molecules

When it comes to abilities like outwitting foes, younger people are simply better at responding in novel situations

A new study shows the brain repurposes everyday neural networks to learn high-level scientific concepts

Feelings of affiliation reduce disgust

In a chaotic environment people who do not feel in control tend to overeat

A new type of lens adjusts its prescription according to where the user looks

A new study finds that a key protein implicated in Alzheimer’s may normally protect the brain from infection

Data from failed experiments combines with machine learning to predict successful chemical reactions and form new hypotheses 

Before learning language, infants distinguish between categories such as green and blue

Brain structure in emotion-regulation areas—and possibly the risk of mood disorders—is inherited down the female line

A study in rats finds that increased sensitivity to ghrelin causes weight gain and increased body fat, but does not augment appetite

Processing high-level math concepts uses the same neural networks as the basic math skills a child is born with

The finding gives researchers insight into dopamine beta-hydroxylase, an enzyme that balances the activity of two key brain-signaling molecules

The Japanese great tit combines two calls in a specific order and does not respond to a recording of the calls combined in reverse order, apparently demonstrating compositional syntax.

A study in mice shows that the normal process by which the brain prunes excess synapses during development may be hijacked early on in the progression of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases

A new study in mice demonstrates that manipulating the microbiome can influence the extent of brain damage caused by a stroke

A new study in rats could one day benefit people suffering neurological conditions associated with the buildup of unwanted proteins in the brain, including traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s

A new study finds that refugees in Sweden have a higher risk than other immigrants there, although the precise reasons are unclear

Intelligence project aims to reverse engineer the brain to find algorithms that allow computers to think more like humans

The interaction between brain areas during a generous act may reveal the reasons underlying such behavior

New research provides evidence that partners are more similar in psychiatric status than chance would predict