How Coronaviruses Cause Infection—from Colds to Deadly Pneumonia
The novel coronavirus outbreak raises questions about how such pathogens evolve and what makes infections mild or severe
Stories by Simon Makin
“Organoids” Reveal How Human Forebrain Develops
Studying gene expression in human brain tissue grown in the lab could offer insight into disorders such as autism
Scientists Spot Addiction-Associated Circuit in Rats
Rats show changes in compulsive behavior when a brain connection is turned on or inhibited
Brain Circuit Involved in Compulsive Drinking Identified in Mice
Activity in this circuit predicted which animals would keep drinking despite negative consequences
Deep Sleep Gives Your Brain a Deep Clean
Slow-wave activity during dreamless slumber helps wash out neural detritus
Molecules in Blood Spike Hours before Seizures
Researchers measured a predictive increase in transfer RNA in people with epilepsy
A Newly Identified Protein May Be the Key to Vanquishing the Common Cold
Inactivating this protein in human cells and mice provided immunity to a range of viruses, but an effective treatment is still a long way off
Faster MRI Method Could Shake Up Brain Imaging
A new technique relies on measuring changes in tissue stiffness resulting from neural activity
Can an Illusory World Help Treat Psychosis’s Real-World Delusions?
Psychologists launch a clinical trial to gauge whether virtual reality can quell the fears of patients with the mental disorder
Better Memory through Electrical Brain Ripples
A study in mice shows improved cognitive performance when these bursting signals move around memory circuits
Mole Rat Pain Resistance Could Point the Way to New Analgesics
A novel mechanism has been discovered in the bucktoothed rodents’ ability to withstand hurt
Thwarting a Protein Reverses Brain Decline in Aged Mice
Blocking an immune-related molecule lodged in blood vessels stops memory loss
Brain Activity Decoded to Produce Intelligible, Synthesized Speech
New device is a step toward translating thoughts into machine-spoken words
Brain Restoration System Explores Hazy Territory between Being Dead or Alive
An experiment that restored cellular function to pigs’ brains hours after death holds the potential for advancing neuroscience research
Behind the Buzz: How Ketamine Changes the Depressed Patient’s Brain
The anesthetic-cum-party drug restores the ability to make connections among brain cells
A Repurposed Drug Could Offer Hope after Many Alzheimer's Trial Failures
An experimental drug for hepatitis D triggers a cellular waste disposal system to rid mice brains of the tau protein, a major culprit in neurodegenerative disease
A Genetic Basis for Insomnia Emerges from the Twilight
Gargantuan studies show links between sleep difficulties and cardiovascular and psychiatric illnesses
Ultrasound Beams and Nanoparticle Cages: Toward More Targeted Brain Treatments
A new technique lets scientists accurately direct drugs to specific regions of the brain
Mania May Be a Mental Illness in Its Own Right
Hundreds of thousands of people experience mania without ever getting depressed. Why does psychiatry insist on calling them bipolar?
Artificial “Dumbness” May Be a Solution for Engineering Smart Machines
Design principles derived from observing fruit flies may lead to better self-driving cars and improved Parkinson’s treatment
