Since 2012
Researchers uncovered how estrogen subtly reshapes learning by strengthening dopamine reward signals in the brain. Rats learned faster when estrogen levels were high and struggled when the hormone’s activity was blocked. The findings help explain how hormonal cycles influence cognitive performance and psychiatric symptoms. This connection offers a new path for understanding brain disorders tied to dopamine.
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Researchers found that hot tubs raise core body temperature more effectively than traditional or infrared saunas, leading to stronger boosts in blood flow and immune activity. Only hot-water immersion produced measurable changes in inflammatory markers. These effects can persist beyond the session, suggesting a sustained health benefit. For anyone unable or unwilling to exercise, heat therapy may offer a surprisingly effective option. Source link
Researchers created a dissolvable microneedle patch that delivers IL-4 directly to damaged heart tissue, jump-starting repair after a heart attack. The targeted approach shifts immune cells into a healing mode while improving communication between heart muscle and blood vessel cells. It avoids the systemic risks of IL-4 injections and shows promise for future minimally invasive treatment. Source link
Genetic, isotopic, and forensic evidence has conclusively identified the remains of Duke Béla of Macsó and uncovered remarkable details about his life, ancestry, and violent death. The study reveals a young nobleman with Scandinavian-Rurik roots who was killed in a coordinated, emotionally charged attack in 1272. Source link