ScienceAlert


Placebos offer the tempting possibility of pain relief without drugs or surgery, largely relying instead on expectations that pain will go away.
As intangible and elusive as that sounds, the placebo effect is a very real thing, which scientists have now traced to specific neural circuits in the brain in a recent experiment based on mice.



					
			

What's more, in the process the team of researchers led by Chong Chen, an anesthesiologist at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill, also discovered that a part of the brainstem not previously known to be involved in pain processing actually is.
Scientists have been hunting...

Scientists Discover Brain Circuit That Could Explain How Placebos Ease Pain

Hundreds of millions of people around the world experience chronic pain – meaning pain that lasts longer than three months. While the numbers vary from country to country, most studies estimate that about 10% of the global population is affected, so more than 800 million people. The Centers for...

New treatments offer much-needed hope for patients suffering from chronic pain

Getting older is a privilege, but often has some unwanted side effects on your body — your eyesight might start to go, your joints may be feeling creaky and maybe your hair is going gray, among other things. Which brings us to a couple forms of an age-old question...

What Age Do Men Stop Getting “Excited?”

Discharge is a natural part of having a vagina. But typical vaginal discharge is a clear to white color and doesn't have a noticeable smell. That's why it can be so jarring when you suddenly notice you're dealing with pink discharge. Before you panic, know this: Ob-gyns say that there...

What Causes Pink Discharge? 2 Ob-Gyns Break It Down

USA TODAY

Swollen ankles aren’t typically a cause for concern. However, they’re sometimes an indication of an underlying illness.

Swollen ankles are a common problem. From compression socks to elevation, here's how to get rid of them.

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Evan Jarvis

Pain under the left rib cage can be caused by various conditions, ranging from benign to more serious issues. Here’s a breakdown of potential causes:. Indigestion: Overeating, eating spicy foods, or consuming carbonated drinks can lead to discomfort or pain in the upper abdominal area.

Pain Under the Ribs Above the Stomach


As if komodo dragons weren't amazing enough, these giant lizards literally have teeth of iron.
A new study of these formidable predators' chompers has revealed concentrated deposits of iron along the serrated tearing edges and the tips of their teeth, helping to keep them razor-sharp for tearing the flesh from the prey they devour.



					
			

Although many vertebrates have iron enhancements in their teeth, komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) and other similar species with serrated teeth, called ziphodonts, represent the most striking examples found to date.
In fact, so much iron is concentrated along the sharp edges of komodo teeth that they are tinted orange.
Never...

Komodo Dragon Teeth Have Iron Caps For Sharpness, Scientists Discover


Research on the gut microbiome has triggered a 'revolution' in nutritional science, and in the last few years, dietary fiber has become the "new protein" – added to foods in abundance to feed our gut and boost our health.



					
			

A recent study on mice, however, suggests not all fiber supplements are equally beneficial.
A form that is readily found in oats and barley, called beta-glucan, can control blood sugar and assist in weight loss among mice fed a high-fat diet.
Researchers at the University of Arizona (UA) and the University of Vienna say it is the only type of fiber supplement they tested...

One Type of Fiber Could Have Weight Loss Benefits Similar to Ozempic


At the mere flick of a magnetic field, mice engineered with nanoparticle-activated 'switches' inside their brains were driven to feed, socialize, and act like clucky new mothers in an experiment designed to test an innovative research tool.



					
			

While 'mind control' animal experiments are far from new, they have generally relied on cumbersome electrodes tethering the subject to an external system, which not only requires invasive surgery but also sets limits on how freely the test subject can move about.
In what is claimed to be a breakthrough in neurology, researchers from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in Korea have developed a...

Scientists 'Mind Controlled' Mice Remotely in Extraordinary World First


The face of an ancient Egyptian mummy set in a gaping rictus may be the result of a death so painful, her face may have become locked in a scream.
Her name is unknown; but so striking is her grim facial expression that she is referred to as the Screaming Woman mummy. In spite of the feelings this face engenders, researchers had previously attributed it to the relatively benign cause of a shoddily performed mummification. New research, however, suggests that this wasn't the case.



					
			

Radiologist Sahar Saleem of Cairo University and anthropologist Samia El-Merghani of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities...

Grim Mystery of Ancient Egypt's 'Screaming' Mummy May Finally Be Solved

Ever wondered about the mysterious world of witches? From ancient folklore to modern pop culture, witches have always sparked curiosity and intrigue. These magical beings, often depicted with pointy hats and broomsticks, have a rich history filled with fascinating facts. Did you know that witches were once revered as wise healers before being persecuted during the infamous witch hunts? Or that the iconic witch's broomstick has roots in ancient fertility rituals? Whether you're a fan of Harry Potter or just curious about the origins of witchcraft, this list of 40 facts will enchant and educate. Get ready to dive into the spellbinding world of witches!

40 Facts About Witches

Colorado State

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David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

There are a ton of health tests available, but which medical tests do you really need? As you get older, that answer changes. Here are 12 to be aware of. Ladies, when it comes to your well-being, be proactive! Eat right, stay active, avoid tobacco, and have the following medical tests for women over 50 run to determine the state of your health. Doing so can help diagnose life-threatening diseases before damage or disabilities occur. If caught early, changes to your diet and lifestyle can often slow the progression and even reverse many of the chronic and age-related conditions that plague women in their prime.

12 Essential Medical Tests for Women Over 50

Devra Lee

Disclaimer: This content was written by Devra Lee for general informational and entertainment purposes only. This service is to provide astrological information that has been researched, recorded, and observed by the author.

Horoscope for Friday, August 9th


Tiny fragments of microplastics are making their way deep inside our bodies in concerning quantities, significantly through our food and drink.
Scientists have recently found a simple and effective means of removing them from water.



					
			

A team from Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University in China ran tests on both soft water and hard tap water (which is richer in minerals), adding in nanoplastics and microplastics (NMPs) before boiling the liquid and then filtering out any precipitates.
In some cases, up to 90 percent of the NMPs were removed by the boiling and filtering process, though the effectiveness varied based on the type...

There's a Surprisingly Easy Way to Remove Microplastics From Your Drinking Water


A cattle painkiller introduced in the 1990s led to the unexpected crash of India's vulture populations, which still haven't recovered to their former glory.
Some might have said 'good riddance' to this much-maligned, death-associated bird, but there's a devastating human cost, and a new study reveals the shocking numbers, linking their absence to the deaths of over half a million people.



					
			

The analysis from the US and UK suggests human mortality in districts affected by vulture loss increased by more than 4 percent because of the sanitation 'shock' that ensued, causing an estimated US$69.4 billion in economic damages annually from 2000 to...

Shift in India's Vulture Population Linked to Half a Million Human Deaths


Given how profound an influence opioids have on the world – for better or worse – scientists know surprisingly little about how these drugs actually work.
A recent study led by researchers from University of California Davis describes a new method by which researchers can watch in real-time as the nervous system responds to the activation of its opioid receptors.



					
			

By incorporating fluorescing receptors in neurons of mice, the team showed it was possible to visualize the activity of opioids as they operated inside a living brain.
For many people, the word 'opioid' brings to mind drugs like heroin and fentanyl. However, the...

Opioids Watched in Real Time as They Work Deep Inside The Brain


Studies that suggest alcohol can be good for you in moderation – and even extend your life – may be based on flawed research methods, according to a team of scientists bent on setting this ubiquitous misconception straight.



					
			

This paper is the most recent installment in what is becoming something of a saga between the University of Victoria-led team and the International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research (ISFAR).
Psychologist Tim Stockwell and epidemiologist Jinhui Zhao, both from the University of Victoria in Canada, led the most recent study to verify whether the claim – and the research supporting it – holds up...

Moderate Drinking Is Not Good For You After All, Study Finds


The ancient monument of Göbekli Tepe in Türkiye is truly one of the most magnificent ancient marvels on our planet.
The temple complex that thrived as a cultural epicenter more than 10,000 years ago is the oldest monument of its kind, handing down mysteries from a people long, long past.



					
			

And now, a carving on a wall in the complex could be the earliest evidence of a calendar, used to track the passage of time and the turning of the seasons.
We don't know exactly how the Neolithic people of Türkiye used Göbekli Tepe, but recent findings suggest that it was occupied at...

Carvings in Ancient Temple of Göbekli Tepe Could Be Earth's Oldest Calendar


We have a problem with sucralose. Found in many zero-calorie foods and drinks, the artificial sweetener doesn't get broken down by the body, and as a new study shows that means it's potentially damaging the microorganisms at the very bottom of aquatic food webs.



					
			

"We can't break down sucralose, and a lot of microorganisms can't break it down, either, because it's a really tough molecule that doesn't degrade easily," says marine bioscientist Tracey Schafer, from the University of Florida.
"So there are a lot of questions about how it is affecting the environment and whether it's something that could impact our microbial...

Artificial Sweetener May Be Wreaking Havoc on Microorganisms

NewsBreak

Women Really Are Less Likely to Be Treated For Their Pain Than Men


In a result that will ring familiar for many women, new research has revealed a massive disparity in how pain is treated.
Women being discharged from emergency...

Women Really Are Less Likely to Be Treated For Their Pain Than Men

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