Human Health Issues

New Research Shows How Hypnosis Modifies Brain Activity and Perception Introduction to Hypnosis Research Three studies form the University  of Zurich indicate that hypnosis modulates the functional connectivity of the brain's large networks and impacts the neurochemical environment in specific area. The Scientific Enigma of Hypnosis From a scientific standpoint, hypnosis has long remained an enigma. Until now, there has been insufficient data to determine whether it constitutes a a distinct state of human consciousness or is merely a product of imagination. Nevertheless, it continues to captivate researchers and the public alike. Public and Scientific Interest in Hypnosis Hypnosis continues to capture public and scientific interest, as evidenced by a recent in-depth feature in a leading women's magazine. Remarkable cases occasionally surface, including a 2018 incident at the Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna in Lucerne, where a 45-year-old patient underwent surgery to remove a metal p...

Worm Surface Chemistry Unlocks Clues to Their Growth and Survival Groundbreaking Research Sheds Light on Worm's Surface Chemistry Recent research has provided the most comprehensive analysis to date of the surface chemistry of worm species, shedding light on how these organisms engage with their surroundings and each other. This work could lay the groundwork for deeper insights into evolutionary changes, improve behavioral research and contribute to strategies for addressing parasitic infections. The Role of Mass Spectrometry Imaging in Understanding Nematodes Scientists from the University's School of Pharmacy utilized cutting-edge mass spectrometry imaging to study Caenorhabditis elegans  and Pristionchus pacificus , aiming to elucidate their distinct surface chemical compositions and their roles in physiological and behavioral processes. Nematode Surface Chemistry Reveals Complex Chemical Landscape The study reveals that nematode surfaces primarily consist of oily, lipid-bas...

Scientists Recode the Genome to Create Programmable Synthetic Proteins Breathrough in Genome Recoding Yale synthetic biologists have successfully reprogrammed an organism's genetic code, creating a novel genomically recoded organism (GRO) with a single stop codon. Using a specially developed cellular platform, they have enabled the production of entirely new classes of synthetic proteins, which hold vast potential for advancing medical and industrial applications. A Revolutionary Genomically Recoded Organism: 'Ochre' What is 'Ochre'? A groundbreaking genomically recoded organism (GRO), named 'Ochre,' has been developed by compressing redundant or 'degenerate' codons into a single codon. This achievement is detailed in a newly published study in Nature . Codons, sequences of three nucleotides in DNA or RNA, encode specific amino acids, the fundamental components of proteins. Engineering Genetic Systems for Biotherapeutics and Biomaterials "This ...

New Research Reveals Ear Muscle Activates During Focused Listening The Role of Auricular Muscles in Hearing Ancestral Function and Vestigial Structures If you can move your ears, you're using muscles that helped our distant ancestors enhance their hearing. These auricular muscles would adjust the pinna's form, funneling sound waves directly to the eardrum. Although our ancestors ceased relying on them millions of years ago, auricular muscles in humans remains as vestigial structures. However, recent research reveals that these muscles still activate when we focus on distinguishing competing sounds. Insights from The Frontiers in Neuroscience Study Andreas Schr ö er, first author of the Frontiers in Neuroscience   study from Saarland University, explains that ear wiggling relies on three large muscles that connect the auricle to the skull and scalp. These muscles, especially the superior auricular muscle, become more active during intense listening efforts, suggesting their role...