How stress stops hair growth (in mice)

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  6 minutes  |  1081 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

When faced with incredible stress, people sometimes shed hair by the handful, but scientists don't know exactly why that is. Now, a new study in mice offers a clue: Stress hormones may put hair growth on pause.    Follicles, the specialized organs that sprout hairs, cycle through "growth" and "rest" stages, where the follicle first actively produces new hair and then falls dormant. In mice, chronically high levels of the stress hormone corticosterone — similar to the human hormone cortisol — keep follicles in the rest stage for longer than usual, according to the new study, published March 31 in the journal Nature(opens in new tab). [Read More]

Is This 158-Year-Old Redwood the UK's Oldest Living Christmas Tree?

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  526 words  |  Trudie Dory

A cultural agency in the United Kingdom says it has discovered the oldest living Christmas tree in all of Britain. While the 158-year-old tree hasn't been used as a holiday decoration in decades, at one time it was uprooted every Christmas season and brought indoors, where it lit up the halls of an English mansion. The tree was then replanted after each holiday season. In 1856, Thomas Philip de Grey had the tree planted on the grounds of his estate, Wrest Park, which is located in Bedfordshire, England. [Read More]

Juvenile Whale Shark Washes Ashore in Florida. But What Killed It?

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  503 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

Beachgoers on Sanibel Island in Florida experienced a rare sight last weekend as they watched crashing waves pummel the ocean's largest fish. The carcass of the 21-foot-long (6.5 meters) whale shark was discovered tumbling in the surf around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday (June 22), the Fort Myers News-Press reported. Experts are unsure what killed the enormous animal, but they suspect it could have been red tide, a type of harmful algal bloom. [Read More]

Naked Yoga Stretches Self-Esteem, But Is It Healthy?

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  618 words  |  Fernande Dalal

Yoga enthusiasts often turn to the exercise as a way to free their minds, but some are now seeking to free their bodies' as well — from clothes, that is. Yes, going au naturel is the latest yoga trend. And while being naked around other yogis might sound more anxiety-inducing than stress-reliving, those who've done it say it can boost self-confidence and help people to accept and celebrate their bodies. [Read More]

Normal or Not? New Psychiatric Manual Stirs Controversy

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  5 minutes  |  1021 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

With the release of the latest edition of the mental health manual, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), LiveScience takes a close look at some of the disorders it defines. This 10-part series asks the fundamental question: What is normal, and what is not? As of May 22, many mental disorders will never be the same. The full nature of the changes — some quite controversial —will become apparent with the publication of the latest edition of the mental health manual that classifies these disorders. [Read More]

Parasite From Contact Lens Causes Woman to Lose Vision in One Eye

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  269 words  |  Fernande Dalal

A woman in Australia lost vision in her left eye due to a decade-long parasite infection, the Daily Mail reported yesterday (Sept. 20). The woman's infection was caused by a microscopic parasite called Acanthamoeba, according to the Daily Mail. The single-celled organism can be found worldwide in soil and water, and can enter a person's body through cuts on the skin, contact lens solution or inhalation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Read More]

Some Heartburn Drugs May Increase Stroke Risk

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  542 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

A popular type of heartburn medicine may raise a person's risk for a common type of stroke, a new study from Denmark finds. People in the study who took proton pump inhibitors (PPI) faced an increased risk of ischemic stroke, compared with people who did not take these medicines, according to the study, presented today (Nov. 15) at the American Heart Association's annual meeting, called the Scientific Sessions. Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke, according to the American Stroke Association. [Read More]

The Science of the Fierce Santa Ana Winds

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  4 minutes  |  770 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Hurricane-force winds are whipping through much of the western United States today (Dec. 1), sparking wildfires, knocking out power and flipping semi-trucks — but there's no tropical storm driving the intense gusts. In Southern California, these freakish winds are called Santa Ana winds, strong down-slope winds that blow through the Santa Ana Mountain passes at speeds of 40 mph (64 kph), according to the National Weather Service. The current weather system is causing damage far outside of sunny SoCal, however, and the winds are among the worst in decades, meteorologists said. [Read More]

There Are 18 Volcanoes That Pose a 'Very High Threat' to American Life

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  527 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

There are 161 known active volcanoes in the United States, and 18 of them pose a "very high threat" of death and destruction to Americans living nearby, according to a new volcanic risk report released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Kilauea volcano, which rained destruction on Hawaii's Big Island this summer and forced the evacuation of some 1,700 people, ranked No. 1 on the list due to its recent eruptive history and proximity to heavily populated areas. [Read More]

Tiny Feathered Dinosaur Discovered

 Posted on March 26, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  295 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

Researchers have discovered a new species of feathered but flightless little dinosaur from the Jurassic period. Remains of the tiny beast, dubbed Eosinopteryx brevipenna, found in northeastern China suggest it was slightly less than a foot long (30 centimeters) and had a short snout and a short tail. Based on the dinosaur's small wingspan and bone structure, researchers believe it would have been able to run around quite easily, but likely couldn't whip up enough of a wing-beat to fly. [Read More]