Stan Nicholas almost didn’t go through with getting a brain implant. The Cleveland Clinic was seeking volunteers who had been disabled by stroke to undergo an experimental procedure meant to restore movement in their upper body. It would mean getting a thin wire placed in his cerebellum to electrically stimulate …
Read More »
For most people, the first drink or two of alcohol produces a pleasant buzz. The sensation is caused by the feel-good chemical dopamine flooding the brain’s reward system. But for some, drinking loses its euphoric effects. Chronic alcohol abuse lowers dopamine levels, and it takes heavier drinking to maintain those …
Read More »
Downing Flaming Sambuca shots at last call may seem like a good idea at the time, but come sunrise your body most likely won’t be thanking you for it. A new wave of pre-drink supplements promises to combat this, however, and lighten the burden of the dreaded hangover. Just as …
Read More »
Prescription drugs help us with everything from chronic pain to birth control, but it can be tough to remember to take a pill every day, especially if you have several medications to track. Regularly missing pills or taking too many can seriously harm your health and make your medicine ineffective, …
Read More »
The Biden administration officially ended the national and public health emergency for Covid-19 in May of 2023, and mask mandates have been dropped in every state throughout the country. But with the virus still mutating (the current strain being SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant JN.1) and cases ongoing, it's still acceptable to …
Read More »
The pandemic isn’t over. Although it's no longer considered a national and public health emergency, we're currently seeing a surge in cases and the spread of two new variants—EG.5 (Eris) and BA.2.86 (“Pirola”). Regardless of how small your social circle is, it's still possible to contract and spread Covid 19. …
Read More »
Periods are normal and shouldn't be embarrassing to talk about. It’s ingrained in us early, though, especially for those of us who are whisked away in elementary school to watch a short video on “becoming a woman.” That’s about where public education on menstruation begins and ends—a secret discussion that …
Read More »
Deep-cleaning my house tends to leave me with a lot of plastic bags, paper, and plastic containers to throw away. It got me wondering how I could make my cleaning routines less wasteful. Scientists are developing new ways to recycle plastic, but it's not an Earth-friendly material, and cleaning supplies …
Read More »