Study shows the microRNA miR-19 helps budding adult brain cells stay on track - A small stretch of ribonucleic acid called microRNA could make the difference between a healthy adult brain and one that’s prone to disorders including schizophrenia. Scientists at the Salk Institute discovered that miR-19 guides the placement of new neurons in the adult brain, and the … [Read more...] about Small molecule keeps new adult neurons from straying, may be tied to schizophrenia
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Should Neuroscience save Tsarnaev from the Death Penalty?
When the Boston Marathon bombing occurred, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was 19 years old. That means he could face the death penalty if convicted in the bombing. If the bombing had occurred two years earlier, when he was 17, that wouldn't be possible. The Supreme Court banned the death penalty for juveniles in 2005. In that case, the court received briefs from the American … [Read more...] about Should Neuroscience save Tsarnaev from the Death Penalty?
Microbial ‘signature’ for Sexual Crimes
Bacterial communities living on an individual's pubic hairs could be used as a microbial 'signature' to trace their involvement in sexual assault cases, according to a study published in the open access journal "Investigative Genetics". Hairs are one of the most common types of trace evidence collected during forensic investigations, but the majority of those recovered from … [Read more...] about Microbial ‘signature’ for Sexual Crimes
Terrorism Fears May Shorten Your Life, Study Finds
Long-term fear of terrorists may damage your heart and increase your risk for an early death, a new study from Israel suggests. Conducted by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the study involved 17,300 Israelis. In Israel, the threat of war and terrorism has been a part of life for more than 60 years. "We wanted to test whether fear of terrorism can … [Read more...] about Terrorism Fears May Shorten Your Life, Study Finds
Sons’ Intelligence linked to Fathers’ Criminal History
Sons whose fathers have criminal records tend to have lower cognitive abilities than sons whose fathers have no criminal history, data from over 1 million Swedish men show. The research, conducted by scientists in Sweden and Finland, indicates that the link is not directly caused by fathers' behavior but is instead explained by genetic factors that are shared by father and … [Read more...] about Sons’ Intelligence linked to Fathers’ Criminal History
