Fresh Science Trends

Hack Your Brain to Make Workouts Feel Effortless: The Tendon Vibration Trick Dread the burn of a jog or bike ride? New research shows you can "trick" your brain into perceiving exercise as easier—pushing harder without feeling it. Breath, balance, and sunrise light: where strength feels soft and movement turns into quiet meditation Photo by kike vega on Unsplash The Simple Experiment Université de Montréal's Prof. Benjamin Pageaux strapped vibrating devices to volunteers' Achilles and knee tendons for 10 minutes before a 3-minute cycling test. Result? Same perceived effort, but higher power output and heart rates—muscles worked harder while brains registered "moderate." ​ How Vibration Rewires Effort Vibration tweaks spinal neurons and neuromuscular spindles, scrambling signals to the brain about movement strain. "It alters perception, making tough feel tolerable," Pageaux explains. Published in  Journal of Sport and Health Science , this boosts m...

Warm hugs do more than feel nice—they quietly tune the nervous system, deepen body awareness, and strengthen the sense of “this is me.” When a warm hug melts the world away and, for a moment, you remember exactly who you are and who you belong to. Photo by  Anastasia Vityukova  on  Unsplash Why warmth changes how you feel about yourself A new review from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Pavia highlights “thermoception,” the brain’s reading of skin temperature, as a direct skin‑to‑brain channel for shaping bodily self‑awareness. When the skin feels warmth—from a hug, a blanket, or a heated room—the brain updates its internal map of the body, reinforcing the feeling that the body belongs to us and grounding our sense of self. These temperature signals don’t just keep us alive and comfortable; they influence emotion, identity, and how present we feel in our own skin. When temperature signals go wrong The authors show that disturbed thermal perception oft...

Intrauterine devices ( IUDs ) are small T-shaped devices inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy , working primarily by creating a hostile environment for sperm and eggs. They come in two main types: copper IUDs , which release copper ions to immobilize sperm , and hormonal IUDs , which release progestin to thicken cervical mucus . Progesterone vs Progestin Progesterone is a natural hormone released from the corpus luteum after ovulation. It dominates the luteal phase, converts the endometrium into the secretory phase, supports implantation, and maintains pregnancy. It's fall causes menstruation. Progestins are synthetic forms used in contraceptive s. They act by negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary, suppressing LH and FSH, thus preventing ovulation. They also thicken cervical mucus, blocking sperm entry, and thin the endometrium, making implantation unlikely. Hence progestins mimic progesterone but are used to prevent pregnancy .      Copper IUD Mec...

Surgical methods of contraception offer a permanent , highly effective way to prevent pregnancy for individuals or couples who are sure their families are complete. The two key procedures are vasectomy for males and tubal ligation (tubectomy) for females , each working by safely blocking the path of sperm or egg so fertilization cannot occur while leaving sexual function and hormones largely unaffected. The videos below provide a simple visual walk‑through of how these procedures are done, what happens inside the reproductive tract, and why they are considered more than 99% effective as long‑term birth control options . Vasectomy Tubectomy

In 2025 , the world’s population is unevenly concentrated in a small group of highly populous countries, with India and China together accounting for more than one‑third of all people on Earth. Using the latest estimates of total population by country, this post presents an up‑to‑date list of every nation in the world by population, helping you quickly see which countries are growing, which are stabilizing, and how regional demographic patterns are shifting. From the dominance of Asia to the rapid rise of African nations like Nigeria and Ethiopia, these numbers provide essential context for understanding future trends in economics, migration, urbanization, and sustainability. The table provides a clear, rank‑wise list of all countries in the world by their estimated total population in 2025, allowing quick comparison of how people are distributed across nations. Source: Worldometer ( www.worldometers.info ) Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affai...

Your memories aren't dusty old files—they're living stories your brain rewrites every time you revisit them. Episodic memory retrieval involves the reactivation of the cognitive and neural processes which were active when the event was initially experienced. Credit: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106417 Why Memories Shift A groundbreaking University of East Anglia study uncovers how episodic memories, like that unforgettable birthday bash or family vacation, aren't static snapshots. Instead, they're dynamic networks of active details (easy to recall) and hidden traces that spring alive with the right trigger. Lead researcher Prof. Louis Renoult reveals these memories must trace back to real past events, but recall blends in imagination, general knowledge, or your current mood, making each version slightly different. The Brain's Rewriting Magic Deep in the hippocampus, memories form as dormant traces waiting for cues—li...

Author: Anneswa Das Olfactory dysfunction (OD) means reduced or decreased smell sensation. Also it is most recognized symptoms of COVID‐19. There's a term called "long COVID". In May 2020, Dr. Elisa Perego used the term "#LongCovid" on twitter to describe the symptoms that stayed with her even after she recovered from the main COVID-19 infection. Many other people who felt the same way started using the term too. It became common in online support groups before doctors and researchers began using it in medical studies. So in a simple way, Long COVID refers to a range of symptoms that continue for weeks, months, or even years after the initial COVID-19 infection has resolved. Recovery isn’t always recovery. Long COVID can steal the sense of smell, turning flowers into silence Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash Losing the sense of smell or taste has become one of the symptoms people most commonly associated with COVID-19. In the early days of the pandemic, nea...

The rise of weight-loss medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, and tirzepatide has completely changed the conversation around obesity . Once considered a problem of “willpower,” obesity is now recognized as a complex disease —and these drugs are giving patients new hope. But along with promise come serious challenges . The modern weight-loss journey: where science meets lifestyle — but no single pill or plate holds all the answers. Photo by Elena Leya on Unsplash 1. The Surge in Popularity Patient demand is exploding: In a 2023 survey of 346 healthcare professionals (Sermo), 89% saw more patients asking for weight-loss prescriptions. 92% of primary care physicians (PCPs) reported prescribing them. Prescription trends: Wegovy prescriptions in the U.S. jumped from 83,200 in January 2023 to 598,100 in May , before dipping when supplies ran short. Celebrity buzz: Public figures like Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk have admitted using these medications, fueling curiosity a...