6 Things You Need To Know Today (January 9)

The worldwide demand for prosecco has placed pressure on the growers of Veneto, the region north of Venice where the sparkling wine is produced. Winemakers have planted more vines and spray them vigorously in close proximity to residents. One Italian said, "They spray pesticides on the plants once a week but each grower does it on a different day, so every day the air is filled with chemicals. I can't breathe properly. Many times I have become sick and collapsed because of the pesticides." (Daily Mail)

According to a new study in American Academy of Neurology (AAN), eating a Mediterranean diet for three years allowed older people to retain a larger brain volume than those who didn't, suggesting it can keep our brains healthier as we age. Pass the olive oil, please! (Science Daily)

It's 2017 and yet being transgendered is still classified as a "disorder" in most medical communities around the world. Denmark just became the first country to remove this stigma so that the gender identity is no longer a diagnosis. (Scientific American)

Whether you're planning on having kids or not, the news isn't good: Women are penalized salary-wise just because of the possibility that they might have children someday. Yep, we have a very long way to go. (Science of Us)

While most people will recite a list of personality traits they want in a mate, research shows that in real-life dating decisions, physical attractiveness is more important than intelligence, education, and even personality. But before you say the word "shallow," you should know that research also tells us that physical attraction can be an important tool—a tool to help us find a mate that is age-appropriate, healthy, and able to reproduce. (Psychology Today)

It happens in the prefrontal cortex and is unique to humankind. Cognitive control is our ability to override instinct and our ability to follow intentional direction. The more you exercise cognitive control, the easier it gets. (Science of Us)