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1. Neuroscientists are helping museums get visitors inspired by art.
Neuroscientists are able to help bridge the gap between what visitors see and what's going on inside their heads, and prevent them from getting bored and rushing through their visit. The latest great equalizer of art museums? Only time will tell. (Science Of Us)
2. Could our smartphone addictions be saving us from other ones?
There are a lot of theories as to why drug and alcohol use among American teens has declined over the last 10 years, but now researchers are wondering if it's because they are constantly so entertained and stimulated by technology. It might seem like a bit of a stretch, but scientists think it's definitely worth exploring. (NYT)
3. New research sheds light on the secret life (and death) of bees.
The antibiotics that large-scale beekeepers often apply to hives may actually do more harm than good, according to a new study. Honeybees treated with the antibiotic were half as likely to survive the week after treatment, likely because the medication stripped the bees of beneficial gut bacteria that fights infection. This discovery could be a clue in solving the mystery of colony collapse disorder. (Science Daily)
4. Cutting off federal funding for Planned Parenthood would put more stress on the Medicaid system.
Defunding Planned Parenthood—even for a year—would more than triple the cost of Medicaid-funded births due to the access to birth control that Planned Parenthood provides. (NYT)
5. Employees could soon be penalized for declining genetic testing.
A bill up for U.S. House approval this week would make possible for employers to require genetic testing of their workers, who could face consequences for not complying. "It's a terrible Hobson's choice between affordable health insurance and protecting one's genetic privacy," said the director of science policy at the American Society of Human Genetics, Derek Scholes. (Washington Post)
6. Is anorexia a genetic disorder?
New science points to yes. Scientists have just successfully created a cellular model of the disease, which allowed them to identify a novel gene that seems to contribute to the disorder. (PsyPost)
7. Here's a better way to deal with criticism.
I think we can all agree that criticism isn't fun, but it's pretty inevitable both in the workplace and at home. So before entering a situation in which you are likely to be criticized, psychologist Robert Nash suggests thinking of a few things you like about yourself "research suggests that people are more open to receiving diagnostic medical feedback...if they first think about the positive traits they most value in themselves, and remember past occasions when they demonstrated those traits," Nash explains. (Science Of Us)
8. Nilotinib, a drug approved for leukemia treatment, might slow brain disease.
The drug is headed for bigger tests to determine its potential to slow two of the most aggressive brain diseases we face: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The drug works by triggering cells to get rid of faulty components, which means it could work to eradicate cell components associated with brain diseases. (NPR)