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As Online, Open Access, and Outreach Journal, we promote the democratization of scientific literature to foster dialogues and interest over the most recent scientific advances. Discover our mission.
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We publish short lay-summaries ("breaks") of scientific research. Our authors are scientists involved in the field of the summarized research. Our readers are academics and laypeople likewise. Learn more.
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Sensorimotor wandering: leading spontaneously early human development
Have you ever seen a newborn baby seemingly aimlessly move their arms and legs? Even though babies at this stage have little understanding of the world or how to control their own bodies, babies wander and pursue various sensorimotor experiences by moving their limbs. This “sensorimotor wandering” contributes to early development in terms of learning the basis of how to control one’s own body.
Subsidise fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy and sustainable diets
May 31, 2023 | 3.5 min read by Roberto Pancrazi , Thijs van Rens , Marija VukoticThe missing galaxies in the early universe
May 29, 2023 | 4 min read by Alba Covelo PazNature favors simplicity and symmetry in biological forms
May 26, 2023 | 4 min read by Kamaludin DinglePluto orbits in elegant arrangement with the giant planets
May 24, 2023 | 3 min read by Renu MalhotraCan Training Make Policing Fairer and More Effective?
May 22, 2023 | 3 min read by David Weisburd , Cody TelepHighlights
Making nature compute for us
Jan 27, 2023 in Maths, Physics & Chemistry | 4 min read by Martin M. SteinPlant genetic engineering makes treasure from trash
Feb 27, 2023 in Plant Biology | 3.5 min read by Dennis Kleinschmidt , Joachim FornerOrb-weaving spiders can hear using their web
Feb 10, 2023 in Evolution & Behaviour | 4 min read by Jian Zhou , Junpeng Lai , Ronald Hoy , Ronald MilesSubjects
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The Pawsitive Effect of Therapy Dogs in a Hospital Emergency Department
Pain is the main reason people attend an emergency department. Our study examined the effect of a therapy dog visit on reducing patient pain in an ED. We found that pain improved after the dog visit compared to no change in control patients. Patient anxiety, depression, and well-being also improved. These findings help to establish the potential value of therapy dogs in an emergency setting.
Apr 14, 2023 | 3 min readA blood cell atlas to guide us toward transplant success
Almost everything in our bodies is made from or by proteins. Just like reading a book opens a window to the world, studying these molecules helps us understand human physiology better. With this in mind, we created the first repository housing the exact composition of 57000 proteins in blood cells and managed to advance the prediction of whether liver transplant recipients may reject their graft.
Mar 8, 2023 | 3.5 min readGirls are more likely to attribute failure to lack of talent
We used international survey data from 500,000 students to show that genders attribute differently their failure to a lack of talent and argued that these differences reflect gender stereotypes about talent and relate to the glass ceiling. These differences are present in almost all of the 72 countries studied, and are stronger among high achieving students and in more developed countries
Mar 15, 2023 | 3.5 min readUsing the quantum properties of atoms to reveal what's underground
In the 300 years since Newton’s apple, gravity sensors have emerged as a useful tool to investigate the underground, looking for hazards and even mapping the distribution of water from space. Using the quantum properties of atoms, a new sensor has been made that overcomes several practical limitations of gravity survey, with the potential to speed up future surveys.
Mar 22, 2023 | 4 min readTo achieve goals, we definitively need our neurons
We all pursue goals. These goals motivate some of our behaviors which allow us to interact with the environment until we satisfy our needs and desires. We disclose the neuronal mechanism that encodes the specific motivation needed to achieve a pursued goal. Our study extends what is known of the amygdala, our brain’s emotion-processing center, in adaptive outcome-seeking behavior.
Mar 10, 2023 | 3.5 min readFinding the straw that breaks the cancer's back?
One of the major challenges in cancer therapy is the recurrent emergence of resistance. In pancreatic cancer, we uncovered one such resistance mechanism. Inhibiting a protein which is highly expressed in a therapy-resistant subtype of pancreatic cancer could pave the way for new therapies and improve survival of patients.
Mar 13, 2023 | 4 min read