Women make up a significant majority of those living with dementia today. In the U.S., for example, roughly two-thirds of the 6 million-plus people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia are women.While the whys behind this sex-based trend remain uncertain, research is underway to test many potential factors and contributors.Until we know more, the signs and symptoms of dementia in women remain the same as those exhibited in anyone else, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.Greater Burden o ...read more
When the first fossilized fragments of dinosaur eggshells were discovered and described around 1860, most individuals — including most scientists — were wholly unaware of what the dinosaurs were, not to mention the ways that the dinosaurs were born. It wasn’t until 1920 or so that scientists described dinosaur eggshells as dinosaur eggshells for the first time.In the years since then, the occasional discoveries of eggs and eggshells have become one of the best windows into the way that bab ...read more
Following a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, just over a month ago, authorities carried out a controlled release of the toxic vinyl chloride gas into the atmosphere to prevent a massive explosion. There are now concerns about air, soil and water pollution because of the derailment.The Environmental Protection Agency said that about 20 rail cars carried hazardous materials when the train came off its tracks. While many officials have said the area is safe, residents remain wary of possib ...read more
Whether it’s a whimper when they need to pee or those classic puppy eyes when they want food, dogs have many tactics for communicating with their owners.What we may not realize, however, is the intentionality behind some of these actions.Researchers have probed this world of dog communication — which has evolved over thousands of years in domestication with humans — and are beginning to interpret their barks and ploys for attention.The Basis of a Dog BarkingWhile dog barks may seem simple ...read more
We need sleep to strengthen our memory banks, keep our moods on an even keel, flush out toxins and balance hormones in our bodies. Without it, we eventually become an agitated, delirious mess.Take the case of an espresso-drinking 18-year-old who skipped sleep during a class trip to Italy and eventually had to be hospitalized:“At some point, I tried to speak exclusively in rhyme. On another day, I renounced speech altogether. I remember telling people that circles were divine and instituting a ...read more