Author archives: Rosa García-Verdugo

An ancient stress-related mechanism helps worms keep their cool

An ancient stress-related mechanism helps worms keep their cool

BiomedicineMolecular biology

By Rosa García-Verdugo

How an organism can sense and cope with warming temperatures is key for survival, particularly under current global warming trends. The importance of this subject was recognized by 2021’s Nobel prize in Physiology & Medicine awarded to work on TRP channels, key mammalian peripheral heat sensors. Endotherms -such as mammals and birds – maintain their […]

AI can predict Alzheimer’s risk from brain scans

AI can predict Alzheimer’s risk from brain scans

Computer scienceNeurobiologyNeuroscience

By Rosa García-Verdugo

Since humans are not very good at predicting the future, even if the help of a magic ball, scientists have developed a new system based on artificial intelligence to help us predict the future risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease by analysing certain parameters in brain scans. The research, recently published in the journal Diagnostics […]

New gene variants associated with increased COVID-19 risk

New gene variants associated with increased COVID-19 risk

BiomedicineGenetics

By Rosa García-Verdugo

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were hints at particular genes which increased some people’s susceptibility to get infected and the severity of illness once infected. Now, an international study (nearly 3500 researchers from 25 countries) on more than 45000 people infected with SARS-CoV-2, showed a link between 13 genetic variants and the […]

Hungry lonely brains

Hungry lonely brains

Neuroscience

By Rosa García-Verdugo

When hungry, not only our bodies long for food, our brains do too. And it appears that when it comes to social interaction, a similar thing happens. Social deprivation leads to a brain angry for social contact. A recent study [Livia Tomova et al (2020) Acute social isolation evokes midbrain craving responses similar to hunger […]