The smallest grooves on the brain's surface, unique to humans, have largely been ignored by anatomists, but recent studies show that they're related to cognitive performance, including face recognition and reasoning ability. A new UC Berkeley study shows that the depths of these tertiary sulci are also linked to increased interconnectedness between areas of the brain associated with reasoning and high-level cognitive functions. The sulci may decrease the length of neural connections, improving communication efficiency.

In collaboration with the Journal of Neurotrauma and The Lancet, these papers introduce a transformative shift in the way traumatic brain injury (TBI) is classified and understood. Traditionally, TBI severity has been determined using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), categorizing cases as mild, moderate, or severe. However, this method fails to capture the complexity of brain injury. In response, the U.S. National Institutes of Health–National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke initiated a global effort in 2022 to develop a more nuanced framework, particularly focused on the acute phase of TBI.

Clownfish have been shown to shrink in order to survive heat stress and avoid social conflict, Newcastle University research reveals.

New research from the Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge has shed light on how plants precisely control their growth and development, revealing that seemingly similar molecular components fulfil surprisingly different jobs.New research from the Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge has shed light on how plants precisely control their growth and development, revealing that seemingly similar molecular components fulfil surprisingly different jobs.

Large shifts in UV radiation at Lake Tahoe are associated with wet and dry climate extremes, finds a UC Davis study.

A study in Nature explains how age reshapes the blood system. In both humans and mice, a few stem cells outcompete their neighbours and gradually take over blood production. The loss of diversity results in a blood system that has a preference for producing myeloid cells, immune cells linked to chronic inflammation which underlies many different diseases. Using a new technique, researchers tracked naturally-ocurring 'barcodes' in blood cells which can lead to new strategies that spot early warning signs of unhealthy ageing long before symptoms appear, helping prevent cancer or heart disease. The technique also opens the door to studying the viability of rejuvenation therapies in humans, efforts which have traditionally been the focus of animal research.