The BRAIN Initiative: BAM or BUST?

Sci is at SciAm today, talking about the much-talked-of BRAIN initiative. What is it? What are its goals? And will it work? Will it be a BAM (Brain Activity Map) or a BUST (Badly Underfunded S**T)? What do you think? Head over and check it out.  

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The superiority illusion: where everyone is above average

We’d all like to believe that we’re above average, but statistically, that just can’t be true. But why do we persist in believing it? How does our brain come up with the idea that we must be more above average than the other guy? I’m at SciAm today to talk over a new study that […]

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Increasing telomerase to save you from stress

Sci is at SciAm blogs today, looking at a recent study which examines the effects of stress on telomerase. Telomerase lengthens your telomeres, and telomeres help keep your cells from aging. In times of stress, you might want to keep your telomeres long. Head over and check it out. EDIT (3/26/13): Based on reader comments, […]

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Oh, thank you! You know I always prefer compliments!

Sci is at SciAm Blogs today for the launch of the new SciAm MIND section! Make sure to head over and check out all things brain! And I’m there today talking about a study looking at positive bias in processing social feedback. Because it’s true, we all really go prefer compliments! Head over and check […]

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Plants give bees a caffeine buzz!

Sci is at SciAm blogs today, talking about how some plants, particularly the coffee and citrus plants, use caffeine in their nectar to make bees remember them. But do they remember them fondly? Well that is still to bee determined. Head over and check it out!  

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Did we mind-meld two rats?

Sci is at SciAm Blogs today, talking about the recent study showing two rats, connected brain to brain. Did we create Borg? What is this connection exactly…and what does it mean? And is it worth the hype? Head over and check it out.

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This is your brain on cookies!

I am so excited! The talented Katie of Symbiartic drew cartoons for my recent post on high fat food withdrawal. It’s got some GREAT pictures, and I’m so pleased she was inspired! And I totally want THIS: (Property of Katie McKisseck) As a poster!! Thanks so much Katie!

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At a cocktail party? Focus on the face

I’ve been at a lot of conferences lately. Heck I’m headed to another one today! At a lot of these conferences, you end up in a large room full of people. Maybe it’s the bar, maybe it’s a giant ballroom, maybe it’s a huge poster session floor. It’s absolutely echoing with the sound of dozens […]

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