Researchers at UC Davis have fiddled with LSD at the atomic level and may have unlocked a potential game-changing treatment for schizophrenia. The new compound, known as JRT, might be able to repair the brain without making you trip balls.
The scientists, who posted their findings in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were toying with LSD atoms when they decided to, in their own words, do a “tire rotation.” This meant swapping the position of two atoms in LSD’s molecular structure.
That tiny change turned it from a powerful hallucinogen into something that can regrow brain cells in mice and mend neural pathways without launching your consciousness into the cosmos.
Is your mind more than just your brain? Does the soul actually exist? These questions have been pondered for millennia. What does the latest scientific research suggest? On this episode of the ID The Future podcast, renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor begins a conversation with host @Andrew_McDiarmid about his new book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul. Egnor makes a powerful case that our capacity for thought, reason, and free will points to something beyond mere brain function.
After defining terms, Egnor begins exploring the compelling evidence he has gathered across four decades of practice in neurosurgery. He recounts the remarkable results of split-brain surgery, where patients whose brain hemispheres are functionally disconnected still feel like one person and can process information presented separately to each hemisphere. This implies a part of their mind is not solely located in their brain. You’ll also hear about conjoined twins who share brain parts but maintain distinct intellects and free will, highlighting which aspects of the soul are not brain-based and cannot be shared.
Along the way, Dr. Egnor also boldly challenges the Darwinian view of the mind’s evolution, arguing that abstract thought and free will are immaterial and could not have arisen through natural selection. Learn why Dr. Egnor believes nature is not a closed system and that science alone cannot fully interpret its own findings. Drawing on ancient philosophers like Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, he presents arguments for a cause outside of nature.
This is Part 1 of a two-part interview. In Part 2, we’ll explore Dr. Egnor’s personal journey from atheism to theism and more evidence for the immortality of the mind and the existence of the soul.
Scientists have discovered 866 new marine species, including a guitar shark, a deep-sea mollusk with cancer treatment potential, and the first octocoral found in the Maldives, Oceanographic Magazine reported.
The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census looks to change how scientists identify new marine species by speeding up the process. This discovery marks a “significant step” in advancing our understanding of ocean biodiversity. Traditional methods can take up to 14 years, but this international collaborative effort of 800 scientists from over 400 institutions is changing the approach.
Many species go extinct before they’re documented. The mission’s executive director explained that while oceans cover 71% of our planet, only about 10% of marine life has been discovered. By accelerating identification, scientists can better protect these species.
Yonsei University College of Medicine-led research has shown amiloride is as effective as spironolactone in reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP) over 12 weeks in patients with resistant hypertension.
Resistant hypertension affects approximately 10% of hypertensive patients and is associated with worse outcomes than nonresistant cases.
Spironolactone is a fourth-line medication, introduced only after renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and thiazide diuretics fail to control blood pressure. Adverse effects, particularly hyperkalemia and hormonal disruptions, limit its use in long-term care. Amiloride, a potassium-sparing diuretic, lacks these hormonal side effects, making it a potential replacement candidate.
Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a common nasal disease, particularly prevalent among the elderly population, significantly impacting the affected individuals’ quality of life. This review focuses on the influence of aging and chronic inflammation on olfactory dysfunction, presenting insights from both the peripheral and central olfactory systems. By exploring the molecular mechanisms and pathological changes underlying the occurrence of olfactory dysfunction in relation to age-related diseases and chronic inflammation conditions, we aim to provide a comprehensive theoretical foundation for further research and offer valuable insights for more effective treatment of olfactory dysfunction.
Those of us without stable housing are:3-4x more likely to die prematurely2x as likely to have a heart attack or stroke3x more likely to die of heart disease if they are between 25 and 44 years oldLife on the street is brutal.
