Science Today

Interesting developments on the Science front – courtesy of Facebook pages, ‘Weird Facts’, ‘Unbelievable Facts’, ‘Today I Learned’, ‘Science and Facts’, ‘The Knowledge Factory’, ‘The Study Secrets’ etc… Although trials, experiments and studies show promise, I guess it will be some time yet before they are a reality.

Repeated negative focus physically reshapes how your brain functions.

Complaining feels harmless, even relieving, but your brain experiences it differently. Each time you focus on what is wrong, your body releases cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Cortisol is useful in short bursts, but chronic exposure changes how the brain operates. High cortisol levels interfere with the hippocampus, a region critical for learning, memory, and emotional regulation. At the same time, stress strengthens neural pathways linked to threat detection and pessimism. The more you complain, the more your brain becomes trained to scan for problems. This is not a mindset issue. It is a wiring issue.

Neuroscience shows that the brain adapts to what it repeatedly practices. This ability is called neuroplasticity. When your attention constantly returns to frustration, blame, or irritation, the brain reinforces those circuits. Stress chemicals reduce synaptic flexibility, making it harder for the brain to form new connections. Creativity drops. Problem solving narrows. Emotional resilience weakens. Over time, the brain becomes less adaptable and more rigid, locked into survival mode instead of growth mode. What feels like venting is often repeated rehearsal of stress.

This matters because attention is not neutral. What you focus on trains your brain. Shifting focus does not mean ignoring real problems. It means choosing how long you live inside them. When you redirect attention toward solutions, gratitude, or curiosity, cortisol decreases and neural flexibility improves. Your brain does not just respond to events. It responds to patterns. And the patterns you practice shape how strong and adaptable your mind becomes. – A Facebook post by ‘Mind’s Canvas

Scientists have found a fungus in the Amazon rainforest that can break down plastic and turn it into organic waste. This means the fungus can eat parts of the plastic, changing it from long, hard molecules into simpler, natural pieces. The discovery surprised many people because plastic usually lasts for hundreds of years without breaking down. Inside the fungus are tiny tools called enzymes. These enzymes slowly cut the plastic into smaller bits. The fungus then uses those bits for food, turning them into things like water, carbon dioxide, and other natural material. Researchers are studying how the fungus does this in the lab so they can understand the process better and see if it can be used safely.

This finding gives hope for fighting plastic pollution, but it is not a simple or instant solution. Using this fungus on a large scale will take time, tests, and safety checks. Even if it works, people still need to use less plastic and recycle more. The fungus could become one helpful tool among many for cleaning up the planet. – A Facebook post by ‘Colours of Nature’

Anger can seize your brain long after the moment passes

When you explode in anger, it does not end when the words stop. Inside your brain, the amygdala, the region that detects threat, takes control. It floods your system with stress chemicals and pushes your brain into survival mode. Logic fades. Memory narrows. The body stays tense. This hijack can last for hours, even if the trigger is long gone.

During this state, your prefrontal cortex, the part responsible for reasoning and self control, goes quiet. That is why angry reactions often feel automatic and later confusing. You are not choosing poorly. Your brain is prioritizing protection over clarity. But repeated outbursts teach the brain something dangerous. That anger is the fastest path to safety.

The good news is that this pattern is not permanent. Every time you resist an outburst, even briefly, you interrupt the hijack. You allow the prefrontal cortex to stay engaged. Over time, this trains the brain to pause before reacting. Neural pathways linked to calm strengthen. The amygdala becomes less reactive.

This is how resilience is built. Not by never feeling anger, but by responding differently when it appears. Each restrained moment tells your brain that threat does not require explosion. Safety can exist without chaos.

The human takeaway is powerful. Calm is not a personality trait. It is a trained response. What you practice in moments of anger becomes your brain’s default under stress.

Your brain is always learning from you. Teach it steadiness. – A Facebook post by ‘Mind’s Canvas’

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded to scientists who uncovered how the body prevents the immune system from attacking itself - a discovery that transformed our understanding of autoimmune disease and immune regulation. Your immune system is built to defend against viruses and bacteria, but if it isn’t properly restrained, that same power can turn inward, damaging your own organs.

The mechanism that keeps this from happening is called peripheral immune tolerance, and it’s governed by a special group of cells known as regulatory T cells.

This year’s Nobel laureates, Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi, each played a key role in revealing how this system works. In 1995, Sakaguchi identified a previously unknown type of T cell that acted as a brake on immune responses, preventing self-destruction.

A few years later, Brunkow and Ramsdell discovered the gene that controlled these cells, known as FOXP3, while studying a rare and fatal autoimmune disorder in children. When this gene is mutated, the immune system loses control and begins attacking healthy tissue.

Sakaguchi later confirmed that FOXP3 was the master switch governing the regulatory T cells he had first described, completing the puzzle of how the immune system keeps itself in balance. Their discoveries explained the biological roots of autoimmune disease and also opened new paths in medicine.

Today, therapies based on regulatory T cells are being explored to treat autoimmune conditions, improve organ transplant outcomes, and even enhance cancer treatments by adjusting how the immune system responds around tumors. – A Facebook post by ‘Collective Evolution’

*********************************************

Thank you for stopping by. Follow me if you find my posts interesting. If you know of anyone who might appreciate them, do recommended the blog to them. Cheers!