Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
3254 results for "brain plasticity"
Scientists discovered that digital brain models work better when brain regions compete for resources, just like in real life. This breakthrough could revolutionize personalized medicine and help more treatments succeed in human trials.
A Virginia high school senior is first author on groundbreaking research using hydrogel "brain phantoms" to measure traumatic brain injury forces without animal testing. The lab's artificial rat brains, made from materials similar to Jell-O, could revolutionize how researchers study concussions and brain trauma.
For the first time, researchers have tracked how a mother's brain rewires itself during pregnancy, revealing widespread changes in nearly every brain region. The groundbreaking Maternal Brain Project is finally studying what happens to women's brains during motherhood, a topic science has largely ignored until now.
Laura Moore was thrown from a four-wheeler at 16, suffering severe brain damage that doctors struggled to stabilize. Twenty-three years later, she's thriving and leading Kansas's charge to support brain injury survivors.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F75%2F68%2F7568516e-b516-4e5b-ab9b-971e270277af%2Fgettyimages-2268670039.jpg)
New brain imaging studies reveal pregnancy doesn't cause "mommy brain" decline—it triggers profound neural rewiring that enhances bonding, emotional intelligence, and may even make brains younger. Scientists say the transformation is as significant as adolescence.
Scientists have developed a plastic made from hemp that matches the strength and durability of traditional PET plastic used in bottles and packaging. This plant-based breakthrough could offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
Scientists have trained bacteria to transform organic waste into plastic that breaks down naturally, offering a revolutionary solution to our planet's plastic pollution crisis. This breakthrough could finally give us the convenience of plastic without the environmental guilt.
Scientists discovered that neurons in the wrong place can take over essential brain functions, challenging everything we thought about how the brain works. This breakthrough could transform treatments for brain injuries and developmental disorders.
Researchers discovered a drainage network inside protective brain layers that slowly removes waste, changing how we understand brain health. This breakthrough could lead to better treatments for Alzheimer's and other brain disorders.
Researchers in Edinburgh engineered bacteria to transform waste plastic bottles into L-DOPA, a critical Parkinson's disease treatment. This breakthrough could revolutionize sustainable medicine while tackling plastic pollution.
Researchers discovered an enzyme called IDOL that, when removed from brain neurons, dramatically reduced Alzheimer's plaques and improved brain resilience. The breakthrough could lead to treatments that not only clear damaging proteins but actually help protect the brain from decline.
Scientists are using tiny lab-grown brain models called organoids to solve mysteries about how our incredible brains develop. These breakthrough tools could lead to new treatments for autism, schizophrenia, and other brain conditions.
A groundbreaking study shows that pinpoint radiation therapy helps brain cancer patients think clearer, feel better, and stay independent longer than traditional whole-brain treatment. This approach could transform care for thousands diagnosed with multiple brain tumors each year.
Sri Lanka just banned single-use plastic water bottles across all government institutions and started charging for plastic bags. The island nation generates 250,000 metric tons of plastic waste yearly, with most ending up in oceans and landfills.
Researchers discovered a previously unknown drainage pathway in the human brain that clears waste, offering new hope for treating Alzheimer's and brain injuries. Using MRI technology from NASA spaceflight research, they watched in real time as the brain's cleanup crew went to work.
Scientists discovered why some people with Alzheimer's brain changes never develop dementia, pointing to a crucial shift in the brain's immune cells. The breakthrough could lead to treatments that boost the brain's natural defenses instead of just removing plaques.
Cambodia just launched an ambitious roadmap to slash plastic pollution by three-quarters while creating 26,000 green jobs over the next 15 years. The plan transforms how the country handles its 546,000 tonnes of annual plastic waste through recycling, reuse, and cutting single-use plastics.
European nations just voted to expand recycling options for plastic bottles, supporting new technology that could help reuse hard-to-recycle packaging. The move aims to boost Europe's struggling recycling industry while meeting ambitious plastic reuse targets.
Two UK organizations are joining forces to solve one of medicine's toughest challenges: getting treatments past the blood-brain barrier to fight neurological diseases. With over 40% of people worldwide living with brain conditions, this collaboration could unlock new treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and brain cancers.
After decades of studying how the brain works, scientists at Seattle's Allen Institute are launching a major effort to develop genetic therapies for previously untreatable brain diseases. The breakthrough comes from mapping millions of brain cells and understanding exactly which neurons fail in conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's.
Showing 20 of 3254