The hidden brain bias that makes some lies so convincing

 Detecting dishonesty requires people to interpret social cues, judge intent, and decide whether someone's words are trustworthy. Scientists have long wondered how we sort through this kind of social information and how we decide if someone is being honest. A key question is whether people evaluate information in the same way when it comes from a close friend or from someone they barely know.

To explore this, Yingjie Liu from North China University of Science and Technology led a research team investigating how people judge information depending on the relationship they share with the communicator.Studying Deception Through Brain Imaging

According to findings published in JNeurosci, the researchers used a neuroimaging method to observe brain activity in 66 healthy adults. Pairs of participants sat facing each other but interacted through computer screens, allowing the scientists to control the flow of information. Each message the participants exchanged had consequences that were described as either a "gain" or a "loss." A "gain" referred to information that benefited both individuals in the pair, while a "loss" referred to information that produced a negative outcome. Contributing researcher Rui Huang explained, "The key reason we chose 'gain' and 'loss' contexts is that they illustrate how people adjust decision-making in response to potential rewards or punishments."

The team discovered that people were more likely to trust false information during "gain" situations, and this behavior corresponded with activation in regions of the brain that process reward, assess risk, and interpret others' intentions. This suggests that the promise of a positive outcome can strongly influence whether a lie seems believable, even if the information should raise doubts.

Friends Show Unique Brain Patterns During Deception

One of the most striking findings involved the role of friendship. When the person delivering the potentially deceptive information was considered a friend, both individuals showed synchronized brain activity. This synchrony shifted depending on the context. For example, brain regions involved in reward showed greater alignment during "gain" scenarios, while regions tied to risk evaluation became more synchronized during "loss" moments. This shared activity provided enough information for researchers to predict when a participant was likely to be deceived by a friend.

Why People May Trust Rewarding Lies

Taken together, the results indicate that people may be especially vulnerable to believing lies when the information suggests the possibility of a "gain." The study also highlights how the brain processes social information differently between friends, which may make it harder to accurately judge the truthfulness of what is being said. This combination of reward-driven thinking and interpersonal connection appears to influence how people weigh honesty, potentially leading them to accept false information more easily in certain situations.

Source: ScienceDaily

Daily music listening linked to big drop in dementia risk

 Listening to music after the age of 70 appears to be associated with a meaningful reduction in dementia risk. A research team from Monash University analyzed data from more than 10,800 older adults and found that people in this age group who regularly listened to music experienced a 39 percent lower likelihood of developing dementia.

The project, led by Monash honours student Emma Jaffa and Professor Joanne Ryan, examined how both listening to music and playing instruments relate to cognitive health in adults over 70. Their analysis showed that individuals who consistently listened to music, compared with those who never, rarely, or only sometimes did so, had a 39 percent reduced risk of dementia. Playing an instrument was also tied to benefits, with a 35 percent reduction in dementia risk.

Findings Drawn From Large-Scale Aging Studies

Researchers based their work on information from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study and the ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) sub‐study. The results were published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

People who reported always listening to music demonstrated the strongest cognitive advantages. This group showed a 39 percent lower incidence of dementia and a 17 percent lower incidence of cognitive impairment, along with higher overall cognitive scores and better episodic memory (used when recalling everyday events). Those who both listened to and played music on a regular basis had a 33 percent reduced risk of dementia and a 22 percent reduced risk of cognitive impairment.

Music as an Accessible Activity for Brain Health

Ms Jaffa noted that the outcomes of the research "suggests music activities may be an accessible strategy for maintaining cognitive health in older adults, though causation cannot be established," she said.

The findings come at a time when population aging is creating new public health challenges. Longer life expectancy has led to rising rates of age‐related conditions, including cognitive decline and dementia, which places increasing pressure on families and healthcare systems.

Lifestyle Choices May Shape Cognitive Aging

Senior author Professor Ryan emphasized the urgency of exploring options to help delay or prevent dementia. "With no cure currently available for dementia, the importance of identifying strategies to help prevent or delay onset of the disease is critical," she said.

She added that "Evidence suggests that brain aging is not just based on age and genetics but can be influenced by one's own environmental and lifestyle choices. Our study suggests that lifestyle-based interventions, such as listening and/or playing music can promote cognitive health."

Source: ScienceDaily

A tiny ancient virus reveals secrets that could help fight superbugs

 A research effort led by Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka has generated an in-depth structural map of a bacteriophage, offering new insight into how these viruses could be used to counter drug-resistant bacteria.

Lead author Dr. James Hodgkinson-Bean, who completed his PhD in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, says bacteriophages are "extremely exciting" to scientists searching for alternatives to antibiotics as antimicrobial resistance continues to rise."Bacteriophage viruses are non-harmful to all multi-cellular life and able to very selectively target and kill a target bacterium. Due to this, they are increasingly being researched and applied in 'phage therapy' to treat highly drug-resistant bacteria," he says.

He explains that bacteriophages are "exquisitely intricate viruses" that infect bacteria using large mechanical structures known as 'tails'.

3D Analysis Reveals How a Phage Attacks E. coli

The study, published in Science Advances, involved researchers from Otago and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. They examined the structure of Bas63, a virus that infects E. coli, at a molecular scale to better understand how its tail functions during infection.

"This kind of research is important for understanding how we can select the optimal bacteriophages for therapies, and to understand the differences in infectious behavior we see in the lab," Dr. Hodgkinson-Bean says.

Senior author Associate Professor Mihnea Bostina, also from Otago's Department of Microbiology and Immunology, notes that rising antibiotic resistance and growing threats to global food security from plant pathogens make bacteriophages an increasingly valuable alternative.

"Our detailed blueprint of a bacteriophage advances rational design for medical, agricultural, and industrial applications, from treating infections to combating biofilms in food processing and water systems.

"Beyond science, the 3D data -- which shows the virus' rare whisker-collar connections, hexamer decoration proteins, and diverse tail fibers -- may inspire artists, animators, and educators."

Structural Clues Strengthen Understanding of Viral Evolution

According to Dr. Hodgkinson-Bean, insights into viral structure also help clarify how these viruses have evolved.

"While DNA generally serves as the best evolutionary marker in humans, the 3-dimensional structure of a virus is more informative of its distant evolutionary relationships with other viruses," he says.The team identified features that had previously only been seen in viruses that are very distantly related, revealing evolutionary connections that had not been documented before."We know through structural studies that bacteriophages are related to Herpes viruses -- this relationship is thought to extend back billions of years to before the emergence of multi-cellular life. For this reason, when we look at bacteriophage structure, we are looking at living fossils, primordial ancient beings."There is something truly beautiful about that."Building on Earlier DiscoveriesThis newly described structure is the second of its kind documented by the same research group. It follows an earlier investigation into pathogens responsible for potato diseases, which was recently published in Nature Communications.

Source: ScienceDaily

New DNA test predicts dangerous heart rhythms early

 A new DNA-based method from Northwestern Medicine can pinpoint hidden risks for arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death long before symptoms begin. Credit: Shutterstock

Key Points

• Researchers used whole genome sequencing to bring together monogenic and polygenic testing, two methods that are usually separated in both research and clinical practice.
• Experts say many more physicians should be using genetic testing, although a large portion of the medical workforce is not yet trained to interpret it.
• The results provide an early foundation for creating targeted treatments tailored to each person's unique genetic profile.

New Genetic Approach to Predicting Dangerous Heart Rhythms

In a new study from Northwestern Medicine, researchers have created a more refined genetic risk score that helps determine whether a person is likely to develop arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart beats irregularly. Arrhythmias can lead to serious medical problems, including atrial fibrillation (AFib) and sudden cardiac death.

The team reports that this improved method strengthens the accuracy of heart disease risk prediction while also offering a broad framework for genetic testing. According to the scientists, the same strategy could be adapted to assess other complex, genetically influenced conditions such as cancer, Parkinson's Disease and autism.

Building a More Complete Genetic Picture

"It's a very cool approach in which we are combining rare gene variants with common gene variants and then adding in non-coding genome information. To our knowledge, no one has used this comprehensive approach before, so it's really a roadmap of how to do that," said co-corresponding author Dr. Elizabeth McNally, director of the Center for Genetic Testing and a professor of medicine in the division of cardiology and of biochemistry and molecular genetics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

The researchers say their findings could support the development of targeted treatments shaped around an individual's full genetic profile. They also note that this type of analysis may allow clinicians to identify people at risk long before any symptoms arise.

The study, which analyzed data from 1,119 participants, was published on November 11 in Cell Reports Medicine.

Integrating Three Major Genetic Testing Methods

Current genetic testing typically falls into one of three separate categories:

• Monogenic testing: Identifies rare mutations in a single gene, similar to spotting a typo in a single word.
• Polygenic testing: Looks at many common gene variants to estimate overall risk, similar to examining the tone of a chapter.
• Genome sequencing: Reads the complete genetic code, much like reviewing an entire book.

"Genetic researchers, companies and geneticists often operate in silos," McNally said. "The companies that offer gene panel testing are not the same ones that provide polygenic risk scores."

In this study, the team combined information from all three genetic sources to produce a fuller view of disease risk. This integrated method uncovers rare mutations, evaluates cumulative genetic effects and reveals subtle patterns across the entire genome.

"When you sequence the whole genome, you can say, 'Let me look at this cardiomyopathy gene component, the gene panel and the polygenic component.' By combining the data together, you get a very high odds ratio of identifying who is at highest risk, and that's where we think this approach can really improve upon what is currently used," McNally said.

Why Physicians Need Greater Access to Genetic Testing

Cardiologists usually assess heart risk based on symptoms, family history and diagnostic tools such as EKGs, echocardiograms and MRIs. McNally said she also incorporates genetic testing into her patient evaluations.

"It helps me manage that patient better, know who's at greatest risk, and if we think the risk is really high, we'll recommend defibrillators for patients like that," McNally said. "Knowledge is power."

Despite the benefits, genetic testing remains underused. McNally said that only an estimated 1 to 5% of people who would benefit from genetic testing actually receive it. Even within cancer care, where genetic links are widely recognized, only 10 to 20% of eligible patients undergo testing.

Source: ScienceDaily

Chronic pain may dramatically raise your blood pressure

 Research Highlights

• Chronic pain appears to play a meaningful role in raising the risk of developing high blood pressure.
• How long the pain lasts and where it occurs both influence that risk, and part of the connection is explained by depression and inflammation.
• Researchers say the results underscore how important effective pain management can be for preventing and controlling high blood pressure, a major driver of cardiovascular disease and death.
• Chronic Pain Linked to Rising Blood Pressure Risk

Chronic pain in adults may raise the likelihood of developing high blood pressure, and factors such as where the pain is located, how widespread it is, and whether a person also has depression appear to play important roles. These findings come from new research published today (November 17) in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.

An evaluation of health information from more than 200,000 adults in the U.S. showed that individuals who experienced chronic pain throughout their bodies had a higher chance of developing high blood pressure compared to those reporting no pain, short-term discomfort, or pain limited to one region.

"The more widespread their pain, the higher their risk of developing high blood pressure," said lead study author Jill Pell, M.D., C.B.E., the Henry Mechan Professor of Public Health at the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom. "Part of the explanation for this finding was that having chronic pain made people more likely to have depression, and then having depression made people more likely to develop high blood pressure. This suggests that early detection and treatment of depression, among people with pain, may help to reduce their risk of developing high blood pressure."

Understanding High Blood Pressure and Its Dangers

High blood pressure and hypertension occur when blood presses too strongly against vessel walls, increasing the chance of heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure, including stage one or stage two hypertension (blood pressure readings from 130/80 mm Hg to 140/90 mm Hg or higher), affects nearly half of adults in the U.S. It is also the leading cause of death nationally and worldwide, according to the 2025 joint American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guideline endorsed by 11 other organizations.

Earlier studies show that chronic musculoskeletal pain -- pain in the hip, knee, back or neck/shoulder that lasts for at least three months -- is the most common form of long-term pain in the general population. The new study examined how the presence, type, and distribution of pain across the body relate to later high blood pressure.

Source: ScienceDaily

Toxic beauty: health risks of Latin America’s cosmetics trade

 Across Latin America’s cities, a lucrative informal trade in cosmetics and personal hygiene products is thriving.

But, often unbeknown to those who buy them, many of these items are laced with toxic chemicals and heavy metals. They are sold in vast quantities without labels, warnings, or regulation.

Studies reveal the presence of arsenic, mercury, lead and other metals in lipsticks, eyeshadows, nail polish, skin lighteners, and hair products sold cheaply in markets and informal shops.

In downtown Lima, hundreds of people flock daily to the bustling galleries around the historic centre El Cercado to buy cosmetics wholesale and retail, largely ignored by municipal inspectors.

“I come here every month or so to stock up (…) everything is very cheap here,” said Zenobia Urquiza, who runs a market stall in Matucana province.

“I take the opportunity to stock up on some makeup items that sell easily, for example, now that it’s Halloween I’m bringing black eyeshadows, fluorescent eyeshadows, black and bright coloured nail polishes,” she told

None of these products have a label, brand, or health certificate identifying their source.

“Do you want quality or price? If you want quality, go buy from Aruma [the largest makeup chain in Peru] or from a catalogue and it will cost you an arm and a leg,” said one vendor.

While regional data is scarce, the informal beauty market represents major losses for businesses. Peru’s Chamber of Commerce reported in 2024 that counterfeit shampoos, fragrances, creams, lipsticks, talcum powder, and nail polish cost the country’s cosmetics industry over US$260 million.

Some, however, profit enormously. “I make about 5,000 soles [about US$1,500] a day just on this stall, sometimes more, sometimes less (…), and in total I have ten stalls,” said the same vendor.

Clandestine laboratories have multiplied, producing cosmetics by hand, often in unsanitary conditions.

Source: SciDev.net

Malaria rapid diagnostic test ‘not fit for purpose’

 An international study published in the Malaria Journal claims that a widely used test for detecting malaria is delivering too many inaccurate false-negative results and is “not fit for purpose”.

The study authors are calling for the removal of the test—the Abbott-Bioline rapid diagnostic test—from the market in Southeast Asia where it is widely deployed and where around 4 million people a year are affected by malaria, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Researchers from the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), part of Oxford University’s MORU Tropical Health Network, found that the test correctly identified only 18 per cent of Plasmodium falciparum and 44 per cent of Plasmodium vivax infections—considerably lower rates than other brands of rapid tests.

Many of the tests only showed a faint line to identify positive cases, even where the patient was showing signs of fever.

However, other studies from Africa have reported better performance of the same test.

“Malaria is a major cause of illness and an important cause of death where we work,” said study co-author Nicholas White, a professor of tropical medicine at Mahidol University, Bangkok and at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health.

“Saying, ‘You don’t have malaria’ to someone with falciparum malaria in a very remote area could be a death sentence,” he told.

Rapid diagnostic tests are the mainstay of malaria control, the study stressed, allowing malaria to be treated near home, quickly and efficiently, even in remote areas where laboratory testing is unavailable.

However, the sensitivity of the Abbott-Bioline test was called into question after researchers working with the SMRU in Southeast Asia reported multiple false negatives. The test is made by Abbott Diagnostics, part of the US multinational company Abbott Laboratories.

“Until recent years we were very satisfied with these rapid malaria tests, then we and others started to notice that they were not working so well,” said White. He stressed that he and his colleagues have diagnosed and treated “hundreds of thousands of patients” over a number of decades.The study was conducted between October 2024 and January 2025, on the Thailand-Myanmar border, where until recent conflict, falciparum malaria was close to elimination.

It compared the performance of the Abbott-Bioline test with another rapid diagnostic test and microscopy tests.

The Abbott-Bioline test, the researchers concluded, “failed to detect microscopically confirmed cases of malaria and is not fit for purpose”.

Source: SciDev.Net.

Snake pee might hold the secret to ending gout pain and kidney stones

 If you've never kept a reptile, you might be surprised to learn that many of them actually "pee" in crystal form. In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers examined the solid urine of more than 20 different reptile species and found that all contained tiny spheres made of uric acid. This discovery highlights how reptiles have developed a unique method for safely storing and removing waste in a crystalline form. The findings could also lead to new ways of treating human conditions linked to uric acid buildup, such as kidney stones and gout.

How Reptiles Save Water With Solid Waste

Every living creature needs to get rid of waste, and reptiles are no exception. In humans, the body eliminates excess nitrogen by flushing it out through urine as urea, uric acid, and ammonia. Reptiles and birds, however, take a different approach. They transform some of those same nitrogen-based compounds into solids known as "urates," which are expelled through a shared opening called the cloaca. Scientists think this solid form of waste evolved as an adaptation to conserve water, a valuable trait for animals that often live in dry environments.

What's Dangerous for Humans Is Normal for Snakes

Although forming crystals in urine helps reptiles survive, the same process can cause serious health problems in people. When uric acid levels become too high in humans, the crystals can collect in the joints, leading to gout, or form in the urinary tract as kidney stones. To understand how reptiles manage to excrete these crystals safely, Jennifer Swift and her research team analyzed urates from more than 20 species.

"This research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in the hopes it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment," explains Swift, the corresponding author on the study.

Microscopic Spheres With Big Medical Potential

Using powerful microscopes, the researchers discovered that species such as ball pythons, Angolan pythons, and Madagascan tree boas produce urates made up of tiny textured spheres between 1 and 10 micrometers across. X-ray analysis revealed that these microspheres are built from even smaller nanocrystals made of uric acid and water. The team also found that uric acid helps transform ammonia, a toxic compound, into a safer solid form. They believe uric acid might play a similar protective role in humans. Although more research is needed, these findings suggest that the chemistry behind reptile waste could eventually help scientists develop better treatments for uric acid-related diseases.

Research Support and Collaboration

This study received support from the National Science Foundation, Georgetown University, the International Centre for Diffraction Data, and the Chiricahua Desert Museum.

Source: ScienceDaily