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The article discusses the alleged importance of vitamin D in human health. Topics include ways the body is exposed to vitamin D, how the body converts it, and various reports on how much the body needs. It also mentions how low levels of vitamin D during the winter causes susceptibility to infection, and what quantity of sun exposure may be safe.

The article discusses various efforts in exploring the possibility that modern disease did afflict humans in ancient times. It elaborates on the investigation of cardiologist Randall Thompson in proving that Egyptian pharaoh Merneptah had atherosclerosis. It also details the findings of David Frayer of the University of Kansas about the prevalence of malignant tumors. It examines the prevalence of other afflictions such as depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism.

For the "individual" condition, the researchers planted 12 snow pea seedlings in individual pots, with a support stick initially positioned 12cm away from the seedling's first leaf. Though this may sound strange, plant cognition is a growing field of research, and one that poses a direct challenge to the traditional definition of cognition. [Extracted from the article]

As low conscientious conservatives don't seem to care whether a story that aligns with their beliefs and interests is true or not, it could be that interventions will need to target conscientiousness itself, rather than simply explaining that a story is fake, the pair writes. In the first, the participants were given 12 reputable and 12 fake news Covid-19 stories from websites. While conservatives were overall less likely than liberals to change their mind, this was especially true for low conscientiousness conservatives. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses how anger, when used in the right way, can be constructive. Topics include society's view of anger as a destructive emotion, the physiological aspects of anger, when and how anger can be constructive, and a study by Harvard University researcher Jennifer Lerner and colleagues that found people made angry by a stressful situation exhibited a lower biological response, in terms of blood pressure and levels of stress hormones, than those who were fearful.

The article discusses research exploring the role of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in the regulation of behavior and mood. The ENS is a neuron network in gut tissues which is part of the autonomic nervous system, regulating digestion and preventing the invasion of pathogens from food by triggering gut immune cells. Like the brain, the ENS produces neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. Other topics include the effect of eating fatty foods on mood, the increased production of the gut hormone ghrelin under stress, and evidence of brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease in the ENS. INSET: MENTAL ILLNESSES OF THE GUT.

The article discusses the potential health benefits of fasting. The author relates her experience of what it feels like to fast, such as the pain of hunger pangs, discusses the controversial nature of fasting, and explains the physiologically effects of fasting on the body, including the conversion of glycogen in the liver and muscles into glucose for energy. Also discussed is the potential of fasting to prevent cancer. INSET: HOLD THE PROTEIN.

The article discusses charisma. The author argues that charisma is not a personality trait that individuals are born with, but is an attribute that can be learned and lost. Topics include the social aspects of charisma, the importance for individuals in leadership roles of being perceived as charismatic, and social development research by Nathan Fox at the University of Maryland in College Park, investigating what makes some individuals charismatic or not. INSET: CULT OF PERSONALITY.

The article looks at the mental abilities of various animals, focusing on a study by Joanna Wimpenny which considers the thought processes of crows. The environmental awareness of fruit flies is discussed, noting that they are able to use their attention selectively based on memories rather than reacting randomly to things around them. The author also looks at metacognition in monkeys. INSET: You¿ve got me feeling emotions.

The article discusses what dreams reveal about individuals. According to the author, the interpretation of dreams was considered by some psychoanalysts, such as Sigmund Freud, to be a window into an individual's unconscious mind. An overview of neuroscience of dreams and research that suggests that dreams are more than an window into the hidden self, but instead help individuals consolidate memories, make sense of experiences, and keep emotions in check is presented.

The article discusses the tropics in the context of biodiversity, calling the location a hotspot of biological activity. The article discusses land- and marine-based biodiversity and likely differences in rules that apply to their numbers and growth. The article notes the Yasuni National Park in the Amazon and a publication by researcher Matt Finer and team indicating that the park may have the greatest amount of biodiversity in the world. Scientist David Jablonski and colleagues are noted for their research on living and fossil marine bivalves. Rapoport's rule is noted as offering a traditional explanation of marine biodiversity.

The article discusses archaeological discoveries made by Carlo Bergmann and colleagues that are forcing Egyptologists to reconsider the origins of the ancient Egyptian pharaonic civilization. Discoveries made in the Sahara desert west of the Nile River show that the ancient Egyptians had strong links to the region, suggesting that their civilization may have originated there.

Youth with foster care experience are far more likely to face mental health challenges than their peers in the general population. Non-talk alternative treatments such as art therapy, movement therapy, music therapy, and equine-assisted psychotherapy show promise for these youth. However, as of now, there is no clear agreement between or guidance offered to states on whether alternative therapies are covered by Medicaid, which is the primary insurance for most youth with foster care experience. This paper offers policy recommendations on this issue in order to achieve equitable access to mental health care for youth with foster care experience.

The article presents information on the ecological disaster at Easter Island. For years the inhabitants of one of the most remote islands on Earth competed with one another to build the most impressive statues, pillaging their resources to feed their obsession. The ecological disaster was inevitable. The events on Easter Island should act as a dark warning to the entire planet. There is painfully little archaeological evidence to support the self-destruction theory. INSET: Mysteries of the moai.

The article presents information on how studying storms that occurred hundreds or even thousands of years ago could provide information to predict rare events, like hurricanes. Palaeotempestologist Jon Nott, director of the Australasian Palaeohazards Research Unit at James Cook University, is part of a growing band of scientists worldwide dedicated to studying ancient storms. To spot long-term trends, one needs to extend the record of cyclones--or hurricanes or typhoons, as these tropical storms are known in the Atlantic and north-west Pacific--back as far as possible.