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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on Saturday

A part of your brain can listen even when you are under the influence of Anesthesia!

Our brains might be more alert when unconscious than we realized.
A new study of brain cells in the hippocampus shows that people under general anesthesia can process language in real time and even learn to recognize sounds.

It raises some fascinating new questions about what it means to be conscious and what the brain might be doing when it's hovering in an unconscious state under the weight of anesthetic drugs.

But it leaves the door open to further studies about what is happening in the unconscious brain during sleep or coma.

Seven patients undergoing surgery for epilepsy were involved in the study, led by researchers .
Microelectrodes called neuropixels measured their brain cell activity. These electrodes capture very high-resolution data from individual neurons, and haven't been used on the hippocampus before this study.
The probes recorded activity from hundreds of individual neurons to see how the brain reacted to a series of sounds and language prompts.
The findings show that the brain is far more active and capable during unconsciousness than previously thought.
Even when patients are fully anesthetized, their brains continue to analyze the world around them.
The hippocampus handles important jobs in terms of learning and memory.

The researchers wanted to take a look at the hippocampus under anesthesia because it sits deep within the brain, far from where sensory information is first processed, in the cortex.
Neural activity showed that the brain was sorting through nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and was even trying to predict the next word in a sentence – not dissimilar to the way that generative AI models formulate responses by looking for the most likely next word.

"This kind of predictive coding is something we associate with being awake and attentive, yet it's happening here in an unconscious state," say the neuro-scientists.
The findings suggest that certain processing abilities may not be anchored to consciousness, and can be carried out without us being 'awake'.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10448-0

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 13, 2026 at 10:56am

Why drinking alcohol makes you reach for chips and nachos
Alcohol stimulates release of the liver hormone FGF21, which enhances a specific appetite for protein and savory foods. When this drive is satisfied with protein-rich whole foods, total energy intake does not rise markedly. When it is directed toward ultra-processed “protein decoy” foods high in fat and carbohydrates, overall energy intake increases, promoting weight gain.

original article.

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 13, 2026 at 10:49am

Could the World Cup cause the next pandemic? Scientists mapped the risks

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is jointly hosted by three North American nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States

Spread across 11 U.S. host cities, the 2026 World Cup is bringing together teams and fans from 48 countries. From travel logistics to accommodations for hundreds of thousands of visitors, organizers are addressing a host of considerations. For public health officials, one of those factors is the spread of disease.
The World Cup brings together 48 teams from across the globe, but it also provides an opportunity for disease to spread.
Disease surveillance has taken on a whole new meaning in the post-pandemic world. The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo may be the event commanding the most attention, but other outbreaks—both domestic and international—are also of concern. COVID-19 is still lingering, global health officials are still monitoring the hantavirus outbreak that rocked a cruise ship last month, and here in the U.S., the country is seeing the largest number of measles cases since the disease was considered eradicated in the U.S. in 2000. Meanwhile, more common viruses and bacteria continue to affect daily life.

But how worried should you really be about catching any of these diseases at the World Cup?
The researchers created a detailed risk assessment of 12 diseases: dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever, measles, pertussis, mumps, rubella, Mpox, Ebola, Marburg virus, cholera and typhoid.

Modeling of 12 infectious diseases indicates that the 2026 World Cup adds only a small excess importation risk relative to usual U.S. travel volumes. Slightly elevated risks are projected for dengue, chikungunya, Lassa fever, and, to a lesser extent, measles and mumps, with southern cities more affected and Seattle lowest risk. COVID-19 cases are expected but considered manageable.

The overall estimate is that the excess risk of any of these diseases spreading is "generally small".
But that doesn't mean there's zero risk posed by the World Cup.
Each city has its own profile and environmental factors that make it more or less prone to certain diseases. Atlanta, Miami and Dallas, for example, have been flagged for elevated risk of diseases like dengue fever and chikungunya because they are farther south and home to more mosquitoes.

https://news.northeastern.edu/2026/06/11/world-cup-diseases-outbreak/

and

https://epistorm.github.io/IDWC26-importation/

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 13, 2026 at 10:23am

The research highlights that the nutrients added to many plant-based milks, such as soy, almond, oat and rice, may not be as easily absorbed. In many cases, these products also contain added sugars, oils or stabilizers to improve taste and texture.

The research also raises concerns about the growing trend of replacing dairy with plant-based alternatives for children.

"There is a common perception that plant-based drinks are automatically healthier, but that's not always the case", say the researchers.
"For some groups, especially children, omitting dairy products without careful planning can lead to nutrient gaps, particularly in protein, calcium, iodine and vitamin B12 needed for growth and development. Deficiencies can leave children vulnerable to conditions such as protein-energy malnutrition, rickets, scurvy, goiter and developmental delays.

The research supports a "food first" approach to nutrition, where whole foods like milk are prioritized over supplements and heavily processed alternatives.

"Milk remains one of the most accessible and effective ways to deliver essential nutrients", they conclude.
As consumer choices evolve, it is critical that people have clear, accurate information to make informed decisions about their health.

Therese A. O'Sullivan et al, Exploring the dairy milk matrix beyond isolated nutrients—a narrative review, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2026). DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2026.2648097

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 13, 2026 at 10:21am

Cows v plants: Which milk delivers the best health benefits?

New research has shed light on the growing debate between cow's milk and plant-based alternatives. Results of the study, published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, suggest that cow's milk has the edge over plant-based alternatives when it comes to bone strength and nutrient absorption.
Milk is more than just calcium, protein and fat—it's a complex whole food, and how its nutrients are packaged together is more important than initially thought.
Milk contains more than 100 nutrients and bioactive substances, arranged in a unique physical structure.

This structure affects how nutrients are digested and absorbed, how blood sugar responds after a meal, how fats affect cholesterol, and how the gut microbiome responds.

It's the way all the parts of milk interact that appears to link to many of its health benefits.
The findings suggest that while plant-based drinks are increasing in popularity, they do not consistently match the nutritional quality or health outcomes associated with dairy milk.

Researchers found that regular milk consumption is linked to stronger bones and a lower risk of fractures, with some evidence showing up to a 43% reduction among people who drink one to two cups a day.

In contrast, calcium supplements, often used as a replacement, showed mixed results and were, in some cases, associated with a higher risk of heart disease, particularly among older women.

The difference, researchers said, comes down to the way nutrients are delivered.

Milk provides a natural package of nutrients that work together. Calcium in milk is combined with protein, phosphorus and other components that help the body absorb and use it efficiently. This is something that plant-based drinks and supplements cannot fully replicate.
Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 13, 2026 at 10:15am

Flu infection may weaken tuberculosis defenses by disrupting key immune pathways
Controlled human influenza infection reduced blood immune control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with post‑influenza samples showing increased mycobacterial growth. This loss of control was linked to disruption of type I interferon signalling pathways. Seasonal influenza vaccination may indirectly enhance TB control in high‑burden settings.

Claire M. Broderick et al, Influenza coinfection inhibits control of mycobacterial infection in a human challenge model, Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72363-2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 13, 2026 at 9:52am

Why chickens come in so many colors, and what one gene reveals about evolution

From snow white and jet black to golden brown, domestic chickens display a wider range of plumage colors than almost any other livestock species. A new international study explains why: A single gene is capable of producing this full spectrum. The study provides an example of how genetic diversity and visible traits can emerge within a short evolutionary period. The findings have now been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers show how the remarkable colour diversity of domestic chickens arises at the molecular level. The study focused on the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), a protein molecule that controls colour formation in the skin cells of vertebrates.

The gene that encodes this pigmentation receptor has undergone an unusually high degree of change in domestic chickens since their domestication. The research team identified 18 different variants of the gene—a level of diversity not found in wild birds. The Researchers show that the accumulation and recombination of mutations within a single gene has given rise to numerous new variants, with directly visible effects on the birds' appearance.
MC1R functions like a molecular switch: Depending on how active it is, a cell produces either more dark pigment or more light pigment. Using cell cultures, the researchers demonstrated that individual gene mutations can either increase or decrease the activity of this switch. When several mutations occur together, they can reinforce or counteract one another, creating color patterns that none of the individual changes could produce on their own.

Domestic chickens exhibit exceptional plumage diversity due to extensive variation in a single gene, MC1R, which encodes a key pigmentation receptor. Eighteen MC1R variants, generated by accumulated and recombined mutations, modulate receptor activity to shift dark/light pigment production and create complex colour patterns. This illustrates rapid evolution of visible traits over a short domestication timescale.

Cheng Ma et al, Ultrarapid MC1R protein and associated plumage color evolution in the domestic chicken, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2605288123

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 13, 2026 at 9:40am

Why cells started sticking together could help explain how animals first evolved

A recent study published in Nature may help us understand the beginnings of animal evolution billions of years ago.
Animal bodies are made up of trillions of cells that stick together and cooperate. Billions of years ago—before animals evolved—every living thing on Earth was a single-celled organism. Eventually, some of these cells began sticking together, working together and then reproducing as multicellular organisms. Some of these early multicellular organisms evolved into present-day plants or fungi, while others evolved into animals.
The researchers found that after feeding a specific bacterium to a unicellular relative of animals, the single cells began to stick to one another, revealing a possible way our ancestors began to evolve into animals billions of years ago.
Feeding a specific bacterium to the unicellular holozoan Ministeria vibrans induced stable cell aggregation, improving feeding efficiency and potential protection of resources. During this transition, M. vibrans expressed adhesion and signalling proteins homologous to those in animals, indicating that key molecular machinery for multicellularity predated animal origins.
M. vibrans survives by eating bacteria. Researchers rigorously tested different bacterial foods until they found one that encouraged single M. vibrans cells to stick together and become multicellular. The bacteria got trapped between the aggregating cells, meaning it was more efficient for M. vibrans to collect food by sticking together rather than remaining single-celled organisms. Further, by sticking together, the cells might be able to protect their food from other organisms.

Sticking together also provides opportunities for cells to exchange genes via mating, which may produce new genetic combinations that enable adaptation to new environments.
The researchers observed that when M. vibrans evolved from unicellular to multicellular, it produced the same proteins that many animal cells use to stick together. The multicellular form of M. vibrans also produced many proteins that animal cells use to communicate and coordinate behaviour. The team concluded that the unicellular organisms that evolved into animals also likely used these proteins to form multicellular bodies and cooperate.

Ruibao Li et al, A unicellular relative links aggregative multicellularity to animal origins, Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10748-5

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 13, 2026 at 9:28am

Trees may store less carbon than expected in the future

It's normal to think that if a tree is photosynthesizing, it's also growing. But that's not necessarily so—and a new study of oak trees, published in the journal Science Advances, found that even as they photosynthesize late into the year, their growth stops by midsummer.
Much of the long-term carbon storage that forests provide depends on trees converting the carbon they absorb through photosynthesis into new wood. Many researchers have predicted that rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels will enhance photosynthesis and stimulate tree growth, putting some of that planet-warming carbon into long-term storage inside wood.

However, the observed decoupling of photosynthesis from growth suggests that increased carbon uptake does not necessarily translate into greater wood production. Instead, some of the absorbed carbon may be used to produce foliage or used in short-lived metabolic processes rather than being locked away long term, reducing the amount of carbon stored in forests compared with previous expectations.

The finding has climate implications.

Decoupled carbon assimilation and growth responses to aridity in temperate deciduous oaks, Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady7139. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ady7139

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on June 13, 2026 at 9:24am

Human understanding of AI can't keep up with its advancement, researchers say

In a recent editorial published in Science, Microsoft's chief scientific officer, Eric Horvitz, and researcher Robert West from the School of Computer and Communication Sciences at EPFL in Switzerland issue a stark warning about AI. They say the advancement of AI systems rapidly being woven into our everyday lives is beginning to outpace our understanding of them. At the same time, AI's understanding of human behaviour is expanding.
The authors of the editorial point to three main areas where AI is becoming less understandable. The first is the rise of AI-directed AI design, in which AI is increasingly designing and improving other AI systems. The authors say the cycles involved in this process outpace human understanding and occur in "high-dimensional spaces that resist intuition." They say that while the performance of the systems may improve, humans struggle to understand why or how.

The second trend is the interactions between AI agents. Now at scale, these agents are forming multi-agent ecosystems whose internal communication may drift away from human language and reasoning. As newly formed AI interactions and communications become more complex, humans become less capable of interpreting them.

Lastly, adaptive AI agents are quickly learning more about human behavior, creating a one-sided situation in which AI understands us better than we understand it. As they parse untold amounts of data from interactions with humans and data showing how humans interact with each other, AI systems begin to understand us better than we understand ourselves and certainly better than we understand them.

The authors write, "Through sustained interaction, they can build increasingly detailed models of human behaviour and psychology, capturing not only preferences but also latent drivers such as fear, uncertainty, and the need for social belonging."
So what happens when AI systems reach a point beyond human understanding? The authors warn that without strong countermeasures, the resulting opacity could lock in AI systems that are powerful but effectively ungovernable by humans. They say that once this happens, recovering human agency may not be possible. This imbalance of understanding could affect personal autonomy, democratic decision-making and trust in institutions.

As AI's understanding of humans deepens, the authors warn that one outcome is that the output of AI systems may increasingly reflect human expectations instead of reality, essentially telling humans only what they want to hear. Without understanding, we won't know that this is happening. In addition, human curiosity, skepticism and scrutiny of AI may simply wane.
More subtle is the possibility that we will gradually lose interest in understanding and guiding AI. As AI systems become deeply embedded in human environments, they may respond to preferences but also shape them. Systems optimized for engagement or approval may reduce friction and discourage scrutiny. Over time, curiosity and skepticism may erode, leading to neglect and acceptance," the authors write.
Some of these risks may be speculative, but they are based on extrapolating current trends into the future.

Eric Horvitz et al, A narrowing window to understand AI, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.aei3167

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