Researchers found that smelling chocolate before and during resistance exercise may subtly change how the brain responds to effort and appetite. Halfway through a difficult leg workout, most people would not expect the smell of chocolate to help them complete more repetitions. Yet a study published in Frontiers in Physiology suggests that exposure to dark [...]

A decade-long search through Taiwan’s remote forests led to the discovery of East Asia’s tallest tree and hundreds of other towering giants. An 84-meter-tall tree is surprisingly easy to miss. Hidden within Taiwan’s steep mountains and dense old-growth forests are some of the tallest trees on Earth, including giant conifers that rise higher than a [...]

A hidden wave of fungal disease and lung parasites is putting wild rattlesnakes and other native snakes at risk. Snake populations around the world are under increasing pressure from habitat loss, disease, and other environmental challenges. Among the diseases drawing the most concern is ophidiomycosis, commonly known as snake fungal disease, which is caused by [...]

A simple writing task may offer clues about aging brains. Researchers found that dictation, in particular, exposed subtle differences linked to cognitive impairment. Handwriting depends on both fine motor skills and complex mental processes, including selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information. Because writing places heavy demands on the brain, changes in handwriting may help reveal [...]