Explainers
Plain-language deep dives for public audiences
Can laughter improve health? Researchers launch study to find out
A new research initiative called the Laughter Lab is systematically investigating whether laughter can improve health and wellbeing. The study…
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Supreme Court’s Roundup ruling exposes a fundamental divide between legal and scientific causation standards
The US Supreme Court's recent glyphosate ruling exposes a fundamental gap: courts and scientists both use the word "causation," but…
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How Your Body Makes and Uses Creatine: The Complete Energy System Explained
Creatine is a naturally occurring molecule synthesized in the kidneys and liver that serves as…
Brain Energy Demands: Why Your Hardest Thinking Uses Only 5% More Fuel
The brain uses only 5% more energy during intensive thinking than at rest, because baseline…
How Your Gut Absorbs Nutrients: A Section-by-Section Guide to Digestive Checkpoints
Nutrient absorption is not a single process but a carefully choreographed sequence distributed across seven…
How Vitamin D Becomes an Antimicrobial Weapon Inside Your Immune Cells
Macrophages actively convert vitamin D into cathelicidin, a potent antimicrobial peptide, when pathogens are detected.…
Brain’s Energy Demands: Why B Vitamins and Micronutrients Matter for Cognitive Function
The human brain consumes 20% of body energy in adults—rising to 50% in children around…

