A mouse study led by University of California, Riverside biomedical scientists suggests that everyday exposure to microplastics — tiny fragments shed from packaging, clothing, and countless plastic products — may accelerate the development of atherosclerosis, the artery-clogging process that leads to heart attacks and strokes. The harmful effects were seen only in male mice, offering new clues about how microplastics may affect cardiovascular health in humans.

Digital technology—and especially the Internet—has revolutionized the way we work, study, socialize, and entertain ourselves. Alongside the global increase in screen time, both public and academic attention to potentially addictive digital behaviors has grown.

One such behavior is online pornography consumption. A study published in Addictive Behaviors, conducted by researchers from Monash University (Australia), the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), investigated problematic pornography use (PPU), particularly in men.

A study investigated the unconscious inclinations that influence decision-making in people with depression. The innovative methodology aligned with one of the main trends in modern technology: the research was conducted by immersing participants in a virtual reality (VR) environment. With contributions from the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and other international institutions, the study was published in the scientific journal Journal of Psychiatric Research. Its findings offer new insights into the complex relationship between emotions and actions in depression.

UC Davis scientists find chemical "switches" that control gene expression in cabernet sauvignon remain stable across hundreds of years of clonal reproduction.

MIT researchers adapted X-ray CT scanning from the medical field to study slag waste produced as a byproduct of ancient copper smelting.