Just Plain WEIRD #2 
							
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		Scientists are only just beginning to unravel the mind-body connection that appears to impact physiological changes such as healing.  Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Jan 03 – For the first time, scientists have been able to establish that our perception of the passing …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		An artist’s impression of a Nanotyrannus attacking a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex, which might neatly sum up the whole debate. University of Bath – By Michael Irving 2024 Jan 02 – The debate rages on about whether fossils of small tyrannosaurs were a distinct species …	
	        
        				
						
			            			
																												
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		Extreme downpours filled downtown Montpelier, Vt., with water in July 2023. John Tully for The Washington Post via Getty Images – By Shuang-Ye Wu, Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, University of Dayton Published: 2023 Dec 19 – The year 2023 was marked …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		Researchers created a groundbreaking peptide that may mean injectable drugs can be taken orally. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2023 Dec 28 – Peptide therapeutics have revolutionized the treatment of disease, but their characteristics typically restrict them to administration by injection. Now, researchers have …	
	        
        				
						
			            									
																						
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		Whole foods like unprocessed fruits, vegetables and grains are typically high in fiber. Tanja Ivanova/Moment via Getty Images – By Christopher Damman, Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of Washington Published: 2023 Jul 03 – Fiber might just be the key …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		The particular stressors of the holiday season can make it difficult to listen to your body. InspirationGP/iStock via Getty Images – By Alex Johnson, Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience, Michigan State University Published: 2023 Dec 20 – The holiday season is upon us, …	
	        
        				
						
			            															
																
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		The Unitree H1 should ultimately sell for less than $90,000.  Unitree – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Dec 29 – It was just this week that we told you about Unitree’s latest quadruped robot, the B2. Well, the Chinese company has also announced its first-ever …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		An eight-week program focused on mindfulness and self-compassion reduced post-traumatic stress symptoms, a study found.  Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2023 Dec 28 – A new study evaluating the effectiveness of an eight-week program focusing on self-compassion and mindfulness found that it reduced symptoms …	
	        
        				
						
			            																					
										
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		LG’s smart home AI agent, looking like it’s eyeing up a teddy bear.  LG. VIEW GALLERY 3 IMAGES – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Dec 27 – While AI assistants like Alexa can be helpful, they’re typically stuck in stationary devices such as smart speakers. …	
	        
        				
						
			            																									
							
							
									
				
					
	
					
	
		The VIBE pill activates muscles around the stomach, which sets off a chain reaction of hormones that suppresses appetite and might be a less invasive alternative to gastric surgeries.  MIT News – By Michael Irving 2023 Dec 26 – Although we might ignore it …