Weird News, Santa Fe, NM

Can shoes alter your mind? What neuroscience says about foot sensation and focus

Your shoes might not necessarily free your mind. ksana-gribakina/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Atom Sarkar, Professor of Neurosurgery, Drexel University Published: 2026 Jan 27 – Athletic footwear has entered a new era of ambition. No longer content to promise just comfort or …

Artificial metacognition: Giving an AI the ability to ‘think’ about its ‘thinking’

AIs could use some self-reflection. davincidig/iStock via Getty Images – By Ricky J. Sethi, Professor of Computer Science, Fitchburg State University; Worcester Polytechnic Institute Published: 2026 Jan 26 – Have you ever had the experience of rereading a sentence multiple times only to …

Gene editing takes a major step toward ending daily cholesterol pills

New therapy targets the liver’s PCSK9 gene to lower cholesterol. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jan 25 – A new CRISPR-based one-off procedure that lowers “bad” cholesterol has been approved to enter Phase I human trial. If successful, it could be the first …

Your brain can be trained, much like your muscles – a neurologist explains how to boost your brain health

Research shows that the brain can be exercised, much like our muscles. RapidEye/E+ via Getty Images – By Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Published: 2026 Jan 23 – If you have ever lifted a weight, you know the routine: …

Humans stopped producing our own Vitamin C to fight parasitic infections

Parasites love Vitamin C, and it turns out humans stopped producing it internally as a defense mechanism. Depositphotos – By Jay Kakade 2026 Jan 19 – Most mammals produce their own vitamin C using an enzyme called GULO. Around 60 million years ago, humans …

5-minute cold brew machine grinds and steeps on your tumbler

Ecoldbrew, which makes cold-brew coffee from whole beans in five minutes, is currently on Kickstarter. Ecoldbrew – By Shirl Leigh 2026 Jan 22 – Ecoldbrew, engineered by a team of designers with experience working for brands like Xiaomi, Philips, De’Longhi and Ningbo Borine, is …

Hacking the grid: How digital sabotage turns infrastructure into a weapon

Today’s power grid equipment incorporates internet-connected – and therefore hackable – computers. Joe Raedle/Getty Images – By Saman Zonouz, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity and Privacy and Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology Published: 2026 Jan 22 – The darkness that swept over …

Antibiotic resistance could undo a century of medical progress – but four advances are changing the story

Scientists are fighting back against antibiotic resistance with new strategies and tools. wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By André O. Hudson, Dean of the College of Science, Professor of Biochemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology Published: 2026 Jan 21 – Imagine going to the …

Raccoons break into liquor stores, scale skyscrapers and pick locks – studying their clever brains can clarify human intelligence, too

The moment you look away from those adorable eyes, these mischievous creatures will sneak out of your lab. Joshua J. Cotten/Unsplash, CC BY-SA – By Kelly Lambert, Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Richmond Published: 2026 Jan 16 – When a curious raccoon …

World’s fastest-growing plant is also a surprising superfood

Scientists have reviewed everything we know about eating bamboo. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jan 20 – You might be more familiar with it as a versatile fibrous material or the staple food of giant pandas, but bamboo has now entered the health-food …