Tag: trauma

• Moon Trees and Watching Memories Form

  One of the Apollo 14 astronauts took a bag of tree seeds to the moon. A few years after the astronauts returned home, some of the seeds were planted across the United States... and then forgotten. Anthony and Jeff discuss the effort to track down these Moon Trees, and if they really mean something. Then, researchers have directly observed what happens inside the brain of a zebra fish when it is being traumatized. Jeff and Anthony talk about what this breakthrough means, and how exactly the scientists traumatized those fish. [more]

  April 4, 2022Episodes

• Corpse Medicine and Tetris Effects

  The idea of ingesting human skulls from the freshly killed seems repulsive today, but it was shockingly common among British and other European aristocrats from the 16th century all the way up into the so-called Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century. Jeff and Anthony discuss what it would take to try the recipe, and why it was so pervasive. Then, a new study reports that playing just 20 minutes of Tetris following an automobile accident can help prevent the formation of the painful, intrusive memories that can follow trauma. Anthony and Jeff investigate why this might be, and tip their hat to the greatest video game of all time. [more]

  October 29, 2021Episodes

• Memories For Snail

  Biologists report they have transferred a memory from one marine snail to another, creating an artificial memory, by injecting RNA from one to another. This research could lead to new ways to treat traumatic memories with RNA -- perhaps a traumatic memory could be altered -- and perhaps new ways to restore lost memories. Jeff and Anthony wonder if this technique could be used to help them forget their awkward teenage years. [more]

  May 25, 2018Episodes

• Working Like a Dog

  If you're a dog lover, just being with your pet feels good. So it's no surprise that therapy dogs are healing companions for people with health conditions. Research confirms that the benefits of pet therapy are real—but what do dogs think about helping humans? Science has considered this question too, and the results are reassuring. Jeff and Anthony discuss whether or not these findings apply to Anthony's perfect prince. [more]

  May 23, 2018Episodes