Surprising Science — January 9, 2011

Obesity Linked to Cognitive Impairment

Having a larger waistline may shrink your brain. Obesity is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, which is known to be associated with cognitive impairment.

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Antonio Convit at the New York University School of Medicine wanted to see what impact obesity had on the physical structure of the brain. He used magnetic resonance imaging to compare the brains of 44 obese individuals with those of 19 lean people of similar age and background. He found that obese individuals had more water in the amygdala—a part of the brain involved in eating behavior. He also saw smaller orbitofrontal cortices in obese individuals, important for impulse control and also involved in feeding behavior.

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Neuropsych

Psychopath-ish: How “healthy” brains can look and function like those of psychopaths

A recent study used fMRI to compare the brains of psychopathic criminals with a group of 100 well-functioning individuals, finding striking similarities.

Neuropsych

Traffic air pollution may be linked to structural brain changes

Air pollution poses “a significant risk to brain development” according to researchers.

Map showing migration routes across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans to the Indian Ocean, with sightings marked by colors and dates.

Strange Maps

Hungry or horny? Whale makes record swim halfway across planet

In 8,000-mile journey, a male humpback ditches Colombia for Tanzania — however, scientists don’t know why he made the trip.

A person with a backpack stands on rocky terrain, contemplating the distant, mist-covered volcanic mountain under a clear blue sky, pondering the longevity of nature's breathtaking beauty.

Business

How to build something that lasts

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

In the depths of space, a spiral galaxy twists like a cosmic Kraken, its bright core and distinct arms encircled by a sea of stars against the dark expanse.

Starts With A Bang

Devouring “the Kraken” led to the modern Milky Way

Did the Milky Way form by slowly accreting matter or by devouring its neighboring galaxies? At last, we’re uncovering our own history.

Up Next

Technology & Innovation

Africa’s Economic Lion

An analysis by The Economist finds that over the ten years to 2010, no fewer than six of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies were in sub-Saharan Africa.