A Diet Lacking in Fiber Wreaks System-Wide Havoc, Scientists Find

It's more than just weight gain—it's chronic inflammation and weak immunity.

Photo: U.S. Air Force, Airman 1st Class Grace Lee.

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Surprising Science

Scientists Discover The “Master Controller” Neuron of Good and Bad Habits

The discovery of a neuron in the brain that acts as the “master controller” of habits could someday change the way we treat addiction and compulsive behaviors.

Cultured Rat Hippocampal Neuron

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Mind & Brain

Scientific Studies Using Mice May Be Hard to Replicate Due to Gut Microbes

Scientists are concerned that the results of studies using mice may be affected by gut bacteria.

Mice in a laboratory

Mice and other rodents are a staple of laboratory research. In fact, mice are the most commonly used vertebrate species. They are popular because you can get them easily and cheaply, they are small, reproduce quickly, share 99% of their genes with humans, and can be utilized to study genetic human diseases. But studies that rely on mice may potentially be difficult to replicate due to the differing gut contents of the rodents.

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Surprising Science