It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Wednesday, March 05, 2025
Iconic Australian bird reveals hidden farming talent
A beloved Australian bird best known for its stunning tail and powers of mimicry may have a cunning hidden talent.
New research has revealed the superb lyrebird to be a resourceful farmer, creating micro-habitats to host and fatten its prey before returning later to feast.
Scientists from La Trobe University observed the ground-dwelling birds working to create habitats suitable for their diet of worms, centipedes and spiders.
In a new paper published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, the researchers found that lyrebirds arranged litter and soil on the forest floor in ways that promote more prey.
They fenced lyrebirds out from small areas throughout the forest to create lyrebird-free environments. In some of these areas the researchers raked the leaf litter and soil to simulated lyrebird foraging. Where raking had been undertaken, there were more types and larger invertebrates than the areas without simulated lyrebird foraging.
Lead researcher Alex Maisey said this type of animal farming was rarely seen in nature.
"Lyrebirds set up the perfect home for their prey, creating conditions with more food resources and effectively fattening them up before eating them," Dr Maisey said.
The superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) is mainly found in the moist eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia.
Dr Maisey said lyrebirds, through foraging, heavily influenced the plants and animals that lived in Australia's south-eastern forests.
In this project, lyrebirds were measured moving an average of 155 tonnes of litter and soil per hectare while farming invertebrates.
They also lower the intensity of bushfires by burying leaves and branches that fuel fires, thereby shaping whole ecosystems, Dr Maisey said.
"Lyrebirds are widespread and active across millions of hectares of forest. Their farming actions play an important role in maintaining forest biodiversity."
One-third of Canadian adults aged 55 or older are nutritionally at risk, potentially leading to increased hospital stays, more emergency visits and physician consultations for possible infections, a new study found.
The University of Waterloo researchers assessed data from more than 22,000 community-dwelling adults aged 55 and over from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. After an initial evaluation, they followed up with participants up to three years later to track their health-service use over the previous year.
Researchers used the SCREEN-8 tool (Seniors in the Community Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition) to measure an individual’s nutrition risk. They found that those with higher SCREEN-8 scores at the initial screening – indicating better nutrition – had significantly lower odds of reporting an overnight hospital stay, visiting a hospital emergency room, or seeing a doctor for an infection when followed up three years later.
“While these results make sense intuitively, they highlight how a straightforward and inexpensive tool can easily be used to potentially make a vast difference in improving health-care outcomes and costs,” said Dr. Heather Keller, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition and Aging.
“SCREEN-8 should be a routine part of primary care practice, although it can be self-administered at home.”
Nutrition risk among older adults is a significant concern, especially among community-dwelling individuals, as it precedes malnutrition. The eight questions on SCREEN-8 gather information about weight change, appetite, eating challenges – such as choking or difficulty swallowing – meal preparation behaviours and fruit, vegetable and fluid intake.
The study sample included an equal number of males and females, with a mean age of about 66 years. Most participants were living with a partner and two-thirds of people surveyed had post-secondary degrees. One of the study’s limitations was that the people sampled were predominately highly educated and white, meaning that it is not fully representative of Canadians.
“Knowing who’s at risk nutritionally allows individuals the possibility of modifying behaviours to avert negative health outcomes,” Keller said. “Further research can help determine how health-care practitioners can best triage and provide education, programming and services to offset high risk.”
A plastic spoon’s worth of plastic is inside your brain: “Research reveals that human brains contain approximately a spoon's worth of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), with levels 3-5 times higher in individuals with documented dementia diagnoses. More concerning still, brain tissues showed 7-30 times higher concentrations of MNPs compared to other organs like the liver or kidney."
Credit: Dr. Nicholas Fabiano, University of Ottawa, Canada
OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada, 4 March 2025 – In a comprehensive Commentary published today in Brain Medicine (https://doi.org/10.61373/bm025c.0020), researchers discuss alarming new evidence about microplastic accumulation in human brain tissue, providing critical insights into potential health implications and prevention strategies. This Commentary examines findings from a groundbreaking Nature Medicine article by Nihart et al. (2025) on bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03453-1).
The research reveals that human brains contain approximately a spoon's worth of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), with levels 3-5 times higher in individuals with documented dementia diagnoses. More concerning still, brain tissues showed 7-30 times higher concentrations of MNPs compared to other organs like the liver or kidney.
"The dramatic increase in brain microplastic concentrations over just eight years, from 2016 to 2024, is particularly alarming," notes Dr. Nicholas Fabiano from the University of Ottawa's Department of Psychiatry, lead author of the Commentary. "This rise mirrors the exponential increase we're seeing in environmental microplastic levels."
Of particular concern are particles smaller than 200 nanometers, predominantly composed of polyethylene, which show notable deposition in cerebrovascular walls and immune cells. This size allows them to potentially cross the blood-brain barrier, raising questions about their role in neurological conditions.
The Commentary review highlights practical strategies for reducing exposure, noting that switching from bottled to filtered tap water alone could reduce microplastic intake from 90,000 to 4,000 particles per year. "Bottled water alone can expose people to nearly as many microplastic particles annually as all ingested and inhaled sources combined," says Dr. Brandon Luu, an Internal Medicine Resident at the University of Toronto. "Switching to tap water could reduce this exposure by almost 90%, making it one of the simplest ways to cut down on microplastic intake." Other significant sources include plastic tea bags, which can release millions of micro and nano-sized particles per brewing session. He also highlights that how we heat and store food matters. "Heating food in plastic containers—especially in the microwave—can release substantial amounts of microplastics and nanoplastics," he explains. "Avoiding plastic food storage and using glass or stainless steel alternatives is a small but meaningful step in limiting exposure. While these changes make sense, we still need research to confirm whether lowering intake leads to reduced accumulation in human tissues."
The research team also explores potential elimination pathways, including evidence that sweating might help remove certain plastic-derived compounds from the body. However, Dr. David Puder, host of the Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast, warns, "We need more research to wrap our heads around microplastics—rather than wrapping our brains in them—since this could be one of the biggest environmental storms most people never saw coming."The commentary calls for urgent research priorities, including establishing clear exposure limits and assessing long-term health consequences of microplastic accumulation. The authors emphasize the need for large-scale human studies to determine dose-response relationships between microplastic exposure and chronic health outcomes.
The peer-reviewed Commentary article, “Human microplastic removal: what does the evidence tell us?,” appears online on 4 March 2025 in Brain Medicine (Genomic Press) and is freely accessible at https://doi.org/10.61373/bm025c.0020.
About Brain Medicine: Brain Medicine (ISSN: 2997-2639) is a peer-reviewed medical research journal published by Genomic Press, New York. Brain Medicine is a new home for the cross-disciplinary pathway from innovation in fundamental neuroscience to translational initiatives in brain medicine. The journal’s scope includes the underlying science, causes, outcomes, treatments, and societal impact of brain disorders across all clinical disciplines and their interface.
GUELPH, Ontario, Canada, 4 March 2025 – In an exclusive Genomic Press Interview, Dr. Melissa Perreault reveals how her research is reshaping neuroscience by merging cutting-edge science with Indigenous knowledge. As a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Guelph and a member of the Royal Society of Canada, Dr. Perreault’s work spans neurobiology, ethical research practices, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics—all while championing Indigenous representation in STEM.
Raised in a low-income, single-parent household, she was the first in her family to attend university. As she navigated academia, she encountered systemic barriers but persevered, ultimately becoming a leader in translational neuroscience. Today, she not only advances scientific discovery but also uplifts underrepresented voices, leading initiatives to decolonize and Indigenize neuroscience.
"We need to rethink how we conduct neuroscience. Traditional knowledge holds valuable insights that can help us better understand brain health, yet it is often overlooked in Western research," says Dr. Perreault.
Innovative Research: Biomarkers, Psychedelics, and Complexity Science
Dr. Perreault’s research program focuses on three core areas:
Sex-Specific Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: She is pioneering studies on depression and autism spectrum disorders, working toward precision medicine approaches that consider biological sex differences in brain function.
Psychedelics and Whole-Organism Research: Her work explores the neurobiological effects of whole psilocybin mushrooms and other traditional medicines, investigating their potential in mental health treatment beyond isolated compounds.
Complexity Science and Holistic Neuroscience: She advocates for moving beyond reductionist approaches, integrating environmental, social, and biological factors to develop a more complete understanding of the brain.
Her work on psychedelics is particularly groundbreaking, as it challenges conventional methodologies in drug discovery. While pharmaceutical research typically isolates active compounds, Dr. Perreault emphasizes the importance of studying whole plants and fungi as they are traditionally used, recognizing the possible synergy of multiple bioactive compounds.
"People are using whole mushrooms, yet research focuses only on isolated molecules. We need to investigate how these natural compounds work together, rather than just trying to extract a ‘magic bullet’ chemical," she explains.
The Future of Ethical and Inclusive Neuroscience
Dr. Perreault’s leadership extends beyond the lab. She is actively shaping global discussions on ethical engagement with Indigenous communities in research, promoting strength-based collaborations rather than extractive scientific practices. Her leadership within the Crosscultural Working Group of the International Brain Initiative is helping build bridges between Western science and traditional knowledge.
She also advocates for a shift in how neuroscience approaches diversity—not just in study participants, but in research design itself. She calls for more inclusive methodologies that consider diverse worldviews, cultural understandings of health, and ethical community-based research partnerships.
"Science cannot remain isolated from the real-world experiences of the people it aims to help. By broadening our perspectives, we can create truly transformative discoveries," she concludes.
Professor Melissa Perreault’s Genomic Press interview is part of a larger series called Innovators & Ideas that highlights the people behind today’s most influential scientific breakthroughs. Each interview in the series offers a blend of cutting-edge research and personal reflections, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the scientists shaping the future. By combining a focus on professional achievements with personal insights, this interview style invites a richer narrative that both engages and educates readers. This format provides an ideal starting point for profiles that delve into the scientist’s impact on the field, while also touching on broader human themes. More information on the research leaders and rising stars featured in our Innovators & Ideas – Genomic Press Interview series can be found in our publication website: https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/.
The full Genomic Press Interview, titled ‘Melissa Perreault: Thinking big towards a “complexity science” approach in neuroscience – systems, environment, and whole organism research,’ is freely available through Open Access starting on 4 March 2025 in Genomic Psychiatry at the following hyperlink: https://doi.org/10.61373/gp025k.0011.
About Genomic Psychiatry – Genomic Psychiatry: Advancing Science from Genes to Society (ISSN: 2997-2388) represents a paradigm shift in genetics journals by interweaving advances in genomics and genetics with progress in all other areas of contemporary psychiatry. Genomic Psychiatry publishes peer-reviewed medical research articles of the highest quality from any area within the continuum that goes from genes and molecules to neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, and public health.
Dr. Perreault loves scuba diving in her spare time. Although there are many things to see under the ocean, sharks are among themost exciting creatures. Here, she is diving in the Bahamas with black-tip reef sharks.
Credit
Melissa Perreault
Melissa Perreault: Thinking big towards a “complexity science” approach in neuroscience – systems, environment, and whole organism research
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is widely used as a bleach, disinfectant, and oxidising agent, among other things. However, industrial production of H2O2 is expensive and uses a lot of energy owing to the rare and precious metal catalysts used in its production. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed an alternative, onsite production strategy for H2O2 that can also degrade industrial pollutants like toxic dyes.
The scientists have utilised a zinc-air battery in which oxygen reduction generates H2O2. "Zinc is an abundant and historically-used element … it is very cheap and abundant in India," says Aninda J Bhattacharyya, Professor in the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER) and Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit (SSCU), and corresponding author of the study published in Small Methods.
A metal-air battery has a metal like zinc as the anode (negative electrode) and ambient air as the cathode (positive electrode). When the battery discharges – releases energy – oxygen from ambient air gets reduced at the cathode, producing H2O2.
The electrochemical reduction of oxygen proceeds through two ways, one of which forms H2O2. “The strategy here is to control the extent of the oxygen reduction reaction. If you don't control it at some level, it will just go and form water,” explains Bhattacharyya.
This control can be achieved using specific catalysts. "We are using a metal-free catalyst based on carbon," says Asutosh Behera, first author and PhD student at SSCU. These inexpensive catalysts usually drive the reaction along the route that forms water where the selectivity towards H2O2 is less. However, incorporating certain chemical modifications in these catalysts, like adding oxygen functional groups, directs the reaction selectivity towards the production of H2O2.
Bhattacharyya explains that using a battery to directly produce H2O2 is a novel approach. "You don't have to do other things. You have a battery, and you run it. We have curtailed the voltage such that it is only producing H2O2."
Another advantage of using batteries is that they produce or store electrical energy in addition to chemical reactions. “What we are doing is that along with producing H2O2, we are storing energy because it takes place inside the cell,” Bhattacharyya adds.
The H2O2 generated must be detected since it is colourless. This can be done by introducing a dye, a toxic pollutant produced by the textile industry. When H2O2 is created, it reacts with the dye, degrading it and changing its colour. "The H2O2 generated will further decompose into various radicals (such as hydroxide and superoxide) – highly raw, reactive organic species – that will eventually degrade the textile dye," Behera explains. This degradation helps increase the efficiency of H2O2 production and eliminate the toxic dye.
"There are some fundamental challenges which must be overcome," Bhattacharyya notes. For example, a metal-air battery has three phases – solid (zinc), liquid (electrolyte), and gas (air). This makes handling them more challenging than most batteries with only two phases.
Despite these challenges, the researchers believe that the strategy is scalable and may have other applications, like generating electricity in remote locations. "This method is very sustainable, low-cost, and highly energy-efficient," says Bhattacharyya.
