Credit: iStock Does being in the dark ever send a shiver up your spine? Have you ever hurried down a hallway after turning out the light? You may get spooked by suspicious shadows in a dark room only to turn on the light and realize it is just an innocent chair. Then, you might wonder … Continue reading Why Are We Afraid of Shadows in the Night? Because of Our Brains.
Vision
Spotlight On: Migraine
Credit: iStock This month, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the American Physiological Society journal Physiological Reviews, we are highlighting recent research published in the journal. Interested in reading more in celebration of Physiological Reviews' birthday? Read about bariatric surgery's effect on hunger, targeting the immune system to treat cancer and new thoughts on … Continue reading Spotlight On: Migraine
What Happens to Astronauts’ Bodies in Space?
APS member and astronaut Jessica Meir, PhD, works in a microgravity environment on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA If I asked you where is up and where is down, you would most likely be able to identify it. This is because the Earth’s gravitational pull on your body makes it easier for you to … Continue reading What Happens to Astronauts’ Bodies in Space?
Spotlight On: Vision
Credit: iStock If you’re reading this article, you can thank the crafty and tireless work of evolution. While we may take vision for granted as a simple and straightforward process, how we see is not so simple at all. How we see While the evolution of sight—from a primitive eyespot that could only discriminate between … Continue reading Spotlight On: Vision
Is (Winter) Happiness in the Eye of the Beholder?
Credit: iStock Long winter nights got you down? If you’re having trouble getting in the holiday spirit and these emotions feel more persistent as the season progresses, it may be time to talk to your doctor. For some people, this time of year triggers a type of winter depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD … Continue reading Is (Winter) Happiness in the Eye of the Beholder?