Stress

Scientists recently discovered something about male mice that's utterly bananas: The distinctive scent of a banana stresses them out.Researchers from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, learned about this unusual fruit aversion while analyzing spiking stress hormones in male mice when the males were close to pregnant or lactating females.  The scientists reported in a new study that the males' hormonal shifts were triggered by the presence of a compound called n-pentyl acetate in the females' urine.It also happens to…

Scientists have long known that touching plants can set off a stress reaction in them – but until now it hasn't been exactly clear how that worked at a molecular level, something that a new study hopes to shed light on.  The researchers behind the study have identified certain genetic keys inside plants that lead to two separate signaling pathways, explaining why plants react so strongly to being touched.Understanding more about how this process works at a fundamental level could help researchers in a variety of…

If you are switching from Android to an Apple iPhone and are confused how to set it up, then just read on. Here is how to do an Android to iPhone data transfer without any stress or frustration. Are you switching to an Apple iPhone from your Android device? Both the Android and iOS devices are different from each other and therefore, require to be synchronised. From the processors to the operating system, everything varies. You may also have to face difficulty…

According to the findings of a new study, women instructed to embrace their romantic partner prior to undergoing a stressful experience had a lower biological stress response, compared to women who did not embrace their partner. However, this effect was not seen for men.Women who embraced their romantic partner subsequently had lower stress-induced cortisol response. But partner embrace did not buffer the response to stress for men.Women instructed to embrace their romantic partner prior to undergoing a stressful…

Humans behave in strange ways. We readily reveal our inner feelings during moments of weakness, which doesn't seem like the smart thing to do.Just by observing someone's behavior, we can tell when they are in pain, frustrated or upset. Surely the best strategy is to try and conceal weakness? Why run the risk of being taken advantage of?  Many other animals rarely show visible behavior changes when they are struggling. Vets and animal carers have to rely on cues such as changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or hormone…

Schrenkiella parvulais a plant that can grow – even thrive – in extremely salty conditions. Researchers in the Dinneny lab study this plant to understand this special adaptation and how they might be able to modify other plants to withstand similarly stressful environments. Credit: José DinnenyWhen plants are faced with conditions that are too dry, salty, or cold, most of them try to conserve resources. They send out fewer leaves and roots and close up their pores to hold in water. If circumstances don’t improve, they…

Researchers have demonstrated that some stress may be good for cells, finding a novel mechanism that may aid in preventing the build-up of protein tangles, which are frequently seen in the brains of people with dementia.It’s commonly claimed that a little stress can be beneficial for you. Scientists have now demonstrated that the same may be true for cells, uncovering a newly-discovered mechanism that might help prevent the build-up of tangles of proteins commonly seen in dementia.A characteristic of diseases such as…