‘Feel good’ endorphins may be activated differently in the brains of social drinkers as compared to problem drinkers, according to recent neuroscience research. These insights may lead one day to finding more effective drugs to treat problem drinking.

Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to affect 35 million people world-wide and the financial and emotional costs are enormous. Interesting new research in the fields of genetics and neuroscience brings some hope that treatments may be found for cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory-related dysfunction.

Some of the longstanding and commonly accepted explanations we’ve been given about human nature are simply wrong. Worse, believing them leaves us vulnerable — both individually and as a society — to the manipulations of predators among us. And there are predators among us. They are not “sick.” They are just disturbingly different and unfathomably dangerous.

If Japanese scientists can turn human waste into artificial steak — or even if the story is a complete hoax — surely we have the technology to tackle the environmental concerns piling up on us as we barrel through the 21st century. What we’re lacking isn’t technology, but solidarity of purpose and will.

When faced with a challenge or when deciding on a goal you want to achieve, do you tackle it with a sense of confidence and the anticipation of eventual success? Or do you feel a sense of dread and impending failure? If it’s the latter, then it may be that your personal sense of self-efficacy needs some attention.

Pain is pain, regardless of the type or source. Even on a neurological level, emotional heartache can be every bit as painful as touching a hot stove.

Humans are social, relational animals. We need each other. But do we perform tasks better when we are alone? Does thinking about how other people perform them raise our anxiety levels and take our energy away? And is it possible to act just as effectively as if we were alone, even with others around?