11 h. ago Science says our brain has five ‘eras’, which explains why I didn’t feel like a real grown

Millennials have long been painted as the generation who won’t grow up. But as a new study suggests the human brain has five distinct eras, with adulthood only kicking in at age 32, it might turn out we’re all stuck in arrested development for longer than we thought, writes Helen Coffey

Politics

25 h. ago Why the 'arm cutting' scene in 127 Hours makes you squirm: Scientists reveal how your brain simulates pain it sees on screen

Whether it's the arm cutting incident in 127 hours or the fingernail scene in Black Swan, there are plenty of movie moments that make us wince.

Politics

44 h. ago Adolescence lasts into your 30s, major new study on brain development finds

New analysis has found that the human brain goes through five ‘major epochs’ ages during lifetime

Politics

55 h. ago Brain has five ‘eras’, scientists say – with adult mode not starting until early 30s

Study suggests human brain development has four pivotal ‘turning points’ at around the ages of nine, 32, 66 and 83Scientists have identified five major “epochs” of human brain development in one of the most comprehensive studies to date of how neural wiring changes from infancy to old age.The study, based on the brain scans of nearly 4,000 people aged under one to 90, mapped neural connections and how they evolve during our lives. This revealed five broad phases, split up by four pivotal “turning points” in which brain organisation moves on to a different trajectory, at around the ages of nine, 32, 66 and 83 years. Continue reading...

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1 week ago The most detailed map of the brain ever seen: Stunning simulation details 10 MILLION neurons across 86 interconnected regions

The stunning simulation created with Japan's ultra-fast supercomputer, represents almost 10 million neurons, 26 billion synapses and 86 interconnected brain regions.

Politics

1 week ago Bill Bryson: ‘Ever since I was a little boy, I have pretended to be able to vaporise people I don’t like’

The American British author on pet peeves, the perils of fantasy dinner parties, and revisiting The Short History of Everything two decades laterGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailYou did a whole book on Australia, and have travelled here a bit since – what’s the number one tip or recommendation you’d give someone coming for the first time?Get out and walk! I mean, maybe not through the outback, but if you’re in any of the cities, walk. I do that wherever I go. And I love to just go off and explore without knowing where I’m going, without a map or any preconceived ideas. I think it’s the best way to discover a place, and it has the great virtue that if you turn a corner – say in Sydney – and there’s suddenly the Harbour Bridge, you feel as if you’ve discovered it. There’s a real feeling of exhilaration, I think, in that. But also, you discover little cafes and hidden corners and odds and ends.Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for ...

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2 w. ago Is your brain wired to keep you fat? Experts explain the truth about weight loss

We can blame a lot of the difficulty we have with weight loss on our predecessors, say Valdemar Brimnes Ingemann Johansen and Christoffer Clemmensen.

Politics

2 w. ago Woman spies Jellycats at car boot but people floored at amount she paid for 2

Finding Jellycats at a car boot sale or in a charity shop can feel like a real win, but one woman was prepared to fork out a small fortune for two of the cuddly toys

Politics

2 w. ago First atlas of developing brain could provide crucial insights into ADHD

Researchers charted the development of brain cells from embryo to adulthood

Politics

3 w. ago Scientists revealed the first atlas of a developing brain. Here’s why it’s important

Researchers have found more than 5,000 cell types in the mouse brain

Politics

3 w. ago UK economy ‘bleeding out’ with brain drain in science and tech, peers warn

The Science and Technology Committee said Britain should be ‘rolling out the red carpet rather than red tape’ for highly skilled professionals.

Events

3 w. ago 'I'm a brain scientist, anyone who makes this mistake will never be successful'

There's a lot of conflicting information available about how to best motivate yourself, maximise your potential, and get what you want out of life, but one neuroscientist has some crucial advice

Science

3 w. ago Being 'hangry' is NOT a real thing! Scientists find no link between hunger and brain power

You might think you're not yourself when you're hungry - but that's just not true, according to a new study.

Politics

4 w. ago Scans shed light on changes in brain when we zone out while tired

Study finds lapses of attention in sleep-deprived people coincide with wave of fluid flowing out of the brainIt’s never a great look. The morning meeting is in full swing but thanks to a late night out your brain switches off at the precise moment a question comes your way.Such momentary lapses in attention are a common problem for the sleep deprived, but what happens in the brain in these spells of mental shutdown has proved hard to pin down. Continue reading...

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