The answer may depend on the chemical makeup of your weed. — During the 1970s, a number of research groups looked at the effects of cannabis on anxiety. Those studies produced mixed results. Some found that anxiety increased following cannabis use, while others found that cannabis could in some cases relieve stress and anxiety. Flash forward 50 years, and medical science’s view…

One of human physiology’s great mysteries may be solved, finally. — Yawning is a mystery that has long defied explanation. Along with humans — who begin yawning in the womb just 12 weeks after conception — most other living things also yawn. That includes dogs, cats, and other mammals, but also birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Any behavior that exists so broadly…

Extended fasts may treat everything from injuries to immune dysfunctions. — On a recent Monday evening, a friend and I sat down for a beer at an outdoor café not far from our homes. The conversation turned to podcasts we’d listened to and liked. My friend is a recreational athlete. He’s a big fan of doctor-led podcasts that explore the science…

Exploring an under-appreciated branch of psychology. — One of my kids is learning to read. Very grudgingly. My wife and I have tried to encourage him with rewards. We’ve threatened him with the loss of privileges. Neither has worked. Recently, in an inspired moment, I tried a new tactic. I told him he could only read for…

A researcher argues mouth-breathing during exercise might be connected to lung and heart trouble. — Human beings are meant to breathe mostly through their noses. “Physiologically, it’s the primary way we’re designed to breathe,” says Brett Comer, MD, a professor, surgeon, and otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Nasal respiration filters and cleans the air we inhale…

It’s healthy and human to feel sad, worried, and uncomfortable. — During the 1950s and 1960s, the writer and lecturer Alan Watts helped popularize Zen Buddhism in the West. In one of his recorded talks titled The Middle Way, Watts described the Buddhist recognition that the positive and negative elements of life cannot exist without one another. “If you try to…

The virus has all but disappeared from our everyday lives. Why? — At this time last year, America’s Covid-19 situation was still precarious. Following a springtime dip in deaths and hospitalizations, both rebounded strongly during the summer. The week of July 23, 2022, nearly 45,000 Americans were newly hospitalized with Covid-19. More than 3,000 people died. Now contrast those numbers with the…

It’s like keyboard tai chi. — I first learned to type when I was in grade school. In between games of Oregon Trail and Carmen Sandiego, my classmates and I would hone our keyboard skills and take tests to measure our progress. …

More kids are being diagnosed than ever before. Why? — During the roughly 20-year period stretching from 1997–98 to 2015–16, the number of American kids diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder increased by nearly 70%. County-level estimates have found that in many parts of the country, close to 1-in-5 children are now diagnosed with the condition. “In some southern states, 30%…