A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution finds that the relatively high rate of Autism-spectrum disorders in humans is likely due to how humans evolved in the past.

Researchers have created new light-controlled tools that respond to blue light with pinpoint accuracy, offering safer, more precise treatments in the future.

Run. Red. World. Pronouncing the “r” sound in these words requires precise control of the tongue. For most children, this happens naturally, but many children struggle with residual speech sound disorder (RSSD) in which speech errors persist past the age of eight.

In a large-scale study, researchers in speech pathology tested a promising treatment approach that incorporates biofeedback—a method that uses technology to provide visual feedback to improve speech. They found that children’s ability to say the “r” sound improved at a much faster rate than with traditional methods during the early stages of therapy, demonstrating the value of biofeedback. Previous studies hinted at these benefits, but were limited by small sample sizes.

Exposure to high concentrations of air pollution may worsen Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by accelerating the buildup of toxic proteins in the brain and speeding up cognitive decline. For the first time, post-mortem tissue from people with AD revealed that those who lived in areas with higher concentrations of fine particulate matter in the air even just one year had more severe accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles—hallmarks of Alzheimer’s pathology—compared to those with less exposure.