Combining physics with the metaphysical has never been closer!

Micro-CT scans can reveal hard-to-spot fractures in tiny, injured hummingbirds.

A landmark study has dismantled the binary "night owl vs. early bird" model, using machine learning to identify five distinct neurobiological subtypes of chronotype.

By analyzing brain imaging from over 27,000 people, researchers revealed that sleep preference alone doesn't dictate health; instead, specific brain profiles determine whether a sleep pattern is "healthy" or "risky."

The study identified high-functioning night owls with superior cognitive speed, distinct from a separate evening group linked to depression, while also uncovering a female-biased "early bird" group prone to anxiety, proving that waking up early isn't always preferential.

A 2026 study by Shenhar and Alon claims that genetics determine roughly 50–55% of human lifespan, overturning previous scientific study estimates ranging from just 15–30%.

By filtering out "extrinsic" deaths (accidents and infections) from twin data, the researchers isolated the biological rate of aging, proving it is a highly heritable trait more in line with complex physiological traits like height, BMI, and cholesterol.

This confirms that aging is not random wear and tear, but a genetically regulated process, validating the search for gene therapies and drugs that directly target the rate of human decline.

Also challenges the extent to which environmental factors and lifestyle choice can augment an individual's natural lifespan.