brain research

A new autism study has identified two opposing molecular patterns in the brain, suggesting the condition may involve distinct biological signatures rather than a single shared profile. The findings point to different molecular pathways that appear to work in opposite directions, which could help explain the wide variability in autism and guide more targeted research into its underlying biology.

New research highlights a paradox in REM sleep: the brain's fuel supply appears to rise during dreaming, yet energy is still being drained. Scientists suggest that the intense neural activity behind vivid dreams may consume more energy than the increased supply can offset. The findings could reshape understanding of why sleep is restorative and how dreaming supports brain function.

Slime molds, single-celled organisms with no brain, have become the focus of a heated scientific debate after showing abilities like solving mazes and optimizing networks. Researchers disagree over whether such behaviour counts as genuine intelligence or merely simple chemical processes, with the dispute touching on broader questions about how intelligence should be defined in biology.