Sleep is an important part of the daily life cycle of most animals — including humans. But when an animal sleeps, it leaves itself defenseless in the face of danger. So, what makes sleeping so important that we all take this risk? What effect does sleep have on individual brain cells? Research, both old and…
Squid are chameleons of the ocean, shifting effortlessly from hue to hue as they cross sand, coral and grass. Scientists have long studied the peculiar structures in their skin that interact with light, trying to understand how the animals change color so swiftly and with such precision. Now, a paper published last week in Nature…
If you think the Sunshine State is all about theme parks and frying on the beaches, you probably haven’t been to St. Augustine. In the oldest, continuously occupied European settlement in North America, visitors get the glorious beaches along with a healthy dose of unexpected delights: Spanish colonial and Moorish-style architecture, interesting museums and history…
What is considered “early” to experience menopause? — Dr. Alicia Hendley (@AliciaMHendley) October 25, 2018 Short Take Before the age of 40. [Have a question about women’s health? Ask Dr. Gunter yourself.] Tell Me More The defining phenomenon of menopause is cessation of ovulation (producing an egg), which results in a drastic reduction in the…
HONG KONG — President Xi Jinping is known for breaking the rules of Chinese politics, amassing more power than any leader since Mao. His latest attempt to shake things up may be one of his boldest moves yet: Mr. Xi is going slightly — though unabashedly — gray, in defiance of longstanding Communist Party tradition.…
In a special box on Lauren Viera’s jewelry stand is her most precious possession. It’s a dried-up, shriveled leaf. The leaf, found on the floor of a hut, was presented to her in 2013, wrapped in the shape of a ring when Ms. Viera’s now-husband, Jason Tinkey, a 41-year-old geographer, proposed on a beach in…
As a palliative care doctor, I spend much of my time face-to-face with pain and suffering, debilitating disease and death. When I began my training, I thought I was comfortable with the idea of mortality, and with the notion that fighting death at all costs wasn’t the sole purpose of medicine. But I hadn’t expected…
As glass condominium towers continue to push their way into city skylines like sunflowers squeezing up through walled gardens, some homeowners and developers have come to a realization: Floor-to-ceiling glass may provide breathtaking views, but it cuts down on opportunities for displaying art. And because art collectors represent a significant portion of the small pool…
If Anne Harris could be given one room in every home in the country, she would be happy. Not a seldom-used spare bedroom, either, but a room you notice. “They used to relegate me to powder rooms, children’s rooms,” Ms. Harris said, before adding with a gleam, “I want the entry hall.” Ms. Harris, 66,…
Sometimes, when life throws you a curve, it can be a golden opportunity. Jasmit Singh Rangr was happily settled in Manhattan, running Rangr Studio, the design practice he founded in 2004, when in 2014, his wife, Abigail Dillen, was offered a vice president’s job at her longtime employer, Earthjustice, that required moving to San Francisco.…