Ailing America: Why U.S. Healthcare Misses the Mark

Despite its wealth, technology, and high spending, the U.S. healthcare system ranks last among ten high-income countries across access, outcomes, and efficiency. With persistent insurance gaps, high out-of-pocket costs, and insufficient primary care access, Americans experience lower life expectancy and higher avoidable mortality than their peers. Even the best-performing U.S. states fall short of global standards. While structural issues such as poverty and inequality exacerbate challenges, reforms like broadening coverage, lowering costs, and strengthening primary care could significantly close the gap in healthcare performance. Why the U.S. Healthcare System Is So Much Worse Than Its Peers-Harvard Business Review.

Venom: The Bitter Pill That Heals

Gila monster venom paved the way for groundbreaking weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic, but its potential is just the tip of the fang. From tarantula venom aiding nerve research to cone snails delivering hypoglycemia-inducing toxins, venoms have evolved from biological weapons to pharmaceutical treasures. They act as nature’s Swiss Army knives, packed with peptides and proteins, offering targeted, potent solutions. Despite challenges like extinction and extraction, venom research reveals our shared molecular blueprints, promising innovations in cancer treatment, pain relief, and more—proving that even the deadliest bites can lead to life-saving breakthroughs. Venom Helped Create Weight-Loss Drugs. What Else Could It Do For Us? - The New York Times (gift article).

True to Self: Authenticity’s Inner Workings

What does authenticity mean? How to be more authentic. - The Washington Post (gift article) explores the profound psychological benefits of authenticity, framing it as a dynamic process of self-determination and alignment with personal values. Researchers argue that authenticity strengthens mental health, fosters meaningful relationships, and provides a deep sense of life purpose. Authenticity involves being truthful and actively choosing actions that resonate with one’s ideals, enhancing self-control, resilience, and decision-making. In contrast, inauthenticity can lead to anxiety and diminished life satisfaction. Individuals can find a more meaningful and fulfilling life path by pursuing goals rooted in personal values and staying open to evolving self-discovery.

Gene Insurance, No Coverage Guaranteed

As genetic testing becomes familiar, a troubling trend emerges: insurers are legally denying coverage based on genetic predispositions, creating a new form of discrimination. Kristen V. Brown highlights cases where individuals like “Bill,” a healthy man with a genetic marker for ALS, are refused policies or face inflated premiums due to perceived health risks. Though the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) protects against genetic bias in health insurance and employment, life, disability, and long-term-care insurers face no such constraints. This legal gap fuels fears, deterring many from getting genetic tests that could aid in early disease prevention. They Were Denied Insurance After a DNA Test - The Atlantic.

Walk the Walk

Walking isn’t just a leisurely activity; it’s a powerful, accessible way to improve fitness, mental health, and weight management. This article details how adding intentional walking workouts—like intervals, step counting, and strength combos—can help you increase calorie burn and keep walks engaging. Fitness coach Michele Stanten shares top tips, including structuring walks as workouts and turning mundane steps into effective, fun routines. From desk-side walking pads to strolls during phone calls, you’ll find practical ideas to sneak in steps and reap walking’s full health benefits. How You Should Add Walking Workouts to Your Routine - Men's Health.

Pump Up Your Positive Vibes

Want to Feel Happier? Here’s How to Cultivate Positive Emotions. - The New York Times (gift article) delves into “reward sensitivity,” the psychological drive to seek and savor positive emotions. A clinical psychologist, Jenny Taitz outlines research-backed methods to help boost happiness, even for those prone to feeling low or anxious. Techniques include planning daily joyful activities, savoring the moment, expanding vocabulary for positive emotions, and visualizing uplifting outcomes. Taitz emphasizes that growing the habit of noticing and relishing joy strengthens one’s motivation to engage in future pleasurable experiences, transforming life’s small moments into meaningful mental boosts.

+An excellent app by the author of Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society to help with one of the suggestions of the article - expanding your feelings vocabulary. How We Feel App.

When Tired Minds Turn Testy

New research reveals that prolonged mental fatigue, or “ego depletion,” triggers changes in the brain’s frontal cortex, leading to increased aggression and diminished cooperation. During tasks requiring self-control, fatigued participants exhibited sleep-like brain activity, indicating localized “brain naps” in regions critical for decision-making. EEG scans confirmed these changes, showing that mental exhaustion disrupts impulse control and decision quality. Through economic games, fatigued individuals were found to be notably less cooperative and more hostile, underscoring the potential impact of mental fatigue on daily interactions, negotiations, and even legal scenarios. Mental Exhaustion Drives Aggressive Behavior - Neuroscience News.

Rat Race Reimagined

In a unique study, neuroscientist Kelly Lambert taught rats to drive mini cars, revealing that anticipation of enjoyable experiences may boost brain health and resilience. Rats that anticipated driving to earn a treat displayed behaviors linked to excitement, like standing with tails high. The study showed that positive experiences, not just stress, shape neuroplasticity and the brain’s ability to adapt. Lambert’s findings suggest that embracing joy and anticipation can transform behavior and mental health in rats and humans, underscoring the value of enjoying life’s journey, not just the destination. I’m a neuroscientist who taught rats to drive − their joy suggests how anticipating fun can enrich human life.

The Brain Isn’t the Only Keeper of Memories

Traditionally, memories are believed to reside solely in the brain, but a new study reveals that non-neural cells in the body also hold a memory function. Scientists at NYU found that cells outside the brain can “learn” and activate a memory gene in response to specific patterns of chemical signals, similar to how brain cells respond during spaced learning. This discovery suggests memory might be a cellular feature beyond the brain, potentially impacting future treatments for memory-related conditions and enhancing learning by targeting body-wide cellular responses. Memories are not only in the brain, human cell study finds (thanks, Amy!).

Forbidden Fruit Loophole: Why Some Banned Foods Make It to U.S. Plates

The U.S. food approval system allows certain additives banned in other countries to remain on American grocery shelves. Unlike Europe, which adopts a precautionary stance, the U.S. regulatory process is constrained by funding, industry influence, and a significant loophole: the “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) exemption. This GRAS policy lets companies self-determine safety without FDA review, leading to chemicals like titanium dioxide in foods despite potential risks. While some states are moving to ban specific additives, federal change remains slow, hindered by resource limitations and competing priorities within the FDA.Why US foods, including Halloween candy, have additives and chemicals banned in other countries | Vox.