brain chemistry

Coming Soon: Photographic Memory in a Pill?

Scientists isolate a protein that significantly increases visual recall

Wish you had a photographic memory? Well, Encyclopedia Brown, drugs may amp your brain up to that point soon. A group of Spanish scientists claim to have singled out a protein that can extend the life of visual memory significantly. When the production of the protein was boosted in mice, the rodents' visual memory retention increased, from about an hour to almost 2 months.

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For the First Time, Scientists Photograph Memories Being Formed

Long-term memories are formed by proteins in brain cells

Scientists have achieved a new milestone in brain imaging: we have seen a memory in the process of being formed. Using brain cells from a lowly sea slug, which actually makes a good model for our brains, images were captured of proteins forming between the neurons. These proteins distinguish the memory as a long-term one rather than short-term, as the proteins solidify the memory in the neurons. This process had been suspected but not visualized until now.

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Will Drugs Make Us Smarter and Happier?

A new understanding of brain chemistry could usher in an age of biologically enhanced humans

June 6, 2025, 7:30 a.m. The alarm is going off, and I feel great. Thanks to Reposinex, I´ve had a full four hours of deep, restorative sleep. My head hit the pillow, and boom!

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You Dirty Vole

If you cheat on your spouse, you can't yet plead biochemistry in divorce court. But rodent-brain research sheds light on why some lovers stay, some stray.

George is a typical Midwestern American male in the prime of his life, with an attractive spouse named Martha. George is a devoted husband, Martha an attentive wife. The couple has four young children, a typical home in a lovely valley full of corn and bean fields, and their future looks bright. But George is occasionally unfaithful. So, occasionally, is Martha. No big deal: That's just the way life is in this part of America.

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December 2009: Best of What's New

In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.

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