A new study suggests a complex brain network may be the key to understanding some of the stranger symptoms of Parkinson's disease, according to NPR News. Meanwhile, astronomers are still puzzled by the existence of massive galaxies in the early universe, as reported by Phys.org. In other health news, Vox reports that progress is being made toward a universal flu vaccine, while Time highlights the unexpected ways dehydration can negatively impact the body. Finally, Vox also features a look inside a unique hospital for bats in Australia.
Scientists believe a brain network called the SCAN network, which links movement and thinking, is a key area affected in Parkinson's disease, according to NPR News. This network could explain a range of symptoms beyond the tremors and walking difficulties typically associated with the disease.
The existence of massive, elliptical galaxies in the early universe continues to puzzle astronomers, as reported by Phys.org. An international team is studying how these galaxies could have formed just 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang. The team is led by Nikolaus Sulzenauer and Axel Weiß.
In other health news, Vox reports that progress is being made toward a universal flu vaccine. This comes as the current flu season is proving to be tough, with less than half of adults getting a flu shot.
Time reports that dehydration can have several unexpected effects on the body. Cells shrink as water leaves them, and the kidneys start to conserve water, which makes urine become darker. According to a recent meta-analysis, 24% of older adults in the U.S. are at least a little dehydrated. "Nothing happens in your body without water playing a role in it, and so to ignore it completely is just missing huge opportunities to improve health," said Jodi Stookey, a nutrition epidemiologist at San Francisco Department of Public Health.
Finally, Vox takes readers inside Tolga Bat Hospital in Far North Queensland, Australia, a unique facility for injured and orphaned flying foxes. The hospital provides care for these animals, highlighting the biodiversity of the region.
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