RICE BRAIN INSTITUTE

Mar 30 2026SCIENCE

Why brain scans need better diversity data to work for everyone

Brain scans like MRIs help doctors spot brain changes linked to diseases. But these scans may not work the same for everyone. Studies show brain measurements can differ widely across ethnic groups and income levels. Yet most brain research is done on a small slice of the population, mainly white and

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Mar 28 2026HEALTH

Why brain tumor care in kids needs a wake-up call right now

Brain cancer in children isn’t just another disease—it’s a hidden emergency. Every year, families face a tough battle while waiting for better treatments that still feel stuck in the past. The problem isn’t just the lack of progress; it’s that childhood brain tumors are often treated as a smaller ve

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Mar 16 2026SCIENCE

How Rice Plants Use Nitrogen and Hormones to Grow Better Roots

Rice plants are clever. They know how to use nitrogen, a vital nutrient, and brassinosteroids, plant hormones, to grow strong roots. This helps them adapt to changing environments. But how do these two things work together? It turns out, they have a special connection. Nitrogen is like food for pla

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Jan 20 2026HEALTH

Brain Boosters: Simple Habits for a Sharper Mind

Brain health is a big deal, especially with more people facing memory issues. Young adults and seniors are both at risk. The good news? Small changes in daily life can make a big difference. First, move your body. Walking fast for 30 minutes most days helps your brain. It boosts blood flow and keep

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Jan 18 2026SCIENCE

Breaking Down Brain Tumor Resistance: A New Hope with DMC

Brain tumors are scary. They are hard to treat. One type, called IDH-wildtype grade diffuse glioma, is very aggressive. Doctors usually treat it with a drug called temozolomide (TMZ). But often, the tumor fights back. It becomes resistant to TMZ. Scientists wanted to understand why this happens. Th

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Jan 07 2026HEALTH

Keeping Your Mind Fit: Easy Ways to Boost Brain Health

Brain health is a big deal, especially with dementia cases rising. By 2060, experts predict a significant increase in new cases. However, there's a silver lining: up to 45% of these cases could be prevented. The key? Adopting healthy habits that support memory and cognitive function. Physical activ

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Dec 28 2025SCIENCE

Rice Seeds and Their Temperature Sensitivity: A Molecular Dance

Rice seeds are picky about temperature. They need the right heat to sprout and grow. Scientists have been trying to figure out how this works. They found a cool trick that rice seeds use to decide when to grow. There are two key players in this game: OsFTIP9 and OSH1. When the temperature is just r

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Dec 27 2025HEALTH

Unraveling the Mind: How Immune Cells Play a Role in Brain Disorders

Brain disorders like schizophrenia, depression, and autism are tough to tackle. They are complex and not fully understood. Scientists have been using tools to study these disorders. One tool is called bulk RNA sequencing. It looks at gene activity in a group of cells. But it misses details. It can't

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Dec 26 2025SCIENCE

How Eastern Thought Can Shape the Future of Brain Science

Brain science is moving fast. Scientists are creating things like brain organoids and human-animal chimeras. These advances raise big ethical questions. Western bioethics has been the main guide, but it might not be enough on its own. Enter Nishida Kitarō, a Japanese philosopher. His ideas focus on

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Dec 22 2025HEALTH

Keeping Your Brain Young: Simple Habits, Big Results

Brain health is not just about genes. It's also about daily choices. Recent research shows that simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. These changes can help keep the brain young and healthy. Things like managing stress, sleeping well, and having good friends are key. They are all withi

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