As the breakthroughs of one of science's best-known brooders, Isaac Newton, show, neurotic unhappiness and creativity go hand-in-hand. Image / Supplied
As the breakthroughs of one of science's best-known brooders, Isaac Newton, show, neurotic unhappiness and creativity go hand-in-hand. Image / Supplied
Being neurotic can mean constant worry - but amid all of that gloom lies some pretty powerful bursts of creativity.
As the breakthroughs of one of science's best-known brooders, Isaac Newton, show, neurotic unhappiness and creativity go hand-in-hand. Now a just-published psychology paper has proven it.
The UK and US authors found the part of the brain responsible for self-generated thought - the basolateral nuclei of the amygdala - is highly active in neuroticism, which yields both of the trait's positives (creativity) and negatives (misery).
Your home is bug city
When US scientists checked the dust in and outside 1200 homes, they found myriad micro-organisms, depending on different factors.
While indoor fungal communities and potential allergens varied predictably across climate and geography, the bacterial findings reflected who you lived with. In particular, the female to male ratio and the presence of pets influenced the types of bacteria found.
What killed Knut?
Knut, the polar bear cub. Photo / Supplied
Knut, the cute hand-reared polar bear, was one of the most beloved animals in the world and his shock drowning in the pool of his enclosure at the Berlin Zoological Gardens four years ago broke hearts everywhere.
Now scientists have revealed the epileptic seizures that led to his death were caused by an anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis - or inflammation of the brain - and the diagnosis makes Knut the first reported non-human case of this treatable disease, which happens to be the most common non-infectious form of encephalitis in people.
Along with books and songs, Knut's legacy now also includes the new understanding that antibody-mediated autoimmunity can be found in other mammals besides humans.
How do you tell if your pooch is top dog? See how often it gets its back up. Photo / Getty Images
How do you tell if your pooch is top dog? See how often it gets its back up.
Dutch animal behaviour experts got to grips with how canines signal dominance by investigating seven body postures and 24 behaviours in a group of domestic dogs.
Their new findings showed that high posture and muzzle bite, displayed exclusively by the highest ranking dogs, were the top dominance indicators, while body tail wag and low postures pointed to a submissive mutt.
Mum's hormones can lower your maths marks
Here's a creative excuse for bringing home bad maths tests results - blame mum's hormone levels.
A new study has shown how children born to mothers with low levels of thyroid hormones during pregnancy are 60 per cent more likely to do badly in arithmetic tests when they reach school age.
Scientists have already found relatively low levels of thyroxine in pregnant women is linked to poor mental development in their children during infancy, but, until now, it had been unclear how this change would be reflected in the children's performance at school.
A tip for kids: maybe check the science - and more importantly mum's mood at the time - before using this one to explain your bad marks.
