Brain Holds Clues to Obesity Interventions

Timothy Nelson. Inset photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Imagine getting a glimpse of a brain’s reaction to the first sip of a delicious milkshake. Is it characterized by calm self-regulation – or overexcitement? Nebraska researchers are using this and other data as they study factors that affect adolescents’ and young adults’ health, with an eye toward finding intervention strategies to head off obesity,… Continue reading Brain Holds Clues to Obesity Interventions

Penguin Hemoglobin Evolved to Meet Oxygen Demands

Penguins at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo

Penguins are deep divers that can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes, giving them time to hunt for dinner. This ability is thanks, in part, to their distinctive hemoglobin, the body’s oxygen courier that travels via the bloodstream. Nebraska biologists uncovered hemoglobin’s evolutionary trick that turned penguins into underwater specialists. Jay Storz, Willa… Continue reading Penguin Hemoglobin Evolved to Meet Oxygen Demands

Helping Preschool Teachers Better Manage Stress

Holly Hatton-Bowers (left) and Carrie Clark (right) read to preschool students.

A restless child has trouble napping at preschool and seeks his teacher’s attention. Two preschoolers battle over a toy in a busy classroom, sparking a conflict that ends in hitting or crying. Countless similar scenarios unfold daily at child care centers nationwide, which enroll more than 60% of 3- to 5-year-olds in the U.S. How… Continue reading Helping Preschool Teachers Better Manage Stress