Immersing stressed volunteers in a 360° virtual Douglas-fir forest complete with sights, sounds and scents boosted their mood, sharpened short-term memory and deepened their feeling of nature-connectedness—especially when all three senses were engaged. Researchers suggest such multisensory VR “forest baths” could brighten clinics, waiting rooms and dense city spaces, offering a potent mental refresh where real greenery is scarce.
Briefing
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Cough medicine turned brain protector? Ambroxol may slow Parkinson’s dementia
Ambroxol, long used for coughs in Europe, stabilized symptoms and brain-damage markers in Parkinson’s dementia patients over 12 months, whereas placebo patients worsened. Those with high-risk genes even saw cognitive gains, hinting at real disease-modifying power.
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ISS astronaut captures a rare phenomenon from orbit — a giant 'sprite' above a thunderstorm
Sprites have been known to form above intense thunderstorms.
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Fig trees may benefit climate by turning carbon dioxide into stone
Some carbon dioxide absorbed by fig trees gets turned into calcium carbonate within the wood and the surrounding soil, ensuring that the carbon is kept out of the air for longer
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'Humanity’s time is over!’ Apple TV+ drops release date and intense first teaser for 'Invasion' Season 3
A scene from Apple TV+’s “Invasion” Season 3
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Rare snowfall in Atacama Desert forces the world's most powerful radio telescope into 'survival mode'
The ALMA radio telescope array in the Atacama Desert temporarily halted operations after a rare snowfall blanketed the base camp last week.
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For 100 years, we have marveled at planetariums. Here's a brief history of how humans brought the stars indoors
Humans have used the stars to navigate, keep time, and understand our place in the universe.
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Devour a cosmic-sized chunk of Marvel lore ahead of 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps', with the 'The Coming of Galactus' novel
Titan Books’ new novelization of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s ‘Galactus Trilogy’ heralds the coming of July’s ‘Fantastic Four’ blockbuster.
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Scientists thought the Arctic was sealed in ice — they were wrong
For decades, scientists believed the Arctic Ocean was sealed under a massive slab of ice during the coldest ice ages — but new research proves otherwise. Sediment samples from the seafloor, paired with cutting-edge climate simulations, show that the Arctic actually remained partially open, with seasonal sea ice allowing life to survive in the harshest climates. Traces of ancient algae, thriving only when light and water mix, reveal that the region was never a frozen tomb. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of Earth’s past but offers vital clues about how the Arctic — and our planet — may respond to climate extremes ahead.
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Author Correction: Adipose tissue retains an epigenetic memory of obesity after weight loss
Nature, Published online: 07 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08909-z
Author Correction: Adipose tissue retains an epigenetic memory of obesity after weight loss