The next time you find yourself eyeing up the snack cupboard 10 minutes after finishing dinner‚ it might help to know that a simple overactive appetite may not be the culprit. A new study in mice has found a brain circuit driven by cells dedicated to seeking out tasty food‚ and scientists suggest it could exist in humans too.The neural circuitry in question was found in a region of the brainstem called the periaqueductal gray (PAG)‚ an evolutionarily ancient part of the brain that has retained similar functions in mice and humans.“Although our findings were a surprise‚ it makes sense that food-seeking would be rooted in such an ancient part of the brain‚ since foraging is something all animals need to do‚” said corresponding author Avishek Adhikari‚ associate professor of psychology at UCLA‚ in a statement. The PAG is usually more associated with panic and fear responses – in both humans and mice‚ when the entire region is activated‚ it can cause a “dramatic panic response” according to Adhikari. However‚ during their investigation‚ the team found that stimulating just a specific cluster of cells in the PAG induced foraging and feeding behavior in the mice.They achieved this by injecting mice with a genetically modified virus that caused their brain cells to produce a light-sensitive protein. A fiber-optic implant then allowed the scientists to selectively activate the modified cells using light‚ a technique called optogenetics. A miniature microscope developed at UCLA could then be fixed to the mouse’s head to record the neural activity.When the cell cluster within the PAG was stimulated‚ the mice went into food-seeking overdrive. They chased live crickets‚ which are a prey species for them‚ and were just as interested in non-prey foods and in investigating non-food items within their enclosures.They also showed a preference for fatty‚ high-calorie foods – so much so that they were willing to endure a mild electric shock to get at a tasty walnut‚ something that’s not normal mouse behavior. “The results suggest the following behavior is related more to wanting than to hunger‚” said Adhikari. “Hunger is aversive‚ meaning that mice usually avoid feeling hungry if they can. But they seek out activation of these cells‚ suggesting that the circuit is not causing hunger. Instead‚ we think this circuit causes the craving of highly rewarding‚ high-caloric food. These cells can cause the mouse to eat more high-calorie foods even in the absence of hunger.”The scientists also tested the opposite scenario‚ genetically engineering the food-seeking cells to have reduced activity under exposure to light. These mice didn’t show interest in foraging‚ even when they were actually hungry.“This circuit can circumvent the normal hunger pressures of how‚ what and when to eat‚” summarized Fernando Reis‚ the postdoctoral researcher who designed the study and performed the bulk of the experiments.While these results are limited to mice for now‚ we know that similar cells exist in the PAG of the human brain. The team suggests that if activation of the circuit has the same effect on us as on our rodent friends‚ it could play a role in understanding eating disorders.A lot more work is needed to iron out how much of this applies to humans – but it’s curious to think that when you find yourself looking for something sweet after a big meal‚ it might just be your brain‚ rather than your belly‚ that’s the source of the craving. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. 

What would you do if someone asked you to give a bird CPR? It would baffle many of us as we couldn’t grasp the feasibility of the idea. "Tα Ττέλλενα" του Κωστάκη (Πλατινένιος δίσκος) pic.twitter.com/vY70GzF6 — CostakisConstantinou (@CostakisCon) November 21‚ 2011 A Cypriot actor proved that any life‚ even a bird’s life‚ is worth saving.... The post Man ignores doubters and patiently gives CPR to revive tiny sparrow appeared first on Animal Channel.

A dog’s sense of smell is believed to be 10‚000 to 100‚000 times more acute than a human’s! That’s why they are often used as military dogs to detect contraband and locate injured soldiers. Most importantly‚ they can also catch the smell of explosives like landmines even from afar‚ saving thousands to millions of soldiers.... The post Adorable husky befriends homeless man not knowing it will change his life appeared first on Animal Channel.

A heartwarming commercial has captured the hearts and laughter of the internet‚ featuring a charming older Budweiser ad. This ad stars a determined little donkey with aspirations that soar as high as the sky. The iconic Clydesdale horses of Budweiser‚ celebrated figures in the realms of agriculture and racing since their debut in 1933 to... The post Tiny donkey wants to be a Clydesdale so bad and decides to plead his case appeared first on Animal Channel.

MRC contributing writer Stephanie Hamill was a guest on Tuesday’s Fox News at Night with host Trace Gallagher to weigh in on MRC Free Speech America’s latest study exposing Google’s election interference efforts over the last 16 years.  MRC researchers found 41 examples revealing Google’s election interference efforts starting in 2008 to present day‚ benefiting the most liberal candidates.  Hamill: It's incredible how it always seems to work one way‚ which is usually favoring the left. It never seems to favor Republicans‚ or Republican candidates –– although you did note that there were instances where it appeared Google was actually favoring the most liberal of the candidates and I found that point to be very intriguing. In 2008‚ Google was allegedly boosting Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. You have to wonder if that had played a role in helping him get over the finish line. You know‚ this is tremendously important to the American people because so many people trust Google. They are unsuspecting‚ assuming they are just getting information‚ not realizing that there are powerful people behind the algorithm‚ 'Google overlords' who are potentially trying to influence the way you think and vote.  She also reacted to the media's latest Trump 'bloodbath' hoax.  

MSNBC’s Joy Reid brought out all the usual pejoratives on Tuesday’s edition of The ReidOut as she sought to explain why anyone would support Donald Trump. Reid came to the conclusion that it has to be because they are a racist‚ sexist‚ tax-hating rich guys who claim to be a Christians while longing for the days when there were no child labor laws‚ and Trump is simply their “useful scary clown.” After playing a clip of Trump’s “bloodbath” remarks where he was clearly talking about trade policy‚ Reid tried to make herself sound smart by using some Latin‚ “As dangerous and clearly deranged as Trump is‚ we have to start asking not just what's wrong with a society that produces so much support for this chaos theater‚ but also who is it that so badly wants Trump to be president‚ not just at the bottom‚ but at the top. There's a term in Latin‚ cui bono‚ it means ‘who benefits?’”     As Reid tells it‚ sure‚ there are those “angry masses who want to luxuriate in the punishment of migrants‚ women‚ trans kids‚ and black collegians‚” but “the real beneficiaries would be the ones the late‚ great comedian George Carlin called the owners of the country‚ men of great wealth.” These men allegedly “have long sought to return to a time where people like them didn't pay income taxes or face regulation over their businesses and didn't have to worry about labor unions‚ workers’ rights‚ or competitions from women or blacks. They could employ child labor or work their employees way past a 40-hour work week and reap unlimited profits and leave vast estates to their heirs tax free.” Lumping in opposition to the estate tax with racism‚ sexism‚ child labor laws‚ or 40-hour work weeks is logically absurd‚ and no amount of Latin can change that.  Unfortunately‚ Reid was not done‚ “They could call themselves good Christians and never think twice about dirty words like diversity‚ history‚ accountability‚ or equity. These are the men behind organizations like Project 2025‚ the Claremont Institute‚ the Heritage Foundation‚ and whatever Leonard Leo is up to at any given time. Trump‚ in many ways‚ is just their useful scary clown.” If anybody knows anything about being a useful clown‚ it is Joy Reid. Here is a transcript for the March 19 show: MSNBC The ReidOut 3/19/2024 7:43 PM ET  JOY REID: As dangerous and clearly deranged as Trump is‚ we have to start asking not just what's wrong with a society that produces so much support for this chaos theater‚ but also who is it that so badly wants Trump to be president‚ not just at the bottom‚ but at the top. There's a term in Latin‚ cui bono‚ it means “who benefits?” Because beyond the angry masses who want to luxuriate in the punishment of migrants‚ women‚ trans kids‚ and black collegians‚ the real beneficiaries would be the ones the late‚ great comedian George Carlin called the owners of the country‚ men of great wealth‚ who have long sought to return to a time where people like them didn't pay income taxes or face regulation over their businesses and didn't have to worry about labor unions‚ workers’ rights‚ or competitions from women or blacks. They could employ child labor or work their employees way past a 40-hour work week and reap unlimited profits and leave vast estates to their heirs tax free.  They could call themselves good Christians and never think twice about dirty words like diversity‚ history‚ accountability‚ or equity. These are the men behind organizations like Project 2025‚ the Claremont Institute‚ the Heritage Foundation‚ and whatever Leonard Leo is up to at any given time. Trump‚ in many ways‚ is just their useful scary clown. 

This unstuffed pepper skillet is so easy to make and one of our favorites. If you love stuffed green peppers this is the dish for you! One of our most popular recipes is the Stuffed Green Peppers! If you haven’t tried our recipe‚ you should‚ it has many 5 star reviews and delicious! ❤️WHY WE...

Democratic lawmakers in Maine attempted to pass a radical bill earlier this year that threatened to allow the state to seize custody of children whose parents — both in and outside Maine — refused them sex-change mutilations and other irreversible medical interventions. Following a successful pressure campaign led by the parental rights advocacy group Courage Is a Habit and some mild Republican pushback‚ LD 1735‚ dubbed the "transgender trafficking bill" by critics‚ was killed in committee. Maine Democrats are evidently not finished with their apparent attempts to break up families‚ shield sex-change surgeons from consequence‚ and altogether codify gender ideology in the state. In fact‚ they have doubled down‚ rolling some of the most consequential elements of LD 1735 into a new bill‚ Democratic state Rep. Anne Perry's LD 227. A state committee will consider whether to advance LD 227 Thursday‚ affording critics just one more day to make their opposition known and potentially stop the initiative in its tracks. Overview Courage Is a Habit president Alvin Lui told Blaze News‚ "This is the nastiest bill I've ever seen. Even worse than anything that I've seen come out of California. I never thought I would say that." LD 227 — referred to by Lui and other critics as the "Transgender Trafficker Protection Act" — would prohibit "interference" with abortions or sex-change mutilations‚ protect medical practitioners from lawsuits‚ and conceal the known whereabouts of interstate child runaways from their parents‚ among other things. Already 16 state attorneys general have threatened action against Maine if the bill passes‚ noting in a March 11 letter to Maine Gov. Janet Mills that LD 227 "seeks to contravene the lawful policy choices of our States' citizens by imposing on the rest of the country Maine's views on hotly debated issues such as gender transition surgeries for children." Extra to underscoring the federal implications and unconstitutional nature of the bill‚ Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and the other attorneys general suggested LD 227 is animated by a "totalitarian impulse to stifle dissent and oppress dissenters." If passed and ratified‚ then the fates of LD 227 and the children it would victimize might ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. However‚ Courage Is a Habit has stressed that there is time left for Maine residents and other objectors to help sink it. On Thursday‚ the following eight Democratic Maine lawmakers will determine whether to advance the bill in committee: Sens. Donna Bailey (D) and Cameron Reny (D)‚ along with Reps. Poppy Arford (D)‚ Anne Perry (D)‚ Sally Cluchey (D)‚ Anne-Marie Mastraccio (D)‚ Kristi Michele Mathieson (D)‚ and Jane Pringle (D). Courage Is a Habit has created a simple form for individuals looking to share their thoughts about LD 227 with Maine lawmakers. — (@) 'Transgender Trafficker Protection Act' According to a recent draft of LD 227‚ the bill would apparently: codify the legal right to sex-change mutilations and abortions without stipulating any age or time limits; hinder efforts by states and persons to take legal action against health professionals involved in the facilitation or execution of sex-change medical interventions and abortions‚ apparently even in the case of medical malpractice; spare health care practitioners from professional discipline based on crimes‚ civil actions‚ or convictions in other states for sex-change or abortion-related actions deemed acceptable in Maine; authorize persons targeted with criminal or administrative action for their hand in "engaging in or for aiding and assisting legally protected health care activity" to "bring a civil action in this State for damages‚ punitive damages and equitable relief" — ostensibly meaning surgeons could sue detransitioners who bring malpractice suits; prevent Maine law enforcement from notifying the parents of those child runaways said to be pursuing abortions or sex changes; enable virtually any adult to take a child across state lines to Maine for "gender-affirming care" even if the child is not their own or "incapacitated"; and prevent the arrest of persons "if the arrest is related to criminal liability that is based on legally protected health care activity or aiding and assisting legally protected health care activity." "It's everything that LD 1735 was supposed to be‚ except it adds a bunch of other things‚" Lui told Blaze News. For instance‚ Lui indicated LD 277 forces insurance companies to cover all sex-change procedures‚ but not the health care needs of detransitioners or therapy to resolve existing comorbidities before taking sterilizing sex-change drugs. It also "adds in protection for the transgender traffickers." "So if somebody's blue-haired liberal aunt or some neighbor takes a child over to Maine‚ [the state] won't contact the parents — which was in the original transgender trafficking bill‚" continued Lui. "But now ... the parents can't sue. They can't say‚ 'Wait a minute‚ that adult has kidnapped my child to Maine so that they could get a surgery.'" Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby recently confirmed that the blue-haired aunt from Lui's hypothetical who takes her "niece from another state against the parents' wishes would be allowed to do that. And Maine law enforcement would have their hands tied. Maine judiciary would have their hands tied — would not be able to actually help return that child to their lawful parents." Libby emphasized that LD 227 is the "worst bill [she] has ever seen come through the legislature." "The worst bill I have ever seen." \n\nRep. Laurel Libby expertly destroys the left-wing narratives regarding the revamped Transgender Trafficking bill. — (@) Federal implications and junk science Attorney Joel Thornton‚ the COO and director of Advocacy for Child and Parental Rights Campaign‚ said LD 227 "is pretty outrageous as it extends the state's authority throughout the United States to protect what Maine is declaring to be the law in Maine‚ and effectively making it the law of the land to anyone who happens to be in Maine." According to the letter from the opposed state attorneys general to Gov. Mills‚ "LD 227 not only purports to shield from liability those offering or aiding the provision of unlawful services to citizens located in our States — a provision Planned Parenthood asserts would 'safeguard' Maine providers and patients from 'out-of-state laws that ban or restrict care that is legal in Maine.'" "The law also creates a private right of action for damages against law enforcement‚ prosecutors‚ and other officials in our States who are enforcing our own valid state laws‚ even laws whose constitutionality has been confirmed by federal appellate courts‚" continued the letter. "On top of that‚ LD 227 purports to block valid orders and judgments from our state courts enforcing laws upheld by federal appellate courts." The attorneys general reduced Maine's proposed law as an unconstitutional and "novel effort at a state-sanctioned culture war litigation tourism." Extra to likely running afoul of federal law‚ Lui highlighted how LD 227 relies on junk science‚ namely that given a gloss by the World Professional Association for Trangender Health. The understanding of "gender-affirming health care" central to the legislation is‚ after all‚ defined in accordance with supposed expertise "in the field of gender-affirming care including in the Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People ... published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health." Blaze News recently noted that leaked internal documents reveal there are serious concerns behind closed doors at WPATH over the debilitating and potentially fatal side effects of sex-change procedures as well as over the inability for children to provide informed consent for so-called "gender-affirming care." The pseudo-scientific nature of "gender-affirming care" has become all the more clear in recent months: England's National Health Service banned puberty blockers for minors‚ highlighting both their dangers and a dearth of evidence to support their efficacy. Finland's leading child psychiatrist Riittakerttu Kaltiala told her government that the vast majority of kids will grow out of the delusion that their gender and sex are misaligned. A massive Finnish study published in the esteemed quarterly journal BMJ Mental Health concluded that "medical gender reassignment does not have an impact on suicide risk." Blaze News reached out to the sponsor of LD 277‚ Demoratic state Rep. Anne Perry‚ for comment. She did not‚ however‚ provide a response by deadline. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A pair of men showed up at a New York City squatter home Tuesday afternoon "looking to get this guy out‚" the Daily Mail reported.Police recently arrested the owner of the $1 million residence in Flushing‚ Queens‚ for changing the locks and charged her with unlawful eviction. Image source: YouTube screenshotThe Daily Mail said the two men pulled a black truck into the driveway of the home‚ and one of the unidentified men dressed in a black "Trump" T-shirt told the outlet‚ "I am here to talk to him. I want to see why he is here." — (@) The outlet said one of the neighbors on the block saw what transpired‚ said‚ "Holy crap‚" and added that she wasn't aware of backlash the squatter issue had been eliciting.WABC-TV said Adele Andaloro inherited her family's home after her parents passed away and was in the process of selling it when she noticed the front door and lock had been changed. Turns out squatters moved into her home in February and refused to leave‚ she told the station. "I'm really fearful that these people are going to get away with stealing my home‚" Andaloro added to WABC.Neighbors told the Daily Mail that the squatters have been seen and heard doing renovations inside the home."It's disgusting‚" one neighbor added to the outlet‚ noting he's seen one of the squatters walking around outside. That neighbor added to the Daily Mail‚ "I wish I could live rent free."Another neighbor‚ who asked not to be identified‚ told the outlet there had been a "For Sale" sign on the house for a long time and said the squatter "came out of nowhere."Kosta‚ a 24-year-old college student who lives with his family next to the squatter house‚ added to the Daily Mail that the squatters "are doing construction on the house all night long. I heard a drill and saw through my window that they were drilling holes into the wall and putting up boards‚" adding that one board was placed over a window."I don't know if the board is still there‚ but it looked like they were trying to hide what was inside‚" Kosta also told the outlet‚ adding that "we all know what they are up to‚ so we're all kind of pissed about it."Another neighbor called the squatters "sons of b***hes‚" the Daily Mail said.Many neighbors added to the outlet that they wanted to help the homeowner as much as possible to get the squatters out and would sign a petition.What's the background?WABC said squatters have rights after 30 days in New York."By the time someone does their investigation‚ their work‚ and their job‚ it will be over 30 days‚ and this man will still be in my home‚" Andaloro complained to WABC. Image source: YouTube screenshotThe station said its crew was with Andaloro when she went to her property and witnessed a woman walking up to the house‚ unlocking the door‚ and leaving.Andaloro decided to enter the property with her daughter — and her property deed in hand‚ WABC said."This is proving everything I said‚" Andaloro told the station as she entered her home's main room. "This is my furniture‚ these are my curtains."Then‚ she found two men inside her home‚ WABC reported."Who are you‚ sir? Get out of my house‚" Andaloro said to one man sleeping in a bedroom as cameras rolled.WABC said it asked one of the men how long he'd been there‚ and he replied‚ "I moved in two days ago." The station said the second man refused to answer questions.But they did call police on Andaloro‚ WABC noted‚ adding that she in turn called a locksmith."We didn't come in illegally‚" Andaloro also said‚ according to the station. "The door was open."When police arrived‚ they began interviewing the men and neighbors‚ and they asked for documents‚ WABC said."Do you have something that shows you've been here more than 30 days?" one officer asked the men‚ according to the station.Sure enough‚ the men failed to provide police with documentation‚ and WABC said officers escorted both of them off the property.But police also had a warning for Andaloro about changing the locks‚ the station said‚ adding that it's against the law in New York to turn off utilities‚ change locks‚ and remove belongings of someone claiming to be a tenant."I may end up in handcuffs today if a man shows up here and says I have illegally evicted him‚" Andaloro told WABC. "I said‚ 'Let him take me to court as I've been told to take him to court' because today I'm not leaving my house."'He can't be kicked out'Just a few minutes after police left and the locks were changed‚ a man who claimed he was leasing the house showed up with one of the men officers had just escorted off the property — and they pushed through the front door‚ the station said. Image source: YouTube screenshot"Do you see this‚ this guy just literally broke down my door‚ broke through myself and my daughter‚" Andaloro told WABC as cameras continued rolling. Image source: YouTube screenshotWhen the cops showed up a second time‚ it was bad news for Andaloro."He can't be kicked out‚" police told her‚ according to the station. "You have to go to court."WABC said police consider it a landlord-tenant issue and that the law states the dispute has to be handled through housing court and not with police.The kicker? The station said because Andaloro changed the locks‚ police arrested her for unlawful eviction. Image source: YouTube screenshotMore from WABC:When Eyewitness News asked Brian Rodriguez‚ the man who claims to have a lease‚ for documentation he provided none. Instead‚ he showed bills for work he claimed he had done to the house. He said he moved into the home a few months ago and signed documents with a realtor but wouldn't say who that realtor is."You got to go to court and send me to court‚" said Rodriguez. He said he'll leave "if she pays me my money that I put in the house‚" said Rodriguez. "Pay me the money‚ and I'll leave‚ or send me to court; it's that simple."But the station said such disputes are anything but simple and that the Rent Stabilization Association said it takes an average of 20 months to resolve eviction cases in New York City.As for Andaloro‚ she told WABC her only option now is to open an eviction filing in landlord-tenant court. Squatter standoff captured on camera in Queens youtu.be Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

While the Democrats claim to be “saving our democracy‚” their actions reflect anything but that. “The Democrat Party is a party of tyranny that practices totalitarianism despite talking about democracy‚” Mark Levin says‚ adding that “all the biggest thugs‚ dictators‚ genocidal maniacs always use the word ‘democracy.’” Levin’s point is easily illustrated by the 91 charges and four false indictments aimed at former President Donald Trump — all in the hopes of a 2024 victory for President Biden and the Democrat Party. “I’m the real legal analyst‚ okay‚ and every one of these charges is bogus. All 91 of them. Not one of them should have ever been brought‚” Levin says‚ noting that the only reason they’ve been brought is because “they want Donald Trump in prison.” And why are they so enamored with the idea of Trump behind bars? “The goal is a one-candidate race. One party. One rule‚” Levin explains. The Democrat Party has been trying to accomplish this goal since Trump was in office‚ starting with the accusations of Russian collusion and then insurrection — both of which failed to fulfill their goal. “The result was no charges. Why? Because he didn’t do anything wrong‚” Levin says. “Then we have this New York attorney general. She is a radical reprobate who runs for office saying she’s going to get Trump. That should be enough to disbar her‚” he continues‚ referencing the fraud case against Trump. “Their goal is to imprison Donald Trump so Biden has a clear field. That’s why you charge somebody with 91 felonies in four different jurisdictions‚” Levin adds. Want more from Mark Levin?To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.