Dr. Connie Mulligan, Professor of Anthropology and the Genetics Institute at the University of Florida, studies how stress and traumatic experiences can influence our biology at the genetic level.

There’s no shortage of self-help advice about managing stress, and a growing body of research supports the idea that chronic stress can have serious effects on our health. But what many people don’t realize is that long-term stress and traumatic experiences may leave marks that reach all the way down to our DNA.

In this episode, Dr. Mulligan explains how researchers are studying the genetic effects of stress and trauma. Evidence from events such as famine and war suggests that extreme experiences can alter patterns in our DNA, raising important questions about how stress may influence not only our health but potentially future generations as well.

Dr. Susan Woolford, General Pediatrician at the University of Michigan and Co-Director of the National Poll on Children’s Health, studies how parenting practices influence children’s health and well-being.

When it comes to parenting, setting boundaries and maintaining discipline is never easy. But what if the way we approach discipline also shapes our children’s relationship with food?

Research suggests that using food as a reward or punishment can create long-term habits that affect nutrition and may contribute to weight issues later in life. In this episode, Dr. Woolford discusses how parenting strategies around food can influence children’s eating behaviors and what families can do to build healthier relationships with food from an early age.

Dr. Shevaun Neupert, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at North Carolina State University, studies stress, aging, and the daily factors that influence our health and well-being.

Stress is everywhere. We hear constantly about how it harms our health and contributes to a wide range of problems. Most people feel it in their everyday lives, but when someone says, “just reduce your stress,” it can be difficult to know what that actually means or how to do it.

Dr. Neupert shares practical, research-backed strategies for managing stress in daily life, offering tangible ways people can better cope with the pressures they face.

Dr. Allison Sylvetsky, Associate Professor of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at George Washington University, studies how sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners affect diet, metabolism, and long-term health.

Artificial sweeteners and diet drinks have become part of everyday life, often marketed as healthier alternatives to sugar. But do we really understand their impact? Researchers are increasingly asking whether these substitutes may influence metabolism, long-term health, and even the way our taste preferences develop.

In this episode, Dr. Sylvetsky discusses what current research reveals about artificial sweeteners and how they may be shaping our diets in ways we don’t always realize.

This week's Newswise highlights feature groundbreaking research from top institutions:

• American Academy of Neurology – Microplastics in ocean water have been linked to higher disability rates in coastal communities, affecting memory, mobility, and daily activities.

• University of Florida – Research shows that violence can alter human genes for generations, with genetic changes observed in the grandchildren of those affected by historical conflicts.

• Rutgers University – Parenthood may help keep the brain young, as parents with more children show stronger connectivity in key brain networks.

• University of South Australia – Dating apps are driving an increase in cosmetic procedures, with around 20% of women influenced to use dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections.

• Tulane University – Experts outline steps to prevent bird flu from mutating into a human-transmissible virus, including increased screening, air filtration, and public health preparedness.

January and February’s Newswise highlights feature groundbreaking research from top institutions. Tufts University linked sugary drinks to millions of global diabetes and heart disease cases, while the Focused Ultrasound Foundation reported a new Alzheimer’s treatment that reduces brain plaques. Washington University in St. Louis found that weight loss drugs like Ozempic may also lower brain inflammation and heart disease risks. Meanwhile, the American Academy of Neurology confirmed that processed red meat is linked to cognitive decline, and researchers from the Biophysical Society discovered sweet taste receptors in the heart, suggesting sugar directly impacts heart function.

Additionally, a study from the American Psychological Association found that parental favoritism is real—parents tend to favor children who are more agreeable and cause fewer problems. And researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder explored a potential vaccine that could prevent weight gain, opening doors for new approaches to obesity management.

Dr. David Ekbladh, Professor of History at Tufts University, studies U.S. foreign policy and the historical roots of globalism.

The period between the Great Depression and World War II was marked by intense debates among policymakers and intellectuals about how the United States should engage with the rest of the world. Many believed the country had a responsibility to help shape global economic and political stability, giving rise to a new vision of American globalism that would influence international relations for decades.

In this episode, Dr. Ekbladh explores how those ideas developed and why they matter today, as political conversations increasingly shift toward isolationism, raising important questions about the future of America’s role in the world.

Dr. Xavier Salvatella, Research Professor at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), and Carla Garcia, Research Associate in the Salvatella Lab, study the molecular mechanisms behind complex neurological conditions such as autism.

Autism diagnoses have increased significantly in recent decades, with recent estimates suggesting that 1 in 36 children are now identified on the autism spectrum. Scientists around the world are working to better understand the causes of this complex condition and to identify potential pathways for treatment.

In this episode, we revisit a virtual press briefing where researchers from IRB Barcelona discuss new findings related to idiopathic autism, cases of autism that do not appear to have a clear genetic cause. Their research points to a mutation that may play a role in the development of autism, offering new insights into how the condition may arise and how scientists might approach it in the future.

Dr. Sara Yeo, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Utah, studies how people interpret scientific information and how research can be communicated more effectively to the public.

Communicating science is about far more than simply presenting facts. Without the right context, people often interpret new information through their own experiences, beliefs, and biases. This makes the work of research communicators especially important.

In today’s fast-moving media environment, where news and social media constantly flood us with information, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. In this episode, Dr. Yeo explains how scientists and communicators can better engage the public, helping people understand complex research and make sense of the science shaping our world.

Dr. Lightning Jay, Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership; Suzanne McLeod, Coordinator of Educational Leadership; and Dr. Kathleen Provenzano, Associate Professor of Community Schools in the College of Community and Public Affairs — all at Binghamton University, study education policy, school leadership, and community engagement in today’s classrooms.

As students head back to school, parents, teachers, and administrators are facing a growing list of challenges. From debates over smartphone bans and social media to broader questions about classroom culture and education policy, many issues are now at the center of national conversations about schools.

In this episode, our guests discuss how families, educators, and students can work together to navigate these difficult topics. They explore the role of technology in schools, the controversies surrounding classroom policies, and how thoughtful collaboration can help create healthier learning environments.