Seals Crash Study, Phone Safety Confirmed, Serotonin Impact

A new study from the World Health Organization has addressed a long-standing concern about the health effects of cell phone usage, particularly the risk of brain cancer. In a comprehensive review of 63 studies, the WHO found no evidence linking radio frequency (RF) exposure from mobile phones to an increased risk of brain cancer. This includes people who used cell phones for more than 10 years, as well as children. The review also noted no higher risk for leukemia or other brain-related cancers. The study concluded that for RF-EMF exposure from mobile or cordless phone use, there is moderate certainty that it likely does not increase the risk of tumors, including glioma, meningioma, and salivary gland tumors.

In other research, a team studying deep-sea fish behavior accidentally discovered that their sonar equipment attracted northern elephant seals. The acoustic imaging sonar used in their study inadvertently acted as a "dinner bell" for young male seals, who associated the sonar's pings with food, such as sablefish. These seals repeatedly visited the site, with six of them becoming regulars over more than 10 days. The researchers believe that the sonar noise helped the seals locate prey more efficiently, improving their foraging success.

Meanwhile, neuroscientists at the University of Lausanne have made a significant discovery about emotional contagion—the process by which observing others' emotions affects the observer. In their study on mice, they found that mice who witnessed others enduring a traumatic experience, like electric shocks, were more emotionally resilient when they faced similar challenges. This emotional resilience was tied to increased levels of serotonin in a part of the brain called the habenula, which plays a key role in emotional and sensory processing. This discovery could lead to new approaches in treating emotional disorders and developing serotonin-based therapies.

These findings shed light on important developments in health, animal behavior, and neuroscience, offering new insights into how we understand technology, wildlife, and emotional resilience.