discovery – Stepping Stones Center

October 20, 2026· Applied Behavior Analysis

Breakthrough Discovery: Brain’s Immune Cells Identified as Key Culprit in Alzheimer’s-Related Sleep Loss

Scientists have uncovered a surprising and potentially reversible cause of sleep disruption in Alzheimer’s disease. In a study that challenges decades of conventional wisdom, researchers have discovered that the severe sleep problems associated with the condition are not primarily caused by the accumulation of amyloid plaques—the hallmark sticky protein deposits found in the brains of…

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October 18, 2026· Applied Behavior Analysis

New Brain Circuit Discovery Reveals How Sleep Regulates Growth and Metabolism

A good night’s sleep is often described as restorative, but the biological reality is far more dynamic than simply "recharging." While we slumber, the body engages in a complex, high-stakes physiological process that is essential for long-term health. During deep, non-REM sleep, the body releases growth hormone—a powerful chemical messenger that does far more than…

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October 18, 2026· Child Development

New Brain Circuitry Discovery Reveals How Sleep and Growth Hormone Regulate Each Other

A good night’s sleep is often described as the body’s "reset button," but for decades, the biological mechanisms governing that process have remained shrouded in mystery. We have long understood that a restorative night of rest does more than merely clear away mental fatigue; it initiates a complex physiological sequence. During deep sleep, the body…

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October 15, 2026· Applied Behavior Analysis

Jurassic Discovery: Ancient Aquatic Predator Rewrites the Evolutionary History of Mammals

A remarkable fossil discovery from Inner Mongolia has provided scientists with an unprecedented window into the deep history of mammalian evolution. The creature, a furry, water-dwelling predator known as Megacauda sungei, lived approximately 165 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. Measuring about half a meter (20 inches) from its nose to the tip of…

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October 15, 2026· Applied Behavior Analysis

Jurassic "Tiny Giant": Fossil Discovery Reveals Origins of Mammalian Swallowing

A 165-million-year-old fossil unearthed in the remote regions of Inner Mongolia is providing scientists with a profound look into the deep evolutionary history of mammals. The creature, a furry, otter-like predator named Megacauda sungei, has emerged as a centerpiece for understanding how early mammalian ancestors successfully navigated a world dominated by dinosaurs. Despite measuring only…

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September 30, 2026· Applied Behavior Analysis

Stanford Medicine Discovery Reveals the Brain Is Built from Two Distinct Evolutionary Systems

For generations, the scientific community has operated under a foundational assumption: the brain is a single, unified organ that shares a common developmental origin. Whether considering the complex architecture of the human forebrain or the rhythmic, life-sustaining mechanisms of the hindbrain, the prevailing model suggested that all these regions traced their lineage back to a…

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September 25, 2026· Applied Behavior Analysis

Rethinking the Brain’s Wiring: Discovery of ‘Pearled’ Axons Challenges Century-Old Anatomical Models

For over a century, the standard textbook illustration of a neuron has remained largely unchanged: a central cell body from which sprouts a long, slender, and uniformly smooth cable known as an axon. These axons, which act as the biological conduits for electrical impulses, have long been depicted as sleek, hollow tubes. However, a groundbreaking…

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September 25, 2026· Applied Behavior Analysis

Brain Protein Discovery Offers New Clues into the Mechanics of Biological Aging

For decades, the hallmarks of aging—fading memory, thinning skin, and brittle bones—have been treated by medical science as disparate issues, often addressed by different specialists using unrelated therapies. However, groundbreaking research emerging from the hypothalamus suggests that these seemingly distinct consequences of growing older may share a common origin. A study led by researchers at…

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