Digest for 3/24/2026

Thomas Insel discusses how advancements in brain science and technology are transforming our approach to mental illnesses, paving the way for innovative treatments.

Nearly 450 million people are affected by mental illness worldwide. In wealthy nations, just half receive appropriate care, but in developing countries, close to 90 percent go untreated because psychiatrists are in such short supply. Vikram Patel outlines a highly promising approach -- training members of communities to give mental health interventions, empowering ordinary people to keep an eye on their loved ones.

Rana el Kaliouby demonstrates her company's emotion recognition technology, which uses AI to analyze facial expressions and detect emotions, potentially aiding in mental health applications.

Cambridge researcher Aubrey de Grey argues that aging is merely a disease — and a curable one at that, outlining strategies to extend healthy human life.

What controls aging? Biochemist Cynthia Kenyon has found a simple genetic mutation that can double the lifespan of a simple worm, C. elegans. The lessons from that discovery, and others, are pointing to how we might one day significantly extend youthful human life.

Dan Buettner shares insights from Blue Zones, regions where people live the longest, revealing nine common habits that promote longevity.

Rob Knight is a pioneer in studying human microbes, the community of tiny single-cell organisms living inside our bodies that have a huge — and largely unexplored — role in our health.

Giulia Enders explains the fascinating world of the gut, its connection to the brain, and its role in revolutionizing health and wellness.

From the microbes in our stomachs to the ones on our teeth, we are homes to millions of unique and diverse communities which help our bodies function. Jessica Green and Karen Guillemin explain how our microbiomes are more unique to us than our own genes -- and why we need to take care of them.