Derek Beres, Big Think

Derek Beres

Big Think

Los Angeles, CA, United States

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • Big Think
  • mindbodygreen
  • HuffPost

Past articles by Derek:

3 reasons “you” won’t return after this life

The idea that "you" persist after death does not hold up to the current understanding of memory and identity. → Read More

Genetics of unexplained sudden cardiac arrest

Soccer player Christian Eriksen of Denmark recently collapsed on the field from a cardiac arrest. Thankfully, he survived. A new study examined the genetics underlying unexplained sudden cardiac death. About 20 percent of these unexplained deaths are likely due to genetics. → Read More

There’s nowhere left on Earth free of space pollution

New research has found that the entire planet is covered by light pollution from space objects. Companies like SpaceX and Amazon plan to launch thousands of satellites into orbit this decade. Scientists fear this space traffic will impede their ability to stare into deep space. → Read More

Help your kids, but not too much, says new Stanford study

A new study at Stanford finds that giving too much direction to children can be counterproductive. Children that are given too much advice display more difficulty regulating their behavior and emotions at other times. The researchers suggest a balance between being involved while allowing children to figure things out on their own. → Read More

How high did our ancestors get? We might soon be able to tell.

Archaeologists can now tell what drugs our ancestors used thanks to tooth tartar. For this study, they tested 10 cadavers and discovered 44 drugs and metabolites. This new method will offer us insights into the types of drugs our ancestors used. → Read More

Control group outperforms mediums in psychic test

A control group outperformed professional mediums in a psychic test. This contradicted previous research the team performed in which mediums scored above chance levels. For this study, every volunteer had to guess the cause of death after being given three choices. → Read More

5 of the most amazing cracked codes in modern history

From 260-year-old ciphers to the most recent Zodiac Killer solution, these unbreakable codes just needed time. → Read More

5 of the most amazing cracked codes in modern history

After 51 years, the Zodiac Killer's infamous 340-character puzzle has been solved. Humans have a natural passion for puzzles, making cryptography a lifelong pursuit for some. Other famous cracked codes include Poe's Challenge and the Zimmermann Telegram. → Read More

Giant 'space claw' to begin cleaning cosmic debris in 2025

The European Space Agency finalized a contract to begin removing space debris in 2025. ClearSpace was awarded a $105 million contract to use its space claw to extract larger pieces of space junk. There are currently 129 million pieces of space debris orbiting Earth. → Read More

A physician didn't shower for 5 years. Here's what he found out.

Unfortunately, "less is better" is not a catchy marketing slogan. → Read More

6 things science is revealing about your skin and hygiene

For his new book, "Clean: The New Science of Skin​," physician James Hamblin didn't shower for five years. Soap is a relatively simple concoction; you're mostly paying for marketing and scent. While hygiene is important, especially during a pandemic, Hamblin argues that we're cleaning too much. → Read More

6 easy ways to transition to a plant-based diet

Your health and the health of the planet are not indistinguishable. → Read More

How the media helped fuel the anti-vaxx movement

Investigative journalist Brian Deer has published a new book on anti-vaxx ringleader, Andrew Wakefield. Discredited in the science community, Wakefield turned to the media to share his anti-vaxx propaganda. The disbarred doctor fabricated results and filed for his own vaccine patents, Deer reports. → Read More

The spread of ancient infectious diseases offers insight into COVID-19

Research from the University of Otago in New Zealand looks at the spread of disease in ancient Vietnam. The infectious disease, yaws, has been with us for thousands of years, with no known cure. Using archaeology to investigate disease offers clues into modern-day pandemics. → Read More

Ever wonder how LSD works? An answer has been discovered.

Researchers at UNC's School of Medicine have discovered the protein responsible for LSD's psychedelic effects. A single amino acid that's part of the protein, Gαq, is behind the mind-bending experience. The researchers hope this helps in the discovery of non-psychedelics treatments for depression. → Read More

8 must-read books on the psychedelic experience

Hundreds of millions of dollars are pouring into psychedelics companies right now. With loosening restrictions on clinical research, new therapeutic modalities are being investigated for anxiety, depression, and more. The psychedelic literature is rich with anecdotal accounts and clinical studies. → Read More

Depression and suicidal ideation reduced after psychedelic usage

Two studies found reduced rates in depression severity, suicidal ideation, and experiential avoidance four weeks after psychedelics usage. Researchers hope these findings will lead to better therapeutic modalities for mental health disorders. → Read More

New research reveals what it's like to inhabit someone else's body

The idea of inhabiting someone else's body can be found in some of humanity's earliest mythologies. A team at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet conducted a body-switching experiment with 33 pairs of friends. The findings could have profound clinical implications down the road, such as in depression treatment. → Read More

New research finds playfulness is a skill anyone can learn

Researchers in Germany discovered that even serious adults can become playful with training. The team shows that developing playfulness leads to better overall well-being. Play is a deeply embedded ancestral brain system, according to neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp. → Read More

Why flu vaccines only last a year

Researchers are Emory Vaccine Center looked at bone marrow to better understand antibody production. Due to constant mutations, identifying a "universal vaccine" has been challenging. The team found that blood markers are reliable indicators of what's occurring inside of bone marrow. → Read More