By helping people embody younger versions of themselves, researchers help them access childhood memories ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
April 17, 2026—A face-swapping illusion could evoke forgotten memories from the past. Plus, a clue to how the Grand Canyon formed, and a dark wave sweeps over the surface of Mars.
—Andrea Gawrylewski
Chief Newsletter Editor
|
|
-
- A new image of Mars's surface shows a wave of darkness across its surface, likely from windblown volcanic ash. | 2 min read
- AI company Anthropic chose not to release the latest model of its AI, Mythos, to the public, stating that it poses a severe threat to public safety, the economy and national security. We asked experts how worrisome this is. | 3 min read
- Members of Congress grilled RFK, Jr., yesterday on his record of vaccine opposition and handling of the resurgence of measles. | 4 min read
- The White House nominated Erica Schwartz to be the new chief of the CDC. Schwartz is a former deputy surgeon general and Naval officer and is a vaccine supporter. | 3 min read
- In a press conference yesterday, Artemis II astronauts reflected on their successful space flight. “When we came home, we were shocked at the global outpouring of support, of pride, of ownership of this mission," said commander Reid Wiseman. | 2 min read
- A study in songbirds shows that creating new neurons in the brain requires destroying older ones. | 2 min read
|
|
It’s natural for memories to fade. But could there be a way to get some of them back? Humans take in sensory information throughout life, and those memories in the brain are tied to our body's experiences. Two neuroscientists had a theory that reconnecting your adult self with your childhood body could help you remember the past. Through a unique experimental setup, they showed that people can retrieve more vivid childhood memories if they embody their younger selves.
How it works: Neuroscientists behind the study presented 50 adults with a live video display of their face. Half of them had a filter applied so they would look younger—perhaps more like their childhood selves. When the participants moved their faces around, the filters moved with them, making it a realistic illusion. After they got a look at themselves, the researchers asked them questions about their childhoods. People with the filter applied recalled significantly more details about their childhood memories, like specific locations, emotions, and sensations.
What the experts say: “The findings point to a fascinating idea that the brain doesn’t just store information tied to past events as raw sensations but also anchors them to memories of the body that people had when those events occurred,” write study authors Jane Aspell and Utkarsh Gupta. —Emma Gometz, newsletter editor
Join the discussion: Do you it's a good idea to unlock memories from the past? What might be some of the positive or negative repercussions? Share your thoughts by joining our online discussion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TRAVEL WITH SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
|
|
Space Now Open for Icelandic Eclipse Adventure
|
|
New availability! Grab your spot while they last and experience the 2026 solar eclipse in the Land of Ice and Fire on this trip of a lifetime led by Senior News Editor Andrea Thomspon.
|
|
|
|
|
We've got an animal-themed news quiz today based on articles in Scientific American this week. Also, check out today's Spellements puzzle. If you spot any missing science terms from the puzzle, email them to games@sciam.com. This week a healthy handful of players (and pepper lovers) spotted that capsaicin was missing. Spicy find!
|
|
|
MOST POPULAR STORIES OF THE WEEK
|
|
- See NASA’s Artemis II mission around the moon in 12 stunning photos | 3 min read
- Scientists just discovered 5.6 million bees under a New York State cemetery | 2 min read
- Mathematicians created an "impossible" shape that shouldn’t exist | 3 min read
|
|
The possibility of re-embodying a younger version of one's self reminded me of the final line of The Great Gatsby. Gatsby's fixation on reclaiming his past love ultimately leads to his downfall. At the end of the novel, Gatsby's neighbor Nick Carraway visits Gatsby's abandoned mansion and reflects: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” It's a powerful line, suggesting that memory isn't a passive thing gone by, but a force we struggle against—or embrace. Is there a period of your life you wish you remembered more or could re-create?
|
|
Deep thoughts to set the tone for the weekend. Thanks for being a part of this community of curious and thoughtful people! Reach out to me anytime: newsletters@sciam.com.
—Andrea Gawrylewski
Chief Newsletter Editor
|
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters here.
|
|
|
|
|
