Jul 21, 2026 | Live Science

Childhood Unpredictability Linked to Higher Mental Health Risks

“What we discovered in the laboratory mice is that optimal development of the brain depends on consistent patterns, which enable the maturation of brain connections. Like mice, children's brain connections involved in happiness, threat and safety benefit from repeated, predictable experiences," said Dr. Tallie Z. Baram, study's senior author and co-corresponding author.

Jun 20, 2026 | Health

6 Foods to Help Lower Blood Pressure Besides Pomegranate Juice

Like pomegranates, leafy greens like kale and spinach are rich in naturally occurring nitrates, according to Geoffrey Abbott, PhD, a professor of physiology and biophysics in the School of Medicine at UC Irvine. Your body converts nitrates into nitric oxide, a key molecule involved in blood pressure regulation.

Jun 19, 2026 | Live Science

Estrogen Levels in Both the Male and Female Brain May Share Memory's Resilience in Face of Stress

The study suggests that these local estrogen concentrations may influence one's vulnerability to memory problems following major acute stress. Although the research was conducted in mice, the authors think it likely has relevance to humans. "I think this is highly translatable," study senior author Tallie Z. Baram, MD, PhD, a professor, developmental neuroscientist and child neurologist at the University of California, Irvine, told Live Science.

May 20, 2026 | NPR

The Loh Down on Science

For centuries, Native American communities used conifer trees to treat pain, weakness, and even paralysis. Could this traditional knowledge hold real medical power? Enter Alvin Yu and team from UC Irvine. They studied a rare genetic disorder, Episodic Ataxia Type One.