Your Brain On Psilocybin

In this week's curation of Moonlighting MD 💼, we’re covering -

• ️🍄 How Our Brains Operate On Psilocybin

• 🇨🇦 Canadas Recent Hike In PhD And Postdoc Pay

• 🐷 Pigs That May Hold The Future For Organ Transplants

Read on for more info!

SCIENCE NEWS
This Is Your Brain On Psilocybin

Ever wondered what it's like to experience your brain turning into a computer? Neurologist Dr. Nico Dosenbach found out firsthand during a groundbreaking psilocybin trial. "I was the computer tablet, and my thoughts were like computer thoughts," he recalls. This new study reveals how psilocybin rewires the brain, potentially offering hope for those with treatment-resistant depression. Read on to explore the science behind the trip.

WORLD NEWS
Canada Just Hiked PhD And Postdoc Pay — Here’s How To Get Your Country To Do It, Too

Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are often the unsung heroes of research, yet they struggle to make ends meet amidst the cost-of-living crisis. Respondents to a November 2022 Nature survey of early-career academics reported sometimes having to get groceries from food banks. But change is possible, as shown by the recent triumph in Canada where grassroots activism led to an additional $2.6 billion for student and postdoctoral compensation. This victory, spearheaded by Support Our Science (SOS), proves that collective organization, a clear message, relentless communication, and building trust can move mountains.

INNOVATION IN MEDICINE
Meet Some Of The World’s Cleanest Pigs, Raised To Grow Kidneys And Hearts For Humans

In the Blue Ridge mountains, a revolutionary farm is raising gene-edited pigs designed for organ transplantation. “These are precious animals,” says David Ayares of Revivicor Inc., who’s been at the forefront of cloning pigs with the right genetic tweaks for this breakthrough. With ultra-clean living conditions and $75 million pathogen-free facilities, these pigs might just be the answer to the human organ shortage.