This week, Leah and Jamie discuss a short article that summarizes a longer article from the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS). Both articles are found in the citations listed below, but the longer article is behind a paywall. Jamie gives a pretty good review of both articles, and they both discuss how white matter can be affected by the stability of the environment in which children live. A sobering and crucial discussion that has significant impact on children of color and those who live in struggling family environments.

Citations:

1. Black, R. (2025, April 14). Is this really a dire wolf? Here’s how the ‘de-extinct’ pups compare to the real thing. Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/dire-wolf-deextinction-colossal-paleontology
2. Early experiences shape the brain’s ‘communication superhighways’ to affect cognition. (2025, April 7). American Academy of Applied Science. Retrieved April 29, 2025, from https://www.science.org/content/article/early-experiences-shape-brain-s-communication-superhighways-affect-cognition
3. Ghosh, P. (2025, April 17). Scientists find promising hints of life on distant planet K2-18b. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39jj9vkr34o
4. Wikipedia contributors. (2025, February 16). Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_James_Webb_Space_Telescope