💊 ADHD meds don't do what we thought

Hi all - Loz here, back from a couple weeks away from the desk that gave me some time to put a fork in an after-hours project I’ve been nibbling on for ages now. You may remember I threatened you a couple of weeks ago with an original music release, under a title picked from the top 5 vote-winners in the 2024 New Atlas Band Name of the Year awards.

I do not make such threats idly. So here it is… My first true solo project, a series of late-night fever dreams from when the kids are in bed. I wrote ‘em, sang ‘em, played all the instruments, even produced, recorded and mixed them myself. So whatever’s wrong with them, there’s nobody else to blame! I give you… The Full Otter, available on lots of platforms. Enjoy!

Having now rudely forced a mix tape upon you, let’s take a look at what’s happening in the world of actual human progress!

😀
Loz Blain

Headliner

ADHD stimulants don’t work the way we thought they did

by Bronwyn Thompson

ADHD drugs have been thought to sharpen attention, but a new study has found something very different is at play. They don't offer laser-sharp focus but boost wakefulness and engagement, helping the brain stick to tasks it would otherwise give up on.

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Highlights

RVs and MotorhomesAdventure VehiclesOutdoors

11 coolest, most covetable mid to massive camper vans and RVs of 2025

by C.C. Weiss

From self-driving smart trailers to on- and off-road explorers that bulge out in every direction to maximize living space, some truly jaw-dropping and inspiring camper vans, travel trailers, large motorhomes and expedition trucks emerged in 2025.

ArchitectureTechnology

Chinese museum steps aside so that nature can speak

by Bridget Borgobello

Inspired by a vision to support nature, architectural firm Studio Link-Arc has completed the Yunlu Wetland Museum in Yunlu Wetland Park in Shunde, within southern China’s Pearl River Delta. It combines a bird-watching tower with exhibition spaces.

Make a power play with Office 2021 and a refurbished MacBook Pro for $440

I like bundles that erase decisions: one box for the machine, one for the apps, and you’re working by lunch. This one does exactly that—a refurbished MacBook Pro (2020) 13-inch plus Office for Mac 2021—all for $439.97 (reg. $1799).

StrokeBrain HealthBody and Mind

Can't see to one side? Hemianopia finally has a treatment

by Malcolm Azania

Researchers at Switzerland’s EPFL have created a new neurotherapy that vastly and non-invasively improves vision for patients with hemianopia-related vision loss. Previously, patients suffering from the condition simply had to learn to live it.

AI and HumanoidsTechnology

Are AI data centers still needed, or have the Swiss punched holes in them?

by Malcolm Azania

Researchers from Swiss university EPFL have removed the AI middle-man. There's reportedly no need to access Big Data centers, as their new downloadable Anyway Systems software can handle your AI processing needs locally.

Diet & NutritionWellness and Healthy LivingBody and Mind

These three discoveries change how we understand coffee and the heart

by Bronwyn Thompson

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances on the planet, yet despite more than two billion cups being drunk each day, its impact on heart health remains surprisingly complex – and often misunderstood. This year we got answers.

EnvironmentScience

The mystery of Japan’s underwater 'crop circles' has a romantic twist

by Bronwyn Thompson

In 1995, divers first noticed a group of bizarre sandy "crop circles" on the seabed near southwest Japan. But it took decades for scientists to identify the marine artists behind them – and why they were building such geometrically precise structures.

Medical InnovationsBody and Mind

Nano-magnets may defeat bone cancer and help you heal

by Malcolm Azania

Magnetic bioactive nanocomposites can eliminate tumors through magnetic arson while helping build new bone. Integrating bioactivity with magnetic performance may be key step in creating smart nanomaterials for oncology and medical regeneration.

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💊 ADHD meds don't do what we thought

Headliner

ADHD stimulants don’t work the way we thought they did

Highlights

11 coolest, most covetable mid to massive camper vans and RVs of 2025

Chinese museum steps aside so that nature can speak

Special promotion for New Atlas readers

Make a power play with Office 2021 and a refurbished MacBook Pro for $440

More Stories

Can't see to one side? Hemianopia finally has a treatment

Are AI data centers still needed, or have the Swiss punched holes in them?

These three discoveries change how we understand coffee and the heart

The mystery of Japan’s underwater 'crop circles' has a romantic twist

Nano-magnets may defeat bone cancer and help you heal

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