News

Society

Science

Health

Culture

Subscribe

Feeling burnt out? Scientists discovered the type of music recharges and repairs your mind.

“This brain hack reboot can improve focus, mood, and energy.”

By

Mark Wales

By  Mark Wales
Add to Google News
psychology, powerful tools, music, emotional behavior, scientists, brainwave activity, mood, mental fatiguemental fatigue
Listening to good music on the street. – Photo credit: Photo credit Canva (LumineImages)

Music has long been appreciated as a powerful tool capable of strongly influencing emotional behavior. Scientists have recently discovered that listening to specific types of music shows measurable changes in brainwave activity. This provides evidence of a biological mechanism by which music can restore a mentally fatigued mind.

The restorative power of music on mental fatigue

A 2025 study on the effects of music on mental fatigue was published in Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. The study placed 30 university students into two groups—the control group and the music group—and found that those in the music group reported a substantially greater reduction in fatigue than those tested in silence.

After placing electrodes on the scalp to record brainwaves, participants performed a demanding task, which decreased their alpha peak frequency. This frequency marker of alertness and cognitive efficiency at lower levels is a fatigue indicator. Participants who listened to a genre of relaxing Chinese folk music returned to their baseline, showing significant recovery. The control group listening to silence had no recovery.

Higher levels of delta, theta, and alpha brain wave patterns are associated with fatigue. These slow-wave patterns were decreased in the music group. The study concluded that people who listened to relaxing music after a mentally draining task recovered brain activity patterns associated with alertness and reported feeling physically less tired.

music genres, baroque, classical music, nature-infused music, folk music, acoustic, mind wandering, decision-making
Relaxing to music. Photo credit Canva (DragonImages)

Music genres that help with mental fatigue

Music is therapeutic for the mind and spirit. Specific music choices can enhance mental and emotional health and have been used to treat depression, pain, and various health conditions. These are some music genres that can effectively help with mental fatigue and other biological mood regulators:

  • Chinese Folk Music — These pentatonic scales with flowing melodies create emotional balance while shaping a mindful calmness. A 2022 study in Scientific Reports found that those who listened to Chinese Folk music showed enhanced emotional regulation and faster recovery from mental fatigue compared to those who listened to pop or rock music.
  • Baroque and Classical Music — One of the largest influencers on mental fatigue is stress. The parasympathetic nervous system controls the heartbeat, breathing, and all the systems we don’t consciously control. A 2022 study in the National Library of Medicine found that this type of music was particularly effective at reducing stress and anxiety.
  • Nature-Infused Soundscapes — The magnitude of the effect varies by duration of exposure, sound type, and sound level. A 2021 study in MDPI found that natural soundscapes reduce sympathetic nervous system activity and improve mood. This fight-or-flight impulse, tied to heart rate and adrenaline, can align with the music toward a more recovered mind reset.
  • Acoustic and Folk Music — With simple melodies, natural instruments, and warm tones, nostalgic memories stimulate dopamine and oxytocin release. A 2025 study in MDPI found that this instrumental music reduced mind wandering and improved semantic decision-making. The predictable pattern supported sustained attention.

work sessions, study marathon, emotional stress, recovery, emotional mood, music preferences, instrumental music, mental health
Music and a good run. Photo credit Canva (SrdjanPav)

After a long work session, study marathon, or emotional stress, genres of music can be effective for recovery from mental fatigue. These studies highlight the importance of a person’s individual music preferences and why some tempos are better than others. The belief that music influences our mental health and emotional mood states is one thing, but science telling us that it’s actually true is another. Now, learning to incorporate music into our own rituals will be the next step in evolving into happier, more emotionally adaptable people.

You can watch this video by neuroscientist and professor Andrew Huberman to learn more about boosting your mood and improving learning through music below:

Add to Google News

Tags

advertisement

More for You

  • Scientists have created a leather clothing alternative made entirely from mushrooms that looks and feels like the real thing
    Left: Mushrooms. Right: A model dressed in a leather jacket. – Photo credit: Canva
    ,

    Scientists have created a leather clothing alternative made entirely from mushrooms that looks and feels like the real thing

    They can grow the material in a matter of days.

    Mark Wales

    Austria’s scientists have created a leather made from mycelium. Growing mushrooms in low-oxygen chambers allows researchers to craft an alternative material that feels and looks like traditional leather. The finished textile is strong, flexible, and even fire-resistant.

    Manufacturers grow the material instead of harvesting it from animals. After it reaches the desired thickness, they apply non-toxic enzymes to keep it fully biodegradable. The vegetative part of the fungus grows into a dense mat over a matter of days. Above all, it avoids the environmental impact of traditional leather production.

    Alternative leather made from mushrooms

    This is not science fiction; fungal fabric has grown from a curiosity into reality. A 2025 report listed the benefits of mushroom leather as having a lower carbon footprint. It begins with a substantial reduction in water use. Growing mushrooms, compared to raising cattle, requires a fraction of the water.

    Secondly, the product breaks down naturally without microplastic contamination. Using enzymes that cross-link the fibers results in a material free of blended toxic materials.

    Moreover, by creating the right environment—a low-oxygen chamber with a nutrient-rich substrate—the mushroom mat can be grown in a matter of days.

    Lastly, mushroom leather is naturally fire-resistant. There’s no need for harmful chemicals to treat the textile. In addition, clean up requires mild soap and lukewarm water.

    A 2026 study in ScienceDirect confirmed the fungal mycelium as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional and synthetic leathers. It demonstrates structural integrity and favorable thermal stability.

    fungus, clothing materials, environment, biodegradable, non-flammable, dense mat
    Mushroom leather.
    Photo credit: ThamaraGroenleer/ Wikimedia Commons

    Is the public ready for vegan leather?

    People have conflicting thoughts, as seen in the comments on the Instagram post. Some individuals are excited and encouraged by the possibilities. Others, however, are less impressed:

    “I’m ready for it. How do we buy it?”

    “Make it affordable and common!”

    “As long as the final product keeps being painted and coated with chemicals, the purpose of the product is merely green washing.”

    “bio degradable? sorry your shoes were eaten by mold after the rain.”

    “Where we can buy this leather?”

    “Unless we’re talking about aprons/gloves for welders or blacksmiths (which is a fairly niche market), flammability isn’t something most people that wear leather are concerned about.”

    fashion, sustainable materials, clothing, vegan leather, eco-friendly
    Materials and scissors.
    Photo credit: Canva

    Fashion looks for sustainable, yet affordable materials

    Fashion leaders are looking to incorporate more sustainable fabrics into their creations. A 2025 post on Open Forem explored material choices for leading industry fashion designers in 2025. For example, more familiar textiles like polyester, organic cotton, and wool made their traditional rounds. But there was an effort to use plant-based leathers, too.

    Mushroom mycelium leather was a hot choice for its low environmental impact, its short creation time, and its customizable texture and thickness.

    Other exotic materials included banana fibers, seaweed-based fabrics, and Piñatex, a natural, low-impact textile made from pineapple leaf fibre. Designers fashion the plant-based material into vegan handbags, shoes, and wallets.

    A 2026 article in Vogue revealed that Gucci seeks more sustainable ways to produce leather products. The luxury brand began a campaign for vegan alternative leather back in 2021.

    Despite commercial adoption remaining somewhat limited, mushroom leather continues to attract attention for its eco-friendly production and versatility. Grown on agricultural waste while remaining fully biodegradable are cornerstones of this remarkable material.

    You can watch this TED Talk on fashion made from mushrooms:

    Keep Reading →
  • Scientists create environmentally friendly plastic replacement from shrimp shells
    Shrimp shells could become our new plastic. – Photo credit: Canva
    ,

    Scientists create environmentally friendly plastic replacement from shrimp shells

    It gets 50% stronger when submerged in water.

    Erik Barnes

    Plastic waste has been a growing global issue for years. The United Nations Environment Programme says that 19 to 23 million metric tonnes of plastic waste leaks into lakes, rivers, and oceans each year. Given the threat microplastics pose to animal and human health, efforts to find green replacements have intensified—and they’re working. Scientists from Singapore and Spain have found a strong, potentially viable replacement for plastic made from shrimp shells.

    A research team based at the Singapore University of Technology and Design and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in Barcelona has made a biodegradable plastic alternative out of chitosan. Chitosan is a compound created by combining shrimp shells with trace amounts of nickel. It contains a structural molecule found in the shells of crustaceans and insect exoskeletons. Usually discarded as a waste byproduct of shrimp and crab processing, chitosan is commonly produced during seafood preparation and commercial fishing.

    The issue with chitosan, though, was that it weakens and dissolves in water. That is, until recently.

    How chitosan got stronger

    Dissolving chitosan flakes into a weak acetic solution and mixing them with dissolved nickel chloride and water produced surprising results. Scientists then poured the mixture into molds to dry. The process yields a thin, green-tinted film with the strength of commonly used plastics like polypropylene. Even better, when submerged in water, the film grows 50% stronger. This increased durability matches the characteristics of polycarbonate and PETG, plastics commonly used in commercial single-use water bottles.

    Researchers then stress-tested the chitosan material by molding it into cups and containers. They were able to confirm it could hold water without leaks. In terms of biodegradability, the chitosan material reached its half-life in four months in a standard soil burial test. By contrast, most commercial plastics can take centuries to decompose under similar conditions.

    Researchers found that this is not only a better biodegradable plastic alternative, but also one that produces zero waste during creation. When the chitosan/nickel film is submerged, about 87% of the nickel washes out. That wash water can then be reused again and again from one batch of chitosan to the next. According to the researchers, the nickel content of a single AAA battery would provide enough nickel to manufacture more than a dozen chitosan drinking cups.

    The potential future

    Rigorous testing to assess the material’s limits for medical use and consumption still needs to be done. That said, the Food and Drug Administration has already approved products containing chitosan and nickel individually in the past. Barring any troubling research about their combined safety, the outlook is quite positive for future use.

    Hopefully, seafood and battery waste can be reduced, helping lower plastic waste in a three-way win for the environment.

    Keep Reading →
  • Scientists invent ‘smart’ underwear that tracks gut bacteria health through your farts
    Analyzing the times you pass gas helps scientists study gut bacteria. – Photo credit: Canva

    Scientists invent ‘smart’ underwear that tracks gut bacteria health through your farts

    How many times do you pass gas in a day?

    Erik Barnes

    In the United States, gut health is a big deal. According to a 2022 survey by the American Gastroenterological Association, 40% of Americans deal with digestive problems that disrupt their day-to-day lives. Many try different diets and supplements to assuage these issues, as well as use probiotics to improve overall digestion—but there might be a better way. Scientists may have found a way to analyze and pinpoint potential digestive problems; all you need to do is put on some special underwear and fart.

    Researchers at the University of Maryland wanted to find a better way to monitor and measure human gut bacteria in the name of microbiome research. While past methods allowed them to see what gut bacteria species are living in the human body, there was no accurate way to see what the gut bacteria was doing hour by hour. Well, they seem to have found a way: a pair of underwear with a tiny sensor clipped near the rear can now record data from a person’s flatulence.

    @wkoafm

    “Smart Undewear” as a Valentine’s gift? Don’t poo poo the idea! #lafayette #fart

    ♬ original sound – K-105

    This “Smart Underwear” measures the amount of hydrogen gas emitted each time a person passes gas, monitoring the gut bacteria’s activity within a person. Hydrogen gas is typically produced when certain gut bacteria breaks down undigested food. The whole thing may sound silly (and smelly), but early tests of this device have been able to detect dietary changes in people with 94.7% accuracy. This device and method of analyzing gut bacteria is better than most current tools that analyze stool samples, blood, or breath for such data. The Smart Underwear also has a battery that can last for a week without compromising comfort for the wearer.

    “The Smart Underwear comfortably attaches to the exterior of the user’s underwear near the perineal region via a snap system, in which a small plastic snap on the inside of the underwear fabric fits into a corresponding hole on the Smart Underwear on the opposite side of the underwear,” wrote Santiago Botasini and their colleagues in the study. “This sandwiches the fabric in place through friction, ensuring a stable but comfortable attachment of the Smart Underwear. Once attached, the Smart Underwear passively captures hydrogen concentration in flatus, as well as temporal dynamics including the frequency and duration of flatus events enabling longitudinal measurements of gut microbial metabolism.”

    While additional studies are needed, this current study of 38 participants seems to suggest this device could help doctors. The Smart Underwear could pinpoint specific food sensitivities and intolerances within their patients, which proves to be a much better and more accurate practice than relying on patients self-reporting via “food journals” to capture patterns.

    The study shows that self-reporting isn’t always accurate. For example, the device revealed that the participants farted 32 times per day on average, which is more than double the typically cited daily average of 14 incidents.

    @madmedicine

    ??? #humanbody #fartfact #farts #bodyfact #doctor #medicine #tiktokdoc #learnontiktok #tiktokpartner #HoldMyMilk #dreamaesthetic

    ♬ Blade Runner 2049 – Synthwave Goose

    It will be a while before gastrointestinal doctors start prescribing Smart Underwear to figure out what’s causing their digestive discomfort, but the research is promising. At any rate, whether the Smart Underwear will be used just for studies or becomes a widespread method to identify food intolerances, getting more information will ultimately lead to a sweeter smell of success over time.

    Keep Reading →

advertisement

neighbors, kindness, apology, community, apartment living
Culture

A woman complained to her upstairs neighbor about a strange noise in the middle of the night. His wholesome response was perfect.

Walmart, workers rights, overtime, labor laws, workplace
Society

This hand-written Walmart note about employee hours is a real head-scratcher

teacher, parents, emails, TikTok, history, parent input, community, education, students
Humor

High school teacher reads some of the most hilariously unhelpful emails he gets from ‘concerned’ parents

Francesca Hogi, flirting, TedTalk, attraction, chemistry, humans, psychology, superpowers
Well-being

Love educator shares how awkward flirting can be turned into a romantic superpower

discipline, psychology, cluttered, intelligence, Chase Hughes, Diary of a CEO, podcast, habits, willpower
Well-being

Retired U.S. Navy chief explains how to end discipline anxiety with wholesome ‘butler’ trick

Sign Up for the Daily Good!

Advertisement

Explore More Science Stories

See All
mushrooms, vegan leather, leather, mycelial leather, environment, clothing, sustainable clothing
Science

Scientists have created a leather clothing alternative made entirely from mushrooms that looks and feels like the real thing

Mark Wales
plastic, shrimp, nickel, environment, waste
Environment

Scientists create environmentally friendly plastic replacement from shrimp shells

Erik Barnes
fart, science discovery, gut health, bacteria, digestion
Science

Scientists invent ‘smart’ underwear that tracks gut bacteria health through your farts

Erik Barnes
History, Archaeology, Mummy, Ancient Egypt, 3D scanning, Artifacts, Museum collections Egyptology, Provenance, Digital archaeology
History

3D scanning and shape analysis help archaeologists connect objects across space and time to recover their lost histories

Carlo Rindi Nuzzolo