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Yale scientists discover how stress changes the brain to make…

The study explains how cortisol changes the way emotion and memory networks in the brain talk to each other; it also explains your 2 a.m. cringe.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN This Morning
Published 9:46 AM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Photo: LHcheM · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN This Morning at 9:46 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are ScienceDaily's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: LHcheM · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Cortisol — Photo: LHcheM · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

At a glance

First reported by ScienceDaily: “Yale scientists discover how stress changes the brain to make memories stronger”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 9:46 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield; aired 2 times.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

ScienceDailyYale scientists discover how stress changes the brain to make memories stronger
ScienceDailyUSC scientists discover how to create a never-ending supply of cancer-fighting cells

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentYale researchers found how the stress hormone cortisol reshapes communication between the brain's emotion and memory networks, which is why your most stressful moments get stored the best.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo cortisol is basically a cloud backup. I can finally thank it for saving my wedding toast, word for word.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt saved the toast because it was a disaster, Kenji. That's the whole finding.

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