The monthly news digest is now online, with the news for September and Alzheimer's news.

Given that I've written a novel about a nocturnal hominid, I was particularly interested in this recent report suggesting that early mammals were nocturnal. Apparently, birds, fish and amphibians all have two versions of a gene that makes cells in the eye receptive to light, but mammals only have one. Noone knows yet exactly what difference this makes, but it does suggest our experience of light may be less rich than that of other vertebrates, and is consistent with the theory that early mammals were nocturnal.

Previous research has indicated that those who have inherited a particular gene variant are at greater risk of depression. Now a new study has come out confirming that, indeed, those with this variant are at greater risk of depression -- but only if their childhood home environment was emotionally cold and unsupportive. Those from warm, loving homes, are no more likely to get depressed that those without this variant. The findings emphasize the general principle we should always keep in mind -- genes are not destiny. What we become has everything to do with the complex interaction of genes and environment, not genes alone.

And an Australian study just out indicates that brief Internet-based help for depression can be just as effective as active psychotherapies involving personal contact, not only in the short-term, but also long-term.