The lone star tick has officially established itself in Ohio, prompting urgent warnings from health officials. Linked to severe allergies and the rare Heartland virus, the tick's spread is fueled by mild winters and growing deer populations. Experts urge families to protect themselves outdoors and check for ticks immediately after exposure. Stay alert as tick-borne illnesses rise across the state.

A provocative neuroscience theory argues that dreams are more than strange stories: They may be a nightly defense that keeps the brain’s visual cortex from being “taken over” when darkness shuts down sight. Researchers point to rapid sensory rewiring in blindfolded subjects and patterns across primate REM sleep to suggest dreaming helps protect visual processing power.