ScienceDaily: Society - November 12, 2024
Top society research news
The refrigerator as a harbinger of a better life
To get a good sense of a country's level of development, you need to look at the items people have in their homes, according to economists. Research on low- and middle-income countries often focuses on income, health or education, but that doesn't tell you the full story of a country's situation.
Image: Zhane Luk/Shutterstock.com
'Emotional contagion' a factor in seniors' mental health
A new study finds that seniors who tend to mirror other people's feelings are more likely to show signs of being anxious or depressed themselves.
Experiences of discrimination linked to postpartum weight retention
Researchers have been unable to explain why after giving birth, Black patients are two to three times as likely to retain or gain additional weight compared to their white counterparts, even when pre-pregnancy weight and gestational-weight trajectories are comparable. A first-of-its-kind study points to the stress of lived experiences with racism and gender-based discrimination as a possible explanation.
Why health and price, not sustainability, drive US meat consumption choices
Environmental sustainability isn't a major factor influencing meat consumption decisions for most Americans, despite increasing awareness of the climate impacts of red meat production, according to researchers.
Power of aesthetic species on social media boosts wildlife conservation efforts, say experts
Facebook and Instagram can boost wildlife conservation efforts through public awareness and engagement, according to a new study.
How prisons fall short in protecting the incarcerated from climate disasters
A new study paints a grim picture of how blistering heat, wildfire smoke and other extreme weather events impact Colorado's jail and prison population.
Current test accommodations for students with blindness do not fully address their needs
Researchers in Japan have demonstrated that the current accommodations for examinees with blindness for examinations such as those related to admissions are inadequate, particularly for examinations requiring the reading of complex tables.
Dog-owner interaction is reflected in heart rate variability
A recent study showed that the heart rate variability of a dog and its owner adapt to each other during interaction. High heart rate variability is associated with relaxation, while low heart rate variability indicates stimulation. The study deepens our understanding of the emotional connection between a dog and its owner, including its underlying physiological mechanisms.
How much climate change is in the weather?
Only a few weeks ago, massive precipitation produced by the storm 'Boris' led to chaos and flooding in Central and Eastern Europe. An analysis shows that in a world without the current level of global warming Boris would have deposited roughly nine percent less rain. Such conclusions can be drawn thanks to a new modelling approach called 'storylines'.
Pioneering Planetary Boundaries science as key to mitigating rising planetary risks
The Planetary Boundaries framework is a pivotal tool for tackling the climate crisis and safeguarding humanity's future on Earth. For the first time, the full story of the Planetary Boundaries is now being told from its beginning: In a review, researchers highlight the growing influence of the framework across disciplines and its impact on society and policy. The paper offers a unique overview of how the framework has been adopted across sectors.
Chimpanzees perform better on challenging computer tasks when they have an audience
When people have an audience watching them, it can change their performance for better or worse. Now, researchers have found that chimpanzees' performance on computer tasks is influenced by the number of people watching them. The findings suggest that this 'audience effect' predates the development of reputation-based human societies, the researchers say.
School suspensions and expulsions can lead to a lifetime of depression, study finds
A new study shows that children who are suspended or expelled from school report higher rates of depression in adolescence and into adulthood.
Encouraging quiet during zoo visits might lead to a better appreciation of the animals
Encouraging quietness during zoo trips can help visitors better appreciate their inhabitants and lead to more fulfilling, respectful and informative experiences, a new paper argues.
Soil sampling in Houston's Greater Fifth Ward reveals toxic levels of lead in yards, play areas
Study results showed the highest detectable concentrations of heavy metals were lead, barium and chromium. All samples except for lead had less than or the same levels expected for an urban area. The median levels of lead detected in seven samples from play areas (400 mg/kg) and three samples from residential areas (1200 mg/kg) were four times the levels for Texas overall. And these likely were underestimated because they did not account for lead-based paint or automotive fuel.
A new study has exposed for the first time how inhabitants of the smallest countries globally, contributing least to climate change, already bear the brunt of its devastating consequences and the burden is likely to worsen.
Do no harm: Researchers help doctors identify words they should never say to patients
Seriously ill patients and family members face intense emotional suffering, and researchers, say clinicians must engage in 'compassionate communication' as part of the treatment process. They have identified so-called 'never words' that should not be said under any circumstances; offer methods for clinicians to identify their own never words; and provide more helpful language to use instead.
Study links liver-brain communication to daily eating patterns
People who work the nightshift or odd hours and eat at irregular times are more prone to weight gain and diabetes, likely due to eating patterns not timed with natural daylight and when people typically eat. But is it possible to stave off the ill effects of eating at these 'unusual' times despite it not being biologically preferable? A study says 'yes', and sheds light on how the body knows when to eat. The study explains how researchers discovered a connection between the liver's internal clock and feeding centers in the brain.
New study traces impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global movement and evolution of seasonal flu
Increased capabilities for genomic surveillance have offered new insights into global viral evolution. Seasonal flu showed a 'remarkable' bounce back to pre-pandemic levels once international air travel resumed. Regions with fewer COVID-19 restrictions were associated with sustained flu virus transmission.
What makes human culture unique?
Why is human culture -- the shared body of knowledge passed down across generations -- so much more powerful than animal cultures?
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria could pose major health threat across Asia
A virulent new strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that causes severe disease could be spreading widely across Asia -- posing significant challenges to global public health.
GPS system for microorganisms could revolutionize police work
A research team developed an AI tool that traces back the most recent places you have been to. The tool acts like a satellite navigation system, but instead of guiding you to your hotel, it identifies the geographical source of microorganisms. This means you can use bacteria to determine whether someone has just been to the beach, got off the train in the city center or taken a walk in the woods. This opens up new possibilities within medicine, epidemiology and forensics.
Elite coaches see compassion as a path to better performance
The potential of using compassion as a tool in elite sport is high, both for the individual athlete and in terms of sporting results, a study involving high-performance coaches shows.
One of the first studies to investigate the prevalence of unrecognized cognitive impairment among patients seen at Federally Qualified Health Centers, has found that it is ubiquitous, especially among minoritized older adults. These facilities provide primary care and preventive services regardless of ability to pay or health insurance status to more than 30 million patients, including a growing number of older adults.
Does more virtual care mean more low-value care? Study suggests no
One of the top worries about telehealth is that it will drive up the use of tests and scans that patients don't need, wasting money and resources. In fact, a new study shows, low-value care didn't rise faster at primary care practices that used telehealth the most.
Sewage surveillance proves powerful in combating antimicrobial resistance
Sewage surveillance is emerging as a powerful tool in the fight against antimicrobial resistance with the potential to protect vulnerable communities more effectively.
New study sheds light on the role of sound and music in gendered toy marketing
New research reveals that the music and soundscapes used in toy commercials are reinforcing rigid gender norms, shaping the way children perceive masculinity and femininity. The study uncovers how gender stereotypes are not only conveyed through visuals and language but are also deeply embedded in the sound and music used in advertisements targeted at children.
Effects of preterm birth extend into adulthood, study finds
By analyzing all live births in Canada over a six-year period and following children for more than two decades, researchers found that preterm births and the related cognitive, development and physical health impacts of prematurity are associated with lower income, employment and university enrollment.
'Shallow' sports and 'deep' social hierarchies: Not all pecking orders are created equal
Researchers have added a new dimension to the mathematics used to predict the outcomes of all manner of competitions, including sports, games and social hierarchies in both humans and animals.
New study challenges social media's mental health impact
A new study has challenged the perception heavy social media use has a significant impact on mental health, finding little to no relationship between the two. In fact, not only does the research indicate the amount of time spent on social media has a negligible effect on mental health indicators such as depression, anxiety and stress -- the result isn't always negative, either.
Probability training: Preventing errors of reasoning in medicine and law
A new study shows how students can better understand and interpret conditional probabilities.
Vitamin D during pregnancy boosts children's bone health even at age seven
Children whose mothers took extra vitamin D during pregnancy continue to have stronger bones at age seven, according to research.
Scientists unveil strategies to make self-driven vehicles passenger-friendly
Automated vehicles promise to improve urban mobility, but passenger trust remains a challenge. Providing timely, passenger-specific explanations for automated vehicle decisions can bridge this trust gap. To address this, researchers introduced TimelyTale, a dataset designed to capture real-world driving scenarios and passenger explanation needs. It would be nice to see this multimodal dataset approach for in-vehicle explanation generation improving passengers' trust and confidence in automated vehicles.
Locally optimized urban form reduces carbon dioxide emissions
While atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are higher than ever before, an estimated 2.5 billion additional people are expected to integrate into urban areas worldwide by 2050, making reduced urban CO2 emissions a priority. A group of scientists investigated the effects of urban form, specifically at the building and street level, on urban carbon emissions using detailed assessment methods in three different U.S. cities.
Physicists have investigated to which extent a piece of music can evoke expectations about its progression. They were able to determine differences in how far compositions of different composers can be anticipated. In total, the scientists quantitatively analyzed more than 550 pieces from classical and jazz music.
An extra year of education does not protect against brain aging, study finds
Thanks to a 'natural experiment' involving 30,000 people, researchers were able to determine very precisely what an extra year of education does to the brain in the long term. To their surprise, they found no effect on brain structure and no protective benefit of additional education against brain aging.
Explaining science through dance
Explaining a theoretical science concept to high school students requires a new way of thinking altogether, which is precisely what researchers did when they orchestrated a dance with high school students at Orange Glen High School in Escondido as a way to explain topological insulators.