Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2021 - Page 358


Page 358 of 510

More exposure to political TV ads heightens anxiety

A new study by Cornell University researchers has found a positive association between exposure to televised campaign ads and reported diagnoses of anxiety among U.S. adults. The study analyzed two large national datasets and found that increased ad exposure was linked to higher odds of being diagnosed with anxiety.

SourceCornell University·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateApr 13, 2021

Genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may increase risk of psychosis from cannabis use

A new study published in Translational Psychiatry reveals that individuals with high genetic predisposition to schizophrenia are disproportionately affected by cannabis use, experiencing a 60% higher risk of psychotic experiences. Cannabis users, compared to non-users, have higher rates of psychotic experiences across the board.

SourceCentre for Addiction and Mental Health·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateApr 13, 2021

Study suggests common drug could be used to prevent certain skin cancers

Researchers at Ohio State University suggest that an oral drug currently used to treat neuromuscular diseases could help prevent a common form of skin cancer caused by UVB radiation. The study found that the neurotransmitter dopamine can stop the development and progression of certain UVB-induced precancerous squamous skin cancers.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalCancer Prevention Research·DateApr 13, 2021

New advice for medics treating high blood pressure

A new study by NUI Galway researchers found no evidence that diastolic blood pressure can be harmful when reduced to levels previously thought too low. The study suggests treating systolic values between 100-130mmHg is beneficial, freeing doctors from worrying about diastolic readings falling too low.

SourceUniversity of Galway·JournalCirculation·DateApr 13, 2021

Childbirth versus pelvic floor stability

A new study published in PNAS suggests that a smaller pelvic canal is biomechanically advantageous for supporting the fetus and organs, despite being disadvantageous for childbirth. This 'pelvic floor hypothesis' was tested through finite element analysis, revealing that larger pelvic floors deform disproportionately more under pressure.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 13, 2021

Guide for science outreach

The guide aims to improve science outreach by providing examples of successful programs, funding sources, and assessment methods. It also emphasizes the importance of considering context and supporting underrepresented students in STEM education.

SourceStanford University·JournalPlant Direct·DateApr 13, 2021

Mindfulness can make you selfish

A new study by University at Buffalo researchers found that mindfulness can have both positive and negative effects on social behaviors. While it increases prosocial actions for those who view themselves as more interdependent, it decreases them for those who are more independent. The findings suggest that pairing mindfulness with inst...

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 13, 2021

Prenatal opioid exposure, risk of infant death

Researchers investigated prenatal opioid exposure and its impact on infant mortality, discovering a significant association between the two. Infants exposed to opioids in utero are at higher risk of death, with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome also increasing mortality rates.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateApr 12, 2021

Spanking may affect the brain development of a child

A new study by Harvard researchers found that spanking can alter a child's neural responses to their environment, similar to experiencing more severe forms of violence. The study, published in the journal Child Development, analyzed brain activity in children who were spanked and compared it to those who were not.

SourceHarvard University·JournalChild Development·DateApr 12, 2021

Early cannabis use linked to heart disease

A recent University of Guelph study found that early cannabis use may be linked to an increased risk of developing heart disease. The research, which analyzed data from 35 young subjects aged 19-30, revealed subtle but potentially important changes in heart and artery function among cannabis users.

SourceUniversity of Guelph·JournalJournal of Applied Physiology·DateApr 12, 2021

Paying for whose performance? Teacher incentive pay and the black-white test score gap

A study found that teacher incentive pay programs in North Carolina expanded the test score gap between Black and White students, with gains smaller for Black students. The programs aimed to increase teaching effectiveness in high-need schools but had little impact on average student achievement overall.

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalEducational Evaluation and Policy Analysis·DateApr 12, 2021

CNIC researchers explain how high blood pressure, the most important cause of disease worldwide, acc

Researchers found that high blood pressure alters artery structure, facilitating atherosclerosis development and increasing accumulation of LDL cholesterol in human-like arteries. Keeping both LDL cholesterol and blood pressure low is crucial for preventing atherosclerosis.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateApr 12, 2021

E-cigarettes with a cigarette-like level of nicotine are effective in reducing smoking

A new study led by VCU researchers found that e-cigarettes delivering a high amount of nicotine are effective in reducing smoking and exposure to NNAL, a major pulmonary carcinogen. The study suggests that when e-cigarettes deliver nicotine effectively, smokers have greater success in quitting or reducing their smoking habit.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·DateApr 12, 2021

Spotting cows from space

A team of researchers used satellite imagery to study the interactions between cows and elk at the interface of wildland and rangeland. Their findings suggest that elk have acclimated to cattle by avoiding cow pastures and selecting separate foraging sites, reducing potential grazing conflicts.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalBiological Conservation·DateApr 12, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked with six unhealthy eating behaviors

A new study by the University of Minnesota Medical School and School of Public Health found correlations between COVID-19 and six unhealthy eating behaviors, including extreme weight control and binge eating. The study highlights the need for affordable and accessible interventions to prevent and treat eating disorders, particularly am...

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalJournal of Eating Disorders·DateApr 12, 2021