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Dartmouth College


Becoming bad through video games

A nationwide study involving over 5,000 teenagers found that playing mature-rated video games associated with increased deviant behaviors, including alcohol use and smoking cigarettes. The researchers suggest changes in personality, attitudes, and values contribute to the findings.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateAug 4, 2014

12 minutes of exercise improves attention, reading comprehension in low-income adolescents

A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology shows that brief bouts of exercise can significantly improve attention and reading comprehension in low-income adolescents. This finding has important implications for schools serving low-income populations, suggesting they should incorporate physical activity into their daily schedules.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateJun 12, 2014

Climate change, forest fires drove widespread surface melting of Greenland ice sheet

A Dartmouth-led study reveals that climate change and Northern Hemisphere forest fires combined to drive large-scale surface melting of the Greenland ice sheet in 1889 and 2012. The research suggests nearly annual widespread melting of the ice sheet's surface by 2100, with a positive feedback mechanism set in motion.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

US foreclosures drive up suicide rate

A recent study found a significant correlation between US foreclosure crisis and rising suicide rates, especially among middle-aged adults. Foreclosures were found to affect not only individuals but also entire communities, exacerbating feelings of loss, shame, or regret.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateMay 16, 2014

You want fries with that? Don't go there

A new Dartmouth study suggests that chronic dieters overeat when their brain regions that balance impulsive behavior and self-control are disrupted. This depletion reduces a person's ability to engage in self-control by reducing connectivity between brain regions involved in cognitive control and rewards.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPsychological Science·DateNov 9, 2013

Mine metals at Maine Superfund site causing widespread contamination

A new Dartmouth study reveals toxic metals from an open-pit mine in Maine's Goose Pond estuary are spreading into nearby sediment, water, and fish, affecting the regional marine food web. Elevated levels of copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead were found, posing a potential health risk to humans who consume seafood from these areas.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalArchives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·DateSep 19, 2013

Prehistoric climate change due to cosmic crash in Canada

A Dartmouth-led team reveals that an asteroid impact in Quebec led to a global climate shift 12,900 years ago, causing the extinction of large mammals and prompting humans to adopt a hunter-gatherer diet. The study provides conclusive evidence linking extraterrestrial activity to environmental transformation.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 2, 2013

Chemophobia shouldn't be on the menu

A new Dartmouth study finds that many people fear low amounts of chemicals in their food, despite being inherently harmless and often beneficial. The study argues that regulators should focus on pathogens and bacteria rather than pesticides and synthetic chemicals.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalFood Security·DateAug 14, 2013

Wood not so green a biofuel

A Dartmouth-led study finds that logging can release large amounts of carbon stored in deep forest soils, potentially offsetting the benefits of using wood for energy. The research suggests that increased reliance on forest biomass may actually increase atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateJun 11, 2013

Climate change may have little impact on tropical lizards

A Dartmouth College study suggests that many species of tropical lizards may not be on the brink of extinction due to climate change. The research found that high-resolution temperature measurements revealed varying effects on different lizard populations, contradicting previous predictions of widespread extinction.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateMay 16, 2013