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Most youth hockey injuries caused by accidents, not checking, UB study shows

A new study from the University at Buffalo found that 66% of youth hockey injuries were caused by accidental hits to the boards or goal posts, while only 34% were caused by checking. The study, which analyzed data from over 3,000 players, suggests that coaches should teach players to keep their heads up and avoid looking down at the puck.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateJul 29, 2010

'The friend of my enemy is my enemy'

A new study analyzing interactions between players in a virtual universe game has provided large-scale evidence to prove an 80-year-old psychological theory called Structural Balance Theory. The research shows that individuals tend to avoid stress-causing relationships when they develop a society, resulting in more stable social networks.

SourceImperial College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 19, 2010

NYU Courant professor wins NSF's Waterman Award

Subhash Khot, a NYU Courant professor, has received the NSF's Waterman Award for his work on computational complexity and its significance in computer security. He is recognized for his groundbreaking research on the Unique Games Problem, which sheds light on computationally intractable problems with far-reaching consequences.

'Pay it forward' pays off

Researchers from UC San Diego and Harvard found that cooperative behavior is contagious and spreads through a social network. When people benefit from kindness, they are more likely to help others, creating a cascade of cooperation.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 8, 2010

Canadian researchers study mass gatherings and risks of infectious disease threats

Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston are using real-time intelligence systems to monitor potential infectious disease threats to mass gatherings like the Olympics. The collaboration is providing actionable intelligence to help organizers prepare for and respond to emerging infectious diseases.

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateFeb 24, 2010

Brain scans track hoop fans' happy memories

Researchers at Duke University used brain scans to study the emotional impact of sports on memory. The study found that fans remember successful shots by their own team better than misses or opposing team successes. Positive emotion improves memory and activates multiple brain areas, including the amygdala and hippocampus.

Got cognitive activity? It does a mind good

A large national study from Brandeis University found that intellectual activities undertaken regularly can make a difference in maintaining memory. Those with low education who engaged in reading, writing, attending lectures, doing word games or puzzles regularly had memory scores similar to people with more education

SourceBrandeis University·JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·DateJan 11, 2010

Psychologists suggest parents should wait to teach toddlers self-control

Research suggests that pushing toddlers to develop self-control too early may hinder brain development. Toddlers rely on brute-force competition to learn social conventions like language acquisition. Their immature brains are better equipped for learning through trial and error, allowing them to pick up skills effortlessly.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateDec 1, 2009

Presidential election outcome changed voters' testosterone

A study by researchers at Duke University and the University of Michigan found that men who voted for McCain or Barr experienced a significant drop in testosterone levels after the election results were announced. In contrast, Obama voters showed stable testosterone levels. The study suggests that vicarious participation in elections c...

SourceDuke University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 20, 2009

Where science feeds action, leopards win

A six-year study led by Panthera demonstrates that conservation strategies can significantly increase leopard populations and reduce human-cat conflict. The study, published in Biological Conservation, found that implementing regulations to disperse hunting pressure across a province helped stabilize the population, leading to increase...

SourcePanthera·JournalBiological Conservation·DateAug 11, 2009

XBox forensics

US researchers have developed a forensics toolkit for the Xbox console that enables investigators to access and analyze hidden data. The XFT utility allows users to mount an image of the FATX file system, explore directory structures, and view files in detail.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics·DateApr 30, 2009

Odds are, seedings don't matter after Sweet 16, University of Illinois professor says

According to Sheldon H. Jacobson, a University of Illinois professor, a team's seeding is statistically insignificant in predicting their chances of winning in the later rounds of the tournament. Ignoring a team's seeding can lead to more accurate predictions, especially after the Sweet Sixteen round.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalThe Journal of Gambling Business and Economics·DateMar 16, 2009

Effects of brain exercise depend on opponent

A recent study found that playing games against a virtual opponent activates different brain areas than those activated when playing against a human opponent. The medial prefrontal cortex and other regions associated with 'Theory of Mind' were more active in male players believing they were competing with another human.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Neuroscience·DateFeb 3, 2009

Mothers' mental games increase depressive symptoms in daughters

A new study found that African American adolescent girls whose mothers used psychological control, such as guilt trips and withdrawn affection, reported higher levels of depressive symptoms. In contrast, boys showed no such effect. The researchers suggest a need for parents to strike a balance between giving children autonomy and guidi...

SourceWiley·JournalFamily Relations·DateNov 24, 2008

USC: gamers play against type

A USC survey of 7,000 EverQuest II players found that older players were more typical, with playing time increasing with age. Women logged more hours in the game and were less likely to quit, while also exercising regularly. The study suggests that online gaming may not compromise mental health, contrary to stereotypes.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalJournal of Computer-Mediated Communication·DateSep 24, 2008

Golf prolongs life

A study from Karolinska Institutet found that golfers have a lower death rate than non-golfers, with a 5-year increase in life expectancy. Golfing, especially with a low handicap, has beneficial health effects.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalScandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports·DateMay 30, 2008