Research on social media and its effects on people. Covers sleep and mood, body image, self-objectification, and the platforms' wider social impact.
A recent investigation explored whether Facebook murders were unique and worthy of a new label. The study found that these crimes followed typical patterns, with victims knowing their killers, and social media played no more significant role than other tools in the commission of violence.
Researchers examine how westerly wind pulses impact El Niño's strength, suggesting a link between these events and the phenomenon's duration. Scientists also explore drilling into small volcanoes to better understand future hazards.
Researchers have made the first direct observations of a one-dimensional boundary separating two different, atom-thin materials. This experiment provides the first experimental validation of theoretical interface properties.
A recent study by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) found that teenagers with asthma have higher health literacy levels than their caregivers. Additionally, a study on YouTube videos for asthma control revealed that most popular videos provide low-quality information, while videos from healthcare providers ...
A USGS study predicts that bird species will breed, feed, and live in the conterminous US differently by 2075. Climate change and human activities like land use and deforestation are expected to drive these shifts.
A new analysis identifies 15 distinct social media uses during disasters, including providing preparedness information and reconnecting community members. The proposed framework aims to standardize and organize disaster social media practices, potentially protecting lives and aiding recovery
Researchers analyzed Twitter conversations and found that the platform's structure favors influential users with many followers. Ordinary users can gain retweets by increasing their activity, but it's inefficient. The study confirms that network position, not effort, is key to influence on Twitter.
Companies like Invista and Genomatica are pursuing plant-based nylon intermediates from sugar, while Coca-Cola is making progress toward a 100% biobased soda bottle. The main challenge to this shift is economics, with prices needing to drop to competitive levels and manufacturers investing in new facilities.
Researcher Sean Young suggests that social media can be used to monitor and predict HIV transmission by analyzing psychological and health-related data from users. This approach has shown promising results in identifying individuals at risk of HIV transmission and increasing awareness of the disease.
A study by Jennifer Schon found that adult children's relationship satisfaction with their parents is modestly influenced by the number of communication tools used, such as cell phones, email, and social networking sites. Adding another channel can lead to a modest increase in relationship quality and satisfaction, especially for paren...
A team of researchers led by NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries discovered two significant vessels from World War II's Battle of the Atlantic, the German U-boat 576 and the freighter Bluefields, approximately 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina. The discovery provides a rare window into a historic military battle and the...
Researchers have discovered a highly stable cubic garnet material called LLZO that can enable the development of higher-energy battery designs. The material remains structurally stable over time across neutral and extremely alkaline environments, making it an ideal separator material for lithium-ion batteries.
A University of Kansas doctoral student proposes using social networks as a source for photo-vouchered biodiversity records, particularly for insects and other organisms in developing nations. The proposed system leverages metadata associated with photos, requiring users to tag posts with terms indicating biodiversity elements.
Researchers found that individuals with severe mental illness use YouTube to share personal stories, strategies for coping, and seek support from others. This natural peer-to-peer connection helps alleviate feelings of loneliness and fosters a sense of hope and community.
The NIH has awarded over $11 million to support research on using social media to advance the scientific understanding, prevention, and treatment of substance use and addiction. The studies aim to better understand how social media affects behavior and attitudes towards alcohol, tobacco, and other addictive substances.
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft is establishing nine new Research Units to tackle pressing issues in their respective fields. The units will focus on topics such as needs-based distribution, academic learning, photonic networks, gravity waves, and synaptic plasticity.
When favorite products are out of stock, consumers quickly forget about them if a good replacement is available, according to a new study. The study found that desire for a product depends on the time elapsed since consumption and substitute availability.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announces the launch of the American Academy of Pediatrics' updated early literacy toolkit, Books Build Connections. The toolkit aims to help doctors talk with parents about early communication, reading, and singing to promote young children's brain development and vocabulary building.
Scientists develop new avalanche monitoring method using infrasound detectors to detect and track deadly snow slides. A community-driven framework for climate reconstructions aims to study the past 2000 years' paleoclimate.
Two new studies found that using hands-free, voice-controlled automobile infotainment systems, such as Siri and MyLink, can divert attention from driving. The Toyota and Hyundai systems showed promise in being less distracting, while Apple's Siri was the most distracting, even when used as a hands-free device.
A study by Ohio State University found that people in a bad mood tend to spend more time on social media profiles of those who are less successful and unattractive. This suggests that individuals use social networking sites as a means to manage their moods, seeking comparison with others who are doing worse.
Researchers found that high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) triggered pollution-forming reactions in winter, concentrating ozone pollution. Ozone levels in northeastern Utah exceeded national air quality standards 49 times during the winter season.
A study analyzing over 1.37 million social media posts found pervasive negative stereotypes and jokes about weight, as well as instances of support and advice. Blogs and forums offered a safe space for online discussions about healthy eating and weight management.
Researchers will create a website to track participants' progress, analyzing how social interactions influence behaviors and recovery outcomes. The goal is to develop a low-cost, accessible approach to supplement traditional treatment.
Researchers have developed an inexpensive and simple method to create transparent, flexible transistors, a crucial component of flexible electronics. The new technology has the potential to bring roll-up smartphones with see-through displays to market in just a few years.
A study analyzing millions of Arabic-language tweets confirms high levels of anti-American sentiment, revealing that criticism of the US is consistent across various regions and issues. The research suggests a deep-seated dislike of American intervention and an unwillingness to give credit when US policies are beneficial.
Researchers suggest that plasma bubbles may have contributed to communications outages during the Battle of Takur Ghar. A new computer model predicts the impact of such bubbles on future military operations, allowing for minimization of their effects.
A Concordia University study found that businesses located furthest from market expansion have higher profits than those chasing customers. Retailers should analyze the market and secure good locations early on to maximize profits.
A U-M study found that almost three-quarters of parents are aware of online rating sites and over a quarter use them to choose healthcare providers for their children. The researchers also discovered that positive online ratings strongly influenced the likelihood of selecting a child's physician, while negative reviews had little impact.
A study published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication found that habitual Facebook users are more likely to accept strangers as friends and give them personal information. This is because Facebook's design fosters habit formation and users with large social networks, frequent use, and impulsive behavior are more susceptib...
A new study by UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business finds that entrepreneurs are motivated by the fear of losing their job and security, rather than a love of risk. This loss aversion is directly linked to the amount of effort they put into starting a business.
A NOAA research team has located the 1910 shipwreck SS Selja and an unidentified steam tugboat wreck near San Francisco's Golden Gate strait. The team also discovered the 1863 clipper ship Noonday, which was previously obscured by mud and silt.
A study found that frequent Facebook use and inability to regulate social media consumption make individuals susceptible to phishing attacks. Social media phishing is used in various crimes, including home invasion, cyber bullying, and espionage, highlighting the need for understanding why people fall victim to such scams.
Two massive buoys equipped with meteorological and oceanographic equipment will be deployed off the US coastline to evaluate the power-producing potential of offshore winds. The buoys will provide accurate wind speed and direction data, enabling better understanding of air-sea interactions and turbine performance.
A study from the University of Kansas found that people can accurately detect personality traits through Facebook activity. However, recent changes to the social media site may be making it harder to do so, particularly with the introduction of algorithms that prioritize recent posts and limit views of friends' activities.
A new study by Clemson University researchers explores self-presentation strategies of sports broadcasters Erin Andrews and Kirk Herbstreit on Twitter. The study reveals clear differences in their approaches, with Andrews focusing on personal items and entertainment, while Herbstreit provides sports-related commentary and analysis.
The team determined the high-resolution structure of Dbr1 enzyme, which breaks loops of ribonucleic acids and could be a new target for treating most cases of ALS. By inhibiting this enzyme's activity, researchers hope to prevent TDP-43 aggregates from forming in motor neurons.
Researchers have discovered a new semiconducting material that allows solid oxide fuel cells to operate at two-thirds lower temperatures than current technology. This breakthrough enables more efficient fuel cells with wider applications, including quieter, pollution-free power generation in vehicles and neighborhoods.
A new study found that professional networking can lead to feelings of moral impurity and physical dirtiness, particularly among those with less power. This can hold people back from networking more, reducing career opportunities and lowering job performance.
Research by Imperial College London combining 12 previous studies shows social networking programmes have achieved modest but significant results in helping participants lose weight. The programme provides a community of support from clinicians and peers, empowering patients to be more proactive in their treatment.
A recent study co-authored by a University of Georgia researcher found that the U.S. government is making effective use of social mediators to bridge communication with people around the world. Social media engagement was found to be medium-high for both formal and informal social mediators, but low for news media.
A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found a link between sleep difficulties and rapid brain volume decline in adults. The research, which included 147 participants aged 20-84, revealed that poor sleep quality was associated with faster declines in brain regions including frontal, temporal, and parietal areas.
Engineers used tweets from the 2013 Colorado floods to study infrastructure damage, providing insights into damage distribution, geographic scope, and time progression. This study demonstrates the potential of social media for reconnaissance by non-emergency professionals after disasters.
A recent study by UNSW psychologists found that expressing gratitude to a new acquaintance increases their desire to seek an ongoing social relationship. This theory, known as the find-remind-bind theory, suggests that gratitude helps people form new relationships and maintain existing ones.
Women college students spend an average of 10 hours a day on their cellphones, while men spend nearly eight. The study identifies 11 cellphone activities associated with addiction, including texting, emailing, and social media use. Excessive phone use poses risks for academic performance, relationships, and mental well-being.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a software program that analyzes event-based tweets and measures context, providing qualitative information about tweets. The program helps Twitter analysts gain better insight into human behavior during trends and events.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created a more efficient anode for lithium-ion batteries using recycled tire-derived carbon black, with improved capacity and stability. The novel method could lead to cheaper, environmentally friendly batteries for various applications.
The era of Big Data presents new opportunities for personalized treatments and services, but also introduces challenges in statistical analysis, bias sampling, and measurement errors. Researchers focus on developing new computational infrastructure and data-storage methods to handle massive datasets.
A UCLA study suggests that excessive digital media use is linked to declining social skills in children, as they spend less time engaging in face-to-face interactions. The research found that sixth-graders who went device-free for five days showed significant improvements in recognizing human emotions compared to their peers.
ORNL scientists uncover clues to role of magnetism in iron-based superconductors, finding localized magnetism correlated with high critical temperature and influencing material performance. The study provides experimental evidence that local magnetic fluctuations can influence the behavior of iron-based superconductors.
A recent study found that minor infections like colds can increase the risk of stroke in children within a three-day time frame. The research, which reviewed a Kaiser Permanente database of 2.5 million children, suggests that infection has a strong but short-lived effect on stroke risk.
A new study by Queensland University of Technology found that mothers trust the opinions of other mothers when recommending products, making online communities a powerful marketing tool. The study suggests that fostering word-of-mouth in these environments is crucial for businesses looking to increase sales.
X-ray crystallography has revolutionized our understanding of molecular structures and their influence on various scientific fields. The technique's future holds intriguing possibilities, including potential transformations beyond its current form.
Researchers used a modeling study to identify environmental conditions that trigger cholera epidemics near Lake Kivu, predicting potential warning time for health managers. By analyzing satellite data and precipitation patterns, they found the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and human mobility are key factors.
A study by University of Michigan researchers found that social and demographic factors, such as college graduates and diverse populations, contribute to the growth of gourmet food trucks. The study also reveals that cities with more craft breweries and farmer's markets tend to have more food trucks.
Researchers at Aalto University found that users fake parts of their online image to be accepted by others. Despite this, sharing authentic content is often hindered by a fear of being perceived as excessive or attention-seeking. This paradox highlights the complexities of presenting an authentic image on social network sites.
Researchers developed AverageExplorer to tackle vast amounts of visual data, generating an image that represents key features of multiple photos. This tool enables users to quickly sort and analyze images by giving extra weight to specific features.
The University of Texas at Arlington has received a grant from the Walmart Foundation to develop a robotic small motors assembly and testing system. This project aims to reduce manufacturing costs and enable goods produced in the US that were formerly built overseas.
Research by UK academics suggests that celebrity advocacy has limited ability to reach people and encourage them to care about distant suffering. Celebrities can make themselves more popular with the public, but their work often benefits from attention rather than promoting genuine causes.
Researchers found that internet activity significantly influences Bitcoin's value, with correlations between price developments, new user growth, and online searches. The study also identified two positive feedback loops and a negative feedback loop, highlighting the complex dynamics of the Bitcoin economy.