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 survey conducted by UCSF researchers found that half of young adult tobacco smokers also use marijuana, with usage highest among Caucasians and rural residents. The study suggests that smoking cessation programs should take into account the effect of marijuana use in their treatment plans.
A study by University of Leicester scientist Professor Monica Whitty found that online dating scammers use basic marketing techniques to groom victims, leading to feelings of a genuine relationship. The research also reveals that people with strong romantic beliefs and idealized views of partners are most likely to fall prey to online ...
A large-scale study will analyze the content of Facebook posts from a sample of 200 adolescents to examine relationships, social adjustment, and psychological health. The research aims to better understand the potential benefits and risks of social media use among teens.
Researchers analyzed Twitter data to detect changes in public mood, finding a significant increase in negative emotions following government spending cuts and summer 2011 riots. The study suggests that social media can provide insights into public sentiment, but its accuracy is limited compared to human assessment.
The Pacific Northwest Tsunami Evacuation Zones online portal and free apps provide an at-a-glance view of tsunami hazard zones along the coasts of Oregon and Washington. Planning tools like this are essential to safeguarding lives and property.
This special issue examines social media's impact on democracy, with studies revealing both its potential to empower citizens and its capacity for social control. Research highlights the complex relationship between digital media, political change, and authoritarian regimes.
Studies show people experience similar emotional reactions to online and face-to-face exclusion, with participants feeling numb and distancing after being ignored. The findings challenge the assumption that online interactions are less meaningful than in-person ones.
A smart home uses sensors and software to anticipate household needs, improving health and energy efficiency. Washington State University's Diane Cook envisions a future where homes can monitor elderly residents' activities and alert caregivers.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a method to produce customized carbon fibers from polyethylene, with potential applications in filtration, catalysis, and energy harvesting. The process allows for tailoring of surface contour and filament diameter, enabling the creation of fibers with unique properties.
A University of California, Riverside professor and researchers developed a model that uses Twitter data to predict traded volume and value of a stock the following day. The model outperformed other investment strategies by between 1.4 percent and nearly 11 percent.
A team of UC Riverside marketing professors will study the effects of gamification on marketing strategies, aiming to understand how far marketers are taking this trend. They believe game mechanics should be used thoughtfully to achieve specific marketing objectives.
Dr. Mirkin showcased advancements in Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN) and spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), enabling high-resolution nanofabrication and massively parallel processing. He also introduced On-Wire Lithography, a technique for creating nanostructures on nanowires.
A study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that tweens are ambivalent about cigarettes and alcohol, with both positive and negative associations. This ambivalence makes them susceptible to social influences and media portrayals, increasing their risk of substance use.
Researchers found that politically sensitive terms, such as Falun Gong and human rights activists, were frequently deleted from messages at varying rates based on current events or geography. High deletion rates were observed in certain provinces, particularly Tibet, where up to 53% of locally generated microblogs were deleted.
A study by Ohio State University found that Facebook profile photos play a significant role in forming impressions of individuals, with most viewers relying on the photo to gauge extraversion. The results suggest that when a profile photo aligns with expected social norms, it can overshadow text-based information.
Computer scientists at the University of Rochester developed a model that can determine a person's location within a 100-meter radius using only their friends' locations on Twitter. The researchers achieved an accuracy rate of 85% in one experiment, tracking individuals to within one city block in over eight out of ten instances.
A 12-year experiment found increased soil carbon storage under elevated carbon dioxide concentrations, with deeper soil showing even greater gains. The study suggests that processes such as root dynamics and microbial decomposition contribute to this effect.
A recent study published in Epilepsy & Behavior found that 41% of seizure-related tweets were derogatory, perpetuating negative attitudes towards epilepsy. The study highlights the need for improved epilepsy education to combat these stereotypes and promote positive change.
Researchers at Saarland University developed a software system that automatically tests web applications for malfunctions and security vulnerabilities. The system, called 'Webmate,' generates test scenarios based on the application's components and user interactions, helping developers identify and fix errors.
A new infection-control protocol for children healing from cardiac surgery reduced sternum infections by 61 percent, according to a two-year study. The protocol included preoperative baths with skin disinfectant and administration of antibiotics before surgery.
A large study found that women with a history of migraine are 40% more likely to develop depression than those without. Researchers hope their findings will encourage doctors to discuss depression prevention with migraine patients.
Dr. Anthony Grbic's innovative antenna design uses a hemispherical shape to achieve instant miniaturization, operating in one frequency band and potentially inexpensive to produce.
A new study found that foreign-born Hispanics living in the US are less likely to have a stroke than non-Hispanic whites, after accounting for socioeconomic factors. However, Hispanic Americans born in the US have similar stroke risk to non-Hispanic whites.
A small qualitative study suggests extending the smoking ban outside bars could help curb 'social smoking' by removing cues that stimulate this behavior. Social smokers often have conflicted identities and manage their smoking through limiting where and when they smoke, rationalizing their behavior with drinking.
Indiana University's Filippo Menczer has developed new tools to analyze political social media and track the diffusion of memes. The research team found that Twitter mentions create a communication bridge between left- and right-leaning groups, and can be used to identify partisan asymmetries.
A two-year clinical trial showed that weight training significantly improved motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease compared to stretching and balance exercises. Weight training led to a 7.3 point improvement in UPRDS scores after two years, while fitness counts group returned to baseline scores.
Research found that middle-aged individuals with slower walking speed are one-and-a-half times more likely to develop dementia, while those with weaker hand grip strength are at a higher risk of stroke. Conversely, faster walkers and stronger grippers have lower risks, according to the study.
A study published by the American Academy of Neurology suggests that consuming excessive calories may double the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in individuals aged 70 and above. The findings indicate a dose-response pattern where higher caloric intake corresponds to increased MCI risk.
A new scoring method, DRAGON score, can accurately predict stroke patient outcomes three months after treatment with alteplase. The score is 86% accurate and can be calculated in under a minute.
A study published in Biological Conservation found two previously unknown feeding hotspots for loggerhead sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. The hotspots, located off the coast of Southwest Florida and the Yucatan Peninsula, provide valuable habitat for at least three separate populations of the turtles.
A new study found that people with low self-esteem tend to post more negative updates on Facebook, which may actually decrease their online popularity. In contrast, those with high self-esteem receive more responses when posting negative items.
A study at Carnegie Mellon University found that Twitter users rate only 36% of tweets as worthwhile, while 39% elicit no strong opinion. The researchers identified nine lessons for improving tweet content, including keeping it short and providing context.
A study by University of Missouri researcher Micah Mazurek found that 64% of adolescents with ASD spent most of their free time watching TV and playing video games, while only 13.2% used socially interactive media.
A Rhode Island Hospital study found that deleting five personality disorders from the DSM-5 could result in false-negative diagnoses for patients. The proposed changes may affect up to 59 patients who would no longer be diagnosed with a personality disorder according to the current criteria.
A new study found that the English language is strongly biased towards being positive, with popular sources like Twitter and music lyrics showing a preponderance of happier words. The research complements a previous study on global happiness trends, suggesting short-term average happiness has dropped but the fundamental positivity of t...
The conference, led by Stanford University's Medicine X, aims to bridge the gap between academia, technology, and healthcare. JoVE will publish selected submissions in a unique multimedia format, making findings transparently accessible to the scientific community.
Researchers analyzed chemical measurements in the deep ocean, oil slick, and air to estimate gas and oil leak rate during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. The new study confirms an average leak rate of 11,130 tons per day, with a range of 8,900 to 13,300 tons per day.
Twitter's US growth relied on media attention and traditional social networks based on geographic proximity and socioeconomic similarity. The site's popularity spread via face-to-face interactions, with early adopters in cities close to Boston and San Francisco.
A team of scientists from the University of Vermont measured global happiness using Twitter data over three years. The trend shows a gradual downward trend, with drops in happiness following major events and weekly patterns. The researchers propose a tool for real-time monitoring of collective emotions.
Consumers tend to favor brands that appear on their own Facebook pages, even if they don't consciously notice it. This phenomenon, known as implicit self-referencing, is linked to high self-esteem and positive associations with one's online identity.
PNNL scientists are developing a framework to understand regional climate and economic interactions. They also estimate global on-shore wind energy potential and investigate the uncertainties surrounding it.
Researchers at Penn State have designed a new Facebook app sign-up interface that allows users to control what information they share with third-party developers. The design features clear language and multiple options for data sharing, resulting in improved user understanding of security settings.
Internet users often discover news while searching for unrelated information or engaging in social networking activities. Researchers found three contexts where respondents experience incidental exposure to online news: visiting news sites, checking email and social media, or conducting normal internet searches.
Chronic abdominal pain has seen a significant rise in opioid prescriptions, driven by factors such as campaigns to recognize pain as the "fifth vital sign". The use of opioids for non-cancer chronic pain is supported by limited evidence and can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms and worsen abdominal pain.
Human relationships rely on endorphin rewards for motivation, unlike rodents which focus on oxytocin and vasopressin. The study suggests that endorphins enable complex relationship networks to endure and persist.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine reveals that discussions about cardiac arrest on Twitter can provide valuable opportunities for public health education. The researchers found that users frequently share information about CPR and AEDs, as well as discuss resuscitation topics in the news.
The AGGI measures the direct climate influence of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, showing a 29% increase since 1990. Climate warming has significant potential impacts on society, including water supplies, agriculture, ecosystems, and economies.
A recent study by researchers at Rice University finds that people participating in online communities tend to make riskier financial decisions. This is attributed to the false assumption that fellow community members will come to their aid when needed.
Researchers used Twitter data to track flu-like illness rates in UK regions and detected emerging epidemics. The study gathered over 50 million geo-located tweets and applied machine learning algorithms to identify keywords associated with elevated flu severity.
The Mayo Clinic Facebook group provides a platform for patients to share their experiences and challenges with esophageal cancer. The group, led by Dr. Herbert Wolfsen, has become an invaluable resource for patients, caregivers, and medical professionals.
Research highlights social media's benefits and risks in delivering healthcare information to patients, particularly those with esophageal cancer and IBD. The Mayo Clinic's Facebook group for esophageal cancer survivors provides a supportive community, while YouTube content is often misleading and should be approached with caution.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered significant security gaps in Amazon Web Services, including the ability to take over administrative rights and access customer data through XML signature wrapping and cross-site scripting attacks.
A study published today found a direct link between the number of 'Facebook friends' a person has and the size of particular brain regions. The researchers discovered that having more online friends is associated with having more real-world friends.
A Penn State University study analyzed tweets about the H1N1 vaccine to track vaccination rates and attitudes. The research found patterns that correlate vaccination rates with geographic location and sentiment trends over time. This analysis could be used strategically to develop targeted public health initiatives.
A new study suggests that patients with certain types of abdominal pain may benefit more from gallbladder surgery. Researchers found that episodic pain occurring during the evening or at night, lasting less than 24 hours, and having a specific pattern of symptoms can predict improved relief after surgery.
Researchers found most college students using only one or two technology devices to support single activities, such as coursework and communication. Despite being 'heavy multitaskers', they employ self-styled strategies to limit technology use during exam periods.
A study published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that college students who display references to intoxication or problem drinking on their Facebook profiles are more likely to report alcohol-related injuries. The study suggests using social media monitoring as a tool for identifying at-risk students, potentiall...
Cornell researchers analyzed 2.4 million Twitter tweets from 84 countries, tracking daily mood patterns influenced by work, sleep, and daylight. Positive tweets peak early morning and midnight, with increased abundance on weekends, and follow a seasonal pattern tied to daylight hours.
A recent study by Brigham Young University researchers found that electoral vulnerability and Twitter use are unrelated, with age and party leadership encouragement being key factors. The majority of Congress members use Twitter, but many delegate their accounts to staff, who post links to speeches and interviews.
A UC3M study found that Spanish journalists predominantly use Twitter to publish and distribute information, identify trends, and build audience loyalty. However, only a quarter of respondents use Twitter for investigative reporting.