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Losing spouse to COVID may be worse for mental health than other causes of death

A new study found that experiencing the death of a spouse due to COVID-19 may be worse for mental health than deaths from other causes. People who lost a spouse to COVID-19 were more likely to report symptoms of depression and loneliness. The study underscores the ongoing health risks posed by the pandemic, even to those who have not b...

SourcePenn State·TypeObservational study·DateJul 26, 2022

Delaying gratification: How do children react to waiting in different cultures?

A study by UC Davis researchers found that cultural habits around waiting to eat (emphasized in Japan) and waiting to open gifts (emphasized in the US) shape distinct profiles of delaying gratification. Japanese children waited three times longer for food, while U.S. children waited nearly four times longer for gifts.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalPsychological Science·TypeObservational study·DateJul 13, 2022
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

False beliefs about prevalence of crime could influence jury decisions, new study shows

A new study by the University of Exeter found that people's perceptions of crime prevalence can significantly impact their legal judgments, with women and men holding different views on the frequency of certain crimes. The research emphasizes the importance of addressing these biases to ensure more informed verdicts.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalApplied Cognitive Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateJul 6, 2022

Clashes of inference and perspective explain why children sometimes lose the plot in conversation

Research by University of Cambridge academics found that children as old as five or six struggle to reconcile inference and perspective, leading to difficulties in conversations. Combining these skills is crucial for understanding 'implicatures' - inferences made in conversation when people mean more than they say.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalLanguage Learning and Development·DateJun 29, 2022

Uncovering links between grit and cognitive function

Researchers found that people with higher grit scores showed different patterns of cognitive performance, characterized as cautious control, but not necessarily enhanced cognitive ability. Grit was linked to low impulsivity and high mindfulness, related to self-regulation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateJun 22, 2022

Who benefits from brain training and why?

A joint UC Riverside and UC Irvine study found that people who show near transfer in brain training are more likely to experience far transfer, meaning improved focus and problem-solving skills. The research suggests that working memory training can be effective for certain individuals, but its impact on fluid intelligence remains deba...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2022
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

New insights on infant word learning reported in study

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences offers fresh insights into infant word learning. Researchers found that infants between 7 and 11 months old learn words by building up memory representations over time, rather than through repeated connections between words and objects.

SourceIndiana University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 7, 2022
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

New tool helps older adults monitor ‘attentional performance’ during driving

A straightforward questionnaire, called the Attentional Failure during Driving Questionnaire (AFDQ), has been developed to assess older drivers' ability to drive safely. The study found that repeated attentional challenges were a key predictor of crashes among older drivers.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Gerontology·TypeObservational study·DateJun 1, 2022

Healthy development thanks to older siblings

A new study found that children with older siblings are less likely to develop behavioral problems, suggesting a positive impact of sibling relationships on child development. The study also highlights the importance of early intervention policies to reduce maternal stress and promote healthy child development.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalBMC Public Health·DateMay 31, 2022

Eye-movement tracking glasses are used to evaluate mental stress in first naturalistic study of critical care nurses

A naturalistic study using eye-tracking technology found that intensive care unit nurses experience a higher level of mental workload, especially during the start of shifts, with shorter fixation and more sporadic gaze behavior in stressed nurses.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalHuman Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society·DateMay 31, 2022
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

How a cognitive bias is blocking the rise of electric cars

A UNIGE team found that car owners systematically underestimate electric driving ranges to meet their daily needs. To overcome this, researchers suggest providing personalized information to increase drivers' willingness to adopt electric vehicles.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Energy·TypeNews article·DateMay 19, 2022

Model for distinguishing materials like a human being does

A research team developed a model that mimics human judgment to distinguish between reflective and transparent materials. The model outperformed humans in accuracy but struggled to identify image clues.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalJournal of Vision·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2022

Video games can help boost children’s intelligence

A Swedish study of over 9,000 children found that playing video games increased their intelligence by 2.5 IQ points compared to TV-watching or social media. The study controlled for genetic differences and socioeconomic background, suggesting a positive effect of video games on cognitive abilities.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 12, 2022
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Study: Lawyers’ “game framing” of negotiations associated with lower moral character and less honesty

A study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that lawyers who view negotiation as a game, with arbitrary rules, are less willing to disclose honest information. Lawyers with higher moral character are more likely to adopt an ethical approach, while those with lower moral character are more prone to game framing.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalNegotiation Journal·DateApr 27, 2022

Speech or song? Identifying how the brain perceives music

New research reveals that infants as young as 4 months can differentiate between speech and song based on acoustic features such as pitch and rhythm. The study also found that exaggerated pitch is related to better neural tracking of infant-directed speech.

SourceCognitive Neuroscience Society·DateApr 26, 2022
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Online program improves well-being of stroke survivors

A new online program has been shown to improve health-related quality of life among adult stroke survivors. The study found that participants who received access to the program had higher scores on health-related quality of life and reported fewer problems with personal care and daily activities.

SourceFlinders University·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 19, 2022

Why we shout during Zoom calls if the image gets blurry

Researchers at Radboud University found that as Zoom call video quality degrades, people start shouting and using more gestures to compensate. The study tracked participants' speech and gestures over 40 minutes of calls with deteriorating video quality.

SourceRadboud University Nijmegen·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateApr 13, 2022
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him...

Researchers at Kyoto University found that chimpanzees exhibit a preference for faces and skulls of their own species, similar to previous studies with African elephants. This suggests the presence of a face module in chimpanzee brains that detects and processes facial cues.

SourceKyoto University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2022

How to reduce loneliness: Meaningful activities can improve health, well-being

A new study by Penn State researchers found that engaging in meaningful and challenging activities during free time can significantly reduce people's loneliness and increase their positive feelings. The researchers identified that flow, a state of being fully engaged and focused on an activity, is crucial to reducing loneliness.

SourcePenn State·JournalLeisure Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateApr 6, 2022

Are people more willing to empathize with animals or with other humans?

A new Penn State study found that people are more likely to choose empathy for an animal over a human, but only when the choices are not in competition. When context matters, people's willingness to engage in human empathy decreases, while their interest in animal empathy increases.

SourcePenn State·JournalThe Journal of Social Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2022

The 25 happiest US city park systems, ranked by scientists

A new study measures the happiness benefits of US city parks in the 25 largest cities, finding a powerful effect from urban nature on users. Park size and accessibility emerged as key predictors of happiness.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 30, 2022
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Child abuse investigations may not prevent poor sexual health outcomes in girls

A recent study found that child abuse investigations by Child Protective Services (CPS) do not necessarily prevent poor sexual health outcomes in adolescent girls. In fact, the researchers discovered that girls who underwent investigation were more likely to experience adverse sexual health outcomes, including STIs and pregnancy, befor...

SourcePenn State·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·TypeObservational study·DateMar 29, 2022

On the brink of giving up? Scientists confirm mindfulness meditation can help in internal conflicts

A study by researchers at the University of Quebec in Montreal found that mindfulness meditation can help people cope with internal conflicts. The experiment involved 121 volunteers who underwent either a mindfulness body scan or read magazines for 15 minutes, then completed a questionnaire about their emotional state.

SourceThe Polish Association of Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological Bulletin·DateMar 16, 2022

First-of-its-kind child ultrasonography dataset enables a wealth of research

Researchers have created a groundbreaking dataset of ultrasonography scans of three major arteries supplying blood to the brain in children. The dataset consists of 821 participants, allowing for the development of machine learning models that can accurately predict a child's age and cognitive abilities based on their ultrasounds.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 7, 2022
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Archerfish recognize that insects they have never seen before are animals

Researchers found that archerfish can recognize unfamiliar insects as animals based on six essential features. The fish use these features, including shape and texture, to distinguish between animals and plants, similar to human face recognition strategies.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 10, 2022

Our concept of numbers is integrally tied to language and culture, new research shows

A new study published in Psychological Science challenges the idea that humans have an innate system of thinking about and organizing numbers. The research finds that language is integrally tied to numerical cognition, with Tsimane' participants being able to only match exact number of objects within their known number words.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalPsychological Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2022

Wisdom engendered: study finds men and women have different strengths

A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that women score higher on compassion-related items and self-reflection, whereas men score higher on cognitive-related items and emotional regulation. Both genders demonstrated an association with increased mental well-being and resilience.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateFeb 3, 2022
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Are you Britain’s next super-matcher? Take our test to find out!

A new study suggests there are likely to be rare individuals in the general population who possess a natural talent for visual comparison, comparable to expert forensic scientists. These 'super-matchers' may not even realise they have this skill, but researchers aim to identify and recruit them for future studies.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 10, 2022
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Limited brain capacity in humans and birds

Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum investigated bird brains to understand working memory limitations. They found that birds and monkeys share the same central mechanisms and limits of working memory, with a capacity of about four items of information simultaneously.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournaleLife·DateDec 17, 2021

Experiment gives rise to social conventions between baboons

Guinea baboons developed common rules for a device task in just three days, demonstrating efficient and arbitrary solutions. The conventions were stable over time and unaffected by the absence of individual interaction.

SourceCNRS·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2021
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Imagining future guilt helps athletes turn away from doping - study

Researchers discovered that appealing to athletes' sense of 'future guilt' through psychological intervention was a more powerful initial reaction than education programmes highlighting the risks of doping. The study also found that receiving useful information about doping strengthened athletes' confidence to resist temptation.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalPsychology of Sport and Exercise·TypeObservational study·DateDec 8, 2021

Whether people inform themselves or remain ignorant is due to three factors

A new study by UCL researchers found that people's motivation to seek information falls into three categories: expected utility, emotional impact, and frequency of thought. Those who prioritize these factors tend to seek information more, with better mental health reported by those seeking info on frequently thought-about topics.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 3, 2021

Pandemic worriers shown to have impaired general cognitive abilities

A study by McGill University found that those who experienced more pandemic-related worry had reduced information processing speed and ability to retain information needed for tasks. Pandemic worry also predicted individuals' tendency to distort described risk levels, which may influence decisions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 1, 2021

Those that game together, stay together

Researchers analyzed historical data on games played by 25 cultures and found that cooperative games are more common in socially hierarchical cultures, while competitive games are prevalent in cultures with internal conflicts. The study suggests that games may mimic real-world behavior and help learn group norms.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 24, 2021
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Ever been lost in the grocery store? Researchers are closer to knowing why it happens

A new study suggests that the brain uses a mechanism called 'repulsion' to differentiate between similar environments. Researchers found that when participants were asked about stores shared between two cities, their brains showed surprisingly different patterns of activity, indicating that they were treating these familiar locations a...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateNov 16, 2021

What people value in digital news

Researchers at the Missouri School of Journalism explored how people value digital news, finding that print newspapers moved to digital platforms without understanding the differences between mediums. The study identified eight affordances of digital news readers, including the importance of design elements like color and hyperlinks.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalDigital Journalism·DateNov 11, 2021
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

To baby brains, language is language, whether signed or spoken

Researchers found no difference between kids exposed to language at birth, regardless of sign or speech. Children with delayed language exposure tend to struggle with executive functioning. The study suggests that 'talking' doesn't just mean speech—sign language exposure is equally nourishing for baby brains.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalChild Development·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2021

How do we keep on eating meat if we wish animals no harm?

Research reveals people's psychological strategies to cope with meat consumption and animal welfare, including triggers and restorative strategies. The study finds differences in meat consumption patterns across demographics and attitudes, with men more likely to disengage from animals.

SourceThe Polish Association of Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological Bulletin·DateOct 26, 2021

Past suffering can affect future praise

A study by the University of Missouri found that people are more likely to praise someone for good deeds if they know the person has also faced suffering earlier in life. This discovery sheds light on how humans process and react to positive behaviors, such as giving praise.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2021

Mapping words to colors

A team of researchers developed an algorithm that infers the communicative needs of different linguistic communities regarding colors. The study found that warm hues like reds and yellows have a higher demand for language, while less prominent colors are underrepresented.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 23, 2021
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.