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Family size may influence cognitive functioning in later life

A new study finds that having three or more children is negatively correlated with late-life cognition, with the effect strongest in Northern Europe. The researchers suggest that this may be due to financial stress and reduced social interaction, leading to potential cognitive deterioration.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalDemography·DateMay 12, 2022

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

Can rude behavior mask sexism? UTD professor’s study says yes

A UTD professor's study found that men's rudeness toward others, including women, can obscure the recognition of sexism. The study suggests that a perception of gender blindness can lead observers to view the perpetrator as not sexist, even when they are displaying sexist behavior.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalPsychological Science·TypeSurvey·DateApr 25, 2022

Automated analysis of animal behaviour

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an automated way to analyze animal behavior from video footage using computer vision and machine learning. The new algorithm can distinguish individual animals and identify specific behaviors, such as curiosity or fear responses, with high accuracy.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 25, 2022
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

When AI companions for lonely people seem a bit too human

A study found that people are more comfortable with AI companions that are voice-based and less likely to recommend them if they appear too human-like. The researchers suggest that the 'uncanny valley' effect may contribute to this preference.

SourceOhio State University·JournalCommunication Research Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 16, 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

Social interactions divert the established motivational system

A Synapsy study has identified a new neural pathway involved in social interaction, distinct from the traditional reward system. This discovery may hold key to understanding and treating autism spectrum disorders.

SourceNational Center of Competence in Research Synapsy·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 31, 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.

Social acceptance of geothermal energy: Visualizing consensus building using models

Researchers from Tohoku University used agent-based simulation to visualize consensus building around geothermal power plant development in Japan. The model demonstrated how diverse opinions of stakeholders converge to a consensus, with factors such as stakeholder attributes, locations, and influential individuals affecting opinion for...

SourceTohoku University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 30, 2022

Landmark study demonstrates long-term positive impacts and cost effectiveness of tailored group exercise for over-65s with mobility limitations

A landmark study demonstrates that a community-based group exercise programme can prevent physical decline and improve quality of life in older adults with mobility limitations. The REACT programme, which involves individually tailored exercises and social interaction, shows promising results in reducing health and care costs.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 21, 2022

Duke scientists find brain network that makes mice mingle

Researchers at Duke University found a collection of coordinated brain regions that predict and direct social behavior in mice. By analyzing the electrical activity of these regions, they identified how social or solitary an individual mouse is and were able to prompt them to be more gregarious. This study may lead to better diagnostic...

SourceDuke University·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 15, 2022
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A text-reading robot with heart

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba created a handheld social robot, OMOY, that can appear to convey emotions by shifting an internal weight while reading out text messages. The robot was tested with 94 people and found to reduce negative emotions such as anger, revenge, and avoidance motivation.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalFrontiers in Robotics and AI·DateMar 9, 2022

Sense of belonging helps high school students engage with STEM

A new study from North Carolina State University found that feeling inclusive in the classroom is key to promoting STEM education and student engagement. Students who felt their classrooms were inclusive were more likely to feel like they belonged and engage with their STEM classes.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Research in Science Teaching·TypeObservational study·DateMar 3, 2022

Major political transformations can have an influence on employee wellbeing

A recent survey of British academics reveals that significant political transformations like Brexit can negatively affect employee wellbeing, particularly when perceived as threatening rather than challenging. The study emphasizes the importance of job security and quality of co-worker relationships in maintaining personal wellbeing.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalEuropean Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology·DateMar 3, 2022
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Introducing Nikola, the emotional android kid

Researchers from RIKEN created Nikola, an android child that can convey six basic emotions through facial expressions. The study tested the quality of these expressions and found that humans can recognize them with varying accuracy.

SourceRIKEN·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateFeb 15, 2022

Report: Students better at recognizing relationally aggressive classmates

Researchers identified that 10% of students were recognized as relationally aggressive by peers but not teachers. Students with higher levels of academic competence and female students were more likely to be recognized by both groups. The study suggests that better identification of these students is crucial for effective interventions.

SourceDrexel University·JournalSchool Mental Health·DateFeb 15, 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.

Context-dependent behavior can make cooperation flourish

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that changing social strategies between settings can lead to more cooperative behavior in a society. In a model with spillover between domains, cooperation is favored when actors can observe and imitate each other's behaviors in different contexts.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 9, 2022

Chimpanzees apply insects to wounds, a potential case of medication?

Researchers at Osnabrück University observe chimpanzees applying insects to their own and others' wounds, sparking interest in potential anti-inflammatory or antiseptic properties. The team aims to investigate the social dimension of this behavior and its possible transmission through social learning.

SourceOsnabrück University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 7, 2022

Physicists unify sociological theories that explain social stability

Researchers from the Complexity Science Hub Vienna propose that homophily, or interacting with like-minded individuals, automatically leads to social balance and stability. They demonstrate this using data from the Massive Multiplayer Online Game Pardus, where players tend to form friendships with those who share similar characteristics.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 3, 2022
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Suicides by drug overdose increased among young people, elderly people, and Black women, despite overall downward trend

A recent study found an increase in intentional drug overdose deaths among young people aged 15-24, older adults aged 75-84, and non-Hispanic Black women. Despite a downward trend in overall deaths, these subgroups saw a rise in intentional overdose death rates, with women ages 45 to 64 having the highest rates.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateFeb 2, 2022

Landmark research shows increase in online sex blackmailing during pandemic

A recent study found that men were twice as likely to be victims of online sex blackmailing during the pandemic. Young people, Black and Native American women, and LGBTQ individuals were also at high risk of this cyber-enabled crime. The study revealed race and sexuality-related differences in rates of sextortion.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalVictims & Offenders·TypeSurvey·DateJan 31, 2022

Perceived fragile masculinity stifles sexual satisfaction and honest communication, study finds

A new study finds that when women perceive their partner's sense of masculinity as fragile, they are more likely to fake orgasms and experience lower sexual satisfaction. This phenomenon is linked to anxiety and poorer communication in relationships. Women may prioritize protecting their partners' manhood over their own needs.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 31, 2022

Gene-environment interactions that drives autism

Gene-environment interactions play a crucial role in the development of autism symptoms, according to a new study by UNIGE researchers. By inhibiting Trpv4 and inducing massive inflammation, scientists observed neuronal hyperexcitability, which disrupted communication channels and led to social avoidance behaviors.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeNews article·DateJan 31, 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.

Social isolation among older adults linked to having fewer teeth

A new study of Chinese older adults found that higher levels of social isolation are associated with having fewer teeth and losing teeth more quickly over time. Despite this, loneliness was not linked to the number of remaining teeth or tooth loss rate.

SourceNew York University·JournalCommunity Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology·DateJan 20, 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.

Years lived alone and/or serial break-ups strongly linked to inflammation in men

A large population study found that living alone for several years and/or experiencing serial relationship break-ups are strongly linked to raised levels of inflammatory markers in the blood of middle-aged men. The researchers suggest that this combination may indicate a heightened risk of age-related ill health and death.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·TypeObservational study·DateJan 10, 2022

Virtual Reality could help make therapy easier

A study by Edith Cowan University found that 30% of people prefer discussing negative experiences with a virtual reality avatar, rather than a person. Researchers used full face and body motion capture technology to create realistic avatars, analyzing interactions between participants and avatars.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalFrontiers in Virtual Reality·TypeSurvey·DateJan 5, 2022

Challenging ‘rule breakers’ – children will confront their peers, but how they do so varies across cultures

A new study reveals that children globally will confront peers when rules are broken, but their approach differs across cultures. Children from rural areas tend to use verbal protests more than urban kids, who may rely on indirect methods like reputation to enforce compliance.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateDec 27, 2021

How do children learn to trust an adult’s non-verbal cues?

Kids consider track record of accuracy and degree of access to knowledge when judging a communicator's trustworthiness. Children who received accurate non-verbal cues in the familiarization phase followed them in the test phase 83% of the time.

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalCognitive Development·DateDec 23, 2021

Racial discrimination may affect whether people respond to email

Researchers found that Americans were less likely to respond to an email survey from a person believed to be Black than from a person believed to be white. The study, which analyzed responses from over 250,000 people, suggests that racial bias can influence everyday communication behaviors.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 20, 2021
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Moral echo chambers on social media could boost radicalization, study finds

New research finds that social media echo chambers can create a strong bond and increase the likelihood of radicalization. In studies examining posts on Gab and Reddit's "Incels" community, researchers found that users who aligned with the group's morals were more likely to use hateful language toward outgroups.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 16, 2021

Extensive use of smartphones by parents might damage toddler’s development and have far-reaching consequences

A recent study from Tel Aviv University found that mothers' smartphone use reduces toddler interaction by a factor of four. Reduced interaction can have far-reaching consequences on child development, including language and social skills. The study also found no significant difference between browsing smartphones and reading magazines.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalChild Development·DateDec 15, 2021

Global research shows that digital contact does not enhance wellbeing

Research by University of Kent and Nottingham Trent University found that video and text-based messaging apps have a negative effect on the mental wellbeing of young people over 16 during Covid-19 lockdowns. Despite this, face-to-face contact is positively associated with wellbeing compared to digital contact.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalNew Media & Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 8, 2021

Tracking the neurons that make us social

A team from UNIGE found that dopaminergic neurons in the reward system are responsible for motivating social interactions. The study used mice to demonstrate how these neurons release dopamine, crucial for motivated behaviors and learning.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2021
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

White people trained in mindfulness were three times more likely to help Black people in staged scenarios, new study finds

A new study found that white people trained in mindfulness were three times more likely to help black people in staged scenarios than those who were not trained. However, preferential helping of other white people remained, and participants preferred to help racial ingroup members.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 18, 2021

Swapping small talk with strangers for deeper dialogue offers surprising rewards

Researchers found that both deep and shallow conversations felt less awkward and led to greater feelings of connectedness and enjoyment than expected. People underestimated how interested strangers were in their deeper thoughts and feelings, but accurate expectations increased interest in having a deeper conversation.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 18, 2021
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Clinician peer networks remove race and gender bias

A University of Pennsylvania study found that clinician peer networks significantly reduce health care inequities and disparities. The study led by Professor Damon Centola showed that clinicians who initially exhibited significant bias could change their clinical recommendations to exhibit no bias.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 15, 2021

Rural Bangladeshis turn to faith, family for fact-checking

A Cornell University study finds that rural Bangladeshi villagers rely on local experts, spiritual views and social justice to evaluate new coronavirus information. They use a five-part system called 'situated fact-checking' to assess claims, considering factors like the source's reputation and the community's sense of morality.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·DateNov 11, 2021

Happy stories synch brain activity more than sad stories

New research published in eNeuro found that sharing happy stories increases feelings of closeness and synchronizes brain activity between the speaker and listener. Brain synchrony was linked to increased interpersonal closeness, particularly in regions involved in emotional processing and theory of mind.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournaleNeuro·DateNov 8, 2021
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Appearance fixation linked to dating anxiety

A new study by Anglia Ruskin University found that individuals focused on their appearance are more prone to social physique anxiety, which leads to fear of negative evaluations and social distress in dating contexts. The research involved 501 young adults and discovered associations between body image attitudes and dating anxiety.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalBody Image·DateNov 4, 2021

Transparency and kinder managers could lead to less collusion among staff, finds study led by NTU Singapore

A study led by NTU Singapore found that combining transparency with kinder management styles reduces collusion attempts among employees. The researchers conducted a roleplaying experiment in Amsterdam, assigning participants as managers or employees and observing the effects of increased transparency on collaboration.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalAccounting Organizations and Society·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2021

Recognizing familiar faces relies on a neural code shared across brains

A new Dartmouth study found that a neural code shared across brains is responsible for recognizing familiar faces, including social and personal information. The study used hyperalignment to align brain responses into a common space, revealing high decoding accuracy in areas outside of visual processing.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 1, 2021

Women are more reluctant than men to ask for deadline extensions

Research found that women's focus on others' needs plays a significant role in their reluctance to request deadline extensions. However, organizations can create formal policies on making deadline extension requests, resulting in women asking for more time at nearly the same rate as men.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 1, 2021
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.

Interactive floor system makes tracks in encouraging children’s play

Researchers developed an interactive system using floor projections that respond to the player's movements to encourage children's imagination and engagement. The system was evaluated in a study, revealing that unrealistic interactions stimulate children's imaginations more than realistic interactions.

SourceKobe University·JournalInternational Journal of Child-Computer Interaction·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2021

Permanent Twitter ban of extremist influencers can detoxify social media

A Rutgers-led study found that banning right-wing extremists from Twitter significantly reduces the spread of anti-social ideas and conspiracy theories. Removing these individuals from social media platforms leads to a nearly 92% decline in tweets referencing them, as well as a 90% decrease in new users tweeting about them.

SourceRutgers University·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·DateOct 21, 2021

Older African Americans more physically active in ‘green’ neighborhoods

Research from Florida Atlantic University suggests that older adults living in walkable neighborhoods with greenspaces benefit from increased physical activity, with 5.4 minutes of daily neighborhood walking associated with African Americans and 3 minutes for whites

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 19, 2021
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.