All posts tagged: Link

NOAA scientists refuse to link warming weather to climate change

NOAA scientists refuse to link warming weather to climate change

Published by skeptic

Extreme weather, including hurricanes, has increased with climate change MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) presents a briefing summarising the global climate each month – and in the first of these calls under the Trump administration, NOAA researchers avoided making any link between January’s record high global temperatures and climate change caused by human greenhouse gas emissions. “It’s not great for science. It’s not great for truth,” says David Ho at the University… Source link

Could blaming others be a link between attention problems and social media addiction?

Could blaming others be a link between attention problems and social media addiction?

Published by José

Young adults who struggle with attention difficulties may be more prone to becoming addicted to social media, and a new study suggests a possible reason why. In a study recently published in Acta Psychologica, researchers found that the tendency to blame others for negative situations might explain some of the connection between attention deficit symptoms and social media addiction. This suggests that how people manage their emotions could play a role in the development of addictive social media habits in those with attention challenges. Social media has become an integral part of modern life, offering connection, entertainment, and information. However, for some individuals, social media use can become excessive and problematic, developing into what is known as social media addiction. Researchers are working to understand why some people are more susceptible to this addiction than others. One area of interest is the relationship between social media addiction and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD, a condition characterized by difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Previous studies have indicated a link between ADHD symptoms and increased …

Study finds strong link between cultural femininity and electric vehicle market share

Study finds strong link between cultural femininity and electric vehicle market share

Published by José

A study published in Travel Behaviour and Society explores the role of gender associations in the adoption of electric vehicles. The research finds that countries with a more feminine cultural orientation tend to have higher rates of electric vehicle adoption. Additionally, a psychological test conducted in Germany shows that consumers, particularly men who are reluctant to buy electric vehicles, implicitly associate them with femininity. These findings suggest that cultural and symbolic perceptions may act as barriers to electric vehicle adoption, particularly among certain consumer groups. The study was conducted to investigate why the adoption of electric vehicles varies across different countries and among different consumer groups. While economic factors such as price, infrastructure, and government incentives play a role, previous research has suggested that cars are more than just modes of transport—they carry cultural and symbolic meanings. Historically, internal combustion engine vehicles have been associated with masculinity, representing power, speed, and dominance. In contrast, electric vehicles have been linked to femininity due to their environmental benefits, ease of use, and quieter operation. The researchers aimed …

West Sussex’s Soil Link and National Highways in landmark collaboration

West Sussex’s Soil Link and National Highways in landmark collaboration

Published by skeptic

West Sussex-based Soil Link, the AI-powered platform for trading construction materials, has been appointed by National Highways to trial new approaches to managing resources across the latter’s extensive road network. The landmark collaboration aims to advance key initiatives in National Highways’ sustainability agenda and it is hoped it could lead to new industry standards for heavy material management. The Soil Link platform optimises resource use, reduces waste and cuts CO2 emissions while generating significant cost savings. “Minimising waste and reusing materials wherever possible is central to achieving this by embedding the principles of a circular economy across our business,” said Dean Kerwick-Chrisp, principal environmental advisor at National Highways. “This new trial will facilitate the trade of surplus materials across UK infrastructure projects. I am pleased that Soil Link’s service is now available to all our projects and look forward to seeing the positive impact it can have.” Will Rundle, CEO of Soil Link, added: “This partnership is a significant milestone for Soil Link, marking a turning point in the sustainability of supply chains across the …

Emotional clarity modulates the link between inflammation and depression, study finds

Emotional clarity modulates the link between inflammation and depression, study finds

Published by José

A study of adolescents found that individuals with low levels of emotional clarity who also exhibited higher levels of the inflammatory markers interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein were more likely to experience severe symptoms of depression five months later. The paper was published in Brain Behavior and Immunity. Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities. These symptoms interfere with daily life, relationships, and productivity and, in severe cases, may lead to thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Depression can also affect physical health, causing changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. While it is one of the most common mental health disorders, treatment efficacy remains limited, with a large proportion of cases being categorized as treatment-resistant depression. Some researchers have observed that the behaviors of individuals with depression resemble those of people who are physically ill. These behaviors, referred to as “sickness behaviors,” include fatigue, concentration difficulties, slower motor function, and reduced interest in daily and social activities. When a …

How ‘Trophy’ Videos Link Paramilitary Commanders to War Crimes in Sudan

How ‘Trophy’ Videos Link Paramilitary Commanders to War Crimes in Sudan

Published by Sam

[EXPLOSION] “The people are running away from the bombing. People are dying. We just send this to the nation to see what is happening in Nuba Mountains.” [GUNSHOTS] “Yeah.” Sudan is in the grip of a brutal civil war. Eleven million people have been driven from their homes, and tens of thousands have been killed. As a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces — [CRIES] — battles the Sudanese Army for control of the country. The U.N. has accused both sides of abuses. But a six-month investigation by The New York Times shows that the R.S.F. is committing systemic atrocities across Sudan, including ethnic cleansing – often under the watch of its commanders. The opaque structure of the R.S.F. makes it hard to identify the leaders responsible. But by analyzing dozens of slick propaganda videos, where the commanders are presented as benevolent actors, we mapped out for the first time a command structure of at least 20 key figures and the regions they operate in. R.S.F. fighters under these commanders often film atrocities themselves, …

Study uncovers link between dream incoherence and dissociative symptoms

Study uncovers link between dream incoherence and dissociative symptoms

Published by José

A recent study published in Consciousness and Cognition explores the intriguing connection between dream experiences and dissociative symptoms, shedding light on how disrupted sleep patterns and dream coherence may influence an individual’s sense of self. The researchers found that the content and structure of dreams, particularly the stability of a first-person perspective and narrative coherence, can predict dissociative tendencies. These findings suggest that disturbances in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep may contribute to dissociative experiences, with potential implications for understanding and treating related symptoms. Dissociation, often described as a detachment from reality or one’s sense of self, is a complex phenomenon that can manifest as depersonalization, memory lapses, or a fragmented sense of identity. It is commonly associated with trauma but remains poorly understood in terms of its underlying mechanisms. Previous research has suggested that dissociation might be linked to disruptions in REM sleep—the stage of sleep associated with vivid dreaming. REM disturbances, such as nightmares, sleep paralysis, or dream enactment, are often reported by individuals with high levels of dissociation. However, the specific role …

Is Inflammation the Missing Link to Depression?

Is Inflammation the Missing Link to Depression?

Published by skeptic

Neuroinflammation Source: peterschreiber/iStock When we think of depression, we often hear about chemical imbalances in the brain involving molecules like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. But there’s a growing body of research suggesting that inflammation, which is the body’s natural immune response to stress, infection, or injury, could play a key role in the development of depression. This novel idea is called the neuroinflammation model of depression, and it may explain why depression can feel so physically exhausting and mentally debilitating. What Is Neuroinflammation? Inflammation is your body’s natural defense mechanism. When you have an injury, suffer a trauma, or develop an infection, your immune system releases chemicals called cytokines to fight off the problem. However, inflammation doesn’t always stay where it belongs. In neuroinflammation, these inflammatory chemicals cross into the brain and cause trouble, leading to symptoms like low mood, fatigue, and brain fog, which are classic symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). Traditionally, depression has been linked to deficiencies in brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, but scientists are now finding that chronic inflammation might …

Mapped: The strange link between obesity and corruption

Mapped: The strange link between obesity and corruption

Published by skeptic

Sign up for the Smarter Faster newsletter A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people Notice: JavaScript is required for this content. Country-level corruption is a tough KPI to quantify. So how do organizations like Transparency International and the World Bank do it? Not by comparing the fiscal, economic, and financial data of each country — they’d only end up comparing (rotten) apples to (spoiled) oranges. Instead, to arrive at their Corruption Perceptions Index and Control of Corruption Indicator (respectively), they aggregate the opinions of experts in governance and corruption. The 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index in map form. Darker means a higher perception of corruption, and vice versa. (Credit: Transparency International) In 2020, Pavlo R. Blavatskyy, a professor of economics at Montpelier Business School in France, suggested a yardstick for country-level corruption that’s possibly more straightforward, but certainly more unexpected and more fun: the median body mass index (BMI) of a country’s government ministers. Blavatskyy postulated that there is a positive relationship between the median BMI and a country’s level of government …

New study explores the evolving link between self-esteem and sexual experiences

New study explores the evolving link between self-esteem and sexual experiences

Published by José

Do satisfying sexual experiences make us feel better about ourselves, or does feeling confident in our self-worth lead to more fulfilling intimacy? A new study suggests the answer is both. Using 12 years of longitudinal data, researchers found that self-esteem and sexual satisfaction reinforce one another over time, while sexual frequency appears less tied to shifts in self-esteem. The findings have been published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Previous studies have shown that people with higher self-esteem often enjoy more fulfilling social and intimate relationships. Similarly, satisfying sexual experiences have been linked to greater happiness and intimacy in romantic relationships. Despite this, little is known about how self-esteem and sexual experiences influence each other over time. To address this gap, researchers examined data from the German Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics, a comprehensive, nationally representative study that collected annual data over 12 years. The sample included more than 11,000 participants aged 15 to 38 at the study’s outset. Participants provided information about their self-esteem, sexual frequency, and sexual satisfaction, as …