All posts tagged: predict

How AI can predict rugby injuries before they happen

How AI can predict rugby injuries before they happen

Published by skeptic

Picture this: a rugby player sprints down the pitch with no opponent in sight, only to collapse mid-run. It’s a non-contact injury, a frustrating and often preventable setback that can sideline players for weeks or months. Rugby is a game of power, precision and relentless intensity – and it’s also a sport where injuries are ever-present. But imagine a tool that could predict injuries before they happen, giving coaches the chance to intervene and keep players in the game. That’s the potential end-point of our latest research into AI and rugby injury. Non-contact injuries to the legs account for nearly 50% of player absences in rugby union, often sidelining players for weeks or even months if they are severe. These injuries, such as hamstring, groin, thigh and calf strains, can be incredibly frustrating for both player and team. They disrupt training schedules, affect selection and team performance. Previous studies have often fallen short because they focus on single-injury risk factors and miss the bigger picture. They may have looked at how isolated factors such as …

What we can and (still) can’t predict about earthquakes

What we can and (still) can’t predict about earthquakes

Published by skeptic

At around 10:44 Pacific Time on December 5, a huge earthquake struck around 60 miles off the coast of California. The magnitude 7 quake triggered a tsunami alert for some cities in northern California. Fortunately the potentially catastrophic wave never appeared and the warning was later rescinded. Although many people reported experiencing an alarming shaking, thus far there have been no stories of serious casualties from the quake, with California residents typically reporting only minor damage. A narrow escape like this is a reminder of the devastation that earthquakes in the area have the potential to cause. Residents might rightly be asking, why are we not able to better predict these quakes so that we have more advanced warning? Why has there been so little progress in predicting these catastrophic natural disasters over the decades? The truth is that earthquake prediction is extremely hard. The tectonic plates that tessellate the globe and the fault lines where they meet are extremely complex. Trying to pick out what is a clear signal of a precursor to a …

Can daytime sleepiness predict weight gain? New research highlights sex differences

Can daytime sleepiness predict weight gain? New research highlights sex differences

Published by José

New research published in Sleep Health sheds light on how daytime sleepiness and body weight are interconnected over time, revealing key sex differences. The study found that men with higher levels of daytime sleepiness had consistently higher body mass index (BMI), while women who experienced increasing daytime sleepiness over time showed faster weight gain. Among women, this effect was most pronounced in younger participants. Obesity is a significant public health challenge, increasing the risk of numerous chronic health conditions and premature mortality. Sleep disturbances, including daytime sleepiness, are often associated with obesity. While much research has focused on how obesity contributes to sleepiness—through mechanisms like sleep apnea—fewer studies have explored the reverse relationship: whether sleepiness itself can lead to weight gain. This new study sought to fill this gap by examining how both levels and changes in daytime sleepiness influence BMI trajectories over time. Importantly, the researchers aimed to uncover potential differences between men and women, as previous studies suggest that obesity and sleep-related factors often differ by sex. By using longitudinal data and objective …

Artificial intelligence can predict the weather and human health

Artificial intelligence can predict the weather and human health

Published by skeptic

Climate change is increasingly recognized as one of the most significant public health challenges of our time. In the United States alone, 70% of Americans faced extreme weather events in 2022. From heatwaves and droughts to hurricanes and wildfires, these events are not only growing in frequency but also in their potential to overwhelm healthcare systems. Despite governmental and institutional efforts to mitigate climate change, adaptation to its inevitable impacts has taken a backseat. As extreme weather intensifies, the need for proactive healthcare solutions becomes ever more pressing. Enter machine learning (ML), a tool with transformative potential for predicting health outcomes linked to climate-sensitive extreme weather. By analyzing vast datasets—including clinical records, socioeconomic factors, and environmental conditions—ML can forecast health risks at both individual and community levels. This is not a theoretical exercise; the same predictive algorithms that guide breast cancer treatments or diagnose coronary artery disease are now being adapted to anticipate healthcare needs during climate emergencies. The Indus River overwhelmed large parts of Pakistan during devastating 2022 floods. (CREDIT: NASA Earth Observatory) However, …

How Tall You Are Can Predict How Happy Your Relationship Will Be, According To Research

How Tall You Are Can Predict How Happy Your Relationship Will Be, According To Research

Published by skeptic

Being short has its disadvantages, but it’s not all bad. A 2002 study found that short women are more likely to enjoy long-term romantic relationships with men and are more likely to have children. The study was conducted in England where the average height of a woman was found to be about five-feet-four inches. Women on the lower side of that spectrum, from five feet tall to five foot three, were more likely to be in happy relationships and have children by the age of 42 than their taller sisters.  But wait, there’s more. The study didn’t just examine women, there were statistics taken about men, too. Sad but true, the women polled all preferred men who were taller than average for romantic relationships. About six feet tall, to be precise.  To me, it makes sense that women would prefer a taller man, just from an evolutionary standpoint, research from 2015 even backs that up. In our dumb caveman minds taller means bigger and bigger means better equipped to protect us from threats like rabid mastodons and peckish saber-toothed tigers. …

Gut microbe imbalances may predict autism and ADHD risk years before symptoms appear

Gut microbe imbalances may predict autism and ADHD risk years before symptoms appear

Published by José

Early screening for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism is important to ensure children have the support they need to gain the essential skills for daily life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for developmental delays, with additional screening for those who are preterm or have a low birth weight. However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has called for more research into the effectiveness of current autism screening practices. Primarily based on milestone checklists and symptoms, autism diagnoses also currently rely on observations of behavior that often manifests after crucial developmental stages have passed. Researchers and clinicians are working to develop simple, reliable tools that could identify early signs or risk factors of a condition before symptoms are obvious. While early screening can lead to the risk of overdiagnosis, understanding a child’s developmental needs can help guide families toward resources that address those needs sooner. We are researchers who study the role the microbiome plays in a variety of conditions, such as mental illness, autoimmunity, obesity, preterm birth and others. …

Brain connections to the amygdala predict withdrawn and depressive behaviors in children

Brain connections to the amygdala predict withdrawn and depressive behaviors in children

Published by José

A new study published in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging sheds light on the brain connections linked to withdrawn and depressive behaviors in children. By analyzing brain scans of over 6,000 children, researchers found that connections between the left amygdala, a part of the brain that processes emotions, and other brain regions were associated with these internalizing behaviors. Childhood is a critical time for understanding the early markers of mental health issues. Many psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression, often begin in childhood or adolescence and can persist into adulthood if not identified and treated early. Internalizing behaviors, like withdrawal and depression, are forms of distress that manifest inwardly, making them more challenging to detect than outwardly directed behaviors such as aggression. These behaviors can also indicate a higher risk of developing mental health disorders later in life. Previous research has suggested that the amygdala, a brain region known for its role in processing emotions, plays a role in anxiety and depression. However, many prior studies had small sample sizes, limiting the reliability of the findings. …

People are overconfident in their ability to predict the beliefs of those outside their social circles

People are overconfident in their ability to predict the beliefs of those outside their social circles

Published by José

The people who took part in riots and counterprotests in England and Northern Ireland this summer are probably very confident that they know the views and beliefs of those they oppose. But they are probably wrong. Our new research shows we struggle to understand the minds of people who differ from us. People categorise each other socially. Those we think of as similar to ourselves are part of what social scientists call our “in-group” while those we think of as different are deemed an “out-group”. These differences can be based on race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, sexual orientation or class, to name a few. We understand that there are lots of different types of people with varying beliefs in our in-group. For example, a white person knows that not all white people are alike. Yet people tend to think all members of an out-group are the same, with similar beliefs and views. What’s more, people are often wrong about what these are. Our research tested this by asking 256 people from the US to predict …

Researchers combine AI and fMRI to predict the emotional relevance of spontaneous thoughts

Researchers combine AI and fMRI to predict the emotional relevance of spontaneous thoughts

Published by José

A new study led by researchers from the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research in South Korea and Dartmouth College has revealed that brain activity can predict how people emotionally experience their thoughts. Using brain scans and personalized story narratives, the team developed a method that combines brain imaging with machine learning to decode the emotional aspects of thoughts in real time. The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study addresses a significant challenge in understanding human thought: how do we track and measure the personal and often fleeting emotions that arise during spontaneous thinking? This type of thought can happen at any time, even when we are resting or asleep. Yet, capturing these thoughts without interrupting them has proven difficult, as the very act of focusing on them can change their nature. The researchers wanted to develop a way to predict the emotional quality of thoughts — whether they are positive or negative and how much they relate to the person’s sense of self — without requiring people …

Groundbreaking AI model can predict autism in young children

Groundbreaking AI model can predict autism in young children

Published by skeptic

A groundbreaking machine learning model has emerged, capable of predicting autism in young children with limited information. Developed by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, this innovation offers a new avenue for early autism detection, a crucial step in providing appropriate support to those affected. Kristiina Tammimies, an Associate Professor at KIND, Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, emphasizes the potential impact of this tool: “With an accuracy of almost 80 percent for children under the age of two, we hope that this will be a valuable tool for healthcare.” The research draws on a substantial database from the U.S. known as SPARK, containing data on approximately 30,000 individuals, both with and without autism spectrum disorders. By examining 28 distinct parameters, the team created four machine-learning models designed to identify patterns indicative of autism. These parameters were chosen specifically for their accessibility, allowing them to be gathered without extensive assessments or medical tests before a child reaches 24 months old. Among these models, the best performer was named ‘AutMedAI.’ Kristiina Tammimies, an Associate Professor at …