news 2014

Digital junk: Unhealthy brands using Facebook to target young people 22 October 2014 World-first research by the University of Sydney reveals that junk food brands are engaging with young Facebook users to promote unhealthy foods which can contribute to obesity and lifestyle diseases. Published in the American Journal of Public Health, the new study sheds light on the digital marketing strategies of energy dense, nutrient-poor food (EDNP) brands to teens and young adults who are using Facebook.

Since World War II, more than 45 international human-rights treaties have been signed by many of the world's roughly 200 countries. But why do some states sign such accords, especially if they lack a strong human-rights commitment in the first place? One prominent idea holds that treaty-ratifying countries are essentially bought off: They agree to lend support to the human-rights movement in exchange for material good, such as foreign aid or more trade.

Fruit and vegetables have been identified as a vital key to mental well-being. A University of Queensland study suggests eating eight or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day not only leads to better physical health but improves mental well-being. The study, by health economics researcher Dr Redzo Mujcic from UQ's School of Pharmacy , involved more than 12,000 Australian adults.

A new study suggests the aspirations of women in Mongolia have rapidly shifted.  Before the rapid economic transition of the 1990s, the wealthiest women in the Communist-style era had big families. However, women today are less interested in babies and driven more by money and status. The research by Oxford University and Sheffield University was based on interviews with 9,000 women in Mongolia, a country that underwent a sudden transition from a Soviet-style state to mass privatisation.

New research shows that chimpanzees search for the right tools from a key plant species when preparing to 'ant dip' - a crafty technique enabling them to feast on army ants without getting bitten. The study shows that army ants are not a poor substitute for preferred foods, but a staple part of chimpanzee diets.

National study reveals how and why teenagers sext 16 October 2014 The majority of sexting by young Australians takes place in the context of a romantic relationship, according to a national study of more than 1400 teenagers. The University of Sydney study of young people aged mostly between 13 and 18 found sexting is not a marginal behaviour.

Responding to the large number of people with serious mental illnesses in the criminal justice system will require more than mental health services, according to a new report. In many ways, the criminal justice system is the largest provider of mental health services in the country. Estimates vary, but previous research has found that about 14 percent of persons in the criminal justice system have a serious mental illness, and that number is as high as 31 percent for female inmates.

New Stanford research shows that Democrats and Republicans are increasingly polar opposites – their political biases spill over into their social lives. Along party lines and ideology, more than even race or religion, Americans are distrustful of those who are not politically similar. New Stanford research has found that Americans are increasingly divided along political party lines – and those sentiments are stronger than racial biases.

Reports of insomnia are common among the elderly, but a new study finds that sleep problems may stem from the quality of rest and other health concerns more than the overall amount of sleep that patients get. An estimated 30 percent of adults report having some symptoms of insomnia, which includes difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early and then not feeling well rested during the daytime.

Gender diversity in the workplace helps firms be more productive, according to a new study co-authored by an MIT researcher - but it may also reduce satisfaction among employees. "Having a more diverse set of employees means you have a more diverse set of skills," says Sara Ellison, an MIT economist, which "could result in an office that functions better." At the same time, individual employees may prefer less diverse settings.

Engineers from Lancaster University have helped explorers discover the world's biggest cave. The exciting discovery of the giant Miao Room cavern, in China, was featured by National Geographic News and in the July issue of National Geographic magazine The cavern was scanned as part of a 2013 expedition into the cave, which was co-led by Richard Walters from Penrith-based company Commendium Ltd. The scan data was provided to engineers at Lancaster University, who used this raw data to make calculations on the area, volume and other values of the underground spaces.

Country towns produce the biggest crop of footy stars 5 October 2014 The NRL grand final is shaping up as a Sydney city showdown, but new research from the University of Sydney confirms country footy clubs are the League's lifeline, and breed more professional Rugby League stars than the major cities.

People aged over 50 are more agile mentally if they are socially active, a study has found - and the effect is even more pronounced in 80-year-olds. Analysing data from more than 3000 study participants, University of Queensland researchers found that people who took part in group social activities had reduced mental decline and memory loss than those who did not.

Facebook most effective way to engage young people in politics, study shows 25 September 2014 An increase in social media use leads to more political participation by young people, with Facebook the most effective channel, a study at the University of Sydney has shown. The study surveyed 3,600 young people (16-29 years) across Australia, the UK and the US, 90 per cent of whom use Facebook (as opposed to Twitter use which was on average 50 per cent).

Members of the British Muslim community who are most at risk of radicalisation are more likely to have depression and be socially isolated, a pioneering research study led by Queen Mary University of London has found. The research found those most resistant to radicalisation were more likely to be migrants not born in the UK, have poor physical health and have a higher number of friends and family.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Penn State researchers have received a $262,383 grant from the National Science Foundation to better understand why people disclose or withhold private information during online transactions.

Press release issued: 22 September 2014 Preferences for highly masculine men and feminine women may emerge only in highly developed environments, according to new research from Brunel University London and the University of Bristol. Previous studies have suggested a long evolutionary history of sexual and social selection based on preferences for exaggerated sex specific traits.

In the latest "Planet of the Apes" movie, human aggression spurs chimpanzees into battle. Some researchers have made similar claims for real apes: that feeding chimpanzees bananas, or clearing their forest homes, causes them to be unusually violent. A recent analysis of data from all long-term chimpanzee study sites in Africa has found that is not the case.

A child is likely to do better in their GCSEs and ultimately earn higher wages if they have received a preschool education, a new study suggests. Oxford University researchers who were involved in the Effective Pre-School, Primary and Secondary (EPPSE) project found that children who had had an early education at nursery or preschool were more likely to get better GCSE results - the equivalent of getting seven Bs compared to seven Cs.

Neuroscientists have found that a gene mutation that arose more than half a million years ago may be key to humans' unique ability to produce and understand speech. Researchers from MIT and several European universities have shown that the human version of a gene called Foxp2 makes it easier to transform new experiences into routine procedures.