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Irish Examiner
17 minutes ago
- Science
- Irish Examiner
Sexual assault defendants and complainants equally prone to memory gaps, study says
Both defendants and complainants in sexual assault cases are equally prone to memory distortions, new research suggests. The results of the study from University College Dublin and University College Cork puts a focus on why complainants' memories in sexual assault cases are scrutinised in court when the accused can be equally prone to error. Published in Nature's Scientific Reports, the 'He Said, She Said' study involved a series of experiments using an immersive first-person video playing out a date scenario. Those taking part were later assigned the role of either the complainant or the accused before being shown fabricated 'witness' accounts that included misleading details and altered key facts from the video. For example, some participants were shown testimony from a barman claiming that the accused was plying the complainant with drinks, even though this was not in the original video. The study found that individuals in the role of both complainant and accused were equally likely to absorb and recall false details, even when those details supported their assigned narrative. There were more than 1,300 participants in three separate experiments. 'We hope that this study will encourage people to re-examine their assumptions regarding the role of memory in sexual assault cases,' said lead author Associate Professor Ciara M Greene of UCD School of Psychology. 'We have noticed that these cases often hinge on discussions of the complainant's memory. 'As memory scientists, we find this strange, since we know that everyone — male or female, complainant or accused — is human and has the same memory frailties. 'This study provides concrete evidence that memory errors and distortions are not unique to one side of contentious legal cases.' For the study, two versions of the simulated date were filmed, one featuring a male actor and the other featuring a female actor. The two videos were identical in all other respects, with each filmed from the perspective of a person going on a date with the man or the woman. The first cohort of participants in both roles received the same misinformation details (experiment 1), wherein those in experiment 2 and 3 were provided misinformation that was tailored to their assigned roles — that is, information designed to make the sexual assault appear more likely or less likely to have occurred. Strong misinformation effects were observed in both groups, with the complainant and accused equally likely to misremember details of the events leading up to the sexual encounter. The study included both male and female victims and perpetrators, but interestingly found that memory distortion effects were not affected by gender. While the study was based on fictional scenarios, its authors argue it highlights that memory is reconstructive and subject to bias, regardless of one's role in a dispute. Co-author and Associate Professor Gillian Murphy said: 'We have a responsibility as memory scientists to banish myths about memory. 'In our book and in this paper, we stress that our memories mostly serve us very well and provide a good account of our experiences, but they can sometimes be prone to error, no matter what side of the courtroom you're on.'
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘Nutrient deserts' and obesity risk: What a new MIT study could reveal about Canadian cities
A first-of-its-kind global study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found that certain types of food available on restaurant menus may be tied to local obesity rates – raising questions about how the same patterns might apply to urban centres across Canada. The study, published in Scientific Reports, used artificial intelligence to analyze nearly 30,000 restaurants and millions of food items across three cities: Boston, Dubai and London. Researchers then linked those nutritional profiles to the socio-economic and health data of each area. The results? Neighbourhoods with higher obesity rates tended to be 'nutrient deserts,' saturated with calorie-dense and ultra-processed menu offerings. In contrast, lower-obesity neighbourhoods had greater access to nutrient-rich foods. Sadaf Mollaei, assistant professor at the University of Guelph and the Arrell Chair in the Business of Food, told Thursday the findings are likely reflective of trends in Canada too. 'There have been previous studies using other methodology that have links of the food environment with health outcomes or the socio-economic characteristics of the people,' Mollaei said. 'If this study is replicated in the Canadian context, it will probably have the same outcome or show the same results to some extent,' she added. What the study found The study's authors were careful to suggest that their findings were 'observational in nature.' In a email to study co-author Guido Camps said, 'The presence of more energy-dense, lower-cost menu items in higher-obesity areas could potentially reinforce or exacerbate existing dietary patterns.' Using machine learning and natural language processing, researchers extracted nutritional data from publicly available menus. In 2023, they assessed each menu for the relative presence of health and unhealthy ingredients through popular food-delivery platforms. Researchers evaluated the food items as rated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) FoodData Central database, an information bank with 375,000 kinds of food products. Boston saw the strongest results from the study's AI-based method. With a high match rate of 71 per cent between restaurant menu items and the USDA food database. They found that areas with more dietary fibre on menus tended to have lower obesity rates. Wealthier neighbourhoods also had better access to high-fibre, healthier foods. In London, the study revealed similar patterns. Low fibre availability in restaurant food correlated with higher obesity rates. Researchers also found a strong link between housing prices – a stand-in for income – and healthier food environments. London had a slightly lower match rate of 56 per cent with the U.S. food database. The lower match was partly due to differences in food terms like 'chips' versus 'French fries.' The analysis in Dubai was less conclusive, with only 42 per cent of the menu items successfully matched to U.S. nutrition data. Researchers couldn't draw strong links between restaurant food and rental prices or nutrition levels. The lack of culturally specific data – like Arabic food items not found in the U.S. database – was a major limitation. However, one district, Al Ttay, stood out for having the lowest fibre content in the analysis, which the researchers flagged as a potential red flag for future obesity risk. How it works Pinpointing where nutrient deserts are could help drive policies to close the health equity gap, Mollaei suggested. To better understand the quality of food being offered in restaurants, researchers used two tools called the Meal Balance Index (MBI) and the Nutrient-Rich Foods Index (NFR). The MBI looks at how much of each key nutrient – like protein, fibre or sodium – is in a meal compared to how many calories it has. It then compares that to daily recommended amounts and assigns a score based on how well the meal meets those targets. A higher meal MBI means the meal is more balanced and nutritious, while a lower score suggests it may be lacking important nutrients or has too much of others. The NFR score looks at the good stuff – like fibre, protein and calcium, as well as the less healthy ones like saturated fat, added sugars and sodium. The higher the NFR score, the healthier the food is considered. By measuring nutrients per 100 calories, it allowed for comparisons across different foods no matter the portion size. Camps said it was surprising to see how difficult and easy it was to assess health from a menu. 'Cheesecake is probably always too high in saturated fats/sugar and an unhealthy option, but caesar salad can be relatively healthy and low calorie but also lathered in dressing with bread and bacon and therefore not especially healthy,' Camps shared in his email. 'If it is difficult for us to judge how healthy your dish is based on the available public data, it's also difficult for the average consumer to assess who may want to make a healthy choice. Calorie and nutritional info may help in this regard, but that is not standard to give in menus throughout all cities,' he added. Affordability a major factor Camps said while they cannot conclude causation between lower menu prices and higher calorie density in cities with greater obesity prevalence, affordability may influence customers food choices and what restaurants choose to offer. 'Lower prices may make high-calorie options more accessible and appealing, especially in areas where budget constraints are more common,' Camps said, adding that further research is needed to explore this economic factor. Mollaei said when affordability and accessibility are at stake, food environments play a crucial role in shaping the choices people make. While menu labelling regulations exist in provinces like Ontario – where restaurants must show calorie counts and flag items high in sugar, sodium or fat – she says these measures alone may not shift consumer habits. 'If it's not affordable or accessible, then even changing the menu items is not going to have a big impact or change consumption patterns.' Mollaei believes studies like the one from MIT, which use AI to analyze restaurant menus in real time, could offer a 'more dynamic' way to assess Canada's food landscape. 'It will give us insight into what's actually available and accessible to people at a very granular level,' she said. 'You don't want to fall into that loop – low-income, low-quality food, no other options – because people will keep going back to what's there,' she added.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Do dogs watch TV? New study reveals it depends on their personality
Wondering whether your dog is actually watching the TV or just zoning out? Turns out, dogs do watch television, but whether they enjoy it or even notice it depends on their personality, according to a peer-reviewed study published in Scientific Reports in July 2025. This first-of-its-kind research offers powerful insights into how different dogs engage with visual media. If you've ever seen your pup bark at cartoons or ignore a whole wildlife documentary, science now has the answer why. Dogs watch TV differently based on personality, says study Researchers from Auburn University surveyed 453 dog owners across the U.S. using a newly developed Dog Television Viewing Scale (DTVS). The results were surprising: 88.3% of dogs responded to television at some level The average dog watched TV for 14 minutes and 8 seconds per session Dogs were most reactive to animal sounds like barking or howling Visual interest was higher in social, excitable, or curious dogs Fearful or anxious dogs were more sensitive to sudden noises but visually disengaged Which dogs enjoy watching TV? Social and Curious Dogs Dogs with outgoing, friendly, or playful traits were far more likely to engage with the screen. They tracked moving visuals like other animals, balls, or running people and sometimes barked or moved toward the TV. Anxious or Fearful Dogs Shyer dogs weren't big on watching TV but reacted strongly to sound, especially doorbells, thunder, or barking. They might leave the room or grow anxious if overstimulated. Age Doesn't Matter Much Dogs from puppies to seniors (ages 4 months to 16 years) all showed potential to watch television. What really mattered was personality, not age or breed. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Desert Order Undo by Taboola by Taboola What type of TV content do dogs prefer? According to the study, dogs respond most to: Animal sounds: Barking, howling, squeaking Natural movement: Animals running, playing, jumping Realistic visuals: Shows with animals, nature scenes, or pets. Less engaging: Human voices Cartoon visuals Electronic or mechanical noises Why this matters: Real benefits for dogs This isn't just fun trivia, knowing your dog's viewing habits could help improve their wellbeing: Shelters could use TV for stimulation and stress relief Owners can keep pets calm when left alone with suitable content Trainers might use audio-visual cues to assist with behavioural exercises Plus, it opens new doors in understanding canine cognitive perception, how dogs process and react to two-dimensional media. Summary table: How dogs react to TV Dog Personality Reaction to TV Friendly & Active Watches visuals, reacts to movement Curious Engages with animal sounds and images Anxious Reacts to loud or sudden noises Fearful Avoids screen, sensitive to audio Yes, dogs really do watch TV but how they respond depends entirely on who they are. Outgoing dogs enjoy movement and visuals, while shy or anxious pups respond more to specific sounds. If you want to entertain your furry friend or just understand them better, this new study proves that screen time might be a bigger part of their world than we thought. Want to test it? Play a nature show with animals and observe your dog's reaction, you might just find their favourite binge-watch. Also read| How to tell if your dog has a fever: Signs, symptoms, and when to call the vet
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
India's water, energy demand spotlight risk of human-induced quakes
Earthquakes are usually natural — but not always. Sometimes some natural factors can combine with human activities to lead to earthquakes as well. Quakes induced by human activities are called human-induced earthquakes. According to one estimate researchers discussed in Seismological Research Letters in 2017, more than 700 human-induced earthquakes have been recorded around the world in the last 150 years, and they are becoming more common. Human activities like mining, extracting groundwater, impounding water behind a dam, injecting fluids into the ground, constructing tall buildings, and engineering coastal structures, among others, have been shown to induce seismic activity. This is because, according to experts, loading and unloading the crust in a repeated manner can cause strain to accumulate between tectonic plates, which would in turn modulate seismic activity. In India, seismologists have also been studying how the amount of water above and below the ground can affect the geological processes. A 2021 study in Scientific Reports reported that shallow earthquakes recorded in the National Capital Region could be linked to excessive groundwater extraction in the region for farming and human consumption. 'It was seen that between 2003 and 2012, when the water table had depleted significantly, there was an increase in seismic activity. The seismic activity reduced after 2014 when the water table stabilised,' Bhaskar Kundu, associate professor at NIT Rourkela and one of the authors of the study, told The Hindu. Managing extraction When groundwater is pumped out, the mass of water maintaining the pressure under the earth is removed, creating jolts on the surface. 'The situation is not of major concern because these earthquakes in the Delhi-NCR region are usually minor, with the maximum going up to 4.5 magnitude,' C.P. Rajendran, geoscientist and author of The Rumbling Earth: The Story of Indian Earthquakes, said. 'It can go up to 5.5, which for a densely populated city like Delhi could have risks.' This is because Delhi lies on several faultlines and is in the Zone 4 seismic risk category, meaning it's a quake-prone region. The risk for earthquakes induced by groundwater extraction is spread across the Gangetic plains, where the water table has been dropping in leaps, Dr. Rajendran said. This is mostly because crops sown in the region still need large quantities of water and very little of that thirst is quenched by rainfall. He added that there is a need to manage the rate of groundwater extraction and its recharge in a scientific manner and while considering the rate of seismic activity in the region. In the past, human-induced earthquakes have devastated lives and property, caused foremost by large dams that change the water load on the surface. On December 11, 1967, for example, an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude wrought significant damage in Koynanagar, a village in Maharashtra. More than 180 people were killed and thousands of houses were destroyed. Several studies that followed blamed the disaster on water overloading in the Koyna hydroelectric dam nearby. Similarly, research has recorded an increase in seismic activity around the Mullaperiyar dam in Idukki, Kerala, which like Delhi also lies in an earthquake-prone zone. Energy and quakes 'The U.S., which has recorded reservoir-induced earthquakes, has implemented regulations on how quickly a dam should be filled and emptied. Such regulations should also be enforced in India to prevent earthquakes,' Vineet K. Gahalaut, Chief Scientist at the National Geophysical Research Institute, told The Hindu. He also said seismic activities in a region should be properly evaluated before a dam is built there. 'Huge dams in seismically active areas like the Himalayas are not recommended because the water load and percolation could change the local stress regime,' Dr. Rajendran said. India's growing energy demand also increases the risk of this type of disaster. 'The methods used to extract energy to meet our needs have significant risks on our earth, be it oil or hydropower,' Dr. Gahalaut said. Fracking — where liquids are injected into the ground to push rocks apart and allow oil and natural gas — has also been shown to induce earthquakes, Dr. Gahalaut added. India currently has 56 fracking sites across six States. In Palghar district in Maharashtra, which has been experiencing a sequence of quakes since 2018, experts have said plate deformation is occurring in an isolated manner. Initial findings by seismologists indicated that the cause could be fluid migration due to rainfall. 'Strong seismic networks using instruments need to be established across India in regions like these, which are experiencing isolated plate deformation, to monitor and track seismic activity more accurately,' Dr. Kundu said. Impact of climate change Scientists have said that climate change can indirectly affect the occurrence of earthquakes and render them more frequent over time. The melting of glaciers due to global warming has been found to trigger earthquakes around Antarctica and Greenland. Changes in rainfall patterns due to climate change have also been known to modulate the water loading process on the surface. For example, sudden heavy rainfall could alter the stress accumulated between tectonic plates and induce seismic activity. The area around the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats has been recording tremors due to heavy rainfall for this reason. 'The height of the mountains should have been reduced considering the rate of rainfall. However, the mountains have maintained their height due to seismic activity,' Dr. Gahalaut said. Changing rainfall patterns can also change the soil chemistry, Dr. Rajendran said, affecting cropping patterns and compelling farmers to turn to groundwater for irrigation, which can also induce seismic activity. Similarly, longer droughts can also reactivate seismic faults. Such a drought-induced earthquake was recorded in California in 2014. 'The risk of earthquakes is not present at all locations where there is groundwater depletion or huge dams, They have only been recorded in areas that are present on faultlines or are facing plate deformation processes,' according to Dr. Kundu. At present, the rate at which strain has been accumulating along plates and the fraction of this stress that is due to human activities is not possible to ascertain, he added. Experts have thus warned against concluding that such activities are solely to blame for tremors or earthquakes. Research thus far has only shown that these activities could postpone or accelerate tectonic processes causing these movements.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Found 78,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Footprints That Tell a Story of Survival
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: The oldest-known hominin track sites found in southwest Europe provide clues to the hunting patterns of Neanderthals. Experts believe that along with eating plenty of plants, the ancient population also hunted deer, horses, and rabbits. Neanderthals were eager to explore neighboring regions to discover mammals which they could add to their diet. A Neanderthal family, hunting 78,000 years ago along the dunes of what is now modern-day Portugal, was likely stalking a meal of red deer. Today, thanks to the discovery of fossilized footprints—a range of tracks showing an adult male and two children—scientists were able to piece together the family's movements and how they coincided with the wild game the ancient hominin were known to crave. In a new study published in Scientific Reports, a team of researchers from the University of Lisbon and the Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark used optically stimulated luminescence to date prints found on the coastal cliffs of Monte Clerigo, along with a single print left 82,000 years ago, roughly four miles away at Praia do Telheiro. The footprints along Portugal's shifting coastal environment are considered 'the first two hominin track sites found in the southwestern most region of Europe.' In the report, the team chronicles five trackways at Monte Clerigo that contain 26 total prints. They were able to determine that three of the tracks were left by an adult male—likely between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8 in height—twice from ascending the cliff dune and once descending. The other two tracks were left by children, one likely between the ages of 7 and 9, and the other from a toddler, probably younger than 2 years old. When the fossilized prints of a red deer were found on the same dune, the researchers came to believe the family was hunting the deer, using the undulating landscape to attempt to sneak up on the prey. 'Tracks of three individuals demonstrate how Neanderthals navigated dune landscapes,' the study authors wrote. It also gives more credence to the belief that coastal environments were used by Pleistocene humans and that they were important areas in 'shaping hominin cognitive and social development.' The footprints, a combined result of foot anatomy, gait dynamics, and substrate properties, help tell the story of the family, which was likely camping nearby the dunes. 'A review of the Neanderthal coastal sites associated with faunal evidence shows that their diet was primarily centered on cervids [deer], horses, and hares,' the study authors wrote. 'The consistent presence of these mammal taxa highlights their role as reliable food sources, irrespective of the varying environments inhabited by Neanderthals. In addition, the Neanderthal diet also incorporated animals form neighboring littoral habitats, indicating a broad foraging strategy that capitalized on local biodiversity.' At Monte Clerigo's five trackways, the busiest featured 10 prints in one track. The single footprint found at Praia do Telheiro, which was dated about 4,000 years older than those found at Monte Clerigo, was that of a 'slim' foot, likely belonging to a female, the authors wrote. There's no additional evidence to tell if the female at Praia do Telheiro was on the hunt for red deer, horse, or rabbit. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life? Solve the daily Crossword
