A child scrolling on instagram and studying. LEHTIKUVA

Recent research spanning over two decades has revealed significant alterations in children's brain function due to time spent on electronic devices such as televisions and computers. This comprehensive study, involving nearly 30,000 participants under the age of 12, was conducted through the analysis of 33 neuroimaging research pieces and published in the peer-reviewed journal Early Education and Development.

Children jumping on the trampoline. LEHTIKUVA

A recent study conducted by the Faculty of Education at the University of Turku has revealed that the number of social contacts a child has at 13 months can predict the number of friends they will have by age four. This research, emphasizing the impact of early social interactions, underscores the significant role that such encounters play in shaping a child's future peer relationships.

Person receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Recent research at the University of Turku in Finland indicates that COVID-19 vaccines provide a lasting defense against serious illness caused by various coronavirus strains, primarily through T-cell activation. This significant finding emerges amidst the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, which, unlike previous influenza pandemics, has spread rapidly worldwide and witnessed the swift emergence and spread of new variants.

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In a groundbreaking research collaboration between Åbo Akademi University and New York University Shanghai, in partnership with Finland's science center Heureka, a new study sheds light on the intricacies of eyewitness identification. The findings emphasize the significant impact of distance, lighting, and facial disguises on a witness's ability to correctly identify individuals they have seen. This research carries essential implications for law enforcement practices and could redefine how witness testimonies are evaluated.

According to the Music Listening in Finland 2023 study conducted by Teosto and IFPI – Musiikkituottajat ry, music holds importance for 89% of Finns. The research, conducted in August 2023 with over a thousand participants aged 13 to 75, with a majority falling in the 13–18 age group, sheds light on evolving music consumption habits in Finland.

Intensive music listening through headphones is on the rise, constituting nearly 50% of all music consumed, as per Finnish estimations.

Pollen samples. Photo: Helena Wirta

A recent international study has shed light on the specific plants that bees prefer when collecting nectar and pollen. The dietary choices of bees hold significant importance for their well-being and, crucially, for humanity, as bees pollinate crops vital to human survival.

Traditionally, bees have been considered generalists regarding their diet, meaning they can utilize a wide variety of plants. However, this new research reveals that bees are more selective than previously believed.

Scientists at the University of Virginia (UVA) have developed a groundbreaking computational tool that unravels the complexities of how medications impact men and women differently. The research aims to bridge the gender gap in drug testing and create safer, more effective drugs tailored to individual needs.

Historically, women have been underrepresented in drug trials, leading to a lack of understanding about how medications affect their bodies, particularly the liver.

People in Helsinki on a sunny day. LEHTIKUVA

A recent doctoral study conducted by Jukka Sivonen at the University of Turku has shed light on distinct attitudes towards carbon taxation in Nordic countries compared to the rest of Europe. Sivonen's research revealed that residents in Nordic countries show significantly higher support for carbon taxation, a trend attributed to the strong trust in political institutions prevalent in these nations.

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Socioeconomic disadvantage in neighborhoods may compromise the dietary quality of young children and increase the risk of childhood obesity, according to a doctoral thesis conducted at the University of Turku's Faculty of Medicine. This research sheds light on individual, parenting, and environmental factors related to children's eating habits.

Childhood obesity is on the rise worldwide, starting as early as infancy. Harmful dietary habits leading to obesity often begin to develop during early childhood.

Couple holding hands. LEHTIKUVA

A new study conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder challenges the age-old notion that "opposites attract." The comprehensive analysis, which examined data from millions of couples over more than a century and across more than 130 traits, found that similarity often draws people together in relationships.

The study, published on August 31 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, not only debunks the popular belief that dissimilar individuals are more likely to form romantic bonds but also sheds light on the underlying forces shaping human relationships.