subject: Do We Learn Something New Every Day? [print this page] Do We Learn Something New Every Day? Do We Learn Something New Every Day?
Baseball has been played since the 1860's. However, it wasn't until 2011 that researchers determined pitchers were more likely to "bean" a batter in hot weather. A study published in the journal Psychological Science analyzed data from more than 57.000 Major League baseball games from 1952 to 2009. If the temperature was in the 50's, there was a 22% chance a pitcher would hit a batter when a pitch had hit a teammate. If the temperature was in the 90's, the chance was 27%. It seems that uncomfortably hot weather increases the need for retribution. Pitchers are likelier to be "hotheaded".
Dollar bills are made of 75% cotton and 25% linen and as of 2011 the price of raw cotton was at a 140-year high. In 2010 the cost of making one note was 50% higher than in 2008. In 2010 the government produced 6.4 billion new currency notes, each costing 9.6 cents. In 2008 each cost 6.4 cents. Unfortunately, paper made out of wood pulp the paper used in newspapers, books and cereal boxes isn't strong enough to produce durable currency. However, the value of cotton dollar bills may seem to shrink because they come out of "Washing-ton".
Hospital checklists are used by about 20% of U.S. hospitals. The 5-point list reminds doctors and nurses of basic steps, such as washing hands and cleaning a patient's skin with chlorhexidine antiseptic. Nurses are empowered to stop a procedure if the list isn't being followed. According to a study done for the federal government, the checklist helps reduce the infections that kill 31,000 patients yearly. A study published in the journal Health Affairs concluded 1 in every 3 patients is temporarily harmed or even killed by a hospital mistake related to medications, procedures and infections. Obviously, patients need to be "well"-advised.
Political views are related to different brain structures. In a study published in Current Biology, 90 university students were questioned about their political views before having brain scans. According to the study, different political views were demonstrated by different personality traits. The students with self-reported liberal views tended to have a larger anterior cingulate cortex a brain area involved in processing conflicting information. Those with conservative views were likelier to have a larger amygdala a brain area important to recognizing threats. However, a brain can change based on a person's experience an adaptation called neuroplasticity. For neuroscientists that's a "no-brainer".
