Sophia Naughton

Maryland

Associate Editor at StudyFinds

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Articles

28 Major U.S. Cities (Home To 34 Million People) Are Slowly Sinking -- Can It Be Stopped?

1 week ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

Houston is the fastest-sinking city in the U.S. (SevenMaps/Shutterstock)In a nutshell34 million Americans live on sinking land across the 28 most populous U.S. cities, including unexpected inland areas like Denver and Indianapolis, not just coastal regions. Houston is sinking faster than any other city, with 42% of its land subsiding more than 5mm per year, largely due to groundwater overuse.
How Hugging Your Child Can Shape Their Future Personality

4 weeks ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

Parenting matters, even for identical twins. Children who received more maternal affection between the ages of 5 and 10 grew into more open, conscientious, and agreeable young adults than their genetically identical siblings who received less warmth. Some traits are shaped by nurture, not just nature. While openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were influenced by parenting, traits like extraversion and neuroticism showed no such effect—suggesting those may be more genetically determined.
Laser-Guided Robot Farmers Offer Hope for Shrinking Labor Force

4 weeks ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

Breakthrough navigation tech allows farm robots to move precisely between crop rows without relying on GPS or expensive field modifications. The system uses LiDAR and real-time feedback to keep robots within 2 inches of their target path and maintain proper orientation, even on uneven terrain. Virtual testing slashed development time, helping researchers fine-tune the robot’s design before real-world deployment in greenhouses.
Sports Bras With Maximum Support May Actually Be Causing Back Pain

4 weeks ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

Too much support can backfire: Sports bras designed to eliminate all breast movement may actually increase stress on the spine, potentially raising the risk of back pain during running. Some bounce is beneficial: Controlled breast motion may act as a natural shock absorber, helping to dissipate forces and reduce spinal loading, especially in women with larger breasts.
How a Missing Inner Core May Have Split Mars' Magnetic Field in Two

4 weeks ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

Mars likely never developed a solid inner core during its early history, meaning its magnetic field was generated by a fully molten core, unlike Earth’s layered core structure. This all-liquid core helps explain why Mars’ ancient magnetic field was much stronger in the southern hemisphere, solving a decades-old mystery about the planet’s magnetic asymmetry.
The Sun Didn’t Change—We Did: How Humans Dimmed and Brightened the Earth

4 weeks ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

After decades of “global dimming” caused by pollution, surface sunlight levels are now rebounding in parts of the world, especially in countries that have cleaned up their air. Tiny particles from industrial and vehicle emissions scatter sunlight, reducing how much reaches the ground. As countries like China reduce air pollution, sunshine levels are rising again.
Your Child’s Mattress May Be Emitting Toxic Chemicals While They Sleep, Study Warns

4 weeks ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

Children’s mattresses can emit a range of harmful chemicals, including plasticizers, flame retardants, and UV filters, especially when exposed to body heat and weight during sleep. Some mattresses contained chemicals at levels that violate Canadian safety limits for children’s products, and even “eco-certified” models weren’t always free of restricted substances.
The 7 Keys to Sleep Health-And Why Missing Just One Could Hurt Your Heart

4 weeks ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

It’s not just about getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep. A consistent bedtime, good sleep quality, and staying alert during the day are all independently linked to heart health, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Irregular sleep can seriously increase heart risks. People with varying bedtimes, frequent naps, or excessive daytime sleepiness face higher odds of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, and stroke—even if they sleep enough overall.
Fermented Foods Like Sauerkraut Help Shield Your Gut From Inflammation

4 weeks ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

Fermented cabbage, but not raw cabbage or brine, protected intestinal cells from inflammation-related damage in lab tests, suggesting unique gut health benefits created during fermentation. Researchers identified specific compounds like D-phenyl-lactate (D-PLA), indole-3-lactate (ILA), and GABA that increased during fermentation and contributed to gut barrier protection.
Quitting Is Contagious: How Your Work Buddies Could Make or Break Your Career

1 month ago | studyfinds.org | Sophia Naughton

Your work friends matter more than you think. New employees are more likely to start job hunting and even quit if their training group or “cohort” starts looking for new opportunities. Location preference is a powerful buffer. When companies honor a new hire’s preferred work location, it significantly reduces the influence of peer turnover, even if their whole group starts searching for jobs. Cohorts can make or break retention.