Shayne Jacopian for redOrbit.com – @ObviousScience
Welcome back to This Week In Obvious Science! In this week’s installment, the world of science shows us that early treatment for medical problems is a good idea, cocaine is bad for fetuses, and surprising infants can teach them a lesson.
1. Early physical therapy for low back pain reduces costs, resources via American Physical Therapy Association
So….kind of like taking your car to the repair shop as soon as the “check engine” light comes on typically costs you less money than if something flies off the vehicle on the highway?
Cool. Ok!
2. Functional brain organization of newborns altered by prenatal cocaine exposure via University of North Carolina
Wait, what? Pregnant women shouldn’t do lines off a stripper’s a**? That can hurt an infant’s brain? Since when?
3. Element of surprise helps babies learn via John Hopkins University
Indeed, that is often the case.
Baby reaches for tray of cookies on stove. Baby places hand on hot burner. Baby is surprised. Baby learns.
Okay, okay. This study is neat because it shows that surprise is the most effective way for babies to learn—based on what they’ve already learned, babies form predictions about the world around them. When those predictions are challenged, they are more likely to learn something new, adding to their body of knowledge and informing their future predictions.
In fact, we thought it was so cool, we published it as a story on Sunday.
4. Muscles matter in baseball injuries via Northwestern University
This study found that elbow muscles play a significant role in pitching-related injuries.
“Muscles matter in baseball. We showed that a pitcher could be at a really high risk or a really low risk of elbow injury, depending on how strong and capable his muscles are.”
The researchers continued: “Pitchers are literally throwing so hard that the motion itself acts to tear the elbow joint apart. But why doesn’t it?”
Wait for it…
“The answer is the strength of the muscles and the ligaments. That’s what keeps the bones together.”
For more, check out our Twitter handle @ObviousScience
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