Recharge overview
Droplets in cells determine the accumulation of proteins in age-related diseases
Tiny droplets in our cells can accelerate the accumulation of protein deposits in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, but they can also hinder this accumulation. While they will worsen the accumulation if the proteins stick to the edge of the droplets, the situation actually improves when they are incorporated into the droplets. Chemists from Radboud University and the University of Twente published their new findings in Science Advances on 2 December.
Bees as inspiration for better hearing implants
A familiar scenario: you’re at a party and everyone is talking at the same time. It takes effort to filter out the voice of the person you’re talking to. It’s quite the feat for people with perfect hearing, so imagine what it’s like for people who are hearing-impaired. This cocktail party effect is a problem that current hearing aids and implants cannot solve yet. Neuroscientist Martijn Agterberg wants to change this and is largely inspired by bees. He is competing in the NWO Venture Challenge with his start-up BeephoniX
Protest and public order: a game between authorities and protesters
In recent months, Dutch media have been dominated by protests: farmers laid straw bales on highways and a climate activist glued himself to the table at talk show Jinek. Nevertheless, according to Amnesty International, the right to demonstrate is under pressure in the Netherlands. Historian Carla Hoetink researches the clashing interests of authorities and protesters.
Gratitude is good for you
Gratitude is a social emotion critical for maintaining social standing. It indicates to others when we’ve received a benefit, reinforces beneficial behavior towards the recipient, and motivates prosocial behavior in the future.
4 scientific myths busted
A few scientific urban legends are so widespread that they are considered common knowledge. Let’s debunk some of the most famous!
Contact with others who suffer from depression is effective
People with depression benefit from contact with fellow sufferers. Such contacts can in fact contribute to recovering from depression. That was shown in the PhD research done by Dorien Smit, who will defend her thesis at Radboud University on 1 December. On the basis of Smit’s research, an online platform for people with depression was set up.
‘Holocaust testimonies saved from oblivion’
This month, the laying of 27 so-called Stolpersteine (or Stumbling Stones) in Nijmegen means that the testimonies of Jewish war victims will be saved from oblivion. Ria van den Brandt, who is a Holocaust researcher at Radboud University, is one of the driving forces behind the Stolpersteine in Nijmegen. ‘The aim of this initiative is to reveal the story behind the names.’
Apologies for history of slavery
Next month, the Dutch cabinet will officially announce its intention to apologise for its history of slavery. According to cultural scholar Liedeke Plate, this is an important step. ‘The institutional racism that still exists today has a relationship with the history of slavery.’
Black Friday: 'Curious willingness to copy everything from the US'
This year, Black Friday takes place on November 25. For some the perfect opportunity for discount Christmas shopping, for others a poignant illustration of consumerism. Advertising historian Wilbert Schreurs explains how the phenomenon came over from the United States.
Detailed study into the long-term effects of premature birth
Every year, around seven per cent of the babies in the Netherlands are born prematurely, and globally this number is as high as ten per cent. World Prematurity Day, which will be observed on 17 November 2022, is devoted to these children. Since 1983, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has been using the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction Study (POPS) to research the development and health of almost all of the children who were born prematurely in the Netherlands in this particular year. Radboud university medical center is involved in this research and is primarily looking at the effects that premature birth has on the kidneys. Together with TNO and Care4Neo, paediatric nephrologist Michiel Schreuder highlights the importance of monitoring these children and adults.
Flanerie is not just for well-off, white, male walkers
The lives of working-class women of the past should not only be remembered for the misery they went through: these women also experienced pleasures, and it is important to commemorate that. To recognise this female pleasure, we need to redefine the concept of flâneur, argues historian Anna Geurts following their translation of Keetje trottin, a novel about the life of a working-class girl in 19th-century Amsterdam.
How the mind roams free when the body is dying
People who have faced death report seeing a white light at the end of a tunnel, experiencing their life flashing before their eyes, or feeling like they have left their physical body. What might be causing these experiences?
Volunteer help can help those with financial problems
People with financial problems can often get support from volunteers. On 24 November, Jansje van Middendorp will receive her PhD for her research into the effectiveness of that support. “Volunteers can help prevent more serious financial difficulties, but sometimes the problems are too complex or applicants drop out early. After that, problems can actually increase and volunteers can become demotivated.”
The first one thousand days: foundation for a language-ready future
Language and language skills are very important for children and their future. It’s a message oft-repeated, and usually refers to something that should happen in schools. But the basis for a language-ready future lies far before that: in the first one thousand days of life. Language scientist Paula Fikkert (Radboud University) wants to conduct research among as many very young children as possible to gain more insight into this. In the meantime, she has some tips for parents of young children.
Sander Chan at the UN climate summit in Egypt: ‘I think it’s going to be very tough’
He hasn’t missed a single UN climate conference since 2014, and this year, he’s once again attending the climate summit in Sharm-el-Sheikh. This time on behalf of Radboud University: Sander Chan, expert in international environment and sustainability politics and Assistant Professor in Environment at the Nijmegen School of Management. At the climate summit in Egypt, his primary task is to highlight the role of ‘non-government actors’ in solving climate problems. These include companies, environmental organisations, investors and NGOs: factually all parties that haven’t been invited to the negotiation table. Chan: “Because we all know that climate change is a real problem, and that governments aren’t doing enough to solve it.”
Plato in the Age of Totalitarianism
In the twentieth century, Plato’s writings were not just a prominent subject of academic scholarship, but also became a battleground for ideological conflicts. Both supporters and opponents of totalitarian regimes appropriated Plato for their respective political purposes. An exhibition in the Radboud University Central Library displays photographs and publications that document the controversial reception of Plato in the age of totalitarianism.
Need a good idea? Dare to daydream
When you stop focusing and start daydreaming, the so-called default mode network of your brain becomes active, producing new or creative ideas.
Swapping clothes is a great start to raising awareness
As a society, we are trying to become more sustainable in many areas, but the globalized fashion industry is certainly not leading the way. Initiatives like clothing swaps can make us more aware of our consumption behavior. They are a great start to make the clothing industry more sustainable. But only if they go hand in hand with top-down initiatives to drastically reduce overproduction. 'It is as if we are pushing against a stranded supertanker,' says Anneke Smelik, professor of visual culture at Radboud University.
Coffee with flavour descriptions in full sentences sells better
‘An interesting coffee with a chocolate and honey aroma.’ These kinds of descriptions, for example on packaging, can convince customers to buy coffee. But how does this work exactly? That is what Ilja Croijmans and Bente Klein Hazebroek explore in an article published on 9 November.
Solidarity with Ukraine also demands more appreciation of Eastern Europe
Many Western reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine echo a short-sighted and condescending attitude towards Eastern Europe. High time to distance ourselves from this offensive reflex.