Recharge overview
Meeting loved ones triggers brain areas that help you feel better
Regular contact with close friends and family is important for mental and physical well-being. This age-old folk wisdom finds proof in brain activity, and even in the shaping of brain structure. Social interactions trigger the same brain areas that play a role in empathy, attentiveness, health satisfaction, smoking behavior, mood swings and emotional (in)stability.
The free West against the unfree East: 2500 years of the same rhetoric
From the Greco-Persian Wars to IS, the idea that East and West are fundamentally different has been used as a rhetorical tool for years. But this focus on conflict gives a distorted view of the historical reality, says historian Ivo Wolsing (Radboud University).
Eyebrows don't lie
In the 80s we kept them bushy, in the 90s ultra-thin, and nowadays bold and big. Eyebrows have undergone many changes through the years (some arguably better than others). One change has been key to human socialization.
Astronomers see first hint of silhouette spaghettified star
For decades astronomers have been spotting bursts of electromagnetic radiation coming from black holes. They assumed those are the result of stars being torn apart, but they have never seen the silhouette of the actual material ligaments. Now a group of astronomers, including lead author Giacomo Cannizzaro and Peter Jonker from SRON/Radboud University, has for the first time observed spectral absorption lines caused by strands of a spaghettified star.
'We are not making things easier, but we do offer new insights'
Economists from Nijmegen have a special place in the Netherlands. In their teaching and research, as well as their contributions to society, they offer different points of view on real-world issues.
‘We pat ourselves on the back if there’s just one woman on the Board’
Wilma de Koning is not an administrator who enjoys being the centre of attention. Not that there was much she could do to escape it these past years. Whether fighting for more women in top positions or addressing the malpractices at the Honours Academy and the Faculty of Philosophy, time and again she was the one held accountable. This week she says goodbye to Radboud University.
'Credibility is essential to faith in democracy'
The parliamentary elections and the subsequent government formation once again reveal the fragility of our trust in democracy. Information leaks and the seemingly poor memory of ministers have shaken our confidence in the political system, says Associate Professor of Political Science Maurits Meijers (Radboud University). 'Democracy has taken a hit.'
Why people in Guatemala carry a fake phone in their pocket
Literature offers a possibility to see into the perpetrators perspective. This is shown in research by Marileen La Haije, Radboud University.
‘Equal opportunity for everyone? Well, not really’
The position of women has significantly improved compared to that of our mothers' and grandmothers' generation. This is the historical perspective. But take an in-depth look at many organisations in 2021. ‘An interview with Organizational Behaviour professor Yvonne Benschop (Radboud University) about gender equality and diversity.
Thinking is hard work in a pandemic
Why is it so hard to get things done these days?
‘Good governance is the proper management of conflicting values’
Hester Paanakker, lecturer in Public Administration (Radboud University), is engaged in education and research in the field of public values and good governance. In her eyes, offering solutions is what public administration is all about and what ‘profit without loss’ means.
What do I hear over there? How we can follow moving sounds
Our brains can track moving sounds. That has now been scientifically demonstrated for the first time by neuroscientists from the Donders Institute at Radboud University. The study provides a scientific basis for further research into how we can improve hearing in noisy environments for the hearing-impaired.
Crystal ball? For a clear view of the future, do research
Future thinking is central to her research, which additionally focuses on energy transition. Sietske Veenman, lecturer at the Department of Environmental Governance and Politics (Radboud University): ‘I want to get a clear grasp on how the the future plays a role in our day-to-day lives.’
True story: island gigantism and dwarfism and the island rule
It is an old-standing theory in evolutionary ecology: animal species on islands have the tendency to become either giants or dwarfs in comparison to mainland relatives. Since its formulation in the 1960s, however, the ‘island rule’ has been severely debated by scientists. In a new publication in Nature Ecology and Evolution on April 15, researchers solved this debate by analysing thousands of vertebrate species. They show that the island rule effects are widespread in mammals, birds and reptiles, but less evident in amphibians.
‘Corona poetry’: unappreciated but still widely read
When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the spring of 2020, poems suddenly popped up in many places in the Netherlands and Belgium. Expert in Dutch Language and Culture Jeroen Dera (Radboud University) wanted to know how poetry readers felt about corona poems and published an article on the topic in late March.
Corona: more work pressure, less free time, no altered gender roles
The coronavirus has created more work pressure and less free time and has had no structural influence on gender roles between men and women. This is evident from research that Assistant professor of Public Administration Stéfanie André is conducting with colleagues from various universities.
Truth or lies: how do we decide what to believe?
Would you believe that a) an octopus has three hearts, or b) Einstein performed poorly in maths at school? Most people find b more convincing, yet is it false. When we are uncertain, how do we choose what to believe?
‘The present brings the past into sharper relief’
He uses his hands less but his eyes all the more. Eric Moormann, professor of Classical Archaeology (2002-2021) owes his international acclaim to his ability to see the bigger picture. He breathes new life into the story of antiquity, with the present helping him bring the past into sharper relief. ‘The football stadiums in Qatar remind me of the Colosseum being built.’
“Pristine seagrass meadows were often heavily grazed”
Seagrasses are important for our coastal protection, biodiversity and carbon sequestration. But contrary to popular belief, dense, waving seagrass meadows with long foliage are not necessarily more natural. In a new publication in Nature Ecology & Evolution, researchers from Wageningen University and Radboud University argue for a more nuanced picture of natural seagrass meadows being dense vegetation interspersed with areas grazed by sea turtles. This calls for a change in our nature management practices.
'LGBT elderly experience unique loneliness during COVID-crisis'
From 8 April, the short film An Act of Affection can be seen during Go Short, the online festival for short films. This documentary is a portrait of Pierre, a lonely gay man in Lisbon. Social geographer Roos Pijpers has conducted research into lonely elderly people in recent years and explains why gay elderly in the Netherlands often experience a different, additional layer of loneliness.