KnE Open Top Picks for January 2025
On February 14, 2025
As the world continues to evolve, so does the research shaping our future. From medical breakthroughs to advancements that improve our daily lives, research is constantly uncovering new ways to enhance well-being and tackle global challenges. This collection of studies explores innovative research and discoveries in areas such as health, psychology, and design, providing fresh perspectives and practical approaches to common problems.
Is Burnout Making Students Procrastinate More?
Procrastination is a familiar struggle—it induces stress, delays progress, and affects academic and professional performance. College students are particularly susceptible to procrastination due to increased workload and the transition from structured, teacher-led learning to independent study. But is procrastination the real issue, or is burnout driving it? Since procrastination affects grades and well-being, tackling burnout could be key to helping students stay on track. A study that examined the connection between academic burnout and procrastination revealed that students experiencing high levels of burnout were significantly more likely to delay tasks. When overwhelmed by academic pressure and mental exhaustion, students tend to put off studying and struggle with staying on track.
Read about how burnout fuels procrastination and what can be done about it here.
Can Improved Farming Practices Produce Healthier Oysters?
Appreciated for their culinary appeal, oysters are a nutrient-dense food source, rich in vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. Low in calories and fat, they are a great source of high-quality protein, which is essential for muscle growth and repair. Environmentally, oysters act as water filters, purifying and preserving ecosystems. Oyster cultivation is a practice that goes back two millennia. Despite this, knowledge of their genetics and biology remains limited. To reap their full potential, it’s important for the aquaculture industry to expand its understanding of this shellfish. A recently published study explores the different ways oyster cultivation and breeding can be enhanced to ensure increased production rates and the most nutritious specimens.
Learn more about the health benefits of oysters here.
Can this Interior Design Concept Create Healthier Office Spaces?
As companies rethink office spaces in the post-pandemic world, employee wellness is taking centre stage. A well-designed office isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling good too. Smart layouts and thoughtful design choices can enhance productivity, reduce stress, and create a more enjoyable work environment. Enter biophilic design—a concept that brings nature indoors by incorporating natural colours, materials, lighting, and ventilation, creating healthier, happier spaces that benefit both people and the planet. Researchers are therefore increasingly considering how office design can support well-being, and developing recommendations for designers and companies creating workspaces that benefit everyone.
Discover the benefits of integrating biophilic design into office spaces here.
Can Insulin Heal Eye Injuries?
Some eye injuries heal quickly, but others remain despite treatment, putting vision at risk. Persistent corneal wounds are a serious challenge, and finding effective, accessible solutions is crucial. Could insulin be the answer? Some new scientific investigations are exploring whether insulin might provide a viable treatment approach, promoting healing in stubborn or infected wounds. Early research suggests that insulin could help speed up healing while remaining both safe and affordable, and could even be a game-changing option for patients dealing with persistent eye conditions that don’t respond to standard treatments.
Read one groundbreaking new study on how insulin could offer new hope for patients with corneal damage.
How Does Infertility Affect Men’s Mental Health?
Both men and women struggle with infertility, but the emotional toll on men is often less visible in public discussions. The stress, anxiety, and depression that can come with infertility are profound, yet research on men’s mental health in this context remains limited. Struggles with masculinity, societal expectations, and feelings of helplessness can make it even harder to cope. However, scientists are increasingly recognizing this issue and looking for ways to evaluate and address some of the emotional burdens of infertility for male sufferers, with a view to developing processes and programs that raise awareness, create support systems, and conduct mental health interventions for men facing infertility.
Discover how fertility and mental health in men correlate here.