Latest news with #Mainz
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Palace lay out Austria summer plans
Crystal Palace have revealed plans for a summer training camp in Austria at the end of Eagles will play two games in boss Oliver Glasner's home country during a week away in the Tuesday, 29 July, Palace will play two hour-long practice games against Mainz, with the first of those matches kicking off at 13:00 on Friday, 1 August, they will take on another Bundesliga side, Augsburg - twice - with the first game starting at 15:00.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Your Brain Has a Hidden Rhythm, And It May Reveal How Smart You Are
The smarter you are, the more your brain is in sync with its own secret rhythm, a new study has found. When your brain works particularly hard, different regions of the brain sync up as they work together to perform tasks that require a higher cognitive load. This is called theta connectivity, and a new study has found that not only is it highly flexible, adapting quickly to changing situations, but better brain coordination strongly correlates with cognitive ability. "Specific signals in the midfrontal brain region are better synchronized in people with higher cognitive ability – especially during demanding phases of reasoning," says psychologist Anna-Lena Schubert of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany. Related: Your Brain Emits a Secret Light That Scientists Are Trying to Read Theta connectivity – synchronized activity between brain regions of slow waves in the band of 4 to 8 Hertz – is related to the brain's ability to pull itself together under mental load. A growing body of evidence suggests that it plays a significant role in cognitive function – a strong enough link that it may even show promise as a diagnostic tool. Schubert and her colleagues wanted to investigate theta connectivity as a marker of cognitive control – the brain's ability to adapt and adjust thought, behavior, and emotion based on current tasks and contexts. The researchers recruited 148 people between the ages of 18 and 60, and had them complete tests to assess their memory and intelligence. Then, each study participant donned a non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) cap to record their brain activity, and was given three mentally demanding tasks to complete. These tasks had different rules. In the first task, the participants were shown digits between one and nine, and had to indicate whether the number was higher or lower than five, or if the number was odd or even. In the second task, the participants were shown Navon figures, and had to either identify the big shape, or the small shapes of which it was constructed. Finally, in the third task, the participants were shown paired numbers and letters, and either had to indicate whether the number was more or less than five, or the letter was a vowel or a consonant. None of the tasks alone are particularly difficult, but the researchers wanted to assess how quickly the participants adapted to a changing ruleset, and whether that was detectable in their theta brain waves. To the researchers' surprise, not only were they able to see the brain coordinate in real-time to rapid changes in tasks, participants who had performed better on the intelligence and memory tests displayed stronger theta connectivity during these tasks. "People with stronger midfrontal theta connectivity are often better at maintaining focus and tuning out distractions, be it that your phone buzzes while you're working or that you intend to read a book in a busy train station," Schubert says. "We did not expect the relationship to be this clear." They found that one of the keys to higher cognitive performance is not sustained attention, but the ability to switch tasks on the fly, adapting quickly as circumstances demand. The midfrontal region of the brain works together with other brain regions, not just to prepare for tasks, but to execute decisions. "The results indicated that only theta connectivity during response-related processes, not during cue-evoked task-set reconfiguration, correlated with cognitive abilities," the researchers write in their paper. "These insights significantly advance theoretical models of intelligence, highlighting the critical role of specific aspects of cognitive control in cognitive abilities." These findings not only help us understand the role brain coordination plays in cognition, they could open new avenues for brain research and even – one day – help inform new diagnostic techniques. "Potential applications such as brain-based training tools or diagnostics are still a long way off," Schubert says. "But our study offers important groundwork for understanding how intelligence functions at a neural level." The research has been published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Burnout Might Not Actually Be a Work Problem After All, Study Shows Scientists Confirm Anti-Aging Drug Appears to Prolong Life in Animals Scientists Beamed Light Right Through a Man's Head For The First Time
Top Gear
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Here are a pro driver's tips for surviving the Nürburgring 24 Hours
Interview Overtake quickly, avoid eating a currywurst beforehand and hope for luck. Lots of luck Skip 15 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Sven Mueller is a 33-year-old, Mainz-born racing driver who was competing in karts from the age when most of us were still in nappies. He then traded paint in both Formula 4 and 3, before signing as a Porsche works driver and racking up a string of trophies - including the 2016 Porsche Supercup and Carrera Cup. He's also done a fair bit of racing in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), which comprises various four, six and 12-hour races at the Green Hell. He's won multiple events over the last three years, priming him to take on the infamous Nürburgring 24 Hours this weekend. Advertisement - Page continues below Mueller will be representing Falken Motorsports - you know, the team Irish drift sensation James Deane burns rubber for - and he'll be seated in a Porsche 911 992 GT3 R. Its water-cooled flat-six gains carbon manifolds, butterfly intakes and a tweaked central exhaust, sending its output up to 558bhp. It's also supported by a bespoke traction control system and a motorsport-grade carbon fibre clutch. It all sounds very dandy. But behind the no-doubt brilliant engineering, just how daunting is the N24 for the person in the seat? Over to you, Mueller. You might like SM: Yes. The track itself is difficult, but you also need to manage traffic and keep the level of risk as low as possible to survive. As for the car, there's so much elevation change and kerb riding. To complete 24 hours without stopping or having a technical issue, it's why we do so much preparation with the NLS races. And that's before we even mention the weather: it's 25 degrees and sunshine at one end, and it could be a hailstorm at the other. Finishing is such a huge achievement in itself. You aren't just combating tiredness and avoiding costly errors, but you need luck. Without luck, you won't win the N24. Back in 2019, I was leading the race with three hours to go, and then I had a differential issue, caused by some debris puncturing a tyre. A tiny bit of debris on the track. It goes to show the fine margins in winning or losing at the Nürburgring. Advertisement - Page continues below It's one of the biggest talking points at the 'Ring, because you can gain or lose as much as 20 seconds sometimes, depending on holdups. You have to get past as quickly as possible. You cannot wait one or two kilometres until there's a long straight, because there are far too many cars on the track, of different classes and strengths, so you're never far from traffic. At the end of every corner, you have to choose if you're going to go right or left and stick to your decision. It also helps that when your teammates come in, they give you some idea about which cars on the field are willing to let you go past and which aren't. Some drivers are on their own without any guidance, and therefore cannot look into their mirrors regularly. You sort of just have to go for it and hope the approaching car doesn't close the door. But the issue here is that if you're too pushy, you've got a high risk of damaging the car. You need to be strong enough to survive, but not aggressive enough to crash. Because if you're quick for four or five hours straight, and then you lose five minutes in the pits because of an issue, your position is gone. Just how bad is visibility at night? Really poor, as you can imagine. We're lucky with the 911, because Porsche lights tend to be good. Other drivers in the paddock sometimes say that, if they've got a Porsche behind, it blinds them. To get around this, some manufacturers tape up the back screen of the car so that lights and flashes from obstacles behind don't affect them as much. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. There are so many elevation changes and blind corners, and light obviously cannot go past the apex and the exit of a corner, so that's why having good vision and a comfortable line of sight is so important. Another issue a lot of people don't realise is the smoke. When we go past BBQ sections such as Brunnchen, it's very thick and you think it might be a patch of fog. How do you prepare yourself for a stint? I don't have any weird rituals, if that's what you mean. I look at the onboard video of whichever teammate is currently racing, and assess all the circumstances: how are the conditions? How is the field spread out? Where could we gain time? Are there any particular wet spots to be aware of? Doing this makes me feel ready and helps me understand how I can just head right out and be as quick as I can be. If I can assess these things before getting in the car, then it's just a matter of acclimatising to the tyres and level of grip. OK, no weird rituals. Any weird foods then? You can't have a currywurst two minutes before a stint, that's for sure. Jokes aside, nutrition is important. We have plain water supplies in the car, a litre's worth to last us for a stint, and that's more than enough. You can't just drink when you want either; it's only when you get up to certain sections that aren't as technical or corner-heavy. Put us in your shoes: how does a flat-out lap feel? Your heart rate goes up like crazy as soon as you set off. Within two or three kilometres, you're reminded why the 'Ring is the best track in the world. The corners come at you thick and fast, the forest is right up against you, and you're constantly trying to calculate how to overtake people and push the car to go faster. Eventually, you settle into a rhythm and start to flow. Your pace is consistent, and each corner comes together beautifully, one after another. There's no feeling quite like it in this world when that happens. Images: Falken Motorsport
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Research shows it's normal for relationship satisfaction to vary lots
You may find it reassuring to learn that often, people's satisfaction levels vary quite a lot within a relationship, even within a short space of time, a new study says. Satisfaction with your partner or relationship can fluctuate significantly within a few days or even within a single day, according to a psychological study carried out in Germany. This finding could help to better support couples, by showing them in therapy that fluctuating satisfaction is perfectly normal to a certain extent and does not necessarily jeopardise a relationship. Be clear about your own needs At the same time, experiencing fluctuations in satisfaction can show couples in romantic relationships that their needs are not being fully met - so could be a signal that improvement is needed. "To this end, partners should be clear about their needs and express them appropriately," says psychologist Louisa Scheling, lead author of the University of Mainz study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The extent to which the partner is perceived as approachable or responsive has a significant influence on satisfaction. A certain "emotional instability in men" also has a significant effect, the study says. That may be because women are more accustomed to emotional fluctuations due to their hormonal cycles. In men, on the other hand, emotional instability tends to be attributed to relationship dynamics, the authors say. "Reliable perception and fulfilment of needs by the partner contributes significantly to stable relationship satisfaction in everyday life," says Scheling. Ultimately, it is similar to a parent-child relationship, she adds. "If needs are consistently met, then satisfaction remains stable at a high level." Variation greater between days than within one day The study found relationship satisfaction varied significantly between days and within each day. The variance between days was greater than within a single day. It also showed that the ups and downs in satisfaction among partners were relatively synchronised and that varying satisfaction was not related to demographic factors, meaning that it is a common experience for most couples, even those who have been in a relationship for a long time. Up until now, research has so far focused on how satisfaction with a relationship develops over months and years, the study says. However, since romantic relationships develop in everyday life, it is crucial to also examine satisfaction and fluctuations within short periods of time – given that in Western countries, one in three marriages end in divorce, meaning that many relationships break down. Scheling and her team of scientists, who collaborated with other research institutions, evaluated data from two previous studies involving couples consisting of one man and one woman. Data from a study conducted by the University of Basel between 2016 and 2018 included information from nearly 600 couples who recorded their satisfaction levels in several waves. Participants were couples from Switzerland, Austria and Germany over the age of 18 who had been together for at least one month. The other online study, conducted by the Universities of Mainz and Heidelberg between 2021 and 2023, included data from 150 couples who were asked about their satisfaction several times a day. In this study, the participants were couples who had only moved in together in the past four weeks.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Love really is a rollercoaster! Incredible chart reveals how much relationship satisfaction changes in a single DAY
When it comes to relationships, there can be plenty of ups and downs. Now, a new study proves that love really is a rollercoaster. Scientists have mapped fluctuations in relationship satisfaction to reveal how it can vary considerably over several days – and even over the course of 24 hours. 'Fluctuations are quite normal,' lead author Louisa Scheling, from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz said. 'However, they may also indicate unsatisfied needs in the relationship.' Figures show that in the UK, 42 per cent of marriages now end in divorce, marking a significant increase since the 1950s. Research into the phenomenon has focused primarily on relationship satisfaction across months and years. 'In contrast, we have decided to take a narrow chronological approach to determine how satisfied partners were with their situation over the course of a few days and even within a 24-hour period,' Ms Scheling said. The researchers analysed data provided by nearly 750 couples who reported their relationship satisfaction on a daily basis, up to several times a day. They found that partners experience substantial fluctuations in terms of how satisfied they are with the relationship. These fluctuations tended to be greater over periods of several days than during a single 24-hour period. They also discovered the 'up and down' swing of satisfaction turned out to be relatively synchronised for both partners. Further analysis revealed that the perceived responsiveness of the partner was a key factor in determining the course of satisfaction. The emotional stability of male partners also had a notable effect, they found. 'The reliable perception and fulfillment of the partner's needs contributes significantly to stable relationship satisfaction in everyday life,' Ms Scheling explained. 'It's similar to a parent-child relationship: if needs are consistently met, satisfaction stabilizes at a high level.' Two couples with average (top) versus strong (bottom) fluctuations in relationship satisfaction, measured five times a day over 10 days The fluctuations in relationship satisfaction can – over the short term – be accompanied by thoughts of breaking up, she said. Over the long term, however, it appeared to have a limited effect on the course of the relationship. 'It is possible that fluctuations in relationship satisfaction tend on the whole to mimic the current relationship dynamics between partners, rather than predicting the future development of the relationship,' she added. In her view, the findings of the study can help to support couples and show them, for example, in the context of relationship counselling, that fluctuations in relationship satisfaction are normal but may serve as signals that there is room for improvement. The findings were published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. WHAT ARE THE FIVE STAGES OF A RELATIONSHIP AND HOW DO THEY AFFECT THE BODY? Psychologists suggest there are five stages of love - butterflies, building, assimilation, honesty and stability. Each of these stages has a different impact on our psyche and health, researchers at eHarmony found in a 2014 survey. 1) Butterflies Marked by intense infatuation and sexual attraction, symptoms noted by couples included weight loss (30 per cent) and a lack of productivity (39 per cent). Biologically, it's reported that during this early stage of dating, both men and women create more of the sex hormones testosterone and oestrogen. As a result more than half - 56 per cent - noted an increase in their libido. 2) Building As the initial attraction gives way to learning more about one another, the honeymoon stage subsides and a couple begin to build their relationship. eHarmony's study estimated around three per cent of Britons in relationship are currently at stage two. The body releases neurochemicals called monoamines, which speed up heart rate, trigger rushes of intense pleasure and replicate the effects of Class A drugs. The biological effect culminates in a feeling of 'happy anxiety', where people can think of little else than their blossoming relationship. Forty-four per cent of the study participants noted a lack of sleep while 29 per cent reported a their attention span had been adversely affected. 3) Assimilation Having established whether the other person is 'right', stage three forces a couple to question whether the 'relationship' itself is right. Questions over the future of the union and forming boundaries in the relationship can lead to a rise in stress levels, reported by 27 per cent of those taking part in the study. 4) Honesty Stage three combines with stage four, where people open up showing the 'real you' sees the first real rise in stress levels and anxiety. 'This stage deals with the concept behind how we all put on our best faces, through social media we edit our lives as well as our pictures to make it appear as though everything is fine,' psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos, who assisted with the study, told MailOnline. Opening up completely triggered feelings of doubt and increased vulnerability in 15 per cent of participants. 5) Stability If a couple can weather the emotional rollercoaster of the first four stages, the fifth and final stage, stability, brings with it increased levels of trust and intimacy. eHarmony found 50 per cent of respondents had reached this stage, and 23 per cent reported feeling happier as a result. Biologically, vasopressin - a powerful hormone released by men and women during orgasm - strengthens feelings of attachment. Meanwhile oxytocin - released during childbirth - deepens feelings of attachment. 'This is where we see a real level of contentness,' Dr Papadopolous told MailOnline. 'We found the body releases wonderful hormones which helps couples bond. We noted a real sense of attachment, and a sense of "you have got my back and I've got yours".'
