https://studiessuggest.org Counterintuitive scientific findings, verified and well-sourced. Evidence that challenges what you think you know. en-us Thu, 21 May 2026 01:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/knee-surgery-no-better-than-sham.html The Finnish FIDELITY trial randomized 146 patients with degenerative meniscal tears to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or sham surgery. At 12 months, outcomes were identical. At 10 years, the surgery group had more osteoarthritis and three times the rate of knee replacement. Thu, 21 May 2026 01:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/knee-surgery-no-better-than-sham.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/sugar-does-not-make-children-hyperactive.html A JAMA meta-analysis pooling 23 double-blind, placebo-controlled experiments found that sugar has no measurable effect on children's behavior or cognitive performance. The "sugar high" persists as a cultural belief driven almost entirely by parental expectation. Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/sugar-does-not-make-children-hyperactive.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/cash-transfers-poor-invest-not-waste.html A randomized trial of 1,440 households in rural Kenya found that unconditional cash transfers raised consumption by 22%, increased assets by 61%, and improved psychological well-being, while spending on alcohol and tobacco did not increase. Wed, 20 May 2026 23:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/cash-transfers-poor-invest-not-waste.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/learning-styles-no-evidence-matching-instruction.html A landmark review commissioned by the Association for Psychological Science examined 50 years of learning-styles research and concluded there was virtually no evidence that matching instruction to a student's preferred style improves outcomes. Wed, 20 May 2026 22:45:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/learning-styles-no-evidence-matching-instruction.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/highlighting-rereading-least-effective-study-methods.html A landmark 2013 review evaluated 10 common study techniques across hundreds of experiments and rated highlighting, rereading, and summarization as low utility. Only practice testing and distributed practice earned the highest rating. Wed, 20 May 2026 22:30:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/highlighting-rereading-least-effective-study-methods.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/wounds-heal-slower-at-night-circadian-clock.html A study of 118 burn patients found that injuries sustained between 8 PM and 8 AM took an average of 28 days to heal, compared to 17 days for daytime burns, driven by circadian rhythms in individual skin cells. Wed, 20 May 2026 20:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/wounds-heal-slower-at-night-circadian-clock.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/sleep-deprivation-rapidly-treats-depression.html A meta-analysis of 66 studies spanning 45 years found that acute sleep deprivation produces rapid antidepressant effects in roughly half of depressed patients. Wed, 20 May 2026 19:30:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/sleep-deprivation-rapidly-treats-depression.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/breakfast-not-most-important-meal.html A Monash University meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials found no evidence that breakfast aids weight loss. Breakfast eaters consumed 260 extra calories per day and weighed slightly more than those who skipped it entirely. Wed, 20 May 2026 19:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/breakfast-not-most-important-meal.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/houseplants-dont-purify-indoor-air.html A Drexel University review of 196 experiments across 12 studies found that potted plants remove VOCs so slowly that you'd need 10 to 1,000 plants per square meter to match basic ventilation. Wed, 20 May 2026 15:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/houseplants-dont-purify-indoor-air.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/daylight-saving-time-increases-energy-use.html A natural experiment exploiting Indiana's 2006 statewide adoption of DST found it increased residential electricity consumption by 1-4%, costing households $9 million per year and generating up to $5.5 million in pollution costs. Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/daylight-saving-time-increases-energy-use.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/financial-literacy-education-no-effect-behavior.html The most comprehensive meta-analysis of financial education research found that teaching people about compound interest, budgeting, and debt management accounts for essentially none of their actual financial decisions. Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/financial-literacy-education-no-effect-behavior.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/scared-straight-programs-increase-juvenile-crime.html A Cochrane systematic review of 946 juveniles across nine experiments found that prison-visit deterrence programs raised the odds of reoffending by 68%. The programs remain in use. Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/scared-straight-programs-increase-juvenile-crime.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/antioxidant-supplements-increase-mortality.html A Cochrane review of 78 trials and 296,707 participants found that beta-carotene and vitamin E supplements increase all-cause mortality. Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/antioxidant-supplements-increase-mortality.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/open-offices-reduce-face-to-face-collaboration.html Two Fortune 500 companies outfitted employees with sociometric sensors before and after converting cubicles to open plans. Face-to-face conversation plummeted while email surged. Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/open-offices-reduce-face-to-face-collaboration.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/positive-affirmations-backfire-low-self-esteem.html Experiments at the University of Waterloo found that positive self-statements backfired for those who needed them most. Mon, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/positive-affirmations-backfire-low-self-esteem.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/brainstorming-groups-fewer-ideas-than-individuals.html A meta-analysis of 20 studies found that interactive brainstorming groups consistently underperformed individuals working independently. Mon, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/brainstorming-groups-fewer-ideas-than-individuals.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/stretching-before-exercise-no-injury-prevention.html A systematic review of 25 RCTs found stretching had no significant injury prevention benefit, while strength training cut risk by over a third. Mon, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/stretching-before-exercise-no-injury-prevention.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/exercise-minimal-effect-weight-loss.html A study of 332 adults across five populations found total energy expenditure plateaus above moderate activity levels. Mon, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/exercise-minimal-effect-weight-loss.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/more-choices-less-satisfaction.html Consumers were 10 times more likely to buy jam when offered 6 options instead of 24. Mon, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/more-choices-less-satisfaction.html https://studiessuggest.org/stories/violent-video-games-no-aggression-link.html A pre-registered Oxford study of 1,004 adolescents using objective violence ratings found zero relationship with aggressive behavior. Mon, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700 https://studiessuggest.org/stories/violent-video-games-no-aggression-link.html