Sleep apps help some users, but they stress out people with insomnia

Apps designed to improve sleep may increase stress in people with insomnia symptoms, study finds

Frontiers

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Do you track your sleep? The increasing availability of sleep monitoring apps, and rising interest in sleep health, has led to a sharp increase in people tracking their rest. But these apps might not give people an accurate image of their sleep, and they could be making it harder for people to rest. Now scientists studying the use of sleep apps in Norway have found that while the apps helped some people, those who reported insomnia experienced more negative effects. 

“The rapid development of sleep app technology requires the scientific community to keep up with technological advances,” said Håkon Lundekvam Berge of the University of Bergen, first author of the article in Frontiers in Psychology. “We found that younger adults were more affected by the feedback from the sleep apps. They reported more perceived benefits, but also more worries and stress.” 

“We also found that people with insomnia symptoms were more susceptible to negative effects,” added second author Karl Erik Lundekvam of the University of Bergen. “Feedback from the sleep apps was more likely to cause stress and worry in this group.” 

The science of snoozing 

Although sleep apps vary, they usually claim to measure how long it takes someone to fall asleep, how long they sleep for, and how restorative their sleep is. Because these apps are so new, we need more research to understand how accurate they are and how different groups of people react to them: for example, we don’t know how the apps’ feedback might affect people of different ages. Additionally, some scientists suggest that excessive monitoring could lead to orthosomnia, where focusing too much on sleep data leads to worse sleep.  

To investigate this, the scientists surveyed 1,002 adults living in Norway. They asked about respondents’ use of sleep apps, their current sleep health, and to say whether they experienced specific positive or negative effects of the sleep apps. 

46% of the people who replied to the survey said that they used, or had used, sleep apps. Women and participants under 50 were more likely to say they had used sleep apps than men or older cohorts. While men and women responded similarly to the apps, younger users reported stronger effects than older people. 

Positive effects were reported more often than negative effects. 15% of respondents said the apps improved their sleep, while 2.3% of respondents reported worse sleep. The most common benefit was learning more about one’s sleep (48% of participants), whereas the most common negative effect was worrying more about sleep (17% of participants). Importantly, people with insomnia symptoms were more likely to report negative effects. 

“Persons displaying insomnia symptoms may be more vulnerable to negative feedback, which can potentially worsen sleep-related anxiety or stress,” said Lundekvam Berge. “Awareness of these tendencies is essential before using such apps.” 

A good night’s sleep? 

The researchers point out that their research has some limitations. Self-reported measures aren’t always completely accurate, and the participants were drawn from a group who had volunteered for scientific research. This could mean that they were already especially interested in sleep, so they might respond differently to the apps than others. But if you use a sleep app and are worried about your sleep, the scientists do have some suggestions. 

“We would urge people who get more stressed by using sleep apps to learn more about which measures they use and how accurate they are,” advised Lundekvam. “If this does not calm your worries, you should consider taking off your sleep app device during the nighttime or turning off notifications. We encourage sleep app users to use the feedback as motivation to create helpful sleeping habits. For instance, minimize screen time before bedtime.” 

“We would also encourage people to listen to their body and go to bed when you actually feel tired,” added Lundekvam Berge. “The bed and the bedroom should be associated with sleep, and going to bed before your body is ready to sleep will cause you to lie awake in bed, and this may exacerbate your sleep problems further. It is more beneficial to go to bed when your need for sleep actually requires it.” 

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Journal

Frontiers in Psychology

DOI

10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1726473 

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Sleep in the age of technology: The use of sleep apps and perceived impact on sleep and sleep habits

Article Publication Date

20-Mar-2026

 

The next mountain tourism boom? Via Ferrata’s global rise prompts call for industry collaboration

University of Eastern Finland

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Mont Tremblant Via Ferrata Route, Canada.

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Credit: Prof. Dr Harvey Lemelin.

As interest in structured mountain adventure continues to surge across Europe and North America, a new study led by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and Lakehead University provides the first comprehensive scoping review and research agenda dedicated specifically to Via Ferrata tourism and recreation.

Published in the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, the study examines the rapid growth of this hybrid outdoor sport, which combines elements of hiking, mountaineering and rock climbing, and highlights the critical need for dedicated research to guide the sustainable and commercially viable development of Via Ferrata. “Our findings show that Via Ferrata has often been treated as a sub-category of mountaineering or climbing. In reality, it represents a distinct hybrid activity with its own participation pathways, risk profiles, and destination impacts,” says Postdoctoral Researcher Kelsey Johansen of the University of Eastern Finland’s Joensuu Campus.

Via Ferrata (Italian for “iron path”) routes are engineered climbing systems featuring fixed steel cables, ladders, rungs, bridges and stairs that create structured, managed access to vertical and exposed terrain. In European markets, related terms such as Sentiero Attrezzato (“equipped path”) and Klettersteig (“climbing path”) are used to distinguish these purpose-built routes from traditional hiking, mountaineering and rock climbing, reinforcing their identity as a distinct and professionally managed activity. Although the study provides some initial guidelines to help land managers, guiding services, professional mountaineering associations and climbing organisations anticipate future growth pressures, and align safety, sustainability and commercial viability, Johansen says that more research is needed to support responsible growth. 

The need for clearer conceptualisation comes at a pivotal moment for the sector. While Via Ferrata route systems have long been established in European mountain regions, expansion surged across North America during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting wider growth in outdoor recreation and nature-based and adventure tourism.

Despite the growth, Via Ferrata remains significantly under-researched particularly in North America and is often classified within broader mountaineering, engineering or medical scholarship, leaving industry development and land management decisions without a consolidated evidence base.    

“Via Ferrata is no longer a niche alpine curiosity. It is becoming a structured, commercialised gateway to vertical terrain,” explains Prof. Dr Harvey Lemelin, professor in Lakehead University’s School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism. “Yet the sport’s development is outpacing the research needed to support evidence-informed route planning, environmental management and industry standards.”

Like other hybridised summit and mountain access innovations, Via Ferrata facilitates access to previously remote and, in some cases, ecologically sensitive alpine and canyon environments. This creates new economic opportunities but also complex planning, governance, safety and environmental stewardship challenges. Compounding these issues are climate-related impacts affecting seasonal access, infrastructure stability and long-term mountain tourism planning.

The results of the study provide a foundation for the next phase of the global research programme led by Dr Johansen and Prof. Dr Lemelin. Next, the authors will focus on collecting data and industry perspectives to support the development of applied management guidelines and invite collaboration from Via Ferrata operators and guiding services; professional mountaineering and climbing associations; land management agencies; destination management organisations; and industry bodies in North America and the European Union.

North American organisations interested in participating are encouraged to contact Prof. Dr Lemelin, rhlemeli(at)lakeheadu.ca. Organisations in the European Union are encouraged to contact Dr Johansen, kelsey.johansen(at)uef.fi.

This research received financial support from the UEF Water research programme, which is jointly funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation and the Olvi Foundation.

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Journal

Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

DOI

10.1016/j.jort.2025.100960 

Article Title

Viva La Ferrata! A Via Ferrata scoping review and research agenda.

Article Publication Date

16-Mar-2026

 

Fossil X-ray reveals new species of baby dino named for iconic Korean cartoon

University of Texas at Austin

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The skeletal anatomy of a juvenile Doolysaurus huhmini. The graphic highlights the fossil bones that were found with the dinosaur

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Credit: Janet Cañamar, adapted from Jung et al 2026.

Cute, green, and sporting two sprigs of hair on his head, a mischievous baby dinosaur named Dooly is one of the most beloved cartoon characters in South Korea.  

So, when researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the Korean Dinosaur Research Center discovered a new species of baby dinosaur from Korea’s Aphae Island, they knew exactly what to call it: Doolysaurus.

“Dooly is one of the very famous, iconic dinosaur characters in Korea. Every generation in Korea knows this character,” said Jongyun Jung, a visiting postdoctoral researcher at UT’s Jackson School of Geosciences who led the research. “And our specimen is also a juvenile or ‘baby’, so it’s perfect for our dinosaur species name to honor Dooly.”

The baby dinosaur is the first new dinosaur species discovered in Korea in 15 years and the first Korean dinosaur fossil found with portions of its skull. The skull bones were revealed when the fossil underwent a scientific micro-CT scan at the University of Texas High-Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography (UTCT) facility.

“When we first found the specimen, we saw some leg bones preserved and some vertebrae,” Jung said. “We didn’t expect skull parts and so many more bones. There was a fair amount of excitement when we saw what was hidden inside the block.” 

Research on the dinosaur, whose scientific name is Doolysaurus huhmini, was published in the journal Fossil Record on March 19. The name huhmini, honors the Korean paleontologist Min Huh, who has contributed to the study of Korean dinosaurs over the past 30 years, founded the dinosaur center, and worked with UNESCO to preserve dinosaur fossil sites in Korea. The fossil was discovered in 2023 by co-author Hyemin Jo, a researcher at the dinosaur center.

The dinosaur found by Jo is estimated to be about two years old and was still growing when it died. It’s about the size of a turkey, but an adult Doolysaurus may have grown to twice that size. It also may have been covered in a coat of fuzzy filaments.

“I think it would have been pretty cute,” said study co-author Julia Clarke, a professor at the Jackson School. “It might have looked a bit like a little lamb.”

The fossil is largely encased by hard rock, which can take close to a decade for a trained preparator to excavate by hand. But analysis of the micro-CT scan revealed the full extent of the fossil in a few months. Jong and Clarke then spent more than a year analyzing the anatomy with their coauthors. CT technology has become a critical tool for revealing delicate fossils, such as birds and small non-avian dinosaurs, fossilized in hard rocks, said Clarke.

Doolysaurus lived about 113-94 million years ago during the mid-Cretaceous. Based on its anatomy, the researchers classified it as a thescelosaurid, a type of bipedal dinosaur that lived in East Asia and North America that may have had a fuzzy coat. Researchers could tell it was a juvenile based by observing growth markers on a thin slice of femur bone.

The fossil also contained dozens of gastroliths, pebbles that the baby dinosaur swallowed in life to help with digesting food. The stones suggest that the dinosaur was an omnivore, eating plants, insects and small animals. They are also what prompted the researchers to look closer and scan the fossil. That’s because gastroliths are small and light-weight, and the fact that they had remained in place suggested that other parts of the fossil may still be there too.

“A little cluster of stomach stones, with two leg bones sticking out indicates that the animal was not fully pulled apart before it has hit the fossil record,” Clarke said. “So, I encouraged [Jung and co-authors Minguk Kim and Hyemin Jo] to visit Texas and the UTCT, to try scanning the fossil.”

Kim and Jo are using the CT analysis skills they learned at the Jackson School to study more fossils in Korea. Jung is planning a trip back to Aphae Island to collect more fossils. South Korea is known for fossils of dinosaur tracks, nests, and eggs. While rich in these “trace” fossils, it has a noticeable dearth of actual dinosaur bones.

Jung said it’s possible that, like Doolysaurus, they’re largely hidden in the rock. He’s hopeful that micro-CT technology can lead to even more dinosaurs finds in Korea.

“We’re expecting some new dinosaur or other egg fossils to come from Aphae and other small islands,” he said.

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Article Title

A new dinosaur species from Korea and its implications for early-diverging neornithischian diversity

Article Publication Date

19-Mar-2026

Study co-authors Minguk Kim (left) and Hyemin Jo during the initial discovery and excavation of Doolysaurus. 

Credit

Jongyun Jung

The newly discovered dinosaur species is named after the popular South Korean cartoon Dooly the Little Dinosaur. The titular Dooly is on the left. 

Dooly the Little Dinosaur (on left) with other characters from the popular cartoon.

Credit

ⓒDoolynara

An artist’s interpretation of a juvenile Doolysaurus huhmini. It is depicted alongside birds and non-avian dinosaurs that lived during the Cretaceous in what is now South Korea.

Credit

Jun Seong Yi

Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the Korean Dinosaur Center with a possible dinosaur skeleton on Aphae Island in South Korea. From left to right: Julia Clarke, Min Huh, Hyemin Jo, Jongyun Jung. 

Credit

Jongyun Jung

 

KIER cracks seawater electrolysis deposit problem with dual electrode system

Dual-electrode architecture enables repeated precipitate formation and removal, allowing complete elimination without external washing or other cleaning processes

National Research Council of Science & Technology

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The research team’s dual-cathode seawater electrolysis system

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Credit: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH

A research team led by Dr. Ji-Hyung Han from the Convergence Research Center of Sector Coupling & Integration at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (President Yi, Chang-Keun, hereinafter “KIER”) has developed a new seawater electrolysis system that overcomes the precipitate formation issue long blamed for performance degradation and process interruptions, while also presenting a new direction for further technology advancement.

Water electrolysis is a technology that produces hydrogen, an eco-friendly energy source, by splitting water. Recently, amid the global freshwater shortage, seawater electrolysis using seawater has been gaining attention as a promising alternative.

However, seawater electrolysis has often been considered inefficient because precipitates formed from magnesium and calcium ions in seawater accumulate on electrode surfaces, leading to performance degradation. It has also been pointed out that continuous hydrogen production is difficult because the deposited precipitates must be removed through acid washing or mechanical cleaning.

To address this issue, KIER researchers developed a new system architecture incorporating two electrodes for the first time in the world. While one electrode produces hydrogen and accumulates precipitates, the other, where precipitates have already built up, temporarily halts hydrogen production and dissolves the deposits using seawater that becomes naturally acidified during operation.

Once the precipitates are completely dissolved, the two electrodes switch roles, enabling hydrogen production and precipitate removal to proceed simultaneously. Through experiments, the researchers confirmed that by simply alternating the roles of the electrodes every 48 hours, precipitate formation and complete removal could be repeated continuously.

In conventional single-electrode seawater electrolysis systems, energy consumption increased by about 27% after 200 hours of operation due to precipitate buildup. By contrast, the system developed by the research team showed only a 1.8% increase in energy consumption even after more than 400 hours of long-term operation, delivering 15 times higher performance than the single-electrode system.

In addition, after 400 hours of operation, the hydrogen evolution catalyst content decreased by only 20% from its initial level, demonstrating superior stability compared with the single-electrode system, which showed a 53% reduction.

Dr. Ji-Hyung Han, the principal researcher of the study, said, “This study demonstrates that the precipitate issue, a major bottleneck in seawater electrolysis, can be controlled solely through system architecture design.” She added, “In particular, by being the first in the world to propose the concept of ‘self-cleaning,’ in which electrodes recover on their own using acidified seawater, this work presents a new direction for future seawater electrolysis technology development.”

Meanwhile, this research was carried out as a collaborative study with Professor Joohyun Lim’s team at Kangwon National University, with support from the Convergence Research Group Project of the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST). The findings were published in the March issue of Chemical Engineering Journal (IF 13.2), a prestigious international journal in the fields of energy and chemical engineering.

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Journal

Chemical Engineering Journal

DOI

10.1016/j.cej.2026.174360 

Article Title

Self-cleaning dual cathode for enhanced durability of bipolar membrane-based direct seawater electrolysis