Two thousand and eighting

Referencing the most recent research immediately says to the marker that you have had a scoot around the literature and are at the cutting edge. It's so impressive and will give markers a nice warm feeling.

The only way a "(2008)" can be topped in your essay is with an "(in press)". That said, you can probably beat that with an "(in preparation)"; you're so in the groove you're citing papers that haven't yet been finished.

That's the major reason I have put the "Cutting edge" links over in the top right. They are updated automatically based on syndicated content taken direct from research groups or universities' news outlets. There might be the occasional oddity but all the research is hot off the press and hopefully there will be an occasional gem that makes you think, 'Ooh this would be great in...".

Where the 'Cutting Edge' links fall short, use PubMed or whatever you use to search and then sort the results so that the most recent is first. I believe you can also set up automated emails based on search terms using PubMed, so you are informed when anything new comes out.

The other neat thing about the most recent papers is that the first couple paras of the introduction should (if it is any good) bring you up to speed on the literature, including smoothing out any confusions that you may be getting upset over in older papers. So if you are getting in a muddle about things (which is normal) head for a recent paper to see if it can help.