Society News

Drowning in waste: Pollution hotspots in aquatic environments

A new study explores waste management systems and reveals that achieving zero waste leakage by 2030 is unlikely, potentially jeopardizing related Sustainable Development Goals. The authors emphasize the need for global cooperation, particularly across four regions, to responsibly manage waste disposal.
Fri, 28 Jun 2024 12:52:12 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240628125212.htm

Analysis suggests 2021 Texas abortion ban resulted in increase in infant deaths in state in year after law went into effect

Researchers use statistical modeling to estimate infant deaths expected if one of the country's most stringent state abortion laws had not been enacted. The study estimates that infant deaths in Texas increased more than expected in the year following the state's 2021 ban on abortion in early pregnancy, especially among infants with congenital anomalies.
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:42:35 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240627174235.htm

No more stressing out over structural formulas

Structural formulas are a source of dread for many students, but they're an essential tool in biology lessons. A study has now shown that the stress levels of students working with chemical formulas are significantly reduced if they are given simple tips on how to deal with these formulas.
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:22:24 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240627172224.htm

Just 4% of teen academy prospects play elite soccer (football)

Just four per cent of talented teen academy prospects make it to the top tier of professional football, a new study has shown. A sample of nearly 200 players, aged between 13-18, also revealed only six per cent of the budding ballers even go on to play in lower leagues.
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:21:37 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240627172137.htm

Cheaper, more convenient method to detect asbestos

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has long been the gold standard for detecting asbestos fibers in air samples drawn at construction sites. But researchers have found that a cheaper, less labor-intensive method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), can work just as well in most cases. The new finding could help reduce the estimated $3 billion spent on asbestos remediation in this country every year.
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:21:07 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240627172107.htm

Lie-detection AI could provoke people into making careless accusations, researchers warn

Although people lie a lot, they typically refrain from accusing others of lying because of social norms around making false accusations and being polite. But artificial intelligence (AI) could soon shake up the rules. Researchers demonstrate that people are much more likely to accuse others of lying when an AI makes an accusation. The finding provided insights into the social implications of using AI systems for lie detection, which could inform policymakers when implementing similar technologies.
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:20:59 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240627172059.htm

Neighborhood opportunities influence infant development and cognition

Researchers find that growing up in neighborhoods with more educational and socioeconomic opportunities has a positive impact on infants' brain activity.
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:20:34 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240627172034.htm

US Clean Water Act leaves about 55% of water flowing out of rivers vulnerable to pollution

The Supreme Court ruled last year that rivers that only flow in response to weather events -- called ephemeral streams -- do not fall under the protection of the Clean Water Act. New research suggests that this now leaves many U.S. waterways vulnerable to pollution.
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:20:08 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240627172008.htm

New, holistic way to teach synthetic biology

Synthetic biology combines principles from science, engineering and social science, creating emerging technologies such as alternative meats and mRNA vaccines; Deconstructing synthetic biology across scales gives rise to new approach to uniting traditional disciplines; Case studies offer a modular, accessible approach to teaching at different institutions.
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:19:39 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240627171939.htm

Climate change and sea level rise pose an acute challenge for cities with combined sewer systems

Older coastal cities, like Philadelphia, New York and Boston are at risk of being inundated by untreated sewage during floods. Due in part to the design of their combined sewer systems and in part due to sea level rise, these cities could be facing a growing public health crisis as climate change also drives more extreme precipitation. The group recently published research that modeled the potential extent of the problem in a section of the coastal city of Camden, New Jersey, and the effectiveness of one proposed intervention to help protect these communities.
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:02:48 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240627170248.htm

Public perception of scientists' credibility slips

New analyses find that public perceptions of scientists' credibility -- measured as their competence, trustworthiness, and the extent to which they are perceived to share an individual's values -- remain high, but their perceived competence and trustworthiness eroded somewhat between 2023 and 2024. The research also found that public perceptions of scientists working in artificial intelligence (AI) differ from those of scientists as a whole.
Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:35:45 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240626173545.htm

The science of procrastination

Understanding why we delay tasks may help reclaim productivity.
Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:21:38 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240626152138.htm

AI generated exam answers go undetected in real-world blind test

Experienced exam markers may struggle to spot answers generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI), researchers have found.
Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:21:20 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240626152120.htm

Changing the game for sports emergency action plans

A national position statement on emergency action plan development and implementation in sports from an athletic training researcher sets in motion new priorities for responding to catastrophic injuries. The recommendations apply to sports through all levels, from youth to high school to collegiate and professional leagues.
Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:19:15 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240626151915.htm

Adolescents today are more satisfied with being single

Young people aged 14 to 20 years are nowadays more satisfied with being single than their counterparts ten years ago.
Tue, 25 Jun 2024 21:01:17 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240625210117.htm

Conversation Is Changing: Why people speak more alike today

Over a 20-year period people from these sectors changed their behavior -- resonating with one another significantly more than they used to and gearing towards a more engaging style. We talk like others to be more inclusive and 'resonate' with them.
Tue, 25 Jun 2024 20:57:41 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240625205741.htm

Rising health care prices are driving unemployment and job losses

Rising health care prices in the U.S. are leading employers outside the health care sector to reduce their payroll and decrease their number of employees, according to a new study. The study found that when health care prices increased, non-health care employers responded by reducing their payroll and cutting the jobs of middle-class workers. For the average county, a 1% increase in health care prices would reduce aggregate income in the area by approximately $8 million annually.
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:57:05 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240624125705.htm

Facial recognition linked to close social bonds, not social butterflies

Do you have trouble recognizing faces, or do you never forget a face? The better you are at facial recognition, the more supportive relationships you are likely to have, regardless of your personality type.
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:56:12 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240624125612.htm

Rare Samoan discovery offers clues to origins of inequality

The origins of hierarchical society in Samoa and wider Polynesia have likely been uncovered by a new study led by archaeologists.
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:56:05 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240624125605.htm

Researchers engineer AI path to prevent power outages

Researchers developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that could help electrical grids prevent power outages by automatically rerouting electricity in milliseconds. The approach is an early example of 'self-healing grid' technology, which uses AI to detect and repair problems such as outages autonomously and without human intervention when issues occur, such as storm-damaged power lines.
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:55:17 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240624125517.htm

Boosting biodiversity without hurting local economies

Protected areas, like nature reserves, can conserve biodiversity without harming local economic growth, countering a common belief that conservation restricts development. A new study outlines what is needed for conservation to benefit both nature and people.
Fri, 21 Jun 2024 17:23:41 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240621172341.htm

Changing climate will make home feel like somewhere else

The impacts of climate change are being felt all over the world, but how will it impact how your hometown feels? An interactive web application allows users to search 40,581 places and 5,323 metro areas around the globe to match the expected future climate in each city with the current climate of another location, providing a relatable picture of what is likely in store.
Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:23:32 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240620152332.htm

Embryo and organoid models do not threaten the definition of personhood, bioethicist says

Advances in organoids and embryonic models of human development have the potential to prompt social and existential questions --e.g., what defines human individuality? However, bioethicists say that these models have the potential to strengthen rather than weaken the concept of human individuality when considered within the philosophical frameworks of 'personhood' and sentience.
Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:22:48 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240620152248.htm

Rigorous new study debunks misconceptions about anemia, education

In low- and middle-income countries, anemia reduction efforts are often touted as a way to improve educational outcomes and reduce poverty. A new study evaluates the relationship between anemia and school attendance in India, debunking earlier research that could have misguided policy interventions.
Wed, 19 Jun 2024 14:37:11 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240619143711.htm

Tight-knit communities can prevent environmental progress

New research indicates that strong community bonds could hinder rather than help environmental initiatives.
Tue, 18 Jun 2024 11:56:42 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240618115642.htm

At-camera gaze can increase scores in simulated interviews

Eye-contact has a significant impact on interpersonal evaluation, and online job interviews are no exception. In addition to the quality of a resume, the direction of the interviewee's gaze might help (or hinder) their chances of securing the job.
Mon, 17 Jun 2024 21:05:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240617210530.htm

Origins of cumulative culture in human evolution

Cumulative culture -- the accumulation of technological modifications and improvements over generations -- allowed humans to adapt to a diversity of environments and challenges. But, it is unclear when cumulative culture first developed during hominin evolution. A new study concludes that humans began to rapidly accumulate technological knowledge through social learning around 600,000 years ago.
Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:37:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240617173730.htm

Effective hurricane risk messaging

Forecasters can use images in social media to better communicate weather related hazards of hurricanes, according to a pair of new studies.
Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:37:25 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240617173725.htm

Study finds US does not have housing shortage, but shortage of affordable housing

A new study has found that the United States does not have a housing shortage, contrary to popular belief. An analysis of Census data shows the majority of the nation's metropolitan and micropolitan markets have enough housing units for the number of househoulds in the area. However, median incomes indicate many people cannot afford the housing available in the area, indicating policy needs to address income and housing prices instead of trying to build out of the problem, authors argue.
Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:34:57 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240617173457.htm

Polarization and risk perception could play important roles in climate-policy outcomes

Times of crises often call for strong and rapid action, but in polarized societies, strong top-down policies can backfire. Scientists present a conceptual model of how these dynamics could play out in efforts to decarbonize our energy supply.
Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:34:24 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240617173424.htm

A new approach to neuroimaging analysis

A new method for neuroimaging analysis is shown to work with small groups of participants, opening the door for many studies that don't have access to massive sets of brain images.
Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:34:03 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240617173403.htm

Improving soil health yields unexpected benefits for farmers

While farmer surveys suggest that carbon prices are still too low relative to the paperwork these programs demand, a new study finds that money alone does not explain either farmers' doubts about carbon markets or their interest in regenerative agriculture. Instead, many farmers view improving soil health as a way to improve their quality of life by reducing their dependence on agrochemical companies' products and advice.
Sat, 15 Jun 2024 01:09:49 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240615010949.htm

New study offers a better way to make AI fairer for everyone

Researchers show a new way of thinking about the fair impacts of AI decisions.
Sat, 15 Jun 2024 01:09:42 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240615010942.htm

Synthetic data holds the key to determining best statewide transit investments

Synthetically generated population data can reveal the equity impacts of distributing transportation resources and funding across diverse regions, according to new research.
Fri, 14 Jun 2024 14:18:34 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240614141834.htm

Low-sodium alternatives can lead to major health gains in Indonesia

Excess sodium intake and a lack of potassium are major contributing factors towards high blood pressure in Indonesia, prompting calls for low-sodium potassium-rich salt substitutes (LSSS) to be readily available to improve health and curb health costs.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:19:26 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613221926.htm

AI can help doctors make better decisions and save lives

A recent study found that hospitalized patients were 43 percent more likely to have their care escalated and significantly less likely to die if their care team received AI-generated alerts signaling adverse changes in their health.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:19:23 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613221923.htm

Does exercise in greenspace boost the individual health benefits of each?

Research suggests exercising in a park or other natural setting is more beneficial than exercising indoors.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:19:20 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613221920.htm

A conservation market could incentivize global ocean protection

Thirty-by-thirty: protect 30% of the planet by 2030. While conservation is popular in principle, the costs of actually enacting it often stall even the most earnest efforts. Researchers have now proposed a market-based approach to achieving the 30x30 targets in the ocean.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:12:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613161201.htm

Only one in 20 therapies tested in animals reach approval for human use

An analysis of reviews of translational biomedical research reveals that just 5% of therapies tested in animals reach regulatory approval for human use. The umbrella review summarizes other systematic reviews and provides high level evidence that while the rate of translation to human studies is 50%, there is steep drop off before final approval.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:11:41 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613161141.htm

The yuck factor counteracts sustainable laundry habits

Most people today would lean towards environmentally friendly life choices, but not at the expense of being clean. When it comes to our washing habits, the fear of being perceived as dirty often wins out over the desire to act in an environmentally friendly way. And the more inclined we are to feel disgusted, the more we wash our clothes. This is shown by a unique study that examines the driving forces behind our laundering behaviours and provides new tools for how people's environmental impact can be reduced.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:11:33 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613161133.htm

Parliamentary members use simpler language on hot days

Climate change has many widespread and complicated effects on the well-being of people and the planet, and a new study has now added a surprising one to the list. After analyzing the language used in seven million parliamentary speeches around the world, it shows that high temperatures lead to a significant and immediate reduction in politicians' language complexity.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 14:08:46 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140846.htm

Outdoor recreation noise affects wildlife behavior and habitat use, study finds

We may go to the woods seeking peace and quiet, but are we taking our noise with us? A recent study indicates that the answer is yes -- and that this noise can trigger a fear response, as if escaping from predators. This new science calls into question whether otherwise high-quality habitat truly provides refugia for wildlife when recreationists are present and underscores the challenges land managers face in balancing outdoor recreational opportunities with wildlife conservation.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 14:08:38 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140838.htm

Public more confident connecting increasing heat, wildfires with climate change than other extreme weather events, study finds

Researchers found that U.S. adults are fairly confident in linking wildfires and heat to climate change, but less confident when it comes to other extreme weather events like hurricanes, flooding or tornadoes.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 14:08:21 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140821.htm

6,000 years ago, men and women had equal access to resources

Using isotope geochemistry, scientists have uncovered new information about the Barmaz necropolis in Valais (Switzerland): 14% of the people buried 6,000 years ago at this site were not locals. What's more, the study suggests that this Middle Neolithic agropastoral society -- one of the oldest known in the western part of Switzerland -- was relatively egalitarian. The isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur contained in the bones reveal that all members of the community, including people from elsewhere, had access to the same food resources.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 14:07:56 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140756.htm

Younger workers feel stressed, lonely and undervalued

Younger workers are struggling with feelings of loneliness and a lack of appreciation at work and tend to feel more comfortable working with people their own age, according to a recent survey.
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:14:02 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613001402.htm

Incorporating 'touch' into social media interactions can increase feelings of support and approval

Including 'tactile emoticons' into social media communications can enhance communication, according to a new study.
Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:08:29 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612140829.htm

Cocaine trafficking threatens critical bird habitats

In addition to its human consequences, cocaine trafficking harms the environment and threatens habitats important to dozens of species of migratory birds, according to a new study.
Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:33:26 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113326.htm

Humans are the elephant in the room where conservation is debated

Studies working to map conservation historically have left humans out of the equation. This study proposes ways to build in the outsized footprint created by people in wild places.
Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:33:24 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113324.htm

Ritual sacrifice at Chichén Itzá

Rising to power in the wake of the Classic Maya collapse, Chichen Itz was among the largest and most influential cities of the ancient Maya, but much about its political connections and ritual life remain poorly understood. Close kin relationships, including two pairs of identical twins, suggests a connection to the Maya origin myths of the Popol Vuh.
Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:32:49 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113249.htm

Hybrid work is a 'win-win-win' for companies, workers

In the largest study yet of working-from-home professionals, economists reveal that employees who work from home two days a week are just as productive, likely to get promoted, and far less prone to quit.
Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:32:35 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113235.htm

Significant increase in nitrous-oxide emissions from human activities, jeopardizing climate goals

Emissions of nitrous-oxide (N2O) -- a potent greenhouse gas -- have continued to rise unabated over the past four decades, according to an international team of scientists.
Tue, 11 Jun 2024 19:47:11 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611194711.htm

Female AI 'teammate' generates more participation from women

An artificial intelligence-powered virtual teammate with a female voice boosts participation and productivity among women on teams dominated by men, according to new research.
Tue, 11 Jun 2024 17:15:11 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611171511.htm

Virtual reality as a reliable shooting performance-tracking tool

Virtual reality technology can do more than teach weaponry skills in law enforcement and military personnel, a new study suggests: It can accurately record shooting performance and reliably track individuals' progress over time.
Tue, 11 Jun 2024 17:14:31 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611171431.htm

We spend more with cashless payments

A study has found that when using cashless methods of payment, individuals tend to spend more when purchasing.
Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:03:32 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611130332.htm

Major milestone in cutting harmful gases that deplete ozone layer and worsen global warming

A new study has revealed significant progress in the drive to reduce levels in the atmosphere of chemicals that destroy Earth's ozone layer, confirming the success of historic regulations limiting their production.
Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:03:06 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611130306.htm

Income inequality and carbon dioxide emissions have a complex relationship

Income inequality and carbon dioxide emissions for high-income nations such as the United States, Denmark and Canada are intrinsically linked -- but a new study has taken a deeper look at the connection and found this relationship is less fixed, can change over time, and differ across emission components. The findings could help countries set a course toward reducing emissions of the harmful greenhouse gas and alleviating domestic income inequality at the same time.
Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:10:21 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240610171021.htm

Alarming trends call for action to define the future role of food in nation's health

The cost of nutritious food and the lack of access to it are of significant concern to U.S. consumers. New public opinion poll and expert analysis reflect crucial need to make healthy food accessible to avert projected crisis in cardiovascular disease incidence, costs.
Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:10:18 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240610171018.htm

Unregulated sales of a toxic and hallucinogenic mushroom endanger public health

Americans' interest in a potentially harmful 'magic mushroom' is soaring, according to a new study. The scientists suggest that the growing market for Amanita muscaria may be sparked in part by emerging clinical research supporting the safety and efficacy of psilocybin as a treatment for depression.
Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:10:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240610171001.htm

Case studies show how quasi-governmental organizations could strengthen climate adaptation governance

The politicization of climate issues and the unsynchronized efforts of stakeholders are hindering the effectiveness of climate adaptation governance in the U.S. According to a new study the design characteristics of quasi-governmental organizations (QGOs) could provide insights on how to depoliticize climate information sources and foster multi-level stakeholder coordination.
Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:09:59 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240610170959.htm

Researchers use 3D visualization to predict, prevent hurricane damage

The researchers say 3D visualization of hurricanes and storm surges allows them to understand how flooding will impact coastal communities by allowing them to vividly see how each building and road might be impacted by a given flood.
Mon, 10 Jun 2024 14:03:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240610140330.htm