The planet’s demand for salt comes at a cost to the environment and human health, according to a new scientific review led by University of Maryland Geology Professor Sujay Kaushal. Published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, the paper revealed that human activities are making Earth’s air, soil and freshwater saltier, which could pose an “existential threat” if current trends continue. Geologic and hydrologic processes bring salts to Earth’s surface over time, but human activities such as mining and land development are rapidly accelerating the natural “salt ...

Getting readers of a news story interested in numbers can be a challenge. But the benefits of engaging readers in data can lead to a better understanding, preventing misinformation and misrepresentation in the news. New research by Haiyan Jia, assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Communication and the Data X Initiative at Lehigh University, and S. Shyam Sundar, the James P. Jimirro Professor of Media Effects at Penn State University, explored different ways journalists present data and recommend a method using an interactive visualization.   Inspired by exemplification theory, Jia wanted to see the persuasive effect data could have and whether ...

A new artificial intelligence (AI) model, developed by the University of Surrey, could help the UK's telecommunications network save up to 76% in network resources compared to the market's most robust Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) system – and improve the environmental sustainability of mobile networks by using less energy.   In a study published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Network Service Management, Surrey researchers detail how it is possible to save bandwidth by mathematically modelling the network and using AI to find the best ...

Giant gas planets can be agents of chaos, ensuring nothing lives on their Earth-like neighbors around other stars. New studies show, in some planetary systems, the giants tend to kick smaller planets out of orbit and wreak havoc on their climates. Jupiter, by far the biggest planet in our solar system, plays an important protective role. Its enormous gravitational field deflects comets and asteroids that might otherwise hit Earth, helping create a stable environment for life. However, giant planets elsewhere in the universe do not necessarily protect life on their smaller, rocky planet neighbors.  A new Astronomical Journal paper details how the pull of massive ...

Toronto, ON — New research published earlier this month in the International Journal of Aging and Human Development has highlighted the significant health disparities among older adults with a General Education Development (GED) certificate compared to their peers with a high school diploma. Researchers from the University of Toronto examined health outcomes among approximately 400,000 older adults from the American Community Survey, a representative sample of community-dwelling and institutionalized older Americans. They found that ...

Drugs to treat common infections in children and babies are no longer effective in large parts of the world, due to high rates of antibiotic resistance. The University of Sydney led study found many antibiotics recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) had less than 50 percent effectiveness in treating childhood infections such as pneumonia, sepsis (bloodstream infections) and meningitis. The findings show global guidelines on antibiotic use are outdated and need updates. The most seriously ...

Approximately 80% of Apple's latest iPhone 15 pre-orders in Korea fall within the age group of 20s and 30s. Their keen interest in this expensive device is primarily attributed to tis camera's ability to deliver sharp and particular mood of colors, a hallmark of iPhones. If it can achieve high quality image and video without the need for multiple lenses, it may garner greater support from millennials and generation Z.   A collaborative research team led by Professor Junsuk Rho from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the ...

□ Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), led by President Yang Kook, signed credit exchange agreements with two prestigious global universities, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Taiwan and Grenoble INP-UGA in France, on August 15 (Tuesday) and August 23 (Wednesday), 2023, respectively, to expand its global student exchange partnerships. Based on these agreements, DGIST will operate student exchange programs with the two universities, allowing participating students to earn credits by completing regular courses.   □ These agreements were concluded through the ...

□ Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), led by President Yang Kuk, announced on September 6, 2023 (Wednesday) that the research team of Professor Sang-hyun Park at the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering had developed a new image translation model that could effectively reduce biases in data. In the process of developing an artificial intelligence (AI) model using images collected from different sources, contrary to the user’s intention, data biases may occur because of various factors. The developed model can remove data biases despite the absence of information on such factors, thereby ...

In a time when bound feet, arranged marriages, and subservience were prevalent, Hui-lan, Ida, and Lucy forged a path that broke free from cultural stereotypes. They skilfully flew airplanes, managed Asia's most opulent estates, and charmed the Western world with their impeccable sense of style and sophistication. Their courage and determination not only shattered stereotypes but also paved the way for countless others to follow in their footsteps. Daryl Yeap, a celebrated author and historian, invites readers on a captivating journey into the lives of three remarkable women—Hui-lan, Ida, and Lucy—in her upcoming book, As Equals: The Oei ...

USC faculty members Adam Leventhal, PhD and Caryn Lerman, PhD have received a $20 million grant for research to inform government regulations overseeing tobacco and its marketing, with a focus on protecting young people. The USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science (TCORS), an interdisciplinary initiative led by the USC Institute for Addiction Science (IAS), USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, is one of seven programs nationwide to receive funding provided jointly by the Food ...

A new study led by researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute has found that people living in regions with median levels of air pollution have a 56 percent greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to those living in regions with the lowest level of air pollution. The study, which will be published online on Monday, Oct. 30 in Neurology - the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology - was conducted to identify national, geographic patterns of Parkinson’s disease and test for nationwide and region-specific associations with fine particulate matter. “Previous studies ...

Australasia has likely overlooked a pollination crisis, according to new research published today in the journal Ecology and Evolution. The research, led by Macquarie University, also underscores a pressing need for intervention to avoid biodiversity loss and long-term food insecurity in the region. The authors analysed thousands of research papers on human-induced pollinator decline globally, and found despite only a tiny portion mentioning Australasia, the causes of pollinator decline in the northern hemisphere were mirrored in this region. Research in Europe and North America finds threats that include ...

New research from a consortium of quantum physicists, led by Trinity College Dublin’s Dr Mark Mitchison, shows that imperfect timekeeping places a fundamental limit to quantum computers and their applications. The team claims that even tiny timing errors add up to place a significant impact on any large-scale algorithm, posing another problem that must eventually be solved if quantum computers are to fulfil the lofty aspirations that society has for them.  It is difficult to imagine modern life without clocks to help organise our daily schedules; with a digital clock in every person’s smartphone or watch, we ...

Multiple studies have shown that the COVID-19 vaccines do not lead to infertility or pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, but many people are still wary of adverse effects from the vaccine on pregnancy. A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers now provides deeper insight into the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for people planning to become pregnant. Published in the journal Human Reproduction, the study found no increased risk of early or late miscarriage as a result of male ...

INDIANAPOLIS, IND – The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) released the world’s first classification of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or heart attack, based on heart tissue damage research that was driven by two cardiovascular investigators within the Ischemic Heart Disease Program of Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center (KCVRC) at Indiana University School of Medicine and Northern Ontario School of Medicine. The four-stage classification, CCS-AMI, was presented at the Vascular 2023 conference on Oct. 29 in Montréal, Canada, and published ...

ITHACA, N.Y. –Micron-size microplastic debris can be carried by the jet stream across oceans and continents, and their shape plays a crucial role in how far they travel. A Cornell University collaboration has developed a model to simulate the atmospheric transport of microplastic fibers and shows that flat fibers travel farther in the lower atmosphere, and are more prevalent, than spherical fibers. Previous studies assumed these fibers to be spherical. The modeling has the potential to help scientists determine the sources of the pervasive waste – which could inform policy efforts to reduce it. The ...

Colorectal cancer screening is widely recommended for adults ages 45 to 75 with an average risk of developing the disease. However, many people don’t realize that the benefits of screening for this type of cancer aren’t always the same for older adults. “While many clinicians simply follow guideline recommendations for colon cancer screening in adults within this age range, this isn’t always the best approach,” said Sameer Saini, M.D., M.S., who is a gastroenterologist at both Michigan Medicine and the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center and is as a health ...

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has gazed at the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus. Since the recording of this energetic event in 1054 CE by 11th-century astronomers, the Crab Nebula has continued to draw attention and additional study as scientists seek to understand the conditions, behavior, and after-effects of supernovae through thorough study of the Crab, a relatively nearby example. Using Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), a team led by Tea Temim at Princeton University is searching for answers about the Crab Nebula’s ...

The impacts of Roe v. Wade's reversal in 2022 are still being understood, but new research from Portland State's Rajiv Sharma provides another piece of the puzzle. Sharma found that in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, female students are more likely to choose a university or college in states where abortion rights and access are upheld. The research, conducted with the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, indicates a potential impact on future workforces and economic development ...

DALLAS, Monday, October 30, 2023 – The national Board of Directors of the American Heart Association last week voted to provide full support to the House of Cardiology’s consortium proposal to create a new American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine (ABCVM) specifically to certify cardiovascular physicians. The proposal for the new ABCVM was announced on September 21, 2023 by the consortium of professional societies including the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), the Heart Rhythm ...

RESTON, Va. — The first widescale assessment of methylmercury in adult amphibians in the U.S. to date shows that, in amphibians, this toxic compound is common, widespread and, at least for some, can reach very high levels. The study, “Broad-scale Assessment of Methylmercury in Adult Amphibians,” which published today in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, brought together scientists from around the country to test more than 3,200 amphibians representing 14 species from 26 populations. “Amphibians ...

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Online privacy policies may not only be difficult to find but nonexistent, according to Penn State researchers who crawled millions of websites and found that only one-third of online organizations made their privacy policy available for review. “Privacy Lost and Found: An Investigation at Scale of Web Privacy Policy Availability,” a paper authored by students and faculty from the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), detailed an analysis of the online privacy policy landscape and studied the unavailability of privacy policies on company domains. It received the Best Student Paper ...

The ability to dynamically track the movement of cells is essential for modeling cellular interactions as they form organs such as the heart. But current microscope technology isn’t up to the task of capturing those movements. Juhyun Lee, associate professor in the Bioengineering Department at The University of Texas at Arlington, recently received a five-year, $1.94 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a 4D high-resolution imaging system to quantify cell tracking. Traditional microscopes allow users to zoom in to view an individual cell. However, doing so obscures that cell’s relationship ...

Screen readers, which convert digital text to audio, can make computers more accessible to many disabled users — including those who are blind, low vision or dyslexic. Yet slideshow software, such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides, isn’t designed to make screen reader output coherent. Such programs typically rely on Z-order — which follows the way objects are layered on a slide — when a screen reader navigates through the contents. Since the Z-order doesn’t adequately convey how a slide is laid out in two-dimensional space, slideshow software can be inaccessible to people with disabilities. A team led by researchers ...