ScienceDaily: Society - August 27, 2024
Top society research news
Public trust in drinking water safety is low globally
A new study finds more than half of adults surveyed worldwide expect to be seriously harmed by their water within the next two years. The study sought to understand public perceptions of drinking water safety. Because perceptions shape attitudes and behaviors, distrust in water quality has a negative impact on people's health, nutrition, psychological and economic well-being -- even when the water meets safety standards.
Image: Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com
Bicycle rolling-stop laws don't lead to unsafe behavior by riders or motorists, research shows
Laws that let bicyclists treat stop signs as yield signs lead neither riders nor motorists to act unsafely, according to a groundbreaking study.
Scientific consensus can strengthen pro-climate attitudes in society
Climate scientists have long agreed that humans are largely responsible for climate change. A new study finds that communicating the scientific consensus about climate change can clear up misperceptions and strengthen beliefs about the existence and the causes of climate change. The team surveyed over 10,000 people from 27 countries on 6 continents.
Why children can't pay attention to the task at hand
Looking for clues about your biological age? Your grandparents' education may offer some insight.
Eating well, exercising and attending regular doctor appointments can support a long healthy life, but a new study identified one possible factor beyond our control: whether you had a grandparent who went to college.
Study finds nearly half of U.S. counties have at least one 'pharmacy desert'
Nearly half of counties in the United States have at least one 'pharmacy desert' where there is no retail pharmacy within 10 miles, according to a new study.
Scientists propose guidelines for solar geoengineering research
To guide future research into solar geoengineering, an international group of scientists is making specific recommendations for evaluating proposals in order to identify the most feasible and legitimate scenarios for stratospheric aerosol intervention.
New images reveal global air quality trends
The global concentrations of one of the main air pollutants known to affect human health have been graphically illustrated for the first time by a team of scientists.
Scientists call for an update in environmental decision making that takes human rights into account
Researchers argue that to protect human wellbeing global decisions with the potential to impact the environment must be guided by our understanding of the inseparable connection between humans and nature. The article's authors are aiming to support fair and inclusive decision-making for a healthy ocean for people and planet.
Socioeconomics shape children's connection to nature more than where they live
The income and education levels of a child's environment determine their relationship to nature, not whether they live in a city or the countryside. The results run counter to the assumption that growing up in the countryside automatically increases our connection to nature, and yet the study also shows that nature close to home increases children's well-being.
People seen as wise share these characteristics
What makes someone seem wise? People view wisdom through the lens of applying knowledge and thinking logically as well as considering others' feelings and perceptions, according to researchers who looked at perceptions of wisdom across 12 countries and five continents.
What works: Groundbreaking evaluation of climate policy measures over two decades
Researchers have unveiled the first comprehensive global evaluation of 1,500 climate policy measures from 41 countries across six continents. The study provides a detailed impact analysis of the wide range of climate policy measures implemented over the last two decades. The findings reveal a sobering reality: many policy measures have failed to achieve the necessary scale of emissions reductions. Only 63 cases of successful climate policies, each leading to average emission reductions of 19 percent, were identified. The key characteristic of these successful cases is the inclusion of tax and price incentives in well-designed policy mixes.
Air pollution harms mental health worse in New York's historically redlined neighborhoods
The statewide study found that the link between pollutants and ER visits is more pronounced in communities that were once denied mortgages due to race.
Pollution drives families to relocate -- but only the rich can afford to live in healthier areas
Pollution levels factor in households' decision to relocate within the United States, but only richer households can afford areas with improved air quality, a new study finds. Researchers analyse detailed origin and destination information of relocating households, rather than just aggregate migration flows, and uncover a direct link between a household's income and their new chosen county of residence. They find inequalities exist when it comes to who is exposed to the worst areas of pollution -- with poorer families hit hardest. Richer households opt to move into cleaner, healthier areas that tend to be more expensive. However poorer families are priced out of these counties and are the ones who move into areas with higher levels of toxic releases.
Giving an antibiotic to all children under 5 in Africa saves lives
When research showed that routinely treating children in Sub-Saharan Africa with a common antibiotic could reduce deaths in children under five, the World Health Organization (WHO) moved quickly to recommend the treatment -- but only for infants between 1 and 11 months old.
Scientists have found infants and young children treated for brain tumors fell behind early in academic readiness, which predicted falling behind in later school years.
Homicide rates are a major factor in the gap between Black and White life expectancy
Homicide is a major reason behind lower and more variable reduction in life expectancy for Black rather than White men in recent years, according to a new study.
Highest prediction of sea-level rise unlikely
A new study challenges as highly unlikely an alarming prediction of sea-level rise that -- while designated as low likelihood --earned a spot in the latest UN climate report for its projection that the collapse of polar ice sheets could make the world's oceans up to 50 feet higher by 2300. But researchers found that the model is based on inaccurate physics of how ice sheets retreat and break apart, though they stress that the accelerating loss of ice from Greenland and Antarctica is still dire.
Proposed risk factor tool finds heart failure rates are higher among American Indian adults
An analysis based on a proposed heart failure risk prediction tool reveals that the incidence of heart failure may be 2- to 3-fold higher among American Indian adults compared to people in other population groups. The risk prediction equation focused on diabetes control and kidney damage indicates that smoking, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, previous heart attack and diabetes-related kidney damage are associated with increased risk of developing heart failure among American Indian adults. The findings suggest a need to develop population-level preventive strategies in American Indian communities, researchers said.
More academic freedom leads to more innovation
The innovative strength of a society depends on the level of academic freedom. An international team has now demonstrated this relationship. The researchers analyzed patent applications and patent citations in a sample from around 160 countries over the 1900--2015 period in relation to indicators used in the Academic Freedom Index. In view of the global decline in academic freedom over the past 10 years, the researchers predict a loss in innovative output.
Occupational exposure to particles may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease
Exposure to dust and particles at work may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease, a new study shows. Among Swedish construction workers, followed since the 1970s, the risk was 15% higher among exposed.
Sharing risk to avoid power outages in an era of extreme weather
Heat waves, droughts, and fires place growing stress on the West's electric grid. New research suggests that more integrated management of electricity resources across the region could significantly reduce the risk of power outages and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
Organized youth sports are increasingly for the privileged
A sweeping study of U.S. youth sports participation over the past 60 years found that there has been a significant increase over time in kids playing organized sports -- but particularly among more privileged, educated families.
Renewable energy policies provide benefits across state lines
New research suggests U.S. states with clean energy policies provide benefits to their neighbors, including states without their own renewable energy policies.
It only takes 15 minutes to change your health
Corporate Cup, lunchtime yoga, or even 'walk and talks', organizations come up with all sorts of wellness initiatives to encourage people to be more active in the workplace. But before you duck and hide, new research shows that all it takes is 15 minutes and a touch of gamification to put you on the path to success.
Demand for low-quality credits undermines the voluntary carbon market, study finds
Researchers have shown that the 20 companies retiring the most offsets from the voluntary carbon market -- or VCM -- over the past four years have largely relied on low-quality, low-cost credits. These include major oil companies, airlines and aircraft makers, automotive manufacturers, logistics operators, and others.
Type 2 diabetes increased by almost 20% over a decade in U.S., study finds
Type 2 diabetes increased by almost 20% between 2012 and 2022 in the United States, according to a new study. The researchers found an increase in diabetes among all sociodemographic groups. But non-Hispanic Black people were particularly hard hit by the disease, with just under 16% of Black study participants reporting being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Growth from adversity: How older adults bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic
The study highlights the remarkable resilience of older adults (median age 86) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to their routines led many to discover new hobbies like gardening and painting and explore virtual activities such as online yoga. While 51% experienced psychosocial issues such as anxiety and depression, 86% did not see worsening of their medical conditions and supported pandemic precautions. Despite the hardships, including the loss of residents and increased use of antidepressants and telehealth, many found joy and growth in their altered circumstances.