In a warming world, climate scientists consider category 6 hurricanes
For more than 50 years, the National Hurricane Center has used the Saffir-Simpson Windscale to communicate the risk of property damage; it labels a hurricane on a scale from Category 1 (wind speeds between 74 -- 95 mph) to Category 5 (wind speeds of 158 mph or greater). But as increasing ocean temperatures contribute to ever more intense and destructive hurricanes, climate scientists wondered whether the open-ended Category 5 is sufficient to communicate the risk of hurricane damage in a warming climate.
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Why are people climate change deniers?
Do climate change deniers bend the facts to avoid having to modify their environmentally harmful behavior? Researchers ran an online experiment involving 4,000 US adults, and found no evidence to support this idea. The authors of the study were themselves surprised by the results. Whether they are good or bad news for the fight against global heating remains to be seen.
Hiring the most qualified candidate might be unfair
Both liberals and conservatives are more likely to believe that merit-based hiring is unfair after learning about the impacts of socioeconomic disparities, according to a new study.
Swarming cicadas, stock traders, and the wisdom of the crowd
The springtime emergence of vast swarms of cicadas can be explained by a mathematical model of collective decision-making with similarities to models describing stock market crashes.
Paper calls for patient-first regulation of AI in healthcare
A new paper describes how, despite widespread enthusiasm about artificial intelligence's potential to revolutionize healthcare and the use of AI-powered tools on millions of patients already, no federal regulations require that AI-powered tools be evaluated for potential harm or benefit to patients.
Ambitious roadmap for circular carbon plastics economy
Researchers have outlined ambitious targets to help deliver a sustainable and net zero plastic economy. The authors argue for a rethinking of the technical, economic, and policy paradigms that have entrenched the status-quo, one of rising carbon emissions and uncontrolled pollution.
Decarbonizing the world's industries
Harmful emissions from the industrial sector could be reduced by up to 85% across the world, according to new research. The sector, which includes iron and steel, chemicals, cement, and food and drink, emits around a quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions -- planet-warming gases that result in climate change and extreme weather.
When comparing the national burden of pedestrian injuries from motor vehicles to that of pedestrian falls occurring on streets and sidewalks researchers found that the probability of a pedestrian suffering a severe injury is higher for motor vehicle collisions as compared to falls. Yet, the public health burden of the number of pedestrians injured from a fall -- severe or otherwise -- is significantly higher compared to the number of pedestrians injured by a motor vehicle collision. This is particularly true for individuals 50 years of age or older.
Black summer bushfires in Australia wiped $2.8 billion from tourism supply chain
First input-output economic analysis of the 2019-20 Australian fires also found 7300 jobs were lost. The study highlights economic vulnerabilities to extremes of climate change.
Geoengineering may slow Greenland ice sheet loss
Modeling shows that stratospheric aerosol injection has the potential to reduce ice sheet loss due to climate change.
Music causes similar emotions and bodily sensations across cultures
A new study has shown that music evokes similar emotions and bodily sensations around the world.
Do tree-planting campaigns follow best practices for successful forest restoration?
New research reviewed publicly available information for 99 different organizations that coordinate large-scale tree-planting programs around the globe to see if these organizations seemed to be applying best practices for successful reforestation.
People are inclined to hide a contagious illness while around others, research shows
A startling number of people conceal an infectious illness to avoid missing work, travel, or social events, new research suggests.
How a walk in nature restores attention
New research by psychologists demonstrates a peaceful walk through a natural setting enhances attention.
Asthma rates climb for high school students as cannabis use increases
Asthma is more common among high school students who use cannabis, relative to those who do not and the prevalence of asthma increases with the frequency of its use among the students, according to a new study.
Education and information can increase the acceptance of climate policies
An important question for policymakers worldwide is how to make climate and environmental policies acceptable among the populations. A new study sheds light on the preferences in five East African countries. The study shows, among others, that education and information about how revenues from carbon taxes are used are important factors.
Achieving sustainable urban growth on a global scale
An international group of leading scientists call for an urgent change in the governance of urban expansion as the world's cities continue to grow at unprecedented rates.
Chats with AI shift attitudes on climate change, Black Lives Matter
People who were more skeptical of human-caused climate change or the Black Lives Matter movement who took part in conversation with a popular AI chatbot were disappointed with the experience but left the conversation more supportive of the scientific consensus on climate change or BLM. This is according to researchers studying how these chatbots handle interactions from people with different cultural backgrounds.
The spread of West Nile virus in Europe is strongly linked to agricultural activities, urbanization, and bird migration, according to new research.
Bystander support is crucial for tackling anti-social behavior -- new research
Witnesses to anti-social behavior must speak up to support the lone voices of people who confront it to reduce the risk of such behavior becoming tolerated in society, according to new research. Three studies into the impact of bystander conduct showed that when bystanders step in to support someone who is calling out mistreatment or harmful behavior it sends a strong message to onlookers that this behavior is unacceptable, helping to prevent a gradual erosion of social norms.
Less is more: Less greenhouse gas, lower energy consumption, higher wellbeing
A new commentary highlights that switching the focus from how energy is supplied to how energy is consumed can be a more effective approach to reducing carbon emissions with the added benefit of improving wellbeing for all.
2020 US rule dramatically deregulated wetlands, streams and drinking water
New research used machine learning to more accurately predict which waterways are protected by the Clean Water Act. The analysis found that a 2020 Trump administration rule removed Clean Water Act protection for one-fourth of US wetlands and one-fifth of US streams, and also deregulated 30% of watersheds that supply drinking water to household taps.
Obesity spiked in children during COVID-19 lockdowns -- only the youngest bounced back
Obesity among primary school children in the UK spiked during the COVID-19 lockdown, with a 45% increase between 2019/20 and 2020/21 among 4-5-year-olds, according to a new study. The authors estimated that without reversals, increased obesity rates in Year 6 children alone will cost society an additional 800 million in healthcare.
Risk of death during heatwaves in Brazil linked to socioeconomic factors
A new study suggests that heatwaves are exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities in Brazil, with people who are female, elderly, Black, Brown, or who have lower educational levels potentially facing greater risk of death during heatwaves.
Misinformation and irresponsible AI -- experts forecast how technology may shape our near future
From misinformation and invisible cyber attacks, to irresponsible AI that could cause events involving multiple deaths, expert futurists have forecast how rapid technology changes may shape our world by 2040.
War in Ukraine severely limits ability to track Arctic climate change
Scientists no longer have direct access to data from Russian Arctic research stations. Without this data, our view of climate changes in the region is increasingly biased, new research shows.
A large percentage of European plastic sent to Vietnam ends up in nature
Despite strict EU regulations on plastic recycling, there is little oversight on plastic waste shipped from the EU to Vietnam. A large percentage of the exported European plastic cannot be recycled and gets dumped in nature, according to recent research.
Global groundwater depletion is accelerating, but is not inevitable
Groundwater is rapidly declining across the globe, often at accelerating rates. Researchers now present the largest assessment of groundwater levels around the world, spanning nearly 1,700 aquifers. In addition to raising the alarm over declining water resources, the work offers instructive examples of where things are going well, and how groundwater depletion can be solved. The study is a boon for scientists, policy makers and resource managers working to understand global groundwater dynamics.
Live animal transport regulations not 'fit for purpose', major international study finds
A 'fitness check' of regulations in five countries meant to protect animals during transportation, has deemed that they all fall short of fully protecting animals during transport. Findings from this interdisciplinary work involving animal welfare scientists and a law lecturer which compared animal transport rules designed to protect the billions of livestock that are transported on lengthy journeys in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, EU (including UK) and US, highlights serious failures.
As a carbon offset, cookstove emission credits are greatly overestimated
On the global carbon market, credits for distributing efficient cookstoves in countries that traditionally burn wood or kerosene are the fastest growing type of offset traded. A new study evaluates these credits against published data on cookstove efficiency and usage and concludes that cookstove offsets are 10 times overvalued. The group offers guidance for choosing carbon offsets from cookstoves projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the impact on health, and for revising offset programs to avoid excess crediting.
Research team breaks down musical instincts with AI
A research team announced they have identified the principle by which musical instincts emerge from the human brain without special learning using an artificial neural network model.
Delhi smog: India's cities must look beyond their limits to clean up air pollution
Delhi needs the help of its rural neighbors to finally beat its killer smog problem, concludes a recent review.
Reflecting on your legacy could make you more philanthropic, new research finds
New research shows that people can be spurred to look beyond close relationships in favor of philanthropy by having them reflect on their legacy. The researchers called this phenomenon the 'Andrew Carnegie Effect'.
Planetary Commons: Fostering global cooperation to safeguard critical Earth system functions
Tipping elements of the Earth system should be considered global commons, researchers argue. Global commons cannot -- as they currently do -- only include the parts of the planet outside of national borders, like the high seas or Antarctica. They must also include all the environmental systems that regulate the functioning and state of the planet, namely all systems on Earth we all depend on, irrespective on where in the world we live. This calls for a new level of transnational cooperation, leading experts in legal, social and Earth system sciences say. To limit risks for human societies and secure critical Earth system functions they propose a new framework of planetary commons to guide governance of the planet.
Office air conditioning can reduce the risk of harm from wildfire smoke
Air conditioning doesn't just cool the air -- it can also reduce the risk of harm from wildfire smoke, new research suggests.
Wolves and elk are (mostly) welcome back in Poland and Germany's Oder Delta region, survey shows
An online survey conducted in Germany and Poland shows that large parts of the participants support the return of large carnivores and herbivores, such as wolves and elk, to the Oder Delta region. Presented with different rewilding scenarios, the majority of survey participants showed a preference for land management that leads to the comeback of nature to the most natural state possible. Locals, on the other hand, showed some reservations.
Navigating the 'big little leap' to kindergarten
No matter how well children are prepared for kindergarten, their transition to the classroom during the first few months plays a key role in their success, a new study suggests.
A new study finds that fruits and vegetables grown in urban farms and gardens have a carbon footprint that is, on average, six times greater than conventionally grown produce.
How does materialism in social media trigger stress and unhappiness?
Clothes, cars, travel, followers: People with a materialistic mindset always want more and, above all, more than others. Social media provides them with ideal opportunities to compare themselves with others, which makes them susceptible to passive and addictive user behavior. This stresses them out and, ultimately, leads to low life satisfaction. This downward spiral, which turns materialists into less happy people, was identified in an online survey of over 1,200 participants.
AI can boost service for vulnerable customers
Artificial intelligence has become the Swiss Army knife of the business world, a universal tool for increasing sales, optimizing efficiency, and interacting with customers. But new research explores another purpose for AI in business: to contribute to the social good. It can do so by helping businesses better serve vulnerable consumers: anyone in the marketplace who experiences limited access to and control of resources.
Removing largest serving sizes of wine decreases alcohol consumption, study finds
Across 21 licensed premises in England, removing the largest individual serving size of wine from the menu reduced the volume of wine sold, according to a new study.
The collaboration between scientists, farmers and managers is crucial to improve the protection of the little bustard, an endangered steppe-land bird in Spain due to human activity. The reduction of natural habitats, the increase in irrigation and the urbanization of the land have led to having less surface areas that guarantee the survival of this vulnerable species.
Key factors in human-made earthquakes
Researchers report that the roughness of pre-existing faults and associated stress heterogeneity in geological reservoirs play a key role for causing human-made earthquakes, so-called runaway events. The study combines novel fluid injection experiments under acoustic monitoring performed in GFZ's geomechanical laboratory with numerical modelling results.
Online reviews: Filter the fraud, but don't tell us how
When you try a new restaurant or book a hotel, do you consider the online reviews? Do you submit online reviews yourself? Do you pay attention if they are filtered and moderated? Does that impact your own online review submissions?
A new study sought to identify factors that would bolster resilience for marginalized and minoritized youth, using data from the Boricua Youth Study, a longitudinal study following three generations of families over 20 years in both Puerto Rico and the South Bronx, New York.
Physical exercise boosts motor learning -- and remembering what one has learned
Violinists, surgeons and gamers can benefit from physical exercise both before and after practicing their new skills. The same holds true for anyone seeking to improve their fine motor skills.
US air pollution rates on the decline but pockets of inequities remain
Our latest study shows there are racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in air pollution emissions reductions, particularly in the industry and energy generation sectors. The findings provide a national investigation of air pollution emission changes in the 40 years following the enactment of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Until now, studies have primarily focused on evaluating air pollution disparities at a single time point, focusing on pollutant concentrations instead of emissions. A focus on emissions, however, has more direct implications for regulations and policies. In this study, the researchers used county-level data to evaluate racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in air pollution emissions changes in the contiguous U.S. from 1970 to 2010.
New study unveils emotional hubs that exist across languages
Emotions influence human decision-making and behavior. Therefore, understanding the most salient human emotions can have theoretical and practical implications. By exploiting a feature of words called colexification, researchers from Japan discovered that the emotions 'GOOD,' 'BAD,' 'HAPPY,' and 'WANT' act as emotional hubs across languages. Their findings may provide crucial insights for understanding language evolution and natural language processing.
A non-proliferation solution: Using antineutrinos to surveil nuclear reactors
Antineutrinos generated in nuclear fission can be measured to remotely monitor the operation of nuclear reactors and verify that they are not being used to produce nuclear weapons, report scientists. Thanks to a newly developed method, it is now possible to estimate a reactor's operation status, fuel burnup, and fuel composition based entirely on its antineutrino emissions. This technique could contribute massively to nuclear non-proliferation efforts and, in turn, safer nuclear energy.
Higher infant mortality rates associated with restrictive abortion laws, study finds
New research provides evidence that U.S. states with the most restrictive abortion laws saw 16 percent more infant deaths in 2014-2018 than in states offering access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare.
New deepfake detector designed to be less biased
New algorithms close the gap in deepfake detectors' accuracy across races and genders.
Predicting others' preference-based choices is cross-cultural and uniquely human
Children across cultures can anticipate other individuals' choices based on their preferences, according to a new study. However, non-human great apes appear to lack this ability.
Certain personality traits linked to college students' sense of belonging
In a study of nearly 5,000 North American first-year college students, those who were more extraverted, more agreeable, or less neurotic were more likely to feel a greater sense of belonging at school.
Women farmers quantitatively linked to better community well-being
Having more women in agriculture is associated with greater community well-being, according to researchers. Their work suggests that women farmers approach their operations in ways that positively impact their communities.
A new, rigorous assessment of OpenET accuracy for supporting satellite-based water management
Sustainable water management is an increasing concern in arid regions around the world, and scientists and regulators are turning to remote sensing tools like OpenET to help track and manage water resources. OpenET uses publicly available data produced by NASA and USGS Landsat and other satellite systems to calculate evapotranspiration (ET), or the amount of water lost to the atmosphere through soil evaporation and plant transpiration, at the level of individual fields. This tool has the potential to revolutionize water management, allowing for field-scale operational monitoring of water use, and a new study provides a thorough analysis of the accuracy of OpenET data for various crops and natural land cover types.
Do violent video games numb us towards real violence?
Neuroscientists have investigated whether playing violent video games leads to a reduction in human empathy. To do this, they had adult test subjects play a violent video game repeatedly over the course of an experiment lasting several weeks. Before and after, their empathic responses to the pain of another person were measured. It was found that the violent video game had no discernible effect on empathy and underlying brain activity.
Study quantifies how aquifer depletion threatens crop yields
Three decades of data have informed a new Nebraska-led study that shows how the depletion of groundwater -- the same that many farmers rely on for irrigation -- can threaten food production amid drought and drier climes. The study found that, due in part to the challenges of extracting groundwater, an aquifer's depletion can curb crop yields even when it appears saturated enough to continue meeting the demands of irrigation.
A new poll finds that 1 in 10 people aged 50-64 have used direct-to-consumer services, and most have gotten prescriptions from them; 4 in 10 people in this age group may be interested in future use.
New research finds that smartphone usage can increase and even become unhealthy for those who have obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A recent study explored a new way to ease the transition with an art therapy intervention to address the health needs of overweight, postmenopausal women.