ScienceDaily: Society - February 18, 2025
Top society research news
Group childcare positively affects toddler development
Many Japanese mothers are reluctant to send their children to childcare before the age of three due to the 'Three-Year-Old Myth,' which suggests that healthy development requires a child to stay at home and be raised by their mother. However, a recent study has shown that enrolling a child in kindergarten before they turn three may actually benefit their social, motor, and problem-solving skills.
Inconsistent reporting leads to underestimation of climate impact of methane
Companies around the world are underestimating their total greenhouse gas footprints because of inconsistent accounting standards for methane emissions, finds a new study.
Adults don't trust health care to use AI responsibly and without harm
A survey of adults found most had low trust in their health care system to use artificial intelligence responsibly or to make sure an AI tool would not harm them.
Solar-powered device captures carbon dioxide from air to make sustainable fuel
Researchers have developed a reactor that pulls carbon dioxide directly from the air and converts it into sustainable fuel, using sunlight as the power source.
Regular access to therapy dogs boosts first-year students' mental health
College students who spent a little bit of free time each week interacting with therapy dogs on campus during their first semester experienced fewer signs of stress and depression than those who did not. That's according to a new study that examined how regular, long-term access to an animal-assisted drop-in program influenced first-year students' mental health.
The complicated question of how we determine who has an accent
How do you tell if someone has a particular accent? It might seem obvious: You hear someone pronounce words in a way that is different from 'normal' and connect it to other people from a specific place. But a new study suggests that might not be the case.
The 'hydrogen economy' may be relatively small, but critical
Researchers have quantified the role of the 'hydrogen economy' in making our society more sustainable. They present the results of extensive modelling of pathways to decarbonizing the European economy by 2050. They conclude that when it comes to providing a sustainable primary source of energy, electrification will prove to be the most cost-efficient route for most economic sectors with an average total share of around 60% in final energy consumption. In contrast, the projected share of direct hydrogen use will be 10% at the highest.
Blood test paves the way for better heart attack prevention
The test, which is not yet widely available, is being developed so that it can eventually be used at the point-of-care.
Study participants who went on an IgG-based elimination diet--based on a novel blood test--experienced less abdominal pain than those on a sham diet.
Researchers call on the international community to recognize and start tackling the 'biodiversity leak'.
Economically, culturally important marine species vulnerable to changing climate
Dungeness crab, Pacific herring, and red abalone are among the marine species most vulnerable to the changing climate's effect on California's coastal waters, a new study finds. The team seeks to help the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in its efforts to develop and implement climate-ready fisheries management strategies that adapt to challenges such as rising ocean temperatures, acidification, and deoxygenation.
PIK PR: Little potential for 'climate plantations' within planetary boundaries
Planting fast-growing crops, burning them, capturing the released CO2 and storing it: this is being discussed as a way to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and limit global heating to 1.5 degrees in the long term. But if this is done on land beyond existing agriculture, it endangers the stability of the biosphere. A study puts a figure on the potential of such novel 'climate plantations', also known as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). The study considered not only the carbon balance but also other planetary boundaries.
Long drives and high costs stand between Americans and safe surgery -- especially in rural areas
When they need surgery, nearly one in three Americans may find themselves in a precarious position: They live more than an hour's drive from a high-quality hospital, and their insurance plan may leave them paying more than they can afford out of their own pockets. The situation is worse for Americans living in rural areas.
Adults can learn absolute pitch: new research challenges long-held musical belief
It's been a long-held belief that absolute pitch -- the ability to identify musical notes without reference -- is a rare gift reserved for a select few with special genetic gifts or those who began musical training in early childhood. However, research challenges this, demonstrating that adults can acquire this skill through rigorous training.
Study finds consumer openness to smoke-impacted wines, offering new market opportunities
Certain groups of consumers appear to be open to drinking smoke-impacted wines, a finding in a new study that could provide market opportunities for winemakers increasingly dealing with the effects of wildfire smoke on grapes.
Why we need to expand the search for climate-friendly microalgae
As global efforts to combat climate change intensify, microalgae stand out as an underutilized yet promising resource.
Is the Metaverse a new frontier for human-centric manufacturing?
The future of manufacturing is not just about machines and AI; it's about re-empowering humans, according to a new study.
Model of Antarctica's water enhances sea level forecasts
Researchers have generated the first dataset of water flow beneath the entire Antarctic Ice Sheet, which will lead to more accurate projections of sea level rise. The team modeled Antarctica's subglacial environment. The dataset represents the researchers' best approximation of what the water flow underneath the ice sheet might currently look like. The results include numerous subglacial lakes developing below ice streams in both East and West Antarctica, and an extensive network of subglacial water channels that discharge large fluxes of water under many major glaciers.
Scientists harness AI to help protect whales, advancing ocean conservation and planning
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that will help predict endangered whale habitat, guiding ships along the Atlantic coast to avoid them. The tool is designed to prevent deadly accidents and inform conservation strategies and responsible ocean development.
Study takes a 'bite' out of shark depredation using citizen science
Shark depredation is a rising issue in recreational fishing, especially in Florida, where sharks steal fish straight off anglers' lines. Researchers harnessed citizen science -- social media, angler surveys, charters -- and genetic analysis, to investigate the problem. Findings reveal that snapper-grouper species are the most targeted, with bull and sandbar sharks as the primary culprits. Nearly half of anglers reported depredation. These insights help shed light on the extent of this human-wildlife conflict and its impact on different fishery sectors.
A wealth of evidence: 85,000 individual studies about climate policy
Research on climate policy is growing exponentially. Of the approximately 85,000 individual studies ever published on policy instruments for mitigating global heating, a good quarter are from 2020 or later. A study using machine learning methods now shows how this vast knowledge is distributed -- by instrument, country, sector and policy level -- and identifies research gaps. A corresponding web tool, the 'living systematic map', will help to guide science and policy. It will be continuously updated to reflect the current state of research.
California's marine protected areas boost fish populations across the state
It's 1999, the 21st century is on the horizon, and California has big plans for marine conservation. New legislation has presented a mandate to establish an ambitious network of marine protected areas (MPAs) unlike anywhere else in the world. The goal is to craft strategic protections to safeguard the state's marine life for preservation and economic benefits alike.
Researchers are driving the charge of zero emissions
New research finds that electric vehicles generally produce less non-exhaust emissions compared with gasoline-powered vehicles.