ScienceDaily: Society - July 30, 2024
Top society research news
Young scientists face career hurdles in interdisciplinary research
Scientists agree that solving some of society's greatest challenges in biomedicine such as food sustainability, aging and disease treatment will need researchers from a variety of scientific fields working together.
To get drivers to put down their phones, make it a game
A large trial of strategies to reduce distracted driving showed that those that were 'gamified' yielded a lasting reduction in handheld phone usage while driving.
Image: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com
Analogies for modeling belief dynamics
Researchers who study belief dynamics often use analogies to understand and model the complex cognitive-social systems that underlie why we believe the things we do and how those beliefs can change over time. Ideas can be transmitted like a virus, for instance, 'infecting' a population as they spread from person to person. We might be drawn -- like magnets -- to others with a similar worldview. A society's beliefs can shift slowly before reaching a tipping point that thrusts society into a new phase. A new article explores the benefits -- and potential pitfalls -- of several common analogies used to model belief dynamics.
Countries need to co-operate on migration as climate crisis worsens
Humanity must rethink migration as the climate crisis drives rapid global changes, researchers say.
Study tracks exposure to air pollution through the day
For people moving through the Bronx at different times, exposure to particulate matter 2.5 microns or bigger rises by about 2.4 percent when daily travel patterns are taken into account, according to a new study.
When allocating scarce resources with AI, randomization can improve fairness
Researchers argue that, in some situations where machine-learning models are used to allocate scarce resources or opportunities, randomizing decisions in a structured way may lead to fairer outcomes.
Generative AI pioneers the future of child language learning
Researchers create a storybook generation system for personalized vocabulary learning.
Nitrogen emissions have a net cooling effect: But researchers warn against a climate solution
An international team of researchers has found that nitrogen emissions from fertilizers and fossil fuels have a net cooling effect on the climate. But they warn increasing atmospheric nitrogen has further damaging effects on the environment, calling for an urgent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to halt global warming.
Energy planning in Ghana as a role model for the world
Researchers are investigating ways to better plan for climate-resilient energy systems in the Global South. Focusing on the case study of Accra, the capital of Ghana, the multidisciplinary team expanded conventional energy system modeling approaches by incorporating a range of socio-techno-economic challenges, climate change impacts, and resilience metrics into their models. Their approaches are applicable worldwide to support widespread sustainable and resilient energy system transitions.
Last decade saw big decrease in teens who used commonly prescribed and misused prescription drugs
Since 2009, U.S. high school seniors have reported steep declines in medical use, misuse and availability of the three most commonly prescribed and misused controlled substances for teens, a new study found.
A new method to measure the continuous spectrum of light is set to improve thermal imaging and infrared thermography.
Exploring the dynamics of combatting market-driven epidemics
A case definition of market-driven epidemics (MDEs) could help address critical barriers to timely, effective prevention and mitigation, according to a new study.
Seven steps to achieving the right to clean indoor air post-pandemic
Seven lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about ventilation's crucial role in preventing the spread of airborne pathogens has been set out in a new article.
Nationwide flood models poorly capture risks to households and properties, study finds
Government agencies, insurance companies and disaster planners rely on national flood risk models from the private sector that aren't reliable at smaller levels such as neighborhoods and individual properties, according to researchers.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly widened existing economic and health disparities between wealthy and low-income countries and slowed progress toward health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a new study.
At what age do Olympic athletes peak?
There's a lot that goes into an Olympic athlete's quest for gold -- years of training and rigor -- but also, an athlete's age. A team used statistics to figure out when an Olympic track-and-field athletes' peak performance will be.
Warehousing industry increases health-harming pollutants, research shows
A new study shows an average 20-percent spike of nitrogen dioxide polluting the air for communities located near huge warehouses. And people of color are harder hit.
Large language models don't behave like people, even though we may expect them to
People generalize to form beliefs about a large language model's performance based on what they've seen from past interactions. When an LLM is misaligned with a person's beliefs, even an extremely capable model may fail unexpectedly when deployed in a real-world situation.
Study uses Game of Thrones to advance understanding of face blindness
Psychologists have used the hit TV series Game of Thrones to understand how the brain enables us to recognize faces. Their findings provide new insights into prosopagnosia or face blindness, a condition that impairs facial recognition.
Does the onset of daylight saving time lead to an unhealthy lifestyle?
Consumers' attitudes and health behaviors respond negatively to the switch to daylight saving time.
Mass layoffs and data breaches could be connected
A research team has been exploring how mass layoffs and data breaches could be connected. Their theory: since layoffs create conditions where disgruntled employees face added stress or job insecurity, they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that heighten the company's vulnerability to data breaches.
Electric scooter and bike accidents are soaring across the United States
Best bioenergy crops for sustainable aviation fuels by U.S. region, policy goals
Researchers analyzed the financial and environmental costs and benefits of four biofuels crops used to produce sustainable aviation fuels in the U.S. They found that each feedstock -- corn stover, energy sorghum, miscanthus or switchgrass -- performed best in a specific region of the rainfed United States. Their study will help growers and policymakers select the feedstocks most suited to meeting goals like reducing production costs, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and building soil carbon stocks.
A window of opportunity for climate change and biodiversity
World leaders must take advantage of a pivotal window of opportunity for forging a much-needed joined-up approach to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, say scientists. Without this, work on tackling either crisis could inadvertently harm progress on the other.
Strategic emission caps key to ammonia industry decarbonization, researchers find
New research has revealed critical insights into how strategic emission cap choices can lead to cost-effective, near-100% ammonia industry decarbonization while avoiding issues such as land use constraints and grid congestion.
Risks and benefits of integrating AI into medical decision-making
Researchers found that an artificial intelligence (AI) model solved medical quiz questions -- designed to test health professionals' ability to diagnose patients based on clinical images and a brief text summary -- with high accuracy. However, physician-graders found the AI model made mistakes when describing images and explaining how its decision-making led to the correct answer.
Children's exposome associated with changes in serum metabolites
The combined effect of environmental exposures and unhealthy lifestyle habits can affect children's cardiometabolic health in a way that exceeds their separate effects. A new study shows the benefit of measuring the combined effect of multiple environmental and lifestyle factors.
Using forest resources strengthens food security
Forests can reduce hunger in rural households while also capturing carbon and advancing sustainability goals for low- and middle-income countries, according to new research.
A new study identifies key patterns and factors influencing insect pest establishment and detection across the U.S. and suggests public surveillance awareness and involvement is a critical component of efforts to protect agriculture and our ecosystems from harmful pests. The findings can be used to improve strategies for early detection and response to new insect pests.
Development of 'living robots' needs regulation and public debate
Researchers are calling for regulation to guide the responsible and ethical development of bio-hybrid robotics -- a ground-breaking science which fuses artificial components with living tissue and cells.