ScienceDaily: Society - September 19, 2023
Top society research news
Remote work can slash your carbon footprint -- if done right
Remote workers can have a 54% lower carbon footprint compared with onsite workers, according to a new study, with lifestyle choices and work arrangements playing an essential role in determining the environmental benefits of remote and hybrid work.
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New research highlights importance of equity in education
A new study looks at the impact of learning environments on the academic success of racialized students. Compared to their peers, these students feel they have less control in their academic environment, less confidence and self-efficacy in their academic abilities, and weaker connections to other students and professors.
Top scientists, engineers choose startups over tech behemoths for reasons other than money
Non-monetary benefits such as independence, autonomy and the ability to work on innovative technologies are among the key selling points for talented scientists and engineers who spurn working for a bigger technology firm in favor of a riskier startup.
Why do some environmental shocks lead to disaster while others don't?
It's no longer just about stopping, but how we can live with climate change. To figure this out, we must delve into our cultures. A new study points out how our history could help guide the way.
What the French Revolution can teach us about inflation
Study finds that politics, public expectations fuel hyperinflation.
Unlocking urban diversity: The magnetism of complex amenities
Diversity fuels prosperity in cities, but where do people from diverse backgrounds meet? A study now indicates that locations offering a range of rare shops and services may hold the key.
Are US teenagers more likely than others to exaggerate their math abilities?
A major new study has revealed that American teenagers are more likely than any other nationality to brag about their math ability.
With research showing that the SDGs have had little political impact, the September 18-19 UN SDG Summit must pave the way for four major changes in how the SDGs are implemented and governed globally, argues an international group of sustainability experts.
Verbal nonsense reveals limitations of AI chatbots
The era of artificial-intelligence chatbots that seem to understand and use language the way we humans do has begun. Under the hood, these chatbots use large language models, a particular kind of neural network. But a new study shows that large language models remain vulnerable to mistaking nonsense for natural language. To a team of researchers, it's a flaw that might point toward ways to improve chatbot performance and help reveal how humans process language.
All work and no play will really make a dull life
Prioritizing career goals over fun and freedom doesn't make your life better, researchers have found. The study across three countries discovered people who prioritized achievement over enjoyment were less happy on the next day.
Take the money now or later? Financial scarcity doesn't lead to poor decision making
When people feel that their resources are scarce -- that they don't have enough money or time to meet their needs -- they often make decisions that favor short-term gains over long-term benefits. Because of that, researchers have argued that scarcity pushes people to make myopic, impulsive decisions. But a study provides support for a different, less widely held view: People experiencing scarcity make reasonable decisions based on their circumstances, and only prioritize short-term benefits over long-term gains when scarcity threatens their more immediate needs.
A new study updates the planetary boundary framework and shows human activities are increasingly impacting the planet and, thereby, increasing the risk of triggering dramatic changes in overall Earth conditions.
Socioeconomic status may be an uneven predictor of heart health
The benefits of four measures of socioeconomic status (education, income, employment status and health insurance) on ideal heart health were greater for non-Hispanic white adults compared to Black, Hispanic and Asian adults in the U.S.
How education, work and motherhood shape women's life 'pathways'
A new study offers insights into the ways that education, work and motherhood shape the lives of women in the United States. In a longitudinal study of more than 8,100 women, the researchers found seven 'pathways' that illustrate the way major life events can have long-term ripple effects.
Roadside hedges can reduce harmful ultrafine particle pollution around schools
A new study confirms that planting hedges between roadsides and school playgrounds can dramatically reduce children's exposure to traffic-related particle pollution.
Benefits, risks in state-mandated school-based BMI assessments
A resource economist finds mandated in-school Body Mass Index assessments adopted in varying forms by 24 states to combat childhood obesity have the potential to improve the health of some students while introducing body-image issues for others. The research is believed to be the first to assess these policies as a whole, rather than in single states or school districts.
Study reveals reductions in breast cancer screening uptake during COVID-19 pandemic
A review of COVID-19 studies globally has revealed reductions in breast cancer screening participation during 2020, with differences between geographic regions and healthcare settings.
Plant-based food alternatives could support a shift to global sustainability
Replacing 50% of meat and milk products with plant-based alternatives by 2050 can reduce agriculture and land use related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 31% and halt the degradation of forest and natural land, according to new research.
In the age of ChatGPT, what's it like to be accused of cheating?
A new study looks at how college students react to being accused of using ChatGPT to cheat on assignments.
New methodology reveals health, climate impacts of reducing buildings' energy use
Increasing energy efficiency in buildings can save money -- and it can also decrease the carbon emissions and air pollution that lead to climate change and health harms. But the climate and health benefits of reducing buildings' energy consumption are rarely quantified. Now, researchers have developed a new method for calculating the health and climate impacts of these energy savings.
Studies highlight new approaches to addressing climate change
Failing to achieve climate mitigation goals puts increasing pressure on climate adaptation strategies. In two new studies, researchers address novel approaches to these issues.
Lions on the brink -- New analysis reveals the differing threats to African lion populations
New results reveal that many of Africa's remaining lions live within small, fragmented populations at risk of disappearing. The researchers developed a new framework which integrates ecological and socio-political risk factors to better understand the fragility of these populations.
AI can help write a message to a friend -- but don't do it
Using artificial intelligence applications to help craft a message to a friend is not a good idea -- at least if your friend finds out about the use of AI, a new study suggests.
Sleep-wake therapy gives new hope for teens with depression
School systems aren't built for kids who fall asleep and wake up late, the so-called 'night owls,' which may help explain why this group of teens is more prone to depression.
A guide to Big Team Science creates a blueprint for research collaboration on a large scale
A group of big team science veterans has published a how-to guide to help their fellow academics build research projects involving dozens or hundreds of collaborators. The article is based on expertise gained over multiple BTS projects, and provides a road map for best practices and overcoming challenges.
Where is the love? Musical recognition crosses cultures — with an exception
Music can take on many forms in cultures across the globe, but researchers have found in a new study that some themes are universally recognizable by people everywhere with one notable exception -- love songs.
New study reveals the power of railroads to buffer coal plants from a carbon emissions tax
A new study suggests that railroads are likely to cut transportation prices to prop up coal-fired plants if U.S. climate policies further disadvantage coal in favor of less carbon-intensive energy sources.
Lack of evidence hampers progress on corporate-led ecosystem restoration
An international team of scientists analysed publicly available sustainability reports released by 100 of the world's largest companies and found that around two-thirds of these global corporations are undertaking ecosystem restoration. However, the results highlight that despite many businesses claiming to actively rebuild damaged ecosystems, we know very little about what is actually being achieved.
Nudging food delivery customers to skip the fork drastically cuts plastic waste, study shows
A new study examines how a food-delivery platform in China used 'green nudges' to increase the share of no-cutlery orders by 648 percent. Extending the changes to all of China would reduce 3.26 million metric tons of plastic waste and save 5.44 million trees each year.
Intellectual disability more common in families with substance use disorder
Children of a parent with alcohol or drug use disorder have a greater risk of intellectual disability, even if the problem only lies with the father, researchers report. According to the study, preventive measures should be directed at both parents.
A positive worldview is less associated with privilege than expected
A new study shows that counter to public perception, positive beliefs about the world are a poor indicator of a person's background.
A finer picture of global migration reveals complex patterns
New research shows that socio-economic factors play a larger role in migration than climate.
'Monstrous births' and the making of race in the nineteenth-century United States
From the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, 'monstrous births' -- malformed or anomalous fetuses -- were, to Western medicine, an object of superstition. In 19th-century America, they became instead an object of the 'modern scientific study of monstrosity,' a field formalized by French scientist Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. This clinical turn was positioned against the backdrop of social, political, and economic activity that codified laws governing slavery, citizenship, immigration, family, wealth, and access to resources.
Grasping entropy: Teachers and students investigate thermodynamics through a hands-on model
Though a cornerstone of thermodynamics, entropy remains one of the most vexing concepts to teach budding physicists in the classroom. Physics teachers designed a hand-held model to demonstrate the concept of entropy for students. Using everyday materials, the approach allows students to confront the topic with new intuition -- one that takes specific aim at the confusion between entropy and disorder.
Water-quality risks linked more to social factors than money
When we determine which communities are more likely to get their water from contaminated supplies, median household income is not the best measure. That's according to a recent study that found social factors -- such as low population density, high housing vacancy, disability and race -- can have a stronger influence than median household income on whether a community's municipal water supply is more likely to have health-based water-quality violations.
Disparities in who dwells behind crumbling US levees
In the United States, tens of millions of people live behind levees, but historically disadvantaged groups are more likely to live behind subpar levees and have fewer resources to maintain critical levee infrastructure, a new study reveals. The study is the first to quantify the national disparity of disadvantaged communities living in levee-protected areas, which puts people at increased risk of flooding and other issues.
New research sheds light on origins of social behaviors
Male fruit flies don't usually like each other. Socially, they reject their fellow males and zero in on the females they discern via chemical receptors -- or so scientists thought.
Electrifying heavy-duty vehicles could reduce environmental inequalities
If the region surrounding Chicago -- North America's largest freight hub -- shifted just 30% of its current on-road heavy-duty vehicles to electric versions, it would substantially reduce pollution and save hundreds of lives per year, with the benefits largely concentrated in disadvantaged communities, according to a new study. The study authors highlight that neighborhoods with predominantly Black, Hispanic and Latinx residents would benefit the most -- potentially reducing disproportionate pollution and health burdens in historically marginalized areas.
Invasive species are animals, too: Considering a humane approach
Invasive alien species are animals that may pose a threat to biodiversity, but it's time to deal with that threat in a more ethical way.
Active children are more resilient
The school year has hardly begun and the first exams are already approaching. According to findings by researchers from the University of Basel, school children cope better with the stress if they get plenty of daily exercise.
Study confirms it: Opposites don't actually attract
A new study looked at more than 130 traits and involved millions of couples over more than a century. It found little evidence that opposites attract. Instead, for 82% to 89% of traits, partners tended to be similar.
Racial and socioeconomic differences still determine survival rates of premature babies in the US
The US continues to face stark inequalities in preterm birth and mortality rates between mothers of differing socioeconomic status and race, finds a new report.
ChatGPT is debunking myths on social media around vaccine safety, say experts
ChatGPT could help to increase vaccine uptake by debunking myths around jab safety, say the authors of a new study.
Causes of the Qing Dynasty's collapse: Parallels to today's instability
The Qing Dynasty in China, after over 250 years, crumbled in 1912. An international research team has pinpointed key reasons behind the collapse, revealing parallels to modern instability and offering vital lessons for the future.
Groundwater depletion rates in India could triple in coming decades as climate warms, study shows
A new study finds that farmers in India have adapted to warming temperatures by intensifying the withdrawal of groundwater used for irrigation. If the trend continues, the rate of groundwater loss could triple by 2080, further threatening India's food and water security. Reduced water availability in India due to groundwater depletion and climate change could threaten the livelihoods of more than one-third of the country's 1.4 billion residents and has global implications.
Health benefits that have resulted from reductions in fine particulate air pollution aren't distributed equally among populations in the U.S., a new Yale-led study finds. Racial and ethnic minorities -- and Black people in particular -- still experience disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease-related deaths caused by exposure to fine particulate matter, according to the research.
Precarious employment conditions can increase risk of early death
People without a secure job contract can likely reduce their risk of premature death by 20 per cent if they gain permanent employment, a study reports.
Nearly half of dog owners are hesitant to vaccinate their pets
A new study found that more than half of people who own dogs expressed some level of canine vaccine hesitancy -- i.e. skepticism about vaccinating their pets against rabies and other diseases. An estimated 45 percent of US households own a dog; according to the survey results, nearly 40 percent of dog owners believe that canine vaccines are unsafe, more than 20 percent believe these vaccines are ineffective, and 30 percent consider them to be medically unnecessary.
Electrical noise stimulation applied to the brain could be key to boosting math learning
Exciting a brain region using electrical noise stimulation can help improve mathematical learning in those who struggle with the subject, according to a new study.
Tracking drivers' eyes can determine ability to take back control from 'auto-pilot' mode
A team of researchers has developed a new method to determine the attention levels of drivers and their readiness to respond to warning signals when using auto-pilot mode.
Acting fast when an epidemic hits
Researchers have developed a method for forecasting the short-term progression of an epidemic using extremely limited amounts of data.
Is digital media use a risk factor for psychosis in young adults?
A recent study of 425 Quebecers between the ages of 18 and 25 has found that young adults who have more frequent psychotic experiences also tend to spend more time using digital media. Interestingly, the study, which surveyed the participants over a period of six months, also found that spending more time on digital media did not seem to cause any change in the frequency of psychotic experiences over time.
A global observatory to monitor Earth's biodiversity
At a time of unparalleled rates of biodiversity loss, a new interconnected system to monitor biodiversity around the world is needed to guide action quickly enough to target conservation efforts to where they are most needed.
Using evidence from last Ice Age, scientists predict effects of rising seas on coastal habitats
The rapid sea level rise and resulting retreat of coastal habitat seen at the end of the last Ice Age could repeat itself if global average temperatures rise beyond certain levels, according to an analysis by an international team of scientists.
Experiencing the texture of skateboard sounds can mediate divisions new research says
Experiencing the harsh sounds of skateboarding can help bridge the gulf between the joy and distaste of the noises created by the sport, a new study says.
Kindergarten conduct problems could cost society later, researchers find
A new economic analysis has linked, for the first time, conduct problems among kindergarten students with significant costs to society in terms of crime and associated medical expenses and lost productivity when they are adults.
Emphasizing the need for energy independence could change the views of climate deniers, study says
Emphasising the need for energy independence and environmental stewardship could help to change people’s minds about the climate crisis, a new study says.
Pedal power pays off: Mountain biking benefits outweigh risks, research finds
New research into injuries sustained by trail users has found mountain biking is not the dangerous, injury-plagued sport reserved for thrill-seekers that it is often perceived to be and that the health benefits outweigh the risks.
First-time fathers seem to experience a steeper decline in relationship satisfaction in the first two years post-partum than second-time fathers, who appear to recover lost relationship satisfaction by the time their second child is 14 months old, according to a new study.
Parental incarceration increases cardiovascular risk in young adults, study suggests
New research suggests parental incarceration elevates cardiovascular risk in early adulthood, potentially contributing to larger health disparities.
