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118 articles from PhysOrg
Study: Live chat boosts college women's class participation
Women much more enthusiastically embraced the live chat function during pandemic Zoom classes than men, according to a new University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) study. Researchers hope the data could be a key to broadening underrepresented groups' access to STEM disciplines as colleges incorporate technology into hybrid and even in-person courses.
Researchers discover new monster black hole 'practically in our back yard'
The discovery of a so-called monster black hole that has about 12 times the mass of the sun is detailed in a new Astrophysical Journalresearch submission, whose lead author is Dr. Sukanya Chakrabarti, a physics professor at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).
How college in prison is leading professors to rethink how they teach
When it comes to education in prison, policy and research often focus on how it benefits society or improves the life circumstances of those who are serving time.
Wildfires reshape forests and change the behavior of animals that live there
In the arid American West, wildfires now define summer. Recent years have seen some of the worst wildfires in recorded history. Climate change, the loss of Indigenous burning practices and a century of fire suppression are increasing the risk of larger, hotter and more frequent wildfires.
AI is changing scientists' understanding of language learning—and raising questions about an innate grammar
Unlike the carefully scripted dialogue found in most books and movies, the language of everyday interaction tends to be messy and incomplete, full of false starts, interruptions and people talking over each other. From casual conversations between friends, to bickering between siblings, to formal discussions in a boardroom, authentic conversation is chaotic. It seems miraculous that anyone can...
Murder of Johannesburg sex workers shows why South Africa must urgently decriminalize the trade
The decomposed bodies of six women, four of whom were identified as sex workers, were recently discovered at a panel beating factory in Johannesburg. A 20-year-old man has been charged with six counts of murder. The case highlights, again, the risks of sex work for women in South Africa.
Sanctions on Russia are increasing, not decreasing, its revenue
The European Union has just approved new sanctions against Russia, including a price cap on oil sales, following the United States' Sept. 30 announcement of new economic sanctions. Both announcements are in response to Russia's annexation of four regions of Ukraine.
Converting carbon dioxide to solid minerals underground for more stable storage
A new scientific review article in Nature Reviews Chemistry discusses how carbon dioxide (CO2) converts from a gas to a solid in ultrathin films of water on underground rock surfaces. These solid minerals, known as carbonates, are both stable and common.
South Africa's biggest cities are out of water, but the dams are full: What's gone wrong?
South Africa's major cities in the Gauteng Province—the country's economic heartland—are experiencing major water shortages. In Johannesburg and Tshwane taps have run dry, with numerous areas experiencing intermittent supply while some areas have no water at all.
Researchers posit the idea that cultural knowledge practices have an inner structure that is passed down
A broad array of cultural practices—from the construction of stone tools to the conventions of religious rituals—are highly stable over long periods of time. One might assume that such persistent cultural knowledge is transmitted with highly specific instructions. However, many stable cultural practices are transmitted by means of tacit knowledge—that kind of working knowledge that is passed...
Artificial intelligence helps predict performance of sugarcane in the field
A Brazilian study published in Scientific Reports shows that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to create efficient models for genomic selection of sugarcane and forage grass varieties and predict their performance in the field on the basis of their DNA.
Thinnest ferroelectric material ever paves the way for new energy-efficient devices
Discovery of intriguing material behavior at small scales could reduce energy demands for computing.
Insect pollination key for rare Wyoming sagebrush species
A rare species of sagebrush found only in southeast Wyoming survives primarily through pollination by bees, according to new research led by a University of Wyoming graduate student.
UK lenders continue pursuit of new business through turbulent start to 2022
The latest Bayes UK Commercial Real Estate Mid–year 2022 report shows a new lending volume of £23.7 billion, indicating strong appetite for new business up until June 2022 before deal flow started to dry up. In a dramatically different interest rate environment, lenders are prepared to pass on new opportunities for the second half of the year if it is not a good opportunity.
NASA's Webb takes star-filled portrait of pillars of creation
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured a lush, highly detailed landscape—the iconic Pillars of Creation—where new stars are forming within dense clouds of gas and dust. The three-dimensional pillars look like majestic rock formations, but are far more permeable. These columns are made up of cool interstellar gas and dust that appear—at times—semi-transparent in near-infrared light.
Bumblebees revisit favorite flowers as sun sets
As the sun sets, bumblebees revisit "profitable" flowers they encountered during the day, new research suggests.
Building on more than 300 years of study, researchers develop a new way to understand bacterial growth
In labs, bacterial colonies usually grow in streaks in petri dishes, but until now no one has known how the colonies organize themselves in more realistic three-dimensional (3D) environments, such as tissues and gels in our bodies, or soils and sediments in the environment. This knowledge could be critical for advancing medical and environmental research.
Proxy advisers have inherent incentive to create controversy, study shows
When an institutional investor uses recommendations from a proxy adviser to cast a vote on shareholder issues, they may want to proceed with caution.
Income, segregated schools drive Black-white education gaps, study finds
Given the same levels of family, school and neighborhood hardship, Black students would be more likely than their white classmates to complete high school and attend college—reversing current disparities, according to new research from the University of Michigan and Cornell University.
Durable, inexpensive catalyst reduces carbon footprint of ammonia production
The Haber-Bosch process, which is commonly used to synthesize ammonia (NH3)—the foundation for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers—by combining hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen (N2) over catalysts at high pressures and temperatures, is one of the most important scientific discoveries to have helped improve crop yields and increase food production globally.
Climate change is making Arba'een pilgrimage dangerously hot
Around 20 million Shia Muslims participate in Arba'een, one of the world's largest religious gatherings. A new study projects climate change will make dangerous temperatures more common during Arba'een by the end of the 21st century, threatening participants with an increased risk of heat-related illness.
Researchers reveal new knowledge of microscopic creature's durability
University of Wyoming researchers have gained further insight into the biological processes that allow microscopic creatures called tardigrades to survive extreme conditions, including being completely dried out in suspended animation for years.
Drones show potential to improve salmon nest counts
Struggling salmon populations could get some help from the sky. A Washington State University study showed that drone photography of the Wenatchee River during spawning season can be effective in estimating the number of rocky hollows salmon create to lay their eggs, also called "redds."
Iconic 'Pillars of Creation' captured in new Webb image
The James Webb Space Telescope captured the iconic "Pillars of Creation," huge structures of gas and dust teeming with stars, NASA said Wednesday, and the image is as majestic as one could hope.
Emerging technologies to improve thermometry reliability
In a recent paper co-authored by researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Research Council of Canada and Graham Machin, National Physical Laboratory Senior Fellow, the research team presented an overview of emerging thermometry technologies. Although some of these are in an early stage of development, they have the potential to provide reliable (and indeed...