145 articles from WEDNESDAY 3.5.2023

Study shows having a criminal record does not mean a person is intrinsically immoral

Assuming that people with a criminal record are inherently more inclined to break the rules is wrong, according to a paper published in the Journal of Experimental Criminology by Joachim Vosgerau (Bocconi) and Sarah Kuehn (Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, U.S.). The authors wanted to test both the actual propensity to cheat of former inmates compared with people who had never been...

Detailed descriptions of modern art may enhance the viewer experience

Visitors to a modern art museum lingered in front of artworks longer and exhibited more signs of excitement when given detailed descriptions of each piece compared to seeing basic labels, according to a study published May 3, 2023, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Serena Castellotti from the University of Florence, Italy, and colleagues.

Recovery of ancient DNA identifies 20,000-year-old pendant’s owner

Elk tooth pendant unearthed in Siberia is first prehistoric artefact to be linked to a specific person using genetic sleuthingScientists have used a new method for extracting ancient DNA to identify the owner of a 20,000-year old pendant fashioned from an elk’s canine tooth.The method can isolate DNA that was present in skin cells, sweat or other bodily fluids and was absorbed by certain types...

Studying fundamentals of water as a solvent could lead to greener cellulose-based products

Water isn't just a universal solvent that remains unaffected by its interactions. New publications from North Carolina State University show that water can change its solubility characteristics depending upon what it interacts with. Specifically, when water interacts with cellulose, it can stack in layered shells to control chemical reactions within, and physical properties of, the material. The...

The ultra-fast space winds that shape the evolution of galaxies

They are called UFOs, but aliens have nothing to do with them. They are the ultra-fast outflows: space winds that emerge from the surroundings of supermassive black holes and blow at speeds close to that of light. An international research team has explored this still little-understood phenomenon, hunting for these gas emissions, which are crucial to understanding the mechanisms regulating the...

Scientists find link between photosynthesis and 'fifth state of matter'

Inside a lab, scientists marvel at a strange state that forms when they cool down atoms to nearly absolute zero. Outside their window, trees gather sunlight and turn them into new leaves. The two seem unrelated—but a new study from the University of Chicago suggests that these processes aren't so different as they might appear on the surface.

Defuse anger in the workplace with humor, expert says

Whether it is pressing deadlines, overwork, or employees feeling they are not being supported, anger in a work environment can be unavoidable. Over time, the anger and frustration can compound, causing anger to spread through the entire team or organization, creating what George Mason University expert Mandy O'Neill calls a "culture of anger."

Indo-Pacific corals found to be more resilient to climate change than Atlantic corals

In the face of global warming and other environmental changes, corals in the Atlantic Ocean have declined precipitously in recent years, while corals in the Pacific and Indian Oceans are faring better. By describing several species of symbiotic algae that these corals need to grow, an international team led by Penn State has found that these mutualistic relationships from the Indo-Pacific may be...

‘We are cut off.’ Tensions with Russia are hobbling Arctic research

In 2010, Russian President Vladimir Putin—then the prime minister—visited a remote research station on Samoylov Island, in Siberia’s far north. Beginning in the 1990s, the facility on the Lena River had become a hub for German and Russian collaboration on change in the region’s permafrost. “I see a good example of international cooperation here,” Putin told a group of...

47% of South Africans rely on social grants: Study reveals how they use them to generate more income

South Africa has one of the world's most expansive social grant system: 47% of the population relies on a monthly grant. Of these, 18 million are permanent beneficiaries and about 10 million receive a temporary Social Relief of Distress Grant. This was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic for working age adults who do not receive formal social protection, such as unemployment insurance and for...

Ask Astro: How quickly will the Sun become a red giant?

Will the Sun’s expansion into a red giant be gradual or explosive? John HaleyHuntsville, Alabama Stars use pressure created by nuclear fusion to combat gravity and stay “alive.” More accurately, this balance allows stars to stay in what is called hydrostatic equilibrium. Stars in the prime of their lives, fusing hydrogen into helium in theirContinue reading "Ask Astro: How quickly will the...