Charles Darwin and conspicuous consumption: Why bling is blingy
Luxury brands are a prominent feature of modern society. Thorstein Veblen coined the term "conspicuous consumption" to describe how the upper classes showcased expensive goods without inherent practical benefits to demonstrate their economic power......»»
The 7 biggest Oscar snubs from the 2024 Academy Award nominations
From Greta Gerwig to Charles Melton, here are the Oscar snubs that made our blood boil. Every Oscar nomination morning, we celebrate the films that earned coveted recognition from the Academy Awards. But perhaps more than that, we yell about ou.....»»
Researchers quickly and easily predict emerging contaminant concentrations in wastewater with AI
The global consumption of pharmaceuticals is growing rapidly every year, reaching 4 billion doses in 2020. As more and more pharmaceuticals are metabolized by the human body and enter sewage and wastewater treatment plants, the amount and types of tr.....»»
In the Galapagos, urban finches fare better against vampire fly
Scientists are working hard to thwart a blood-sucking fly that is decimating populations of the charismatic finches that helped Charles Darwin formulate the theory of evolution......»»
Shallow soda lakes show promise as cradles of life on Earth
Charles Darwin proposed that life could have emerged in a "warm little pond" with the right cocktail of chemicals and energy. A study from the University of Washington, published this month in Communications Earth & Environment, reports that a shallo.....»»
Study shows how adding impurities to thermoelectric materials impacts their mechanical properties
According to scientists, waste heat, which enters the environment and remains unused, accounts for more than 70% of global energy consumption losses. With the help of thermoelectric materials—special semiconductors—the dissipated heat can be conv.....»»
New paper suggests how universities can regain control of education from AI
Universities around the world can preserve academic integrity from the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) by resisting corporate pressure and prioritizing ethics, according to a new paper by researchers from Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Ba.....»»
Researchers design novel hollow-fiber Cu penetration electrode for efficient CO₂ electroreduction
Electrochemical conversion of CO2 into value-added chemical fuels driven by renewable electrical energy has roles in reducing net CO2 emission and in addressing energy consumption......»»
Why South Korea is banning the sale of dog meat
The South Korean dog meat trade will officially end in 2027 after a bill was passed making the slaughter of dogs and the sale of dog meat for human consumption illegal in the country (though the consumption of dog meat will still be legal). People wh.....»»
Agriculture: Changing animal feed reduces consumption of natural resources such as soil and water
A study published in Nature Food, the result of a collaboration between Politecnico di Milano and the University of Milan, highlights how the increased use of by-products in the feed sector in a circular perspective can lead to significant savings in.....»»
Developing a flat soliton microcomb source
Optical chip-related technology is the inevitable path to retain the validity of Moore's Law, which has become the consensus of academia and industry; it can effectively solve the speed and power consumption problems of electronic chips. This tech is.....»»
US verges on vaccination tipping point, faces thousands of needless deaths: FDA
Top regulatory officials call for clinicians to speak up and drown out misinformation. Enlarge / A child with measles. (credit: Greene, Charles Lyman) The US may be heading to a "dangerous vaccination tipping point," wit.....»»
How marketing and business school educators can help combat climate change
The holidays are a wrap, and the new year offers an opportunity for reflection and change. For many people, the holidays are a time when consumption kicks into overdrive, but a University of Arizona researcher concerned about the environmental impact.....»»
Study of Darwin"s finches sheds light on how one species become many
Using data on four species of Darwin's finches on the Galápagos Islands, researchers led by McGill University have confirmed a long-standing hypothesis that species diversity evolves through adaptation to different resources......»»
Big evolutionary change tied to lots of small differences
Lots of genes changed as a species of snail went from laying eggs to live births. Enlarge / An example of a Littorina species, the common periwinkle. (credit: Bjoern Wylezich) The version of evolution proposed by Charles.....»»
Fossil birds: Surfaces of cervical vertebrae show conspicuous tubercles that may have served as "internal bony armor"
An international research team has examined unusual skeletal structures of various European bird fossils from the Eocene. The bone surfaces of the approximately 40- to 50-million-year-old cervical vertebrae show conspicuous tubercles, whose origin as.....»»
Ancient Roman wine production may hold clues for battling climate change
It is no secret that the Romans were heavy wine drinkers. Estimates put the average Roman male's consumption at a liter or more of diluted wine per day. The drink was also a symbol of civilized behavior, and widely used as a drug, medicine and ritual.....»»
Four tips for a healthy news diet in 2024, from an expert in media psychology
The start of the new year brings inevitable pressure to start fresh, with new hobbies, exercise regimes and healthy diets. But there is one diet you may not have thought of improving this year: your media and news consumption......»»
How antibiotic-resistant bacteria can teach us to modify behavior
Most people want to do something about climate change, but lifestyle trade-offs and a narrowing window to enact broad changes to industrial, transportation, and consumption patterns are daunting enough to make them resist......»»
Christmas consumption: What would the great economic philosophers think?
Even during a cost of living crisis, with interest rates and inflation high, the average spending per person for Christmas 2023 in the U.K. is expected to reach as much as £974. Retailers, advertisers and a sense of tradition continue to encourage u.....»»
EVs and hybrids had a noticeable effect on US fuel consumption, says EPA
Model-year 2022 cars, crossovers, and yes, even SUVs are the most-efficient, ever. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) I like the idea of drawing the year to a close with some good news for a change, and I think maybe the US.....»»