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......»»
Study suggests Egyptians used hydraulic lifts to build Pyramid of Djoser
Finding elusive pictorial, textual references to hydraulic device may help convince skeptics. Enlarge / A camel chills next to the Step Pyramid of Djoser in the Saqqara necropolis in Egypt, built around 2680 BCE. (credit: Charles.....»»
Machine learning discovers "hidden-gem" materials for heat-free gas separation
Chemical separation, including gas separation, is a common process that is required for manufacturing and research. It accounts for a whopping 15% of U.S. energy consumption and produces millions of tons of carbon emissions......»»
Prioritize well-being over growth: New paradigm needed for climate-friendly lifestyles
Ensuring the well-being of citizens while reducing resource consumption has proved to be a massive challenge. Policymakers in the European Union are keen to identify new approaches to provisioning that will safeguard the well-being of citizens withou.....»»
Study reveals impact of concern about misinformation on Americans" media consumption habits
Most Americans are aware of fake news and misinformation. In a new study, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania sought to uncover whether the threat of misinformation drives Americans to seek out news sources that reflect their own politica.....»»
Massive appropriation of labor from the Global South enables high consumption in rich countries
The high levels of consumption enjoyed by wealthy countries in the Global North are only possible because of mass appropriation of labor from the population of the Global South. This is evidenced by research from the Institute of Environmental Scienc.....»»
The Galapagos Islands and many of their unique creatures are at risk from warming waters
Warm morning light reflects from the remains of a natural rock arch near Darwin Island, one of the most remote islands in the Galapagos. In clear, deep blue water, thousands of creatures—fish, hammerhead sharks, marine iguanas—move in search of f.....»»
New data-driven map reveals extensive peatlands in Amazon Basin
A consortium of researchers led by the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and Charles University, Prague have developed a new data-driven map which predicts substantially more peatland area in the Amazon basin than previously estimated. The high-res.....»»
Researchers see lower meat consumption after veggie month at student canteen
What effect does a vegan/vegetarian month have on a student canteen? For this experiment, the Studierendenwerk Bonn sought scientific support from researchers at the Universities of Bonn and Kassel. They found that the impact could still be felt up t.....»»
Coal-filled trains are likely sending people to the hospital
Coal-filled trains trail a cloud of particulates shaken free from their cargo. Enlarge (credit: Bloomberg Creative Photos) Although US coal consumption has fallen dramatically since 2005, the country still consumes milli.....»»
Of ants and trees: "Evolutionary déjà vu" in the tropical rainforest
Ants are famous for their regimented and complex social behaviors. In the tropics, they are also famous for forming mutualisms with plants. Certain species of trees have conspicuous hollow swellings that house ants, often feeding the ants with specia.....»»
Studies explore converting wastewater to fertilizer with fungal treatment
Creating fertilizers from organic waste can help reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and promote sustainable production. One way of doing this is through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), which converts biomass into biocrude oil through a high-temp.....»»
Additional taxes vs. water quotas: Study compares systems to manage water consumption in agriculture
Based on a mathematical programming model, a study finds that the proportional allocation of water, and not additional taxes on the resource, is more effective from the point of view of those engaged in agriculture......»»
Study: Consumption-tracking technology mixed bag for consumers
Penalty fees for consumers are prevalent in many service industries such as banking and cellular phone service, accounting for billions of dollars in "junk fees" that annually eat away at consumers' wallets like termites......»»
AI"s Energy Demands Are Out of Control. Welcome to the Internet"s Hyper-Consumption Era
Generative artificial intelligence tools, now part of the everyday user experience online, are causing stress on local power grids and mass water evaporation......»»
macOS Sequoia lets users play Dolby Atmos audio using HDMI Passthrough
We’ve already covered many of the new features of macOS Sequoia, the next version of the Mac operating system. However, there’s one small but important change coming with the update for those who often use their Mac for media consumption, and tha.....»»
Make It Circular at Maker Faire Rome 2024
Do you have a project on sustainability, reuse and saving natural resources? MakeITcircular at Maker Faire Rome promotes the Circular Consumption Charter and the values of recycling, reuse and co-design. Share your project for the chance to win 3000.....»»
Rare footage reveals intimate family lives of blue whales
The intimate family lives of blue whales, including a blue whale nursing its calf underwater, has been revealed in extraordinary footage captured in a project led by an international marine ecologist from Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Australia.....»»
New wind speed sensor uses minimal power for advanced weather tracking
Researchers have unveiled a pioneering breeze wake-up anemometer (B-WA), employing a rolling-bearing triboelectric nanogenerator (RB-TENG) that provides a new strategy for low-energy consumption environmental monitoring. The ability of the B-WA to op.....»»
DNA analysis reveals that there are more species of parasitoid wasps than anticipated
When Charles Darwin first encountered parasitoid wasps, he was horrified. In an 1860 letter to American botanist Asa Gray, he wrote: "I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created parasitic wasps with the.....»»
Victim-blaming, manipulation, and denial: How terrorists use language to justify violence
Victim-blaming, denial and reversal are among the tactics used by terrorists to justify their violent actions and influence audience perceptions of harm and agency, according to a new Charles Darwin University (CDU) study examining the language of so.....»»