How nanoplastics can influence metabolism
PET—the plastic used to make bottles, for example—is ubiquitous in our natural environment. In a joint study, scientists from Leipzig University and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) investigated the negative effects that tiny.....»»
China Is Using AI to Sow Disinformation and Stoke Discord Across Asia and the U.S., Microsoft Reports
A new report by Microsoft Threat Intelligence outlines how China’s influence operations have ramped up their use of artificial intelligence. Faking a political endorsement in Taiwan ahead of its crucial January election, sharing m.....»»
Ransomware group maturity should influence ransom payment decision
Your organization has been hit by ransomware and a decision has to be made on whether or not to make the ransom payment to get your data decrypted, deleted from attackers’ servers, and/or not leaked online. The decision will depend on a variety.....»»
Election disinformation: How AI-powered bots work and how you can protect yourself from their influence
Social media platforms have become more than mere tools for communication. They've evolved into bustling arenas where truth and falsehood collide. Among these platforms, X stands out as a prominent battleground. It's a place where disinformation camp.....»»
Novel UV broadband spectrometer improves air pollutant analysis
Sunlight has a major influence on chemical processes. Its high-energy UV radiation in particular is strongly absorbed by all materials and triggers photochemical reactions of the substances present in the air. A well-known example is the formation of.....»»
Humans shape the journey of mud, study reveals
Mud can be surprisingly clear. A global team of scientists has uncovered a hidden truth: Human actions are shaping the journey of mud. Over the course of decades, our activities have wielded significant influence over the movement and dispersion of m.....»»
How do manufacturing choices affect microfiber shed?
New research in Frontiers of Environmental Science sheds light on how manufacturing choices influence microfiber release in textiles......»»
"Nudging" consumers is a common marketing tactic, but study finds it carries risk
Marketers have found so-called "nudging" to be an effective way to influence consumer behavior—but new research suggests those who are prompted, either subtly or directly, to select a particular product or service may be quicker to abandon it......»»
The Anthropocene epoch that isn"t—what the decision not to label a new geological epoch means for Earth"s future
For almost 15 years, scientists have debated whether the Anthropocene should be an official geological epoch marking the profound influence of humans on the planet. Then in March, an international panel of scientists formally rejected the proposal fo.....»»
Mapping the best route for a spacecraft traveling beyond the sun"s sphere of influence
The heliosphere—made of solar wind, solar transients, and the interplanetary magnetic field—acts as our solar system's personal shield, protecting the planets from galactic cosmic rays. These extremely energetic particles accelerated outwards fro.....»»
Novel role for metabolites in cellular metabolism discovered
Investigators led by Issam Ben-Sahra, Ph.D., associate professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, have discovered how cellular metabolism fluctuates in response to changes in levels of pyrimidines, metabolites used by cells to make DNA and RNA.....»»
Comprehensive study explores influence of gene expression on primate brain evolution
An interdisciplinary team of researchers led by biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently published the results of a first-of-its-kind study investigating the links between gene expression and brain evolution across 18 primate sp.....»»
Ancient isolation"s impact on modern ecology: How deep biogeographic divides drive divergent evolutionary paths
A new study led by Michigan State University researcher Peter Williams sheds light on the profound influence of deep geographic isolation on the evolution of mammals. Published in Nature Communications, the research reveals how long-lasting separatio.....»»
AirPods & Apple Watch market share insight opens debate on consumer choice
Following the US Department of Justice's comprehensive antitrust lawsuit against Apple, new insights have emerged that shed light on Apple's influence within the market.New report reveals numbers on Apple's market dominanceThe DOJ filed the lawsuit o.....»»
Do food and drink preferences influence migration flows?
When people migrate, many factors play a role in their choice of destination: How well do you speak the new country's language? Do you already have family or a community there? Do the country's values and norms match your own? How far is the new plac.....»»
"Dark stars": Dark matter may form exploding stars, and observing the damage could help reveal what it"s made of
Dark matter is a ghostly substance that astronomers have failed to detect for decades, yet which we know has an enormous influence on normal matter in the universe, such as stars and galaxies. Through the massive gravitational pull it exerts on galax.....»»
Saturday Citations: An anemic galaxy and a black hole with no influence. Also: A really cute bug
If you missed some of our top stories this week, we have you covered. From an underachieving black hole to a new species of fluffy beetle, you can see it all here......»»
An avatar will never lie, or will it? Scientists investigate how often we change our minds in virtual environments
How confident are you in your judgments and how well can you defend your opinions? Chances are that they will change under the influence of a group of avatars in a virtual environment. Scientists from SWPS University have investigated the human tende.....»»
How "Dune" became a beacon for the fledgling environmental movement, and a rallying cry for the new science of ecology
"Dune," widely considered one of the best sci-fi novels of all time, continues to influence how writers, artists and inventors envision the future......»»
Do school grades influence parental support?
The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) has researched parents' support behavior in relation to school grades. The study shows that low-income families support their children equally regardless of grades, while parents from higher-i.....»»
New research on their metabolism helps conserve endangered beluga whales in Alaska
New data provided by studying the beluga whales at Georgia Aquarium helps close a key information gap about how much food these whales need to thrive. The information will inform important management decisions for their counterparts in Alaska's Cook.....»»