Pang Pha, the Asian elephant, taught herself how to peel a banana
The elephant only peels yellow-brown bananas when alone, and can do so faster than humans. An elephant named Pang Pha learned how to peel a banana with her trunk—but only yellow-brown bananas. Credit: Kaufmann et al., 2023/Current.....»»
Passage of laws preempting local action on transgender rights and race and racism in schools accelerates since 2019
The pace of states using preemption to control local authority has quickened and expanded in the United States around issues related to rights of student athletes who are transgender, and the ways race and racism may be taught in US classrooms, accor.....»»
Could the background circulation of the record-breaking rainfall in July 2021 in East-central China have been predicted?
In July 2021, unprecedented heavy rainfall occurred in Zhengzhou (east-central China) against a background of a northward shift in the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), which is a key atmospheric circulation system affecting the East Asian sum.....»»
Ancient eggshells unlock discovery of extinct elephant bird lineage
More than 1,200 years ago, flightless elephant birds roamed the island of Madagascar and laid eggs bigger than footballs. While these ostrich-like giants are now extinct, new research from CU Boulder and Curtin University in Australia reveals that th.....»»
Scientists reveal influence of Asian summer monsoon on volcanic aerosol transport
Aerosols transported to the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) region potentially reduce average global surface temperatures and alter atmospheric circulation. Although large volcanic eruptions are rare in recent decades, small and medium vo.....»»
Racial stereotypes vary in digital interactions
Racial stereotypes were upended during a recent study that involved artificial intelligence. New research from the University of Georgia found that Black bots were considered more competent and more human than white or Asian bots used in the same stu.....»»
Neanderthals spread diverse cultures across Eurasia (before we came along)
Two recent archaeological studies reveal a lot more than Neanderthal diets. Enlarge / This artist's conception shows how Neanderthals might have faced down the mammoth task of butchering a freshly-killed elephant. (credit: Benoit.....»»
Turkey tragedy jolts quake-prone Central Asia
When a devastating earthquake and aftershocks struck Turkey and Syria this month, Klara Imangalieva—who lives in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan—realized she had to move......»»
Yams benefit from banana "paper" cocoon
Wrapping yam seeds in biodegradable paper made from a mixture of unusable parts of banana plants and recycled cardboard boxes sharply increased yam size and yields in field tests conducted in Benin, Africa......»»
Three things the pandemic taught us about inequality in college—and why they matter today
Elise, a nursing student at an elite U.S. university in the Northeast, found herself back home and sleeping on the floor of her parents' one-bedroom apartment after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020......»»
Gran Turismo Sophy devs explain how it taught an AI racer sportsmanlike conduct
Experts from Sony AI spoke to Digital Trends about the AI powering Gran Turismo 7's new Gran Turismo Sophy Race Together mode......»»
Elephant seal remains show Antarctic sea was warmer in the mid-to-late Holocene
Studying the response of Antarctic ice sheets to past warming episodes is essential to understand how they may respond to the present warming climate, as their melting and collapse can contribute to global sea level rise. Detailed records of past oce.....»»
Do elementary school students do better when taught by teachers of the same race or ethnicity?
U.S. elementary school students do not particularly benefit from being taught by teachers of the same race or ethnicity. That's the major finding from our new study, published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly. We analyzed a nationally representa.....»»
Taiwanese makers interested in making EV components in Southeast Asia
Taiwan-based ICT and electronic component makers, in a bid to enter EV (electric vehicle) supply chains, are interested in setting up factories in Southeast Asian countries, especially Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia which are likely to become new pr.....»»
Fighting bias with bias: Same-race reviews shown to reduce Airbnb booking inequality
White guests favor Airbnb properties with white hosts but are more inclined to rent from Black or Asian hosts if they see featured reviews from previous white guests, new research finds......»»
Study finds public opinion on ivory in China shifts over two decades
When the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, allowed a one-off chance for China to bid on a 108-ton stockpile of ivory amassed from natural African elephant deaths and culling in 2008, many conse.....»»
Apple increases orders from Taiwanese supplier to reduce dependence on China
Apple and many other companies rely heavily on China to make their products, but this has become a problem recently as the Asian country has been imposing lockdowns and other political restrictions that affect the production of these companies. In a.....»»
Researchers have determined what African elephants can hear
With an electrode adhered to one fan-shaped ear, another on the back of the neck and a ground wire at its hip, an African elephant munches on a snack as it is presented with a sound, over and over again. A team of University of Cincinnati researchers.....»»
NextUp Care hopes to expand its algorithm-based healthcare scheduling platform to Asian markets
Canadian digital health company NextUp Care is focusing on automating healthcare appointments, specifically for booking advanced medical imaging services such as MRI, CT scans, and nuclear medicine. Through its cloud-based AI algorithms, NextUp Care.....»»
NextUp Care hopes to expand its algorithm-based healthcare booking service to Asian markets
Canadian digital health company NextUp Care is focusing on automating healthcare appointments, specifically for booking advanced medical imaging services such as MRI, CT scans, and nuclear medicine. Through its cloud-based AI algorithms, NextUp Care.....»»
The MIT Banana Lounge
I’ve co-founded or been an early investor in many things. One of my favorites is the MIT Banana Lounge. I will be hanging out there Tuesday afternoon and doing an AMA from 2pm to 4pm. It began with an email from Zoe Sheill. I met Zoe at PSL whe.....»»