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.....»»
Self-Taught AI May Have a Lot in Common With the Human Brain
Neural networks can use self-supervised learning to figure out what matters. This process might be what helps humans do the same......»»
Not just a joke: We scoured TikTok for anti-Asian humor during the pandemic, and found too many disappointing memes
We live in deeply unequal societies where certain groups, such as racial and sexual minorities, continue to experience structural oppression. Humor targeted at these groups can cause individual harm through its cumulative effects, and contribute to b.....»»
Freyr Battery poised to scale up clean and cost-competitive battery production
Battery has become a crucial component thanks to the adoption of EVs and energy storage systems. Freyr Battery, a Norway-based manufacturer, is establishing the first supply chain in the country with contributions from its Asian partners. The company.....»»
Team reports on a fungus that simultaneously combats two of the worst threats to banana plantation yields
The banana borer Cosmopolites sordidus and the disease Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum, are among the most harmful pests that threaten the livelihoods of banana growers, who face major challenges in attempting to con.....»»
The carp virus that taught researchers about immunology
One of the fascinating aspects of scientific research is certainly the serendipity that comes with it, which is something the team of Prof. Alain Vanderplasschen, virologist and immunologist at the FARAH (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) of the Univer.....»»
TES to work with fleet operator for EV battery recycling charging infrastructure expansion in Singapore
Singapore-based TES and Strides Mobility have signed an MoU to collaborate on lithium-ion battery recycling and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure expansion in the Southeast Asian country......»»
Glasgow School of Art presents 10 postgraduate design projects
Dezeen School Shows: an app that teaches human anatomy by visualising organs as baked goods and a musical elephant that helps teach children new languages are included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at Glasgow School of Art. Read more.....»»
Educators can help make STEM fields diverse: Practices that can encourage students to stay
Jen, a student I taught early in my career, stood head-and-shoulders above her peers academically. I learned she had started off as an engineering major but switched over to psychology. I was surprised and curious......»»
Israeli archaeologists dig up large tusk of ancient elephant
Israeli archaeologists recently unearthed the titanic tusk of a prehistoric pachyderm near a kibbutz in southern Israel, a remnant of a behemoth once hunted by early people around half a million years ago......»»
Will Banana Republic ever be forced to change its name?
As many companies have changed their names in response to customer outrage, one of the country’s most popular fashion brands has continued to use its branding with little pushback. Why? The last two-plus years have seen a broad reckoning for c.....»»
Asian elephants have a nasal pronunciation
With the help of an acoustic camera that visualizes sound pressure, researchers from the University of Vienna investigated the calls of Asian elephants. The elephants emitted their low frequency "rumbles" mainly through their trunk or through their m.....»»
Scientists unravel biotic colonization history of subtropical East Asian caves
Caves have an isolated, strongly zonal environment and are home to unique and fragile biotas with high levels of endemism. However, little is known about how the biotic colonization of caves developed over time, especially in caves at middle and low.....»»
Elephant tweets highlight divide on conservation issues
An analysis of social media posts has highlighted how attention on Twitter does not align with the most pressing threats to wild elephants, which may have negative consequences for elephant conservation and lead to resentment from local communities t.....»»
How monsoon winds impact climate change by transporting pollutants into the upper atmosphere
While the Asian monsoon brings rain that is vital for the agricultural economy of the vast region, it is also known to suck up into the upper atmosphere chemical pollutants that accelerate climate change......»»
Diabetes Screening Standards in the U.S. Miss the Disease in Many People of Color
Risks for Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans start at lower weights and younger ages than risks for white people.....»»
Aeroprobing cooperates with Japanese companies to tap Southeast Asian market
In a bid to produce drones in Japan for exports to the Southeast Asian market, drone software developer Aeroprobing entered cooperations with Japan-based drone application service provider Blue Innovation in 2019 and Japan-based electronics maker San.....»»
The plastic crisis has deep corporate roots: To protect our planet, they need to be exposed
This spring, I taught a new undergraduate course in environmental sociology. Most of my students took the course because they were curious to see what their desire to live more sustainably had to do with sociology......»»
This tear-jerking game about grief taught me an invaluable lesson about loss
Hindsight, a new narrative indie game, explores how to package up our grief and carry it with us......»»
Rare white elephant born in Myanmar: state media
A rare white elephant has been born in western Myanmar, state media said on Wednesday, unveiling what many in the Buddhist-majority country believe to be an auspicious creature......»»
Thailand to create Southeast Asian hub for EV production
The Thailand government has been making efforts to have Thailand become a hub for production of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV components in the Southeast Asian region, according to industry sources......»»