Polarization, diversity, and democratic robustness
Polarization is dangerous for democracy. Though the U.S. Constitution was designed to harness rivalry with a diverse, redundant, and modular set of institutions, if that rivalry curdles into the belief that your competitors are your enemies, those in.....»»
Film festivals are becoming more diverse in several ways, new study reports
A group of Tallinn University researchers has published an innovative study that sheds light on the intricate dynamics of the global film festival circuit, revealing insights into diversity and public value creation within the industry. The research.....»»
Big Tech firms beat lawsuit from child laborers forced to work in cobalt mines
Buying cobalt doesn't make US firms liable for abuses in DR Congo, court rules. Enlarge / Workers at a cobalt mine in the Mwenga territory of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 14, 2023. (credit:.....»»
Exploring genetic diversity of new almond accessions
In the pursuit of enhancing almond genetic diversity for the ever-expanding global demand, researchers have delved into a private almond germplasm collection, shedding light on the potential for new cultivars adapted to diverse growing conditions......»»
Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of melon provides a high-quality reference for meta-QTL analysis
Melon, with its significant economic value and extensive phenotypic diversity, has been cultivated globally for over 4,000 years, featuring two main subspecies that have undergone independent domestication processes. Recent advancements have led to t.....»»
Study of slowly evolving "living fossils" reveals key genetic insights
In 1859, Charles Darwin coined the term "living fossils" to describe organisms that show little species diversity or physical differences from their ancestors in the fossil record. In a new study, Yale researchers provide the first evidence of a biol.....»»
Researchers use liquid crystals to control polarization inside laser-written waveguides
Researchers have developed a new way to control and manipulate optical signals by embedding a liquid crystal layer into waveguides created with direct laser writing. The new devices enable electro-optical control of polarization, which could open new.....»»
Google Left in ‘Terrible Bind’ by Pulling AI Feature After Right-Wing Backlash
Google’s overcorrection for AI’s well-known bias against people of color left it vulnerable to yet another firestorm over diversity. February was shaping up to be a banner month for Google’s ambitious artificial intellige.....»»
Unveiling rare diversity: The origin of heritable mutations in trees
What is the origin of genetic diversity in plants? Can new mutations acquired during growth be passed on to seeds? INRAE scientists, in collaboration with CIRAD and the CNRS, have used the French Guiana forest as the setting for their research, leadi.....»»
Meet the winners of the 2024 Dance Your PhD Contest
"One of the main messages I wanted to convey... is that differences lead to diversity." Weliton Menário Costa of the Australian National University won the 2024 Dance Your PhD contest with "Kangaroo Time." We've been following the.....»»
The effects of primer pairs, PCR conditions, and peptide nucleic acid clamps on plant root fungal diversity assessment
Fungi are frequently found both around and within plant tissues (especially in roots) and are involved in both plant nutrient acquisition and resistance to pathogens. Thus, characterizing the diversity and composition of plant-associated fungal commu.....»»
Making it personal: Considering an issue"s relevance to your own life could help reduce political polarization
Political polarization can be reduced when people are told to think about the personal relevance of issues they might not care about at first glance......»»
Global warming found to increase the diversity of active soil bacteria
Warmer soils harbor a greater diversity of active microbes, according to a new study from researchers at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna......»»
Assessment of China"s protected areas needs refining, study finds
The urgency of conserving biodiversity and natural habitats is critical worldwide. Balancing human needs with a growing recognition of the need to conserve and protect diversity is challenging. Despite positive progress, China's protected areas (PAs).....»»
New study identifies 13 strategies for advancing racial and ethnic equity in the academic health sciences
Amid continued debate over how to advance diversity and equity in higher education following the Supreme Court's decision striking down affirmative action, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Northeastern University have issued a "roa.....»»
Investigators find that streams connected to groundwater show improved detoxification and microbial diversity
Streams with ample connections to shallow groundwater flowpaths have greater microbial diversity and are more effective at preventing toxic forms of metals—often products of upstream mining—from entering and being transported downstream. These st.....»»
Study suggests anti-Black racism may account for conservatives" negative reactions to jobs requiring DEI statements
According to new research from Rice University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, conservative-leaning job applicants indicate being less likely to pursue positions that require personal statements on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and.....»»
Google’s hidden AI diversity prompts lead to outcry over historically inaccurate images
Inserting depictions of diversity into AI images creates revisionist history, critics say. Enlarge / Generations from Gemini AI from the prompt, "Paint me a historically accurate depiction of a medieval British king." (credit: @s.....»»
How a New Bipartisan Task Force Is Thinking About Artificial Intelligence
TIME spoke to members of the House's new Task Force about their priorities—and finding common ground on AI. On Tuesday, speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries launched a bipartis.....»»
Report finds most Americans do not support partisan violence
Despite political chatter about a new civil war, Americans' support for partisan violence remains very low, according to a new report issued by the Polarization Research Lab......»»
Compulsory voting can reduce political polarization in the US, study finds
Introducing compulsory voting in the United States and other majoritarian democracies, with meaningful and enforceable penalties for abstention, has the potential to reduce political polarization and protect democratic institutions from anti-democrat.....»»