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.....»»
Scientists identify genetic mechanism responsible for plant leaf diversity
Plant leaves come in many different shapes, sizes and complexities. Some leaves are large and smooth, while others are smaller and serrated. Some leaves grow in single pieces while others form multiple leaflets. These variations in leaf structure pla.....»»
Cyber threats cast shadow over 2024 elections
Considering that 2024 is a historic year for elections – with an estimated half of the world’s population taking part in democratic votes – this high threat of cyber interference has significant implications for global free society, threatening.....»»
Study shows promise of transceiver-based sensing for active monitoring of fiber networks
Researchers have successfully used a coherent transceiver prototype to detect polarization changes that preceded a cable break in a live network. The work, which is one of the first demonstrations of field-based measurements for an active cable break.....»»
Researchers identify human activities as drivers of biodiversity decline in central Mexico"s reserves
New research shows the diversity of plant and animal life in 14 tropical reserves in Mesoamerica has plummeted since 1990 as roads and cattle ranches have expanded into protected areas. Large mammals, birds, and reptiles are disappearing, while disea.....»»
An evolutionarily conserved pathway that achieves a peaceful co-existence with genomic parasites
Transposable elements are mobile genetic elements that can relocate within the genome and disrupt the normal function of genes, but are at the same time a source of evolutionary diversity. The lab of Tugce Aktas at the Max Planck Institute for Molecu.....»»
Scientists are unraveling the secrets of red and gray squirrel competition
In a first of its kind study, researchers have identified significant differences between the diversity of gut bacteria in gray squirrels compared to red squirrels which could hold the key to further understanding the ability of gray squirrels to out.....»»
"Fortress" conservation policies threaten the food security of rural populations, says researcher
Barriers created by "fortress conservation"—as in the near-total sectioning off of land for conservation without human interference—are threatening important dietary diversity for the up to 1.5 billion people around the world who rely on wild foo.....»»
Discovery of widespread coral diversity may change conservation efforts
There may be many more species of coral than we ever imagined—according to researchers from Boston University, The University of Rhode Island (URI), and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI)—and they may change our approach to coral reef cons.....»»
Researchers use satellites to analyze global reef biodiversity
Researchers used Earth-orbiting satellites to map coral reef biodiversity at a global scale to show that areas of high habitat diversity also have high species diversity. This new satellite mapping technique can help guide future efforts to identify.....»»
Gender-diverse boardrooms reduce leaked deal information, research suggests
Research from Dr. Valeriya Vitkova, Senior Lecturer in Corporate Finance at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), has revealed that merger and acquisition (M&A) deals involving target firms with greater boardroom gender diversity experience fewer le.....»»
Researchers: Black travelers want authentic engagement, not check boxes
After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, when travel brands—including Delta Air Lines, Hilton and Enterprise—pronounced their support for diversity and the Black Lives Matter movement, our research group was motivated to conduct a study that col.....»»
How does car traffic influence airborne fungal diversity?
Microbial particles including fungi, bacteria, allergens, etc., are common natural components of air. In particular, fungi represent a large portion of the airborne microbes since they are among the most abundant, widely dispersed, and pervasive orga.....»»
When firms internalize political stigma
The Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 stigmatized local employers by creating the impression that strongly anti-diversity attitudes put on display by white supremacists were widespread in the community. Employers sought to counte.....»»
A 365-million-year-old fish with an extreme underbite showcases vertebrate diversity
Vertebrates are defined as all animals that possess a vertebral column, or backbone. Most living vertebrates also possess jaws, teeth and paired fins or limbs......»»
Physicists develop novel concept for detecting chiral molecules
In contrast to conventional mirrors, light can be reflected on surfaces known as metasurfaces without changing its polarization. This phenomenon has now been proven by physicists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and the Ma.....»»
Affirmative action policies to increase diversity are successful, but controversial, around the world
In a landmark judgment in June 2023, the US supreme court ruled against the use of race-conscious admissions in colleges and universities. This decision marked a controversial end to affirmative action in US higher education admissions......»»
Tesla drops minority-worker terms after Musk"s rants over DEI initiatives
Musk has repeatedly denounced diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in recent weeks on social media, calling them “literally the definition of racism.”.....»»
Inner ear of 6-million-year-old ape fossil reveals clues about the evolution of human movement
Humans and our closest relatives, living apes, display a remarkable diversity of types of locomotion—from walking upright on two legs to climbing in trees and walking using all four limbs......»»
Political polarization may slow legislation, make higher-stakes laws likelier
The United States House of Representatives held more than 700 votes in 2023, but fewer than 30 bills were signed into law. Partisan politics may explain why, with polarization potentially causing enough friction to slow down the legislative process a.....»»
Discovery of a third RNA virus lineage in extreme environments
There are numerous RNA virus species on Earth. However, their diversity and evolution as well as roles in the ecosystem remain unclear......»»