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.....»»
Researcher: Workers like it when their employers talk about diversity and inclusion
Many companies have made commitments toward diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in recent years, particularly since the murder of George Floyd sparked weeks of racial justice riots in 2020......»»
Spelt or common wheat? Their diversity of nutritional components prevents identification of which species is healthier
After comparing 90 varieties of spelt with 9 varieties of modern, common wheat, a study by the UCO concluded that the marked heterogeneity characterizing the nutritional compounds of the different varieties makes it impossible to state that one speci.....»»
Single primer enrichment technology: A new genomic resource to investigate the diversity of lettuce germplasm
For the first time, the single primer enrichment technology (SPET)—a novel high-throughput genotyping method—was used in lettuce to study the genetic diversity of a collection of 160 Lactuca accessions originating from 10 countries in Europe, Ame.....»»
Algae provide clues about 600 million years of plant evolution
Earth's surface is covered by plants. They make up the majority of biomass on land and exhibit a wide range of diversity, from mosses to trees. This astounding biodiversity came into existence due to a fateful evolutionary event that happened just on.....»»
Two networks, two realities, one big problem
National news coverage from the two largest broadcast outlets, CNN and Fox News, not only reflects growing political polarization in America, but in a recent publication, researchers at Virginia Tech have shown that partisan and inflammatory broadcas.....»»
A new route for universal polarization transformations of spatially varying polarization fields
Polarization describes the orientation of oscillations in a light wave, and it plays an essential role in various optical applications—from enhancing visibility in sunglasses and camera lenses to facilitating advanced optical communication and imag.....»»
What true diversity in the cybersecurity industry looks like
In this Help Net Security video, Larry Whiteside, Jr., CISO at RegScale and President of Cyversity, discusses how, now more than ever, the cybersecurity industry needs the diversity of thought to address the increasingly complex and technology-driven.....»»
Culled fruit trees sunk into the Wadden Sea boost local diversity and abundance of marine life
Reefs, whether natural or man-made, are hotspots of marine biodiversity. But especially in soft-bottomed seas, reefs have become scarce because many hard substrates have been removed due to overfishing of shellfish, dredging, trawling, and deep-sea m.....»»
Coral reefs: How climate change threatens the hidden diversity of marine ecosystems
Like the heat waves on land we have all grown familiar with, marine heat waves are being amplified by climate change. These extreme warm water events have ushered in some of the most catastrophic impacts of climate change and are now a major threat t.....»»
Team develops way to integrate electro-optic modulator device on end faces of a single-mode optical fiber jumper
Electro-optic modulators (EOMs) are cardinal elements in the optical communication networks that control the amplitude, phase and polarization of a light via external electric signals. Aiming to realize ultracompact and high-performance EOMs, most in.....»»
First pixel-scale matching framework to quantify plant diversity and ecosystem services in Xishuangbanna
Biodiversity is the basis of ecosystem services, and the two are closely related. Earlier studies have assessed their relationship at the regional or watershed scale......»»
Students from marginalized groups are less likely to seek surgical careers
Medical students from marginalized groups are less likely to have sustained or cultivated career paths in surgery, Yale researchers report in a new study. The findings, they say, have implications for the diversity of the surgical workforce and patie.....»»
As urban heat rises, bird diversity declines: 336-city study
Humans aren't the only ones leaving town when city heat becomes unbearable. A study done on 336 cities in China concludes that heat-retaining buildings and paved surfaces are directly related to a loss in bird diversity. These findings from scientist.....»»
Bronze Age family systems deciphered: Paleogeneticists analyze 3,800-year-old extended family
The diversity of family systems in prehistoric societies has always fascinated scientists. A study by Mainz anthropologists and an international team of archaeologists now provides new insights into the origins and genetic structure of prehistoric fa.....»»
Detecting a vast diversity of rainforest animals by swabbing their DNA from leaves
In a new study, an international research team has shown that cotton swabs, which we all got to know so intimately during the COVID-19 pandemic, are a valuable tool to map biodiversity. The team was led by scientists at the Helmholtz Institute for On.....»»
How to depolarize political toxicity on social media
While social media is often blamed for exacerbating incivility and partisan polarization, research led by Duke University scholars found that anonymous online conversations using a mobile chat platform they developed can reduce political polarization.....»»
Small urban greening projects can dramatically increase number of insect species in cities
By increasing the diversity of indigenous plants in urban areas, researchers from the University of Melbourne have seen a seven-fold increase in the number of insect species in just three years, confirming the ecological benefits of urban greening pr.....»»
Political polarization toned down through anonymous online chats
Republicans seem to depolarize more than Democrats. Enlarge (credit: Carol Yepes/Getty) Political polarization in the US has become a major issue, as Republicans and Democrats increasingly inhabit separate realities on t.....»»
Diverse teams can improve engineering outcomes, but recent affirmative action decision may hinder diversity efforts
It may seem intuitive that teams made up of people with a diversity of perspectives, experiences and backgrounds lead to more effective and inclusive outcomes. But the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to curb affirmative action in higher education.....»»
Exposing the hidden genetic diversity of an ecologically harmful microbe
A microscopic species of algae is causing toxic algal blooms around the world, affecting two dozen states in the U.S., especially Texas. New research into the genetic diversity of the responsible organism, Prymnesium parvum, could help authorities pr.....»»