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Alaska Native tribes take lead on shellfish toxin testing where state falls short
A group of coastal Alaska Native tribes in 2016 began monitoring shellfish, a traditional harvest, for deadly biotoxins because the state only tests commercial harvests. The program fills an essential gap in public health protection and has found success, with 17 tribes now in the testing network. Securing stable, long-term funding and improving public outreach could improve outcomes even further, a new study reports.
High school students contribute to exoplanet discovery
A group of high school students from Oakland, California, made contributions to the field of exoplanet research. Researchers worked with the students to use backpack-sized digital smart telescopes. These young citizen scientists played a role in observing and confirming the nature of a warm and dense sub-Saturn planet, known as TIC 139270665 b, orbiting a metal-rich G2 star.
Perceived gender discrimination linked to decline in wellbeing for older women
A study of more than 3,000 middle-aged and older women living in England showed that those who believed they had encountered gender discrimination were more likely to report declines in wellbeing over time.
Fear may lead women and men to make different decisions when choosing short-VS-long-term rewards
Fear may affect women's decisions in choosing immediate rewards versus larger delayed ones, while men's decisions appear unaffected by emotion, according to a new study.
Earlier retirement for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain
Frequent musculoskeletal pain is linked with an increased risk of exiting work and retiring earlier, according to a new study.
Social bonding gets people on the same wavelength
When small hierarchical groups bond, neural activity between leaders and followers aligns, promoting quicker and more frequent communication, according to a new study.
Low social status increases risk of health problems from alcohol problems
Men and women with lower income or education levels are more likely to develop medical conditions related to alcohol abuse compared to similar individuals with a higher socioeconomic status, according to a new study.
Sea surface temperature research provides clear evidence of human-caused climate change
Claims that climate change is natural are inconsistent with new oceanic temperature trends.
Powerful new AI can predict people's attitudes to vaccines
A powerful new tool in artificial intelligence is able to predict whether someone is willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
While social media changes over decades, conversation dynamics stay the same, new study suggests
A new study has identified recurring, 'toxic' human conversation patterns on social media, which are common to users irrespective of the platform used, the topic of discussion, and the decade in which the conversation took place.
Feeling apathetic? There may be hope
A new method that aims to help people develop grit looks promising.
New technique helps AI tell when humans are lying
Researchers have developed a new training tool to help artificial intelligence (AI) programs better account for the fact that humans don't always tell the truth when providing personal information. The new tool was developed for use in contexts when humans have an economic incentive to lie, such as applying for a mortgage or trying to lower their insurance premiums.
Study shows middle-aged Americans are lonelier than European peers, suggests loneliness in midlife is endemic
New research has shown that not only are middle-aged Americans lonelier than their same-age peers in Europe, but levels of loneliness are also increasing across generations in the U.S. and Europe.
Laws that punish drug use during pregnancy likely lead to worse health outcomes for families, study finds
Contrary to some claims, laws that criminalize or otherwise punish drug use during pregnancy are more likely to worsen rather than improve health outcomes. The study is the first to systematically review the literature on punitive prenatal drug laws -- an increasingly common state policy strategy for addressing rising rates of prenatal drug use.
Study estimates nearly 70 percent of children under six in Chicago may be exposed to lead-contaminated tap water
A new analysis estimates that 68 percent of Chicago children under age six live in households with tap water containing detectable levels of lead.
Virtual reality better than video for evoking fear, spurring climate action
Depicting worst-case climate scenarios like expanding deserts and dying coral reefs may better motivate people to support environmental policies when delivered via virtual reality, according to a research team that studied how VR and message framing affect the impact of environmental advocacy communications. The study findings may help advocacy groups decide how best to frame and deliver their messages.
Global wildlife study during COVID-19 shows rural animals are more sensitive to human activity
One of the largest studies on wildlife activity reveals that wild animals react differently to humans depending on where the animals live and what they eat. Bigger herbivores -- plant-eating animals like deer or moose -- tend to become more active when humans are around, while meat-eaters like wolves or wolverines tend to be less active, preferring to avoid risky encounters.
Landmark study shows that 'transcendent' thinking may grow teens' brains over time
Scientists find that adolescents who grapple with the bigger meaning of social situations experience greater brain growth, which predicts stronger identity development and life satisfaction years later.
Less social with age
Scientists tested several hypotheses on the drivers of social aging in free-living Assamese macaques in Thailand. The researchers collected data on the social behavior of females for eight years and found that the size of their social networks decreases with increasing age. The females continued to interact with their close social partners, but gradually withdrew from social interactions altogether. The results contribute to the understanding of the evolutionary origins of social aging.
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