Each human culture consists of a unique set of values, beliefs and practices. However, a common thread across cultures is the apparent importance of preserving aspects of those cultures throughout generations. [...]
Showing students audiovisual narratives that simulate homophobic bullying scenarios in schools can capture their attention and generate reflection on social prejudices, promoting respect and inclusion. This strategy is presented in an article published in the Journal of School Violence. [...]
The four-day work week can increase productivity, improve work-life balance and retain talent when there is a real commitment on the part of the company that promotes it. These are some of the conclusions of InnovaWorking, a European scientific project coordinated by the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), which presented the study today in the European Parliament. Its research focuses on innovative working time policies that have been negotiated between unions and employers in different countries of the European Union. [...]
A new ESPOL study reveals that turning learning into a game can improve grades in STEM subjects, but it doesn't necessarily motivate students more. [...]
Populist parties have long ceased to be a marginal phenomenon. They are now an established political force in many European countries and are fundamentally challenging the democratic system. These parties use harsh rhetoric against the "elite" and present themselves as the sole representatives of the "true will of the people." [...]
Methane damages the climate—in the first 20 years after it is released, it is around 80 times more harmful than CO₂. At the same time, the short-lived greenhouse gas offers enormous potential for climate mitigation, particularly in the oil and gas industry. This is because leaks can often be eliminated quickly, cost‑effectively and permanently with "no‑regret" measures. What would otherwise escape unnoticed can instead be captured, burned or reused. [...]
All children in England living in households claiming universal credit will soon be eligible for free school meals, the UK government has announced. This will improve the lives of 500,000 more children and save their families £500 per year. [...]
Unlike ballet, contemporary dance is not necessarily intuitively "understood" by the general public. So, which factors influence whether audiences enjoy a contemporary dance performance? [...]
Modified (metal oxide) biochar is widely used for the remediation of degraded soils, but there has been limited research work on its effect on phosphorus (P) fractionation and biochemical properties under different soil conditions. [...]
A new study led by researchers at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Manchester has achieved a major advance in quantum materials, developing a method to precisely engineer single quantum defects in diamond—an essential step toward scalable quantum technologies. The results have been published in the journal Nature Communications. [...]
A pioneering partnership between researchers from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has produced a novel nanopore sensing platform for single-biomolecule detection. Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, pave the way for solid-state, label-free DNA sequencing technologies with implications for precision medicine. [...]
An instrument built at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to map minerals on Earth is now revealing clues about water quality. A recent study found that EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation) was able to identify signs of sewage in the water at a Southern California beach. [...]
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)-led research team has adopted gyromagnetic double-zero-index metamaterials (GDZIMs)—a new optical extreme-parameter material—and developed a new method to control light using GDZIMs. This discovery could revolutionize fields like optical communications, biomedical imaging, and nanotechnology, enabling advances in integrated photonic chips, high-fidelity optical communication, and quantum light sources. [...]
Climate models that give a low warming from increases in greenhouse gases do not match satellite measurements. Future warming will likely be worse than thought unless society acts, according to a new study published in Science. [...]
Researchers have identified a form of molecular motion that has not previously been observed. When what are known as "guest molecules"—molecules that are accommodated within a host molecule—penetrate droplets of DNA polymers, they do not simply diffuse in them in a haphazard fashion, but propagate through them in the form of a clearly-defined frontal wave. The team includes researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research and the University of Texas at Austin. [...]
Most plants form beneficial relationships with belowground mycorrhizal fungi that help them access soil nutrients in exchange for sugars. These plant-fungal relationships are the most common type of symbiosis in the world, but scientists know very little about the ways that fungal species' characteristics relate to their distribution, function, and resilience. [...]
Astronomers have discovered a "jellyfish" galaxy whose unusual shape and internal mechanisms—including distinctive "bunny ears" and an inner "tail"—are giving researchers an unprecedented view of dynamics within one of the universe's most extreme environments. [...]
Households affected by high electricity prices during the energy crisis tend to be more negative toward climate policy. Research from the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg shows that perceived unfairness reinforces misconceptions about fuel taxes. [...]
A team of wildlife management specialists, environmental toxicologists and geneticists at the Conservation and Biodiversity Research Center, Edith Cowan University, in Australia, has found that some black rats living in Australian cities have developed a genetic mutation that potentially increases their resistance to the most popular poisons used to kill them. [...]
Research at the Quantum Systems Accelerator has been steadily breaking new ground, quickening the pace toward flexible, stable quantum computers with capabilities well beyond those of today's classical machines. [...]
As veterinary medicine evolves, new technologies, procedures, and treatments are expanding options for diagnosing, managing, and treating a wide range of pet illnesses. [...]
Laboratory and field experiments have repeatedly demonstrated that modifications to the process of photosynthesis or to the physical characteristics of plants can make crops more resilient to hotter temperatures. [...]
Atmospheric rivers are responsible for most flooding on the West Coast of the U.S., but they also bring much-needed moisture to the region. The size of these storms doesn't always translate to flood risk, however, as other factors on the ground play important roles. Now, a new study helps untangle the other drivers of flooding to help communities and water managers better prepare. [...]
In squash, the "nick shot" is an emphatic, point-ending play in which a player strikes a ball that ricochets near the bottom of the wall and rolls flat along the floor instead of bouncing, leaving an opponent with no chance to return it. [...]
Bacteria, viruses and fungi are masters at evolving new strategies to infiltrate plants and cause disease that harm crops. To get ahead of these pathogens, University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers like Dr. Valentyna Klymiuk (Ph.D.) and Dr. Curtis Pozniak (Ph.D.) are studying wild wheat varieties that carry resistance to these harmful pathogens. This led them to discover something they'd never encountered before—a unique pair of genes that work together to protect against disease. [...]
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, the world urgently needs clean and renewable energy sources. Hydrogen is one such clean energy source that has zero carbon content and stores much more energy by weight than gasoline. [...]
PFAS are, in many ways, remarkable molecules. Even a thin layer can repel water, oil, and dirt. They are also highly resistant to heat and UV light, which makes them ideal for coating breathable outdoor clothing, stain-resistant carpets, disposable tableware, irons, and nonstick pans. Industrially, PFAS are used as lubricants, surfactants, wetting agents, in chrome plating, and in fire-fighting foams. The list goes on—PFAS are nearly everywhere. [...]
From diverse shapes and sizes to complex dispersals and defenses, seed traits hold the secrets to how plants adapt, reproduce, and survive. Yet, when it comes to global plant trait data, there is a noticeable gap: We know far more about leaves than we do about seeds. And it is not just "what" that is missing—it is also "where." Much of the world's seed trait data comes from just a few regions like Western Europe and Australia, leaving biodiversity hotspots like China poorly represented in global datasets. [...]
Capturing the behavior of animals in their natural habitat with high detail? Researchers from the Konstanz-based Cluster of Excellence "Collective Behavior" developed a unique outdoor camera system to measure 3D movements and postures of wild birds. The system is mobile, robust to field conditions, and adaptable to a wide range of experiments and species. [...]
The European Space Agency (ESA) said Thursday it was looking to bolster alliances with countries other than the United States as it adapts to looming cuts at key partner NASA. [...]