Joan Chiao's research investigates how cultural factors influence basic psychological and neural processes underlying social behavior and emotion processing. The study focuses on the physiological and cultural foundations of traits such as empathy and altruism, shedding light on their role in shaping human social interactions.
Researchers discovered a sea lion, Ronan, has impressive rhythmic entrainment skills, beating to various tempos and music. This finding contradicts the long-held theory that beat keeping requires complex vocal mimicry.
Research by Virginia Parks found that African-Americans spend more time commuting than any other group, with a 25% increase over average urban commutes. The study highlights the negative impact of racial segregation on low-wage workers, particularly black women who have the longest commutes.
Researcher Timothy Johns advocates for valuing environmental and health benefits of small-scale local farming to combat malnutrition and chronic diseases. Smallholder farmers can increase productivity and sustainability with access to improved technology.
A new roadmap for the US aims to transform its energy infrastructure from fossil fuels to 100% renewable resources by 2050. The 50-state plan provides detailed information on how many wind turbines and solar panels would be needed, land area required, cost and job creation, to power each state.
Urban neighborhoods vary significantly across cities, affecting experiences of poverty and access to resources. Studying a single city's poor neighborhoods in-depth can lead to inaccurate generalizations.
Robert Gordon's research focuses on the causes of long-term unemployment and declining labor-force participation, with implications for future economic growth. He will critically evaluate the impact of technological progress on employment and consider policy strategies to mitigate its effects.
Researchers are working to conserve the high diversity of potatoes found in South America, where over 5,000 varieties exist. A top-down approach using remote sensing and bottom-up knowledge from local farmers is being used to identify agrobiodiversity hotspots and create strategies for sustainable use.
Larry Smarr, a physicist at the University of California, San Diego, has been awarded the first 2014 Golden Goose Award for his work on black hole collisions that led to a US supercomputing revolution. His team's creation of NCSA Mosaic, a precursor to web browsers, enabled modern graphical Web browsing.
Erik Fisher's Socio-Technical Integration Research (STIR) project brings social scientists together with natural scientists to tackle the societal impacts of emerging technologies. By collaborating on projects, they aim to mitigate negative environmental impacts and improve worker safety through responsible innovation.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that Missouri's 2007 handgun purchaser licensing law repeal contributed to a fourteen percent increase in the state's murder rate. The repeal was also associated with an additional 49 to 68 murders per year and a twenty-five percent increase in firearm homicides rates.
African experts will share updates on disease-resistant crops, genetic technologies, and youth empowerment in agriculture. The session aims to nurture the growth of bioscience revolution in Africa's smallholder farming sector.
Researchers developed robotic fish inspired by the weakly electric black ghost knifefish to study fragile coral reefs and investigate sunken ships. The technology improves underwater vehicles' agility, allowing them to navigate complex geometries in murky waters.
Northwestern University's International Institute for Nanotechnology is a hub for interdisciplinary research, attracting over 190 faculty researchers from diverse fields. The institute has enabled the development of transformative nanotechnologies, including nanomedicine and energy solutions.