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Science News Archive 2019 - Page 399


Page 399 of 486

Pollinators need people

Research reveals that supporting local communities with cultural, spiritual, and economic connections to pollinators is key to effective conservation. The study suggests that policies like biocultural conservation can foster pollinator protection and sustainable management of resources.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalNature Sustainability·DateMar 11, 2019

How online neighborhood reviews could aid urban planning

A recent study by University at Buffalo researcher Yingjie Hu analyzed neighborhood reviews from over 7,600 users on Niche.com to identify features of neighborhoods that people talked about online. The analysis revealed discrepancies between reviewers' perceptions and other data, such as crime statistics and employment rates.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalAnnals of the American Association of Geographers·DateMar 11, 2019

How to take a census of Earth's biodiversity? One team of researchers has a plan

Researchers propose a new method to measure and track plant and animal populations, known as the 'hypercube,' which can generate health stats for the planet. The goal is to provide policymakers with accurate information to make sound conservation decisions, including assessing progress toward national and international policy goals.

SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMar 11, 2019

Remembering to forget

A human neuroimaging study suggests that intentionally redirecting attention away from an unwanted experience during memory formation and suppressing its retrieval once formed can facilitate forgetting. The research provides evidence for a new link between voluntary control of visual attention and long-term memory fate.

OHIO study: Information literacy can combat 'fake news'

A new study by Ohio University professor Dr. M. Laeeq Khan found that media and information literacy are key factors in recognizing misinformation on social media. The study suggests that individuals with strong information verification skills are less likely to share misinformation online.

SourceOhio University·JournalBehaviour and Information Technology·DateMar 11, 2019

Researchers report new light-activated micro pump

Researchers developed a laser-driven photoacoustic microfluidic pump that moves fluids in any direction without mechanical parts or electrical contacts. The device uses a plasmonic quartz plate implanted with gold atoms to generate an ultrasonic wave, driving the fluid via acoustic streaming.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2019

How to train your robot (to feed you dinner)

Researchers at the University of Washington have created a robotic system that can strategize how to use a fork to pick up and deliver bites to a person's mouth. The robot used an object-detection algorithm and a new skewing-and-feeding strategy to successfully pick up hard foods but struggled with soft foods.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalIEEE Robotics and Automation Letters·DateMar 11, 2019

For hyenas, there's no 'I' in clan

In a new study, researchers found that female spotted hyenas who form strong coalitions with other females can overthrow their superiors and improve their fitness. The study revealed that these alliances play a crucial role in maintaining stable social hierarchies and improving the overall rank of coalition members.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2019

Sensing shakes

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a new way to sense earthquakes using gravitational signals, which can detect seismic waves ahead of time. The method has been proven reliable with 7-sigma accuracy and could lead to improved early warning systems that save lives.

Female academic EM doctors less likely than male doctors to hold rank of full professor

A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that female academic emergency medicine physicians are less likely to hold the rank of full professor compared to their male counterparts. Only 17% of female emergency physicians were associate or full professors, highlighting a significant disparity in representation and advancement.

SourceSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateMar 10, 2019

Disparities in access to trauma centers

Black-majority neighborhoods in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago face disparities in access to trauma centers, with racial/ethnic disparities only significant in New York after accounting for poverty. The study suggests trauma planning should address racial equity, particularly in densely populated areas like New York.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 8, 2019

Improving researchers' abilities to forecast epidemics

A study published in Scientific Reports analyzed forecasts from 14 predictive models submitted to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's influenza season forecasting challenge. The results show that teams with more experience and combined model approaches performed better, highlighting opportunities for future improvement.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 8, 2019

Machine learning to the rescue

The team aims to develop a sorting-machine prototype using pupae images and machine-learning algorithms to process tens of thousands of images daily. They also design a robot to sort the pupae based on the result of the algorithm, with the goal of reducing tsetse populations in sub-Saharan Africa.