A new study reveals evidence of beer drinking 9,000 years ago in southern China, with ancient pots found at a burial site containing residues consistent with beer fermentation. The discovery suggests that ritualized drinking played a significant role in forging social relationships and cooperation among ancient communities.
A recent study found that greenhouse gases from human activity and warmer North Atlantic Ocean temperatures contributed to the Northeast's increased extreme precipitation since 1996. The research used global climate model simulations and statistical methods to isolate the causes of the increase.
A new study published in the American Political Science Review found that public diplomacy accompanying a high-level visit by a national leader increases public approval in the host country. The effect lasts up to two and a half weeks and is especially strong when covered by news media.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have created a novel process for 3D printing inks that can be activated by heat and moisture, allowing for the creation of complex objects with varying mechanical strengths. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the field of 3D printing by enabling the creation of single-ink solutions for...
Gamma-cyclodextrin, a widely used compound in manufacturing, has been made more accessible and environmentally friendly through a new process using light-sensitive hydrazone. This process reduces energy consumption and cost, making the compound cheaper and more available for use in various consumer products.
Researchers at Dartmouth College discovered that the brain uses a 'steadycam' strategy to stabilize visual experience, perceiving frames as stationary even when they're clearly moving. This 'paradoxical stabilization' effect creates the illusion of stable images, similar to how our brains discount motion in everyday life.
A new study published in Trends in Cognitive Science argues that recent research does not challenge free will. The article highlights computational modeling and data analysis challenges to the idea that electrical activity in the brain indicates a lack of free will.
A weather pattern known as atmospheric blocking causes reduced snowfall in Greenland, exposing older, darker snow that absorbs more heat. This results in faster melting of the ice sheet, with a potential impact of up to 25 gigatons of lost ice over three years.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have identified three brain areas, known as place-memory areas, which form a link between perception and memory systems. These areas are responsible for transforming visual information into spatial knowledge of familiar places.
A new study finds that Rwandans conceived during the 1994 genocide have poorer adult health outcomes, including depression, PTSD, and pain intensity. Those born of genocidal rape experience the worst health effects, highlighting the need for interventions to mitigate these effects.
A Dartmouth study reveals that gossip creates social connections and enables learning through indirect information sharing. The research finds that participants who engaged in private chats with their group members felt more connected and shared similar impressions of others.
A recent study from Dartmouth College has uncovered the mechanism behind how cells determine their size, a crucial process that regulates cell division in growing organisms. The research found that histone H3 plays a key role in this process, releasing an enzyme called Chk1 to bind with another protein and stop cell multiplication.
A recent study analyzing nearly 250,000 mathematicians found that the Fields Medal has elevated marginalized nationalities, but also perpetuates self-reinforcing behavior through mentoring relationships. The research highlights the need for the prize to return to its roots and achieve its original goal of promoting inclusivity in math.
A national research team is calling for a more comprehensive understanding of freshwater cyanobacteria blooms by studying the organisms that live at the bottom of lakes. This could help predict how climate change affects bloom frequency, intensity, and duration.
As consumers become richer, they spend more on services like health and education, while spending less on agriculture and manufactured goods. The study reveals that income and preferences play a larger role than productivity in shaping the sectoral composition of the economy.
Researchers found a rib fragment of the Mount Holly mammoth, dating back 12,800 years, which overlaps with the arrival of early humans in the region. The discovery raises the possibility that humans may have seen or interacted with these animals.
A meta-analysis of 20 neuroimaging studies finds that placebo treatments reduce pain-related activity in multiple brain areas, including the thalamus and somatosensory cortex. The study, led by Tor Wager, demonstrates that the brain constructs pain experiences through a mix of processing stations and motivational circuits.
A new artificial intelligence system, WE-FORGE, generates fake documents to protect intellectual property and make it difficult for adversaries to identify the real document. The system, designed at Dartmouth College, uses natural language processing to create believable and incorrect documents.
Multi-ethnic neighborhoods in England have grown from 0.5% to over 4% of all neighborhoods between 1991 and 2011, while retaining high diversity and stability rates. This contrasts with racially diverse neighborhoods in the U.S., which are often transitional.
Researchers developed a computer program to create geometric shapes from video sequences, comparing them to participants' recounted experiences. The study found that people tend to remember major plot points accurately, while finer-scale details are distorted or forgotten.
A study using drone and Landsat imagery reveals a 33% increase in vegetation cover along the Kuiseb River in the Namib Desert between 1984 and 2019. The research provides new insights into the long-term change in hydrology and ecology of this system, shedding light on how ephemeral rivers in desert landscapes respond to global change.
A Dartmouth College-led study finds that middle-aged adults are at a significantly higher risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to younger and older populations. The research, which analyzed over 1,000 studies, shows that the odds of infection becoming fatal increase with age.
A Dartmouth study reveals that college classrooms continue to have a 'chilly climate' for women, with men dominating discussions and using assertive language. Proactive measures by professors can create a more equitable environment.
A regional study from Dartmouth College found increases in extreme streamflow events across the US and Canada, including more frequent floods and droughts. The research analyzed records dating back to 1910 and identified significant changes in precipitation levels on river systems.
A recent Dartmouth study reveals that pregnant women who experienced disruptions to their exercise routines due to the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly higher depression scores. The research found that exercise routine changes were more common among women living in metropolitan areas and those experiencing financial stress.
A Dartmouth study reveals that extreme political messaging can radicalize supporters, pulling them away from undecided voters. Researchers used a computer model to simulate social media users and found that aggressive communications can backfire, solidifying support among existing backers but alienating moderate voters.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have discovered a class of molecular materials that can be used to make temporary adhesives that don't require force for removal. These non-permanent glues offer expanded design strategies for bonding surfaces together and can lead to new manufacturing techniques and pharmaceutical design.
A study mapping forced migrant deaths reveals 12 spatial-temporal clusters, often near national borders or conflict zones. Deaths at sea top the list, accounting for over 5,800 fatalities, while U.S.-Mexico border crossings are also deadly, with over 1,400 deaths.
A recent study published in Demography found that Black homeowners are twice as likely to lose their homes compared to white homeowners, with kin network wealth and poverty accounting for a significant portion of the gap. The researchers examined the impact of trigger events and found that having impoverished relatives can be a burden,...
A study found that a molecular system regulates electrical signals in the brain, enabling learning and memory. The research also identified a molecule that controls this process, which could lead to new treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's.
Researchers at Dartmouth College developed a smart tablecloth that can detect non-metallic objects such as fruits and liquids using an 'implicit input' technique. The system achieved a 94.5% accuracy rate in testing, with notable success in distinguishing between different types of liquids and fruits.
A new time dilation phenomenon, known as quantum time dilation, has been predicted by researchers combining quantum mechanics and Einstein's theory of relativity. This effect can impact high-precision atomic clocks, leading to corrections in their accuracy.
A Dartmouth-Gallup study found that women are more concerned about COVID-19 than men, with significant differences in views on precautions, workplace return, and risk perception. The study's findings have important implications for workplace reopenings and the 2020 election.
A Dartmouth study reveals that sexist attitudes have a greater influence on how voters view politicians accused of sexual misconduct than partisanship. The study found that favorability and electoral support decreased after respondents read about allegations of sexual assault or sexist jokes, with stronger reactions to the former.
Non-COVID-19 hospital admissions fell by 43% in April 2020 and made only a partial rebound of 16% below pre-pandemic baseline volume by late June/July 2020. Patients from majority-Hispanic neighborhoods had lower non-COVID-19 admissions, with declines exceeding 32% below baseline for certain diseases.
A study from Dartmouth College found that passive monitoring of phone usage can mirror activity in the brain linked to traits such as anxiety, with predictions matching fMRI scans at 80% accuracy. Phone data analysis also supported long-term emotional traits and helped eliminate subjectivity in other information-gathering techniques.
A multisensor drone survey has revealed a large circular earthwork at what may be Etzanoa, an archaeological site near Wichita, Kansas. The discovery suggests that undiscovered monumental earthworks may still exist in the Great Plains, and new archaeological methods allow us to see that people made these earthworks.
The FDA's emergency use authorization process for COVID-19 vaccines was criticized for its speed and lack of rigor. The researchers propose four reforms to enhance accountability and transparency in drug authorizations and approvals, including improved risk assessment and post-marketing surveillance.
A new study highlights the critical importance of partnering with indigenous people and local communities in tropical forest restoration. The research estimates that 294.5 million people live within areas with good potential for forest restoration, and over one billion people live nearby such land.
A Dartmouth study found that government sources communicated at an average of three grades higher than the recommended reading level for clear communication. This complexity may worsen the impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable communities with lower health literacy.
A new study published in Current Biology reveals that our brain standardizes all faces we perceive using the same process, making it easier to compare faces stored in memory. Researchers studied a man with hemi-prosopometamophosia, a rare condition causing distortions on one half of a person's face, regardless of viewing angle.
A new study found that texting intervention as an add-on to mental health treatment programs improved symptoms and increased participant engagement. The research team developed a text-messaging-based psychotherapy tool that was clinically promising, safe, and feasible for people with serious mental illness.
A Dartmouth study found that college students were more anxious and depressed during the initial COVID-19 outbreak than in previous academic years. Sedentary behavior increased dramatically as students settled into shelter-in-place locations.
Researchers at Dartmouth have developed two new software techniques that can create more realistic lighting effects in computer-generated images. The new techniques focus on 'real-time' graphics, which need to maintain the illusion of interactivity as scenes change in response to user moves.
Research reveals Arctic mosquito populations are driven by food quality rather than predator density, contradicting initial hypotheses. The study found that ponds with better food quality had lower population growth rates and higher larval mortality.
A nationwide survey of dragonfly larvae has confirmed the use of these insects to measure mercury pollution in US national parks, providing a new tool for researchers. The study found that about two-thirds of aquatic sites studied within national parks are polluted with moderate-to-extreme levels of mercury.
Deforestation and land-clearing in Brazil's Cerrado biome are degrading weather conditions, reducing corn yields and increasing temperatures. Climate change impacts on the region's agricultural production are a concern for Brazil's food supply.
A Dartmouth study has developed an interactive 3D printed circuit education tool for people with visual impairments, providing audio feedback in response to being touched. The tool aims to broaden the inclusivity and accessibility of maker spaces and engineering classrooms.
Researchers found that most people's color awareness is limited to a small area around the dead center of their visual field. The brain likely fills-in much of our perceptual experience when color is removed from the periphery, with nearly a third of observers not noticing desaturated areas.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposes vulnerable populations in humanitarian crises to increased risk due to lack of access to basic needs like healthcare and hygiene facilities. Researchers call on governments and international organizations to develop evidence-based approaches to combat respiratory viruses.