A study found that African Americans with higher positivity about physical activity had lower anxiety about aging, regardless of income or living situation. The researchers aim to develop a virtual program to improve access to exercise and healthy eating for middle-aged and older adults.
Researchers are designing a national testing facility to simulate tornadoes, downbursts, and gusts. The NEWRITE project aims to engineer buildings that can withstand extreme winds and reduce structural damage.
A new study from Iowa State University researchers reveals that mismatches are more likely than matches to be reported as 'inconclusive' in cartridge-case comparisons. This can lead to innocent people being 'defenseless' against wrongful convictions, according to experts.
A new study found that entrepreneurs in Mexico are forced to restrict business growth, relocate, or shut down due to crime. The researchers suggest changing business routines and using electronic transactions could help.
Researchers found that crowdsourcing contests with professionals and public voting yield the highest returns and lowest volatility in stock prices. However, new product development contests carry higher risks due to uncertainty about commercial success. Large brands benefit more from crowdsourcing than small or niche brands.
The ARA Wireless Living Lab is deploying a network of equipment across Iowa to test its performance in various applications, including precision agriculture and rural education. The goal is to eventually improve wireless service to rural residents and communities, enabling a 'Broadband Prairie' that connects rural areas.
A recent study by Iowa State University found that listings with more experiential features, such as photos and descriptions, increase the sale price of properties. The researchers analyzed data from Zillow and found that experience attributes play a bigger role in sale prices for homes valued above or below the neighborhood average.
Researchers at Iowa State University have created synthetic catalysts that mimic natural enzymes to break down cellulose in plant biomass. These nanoparticle catalysts can be reused multiple times, overcoming the limitations of natural enzymes, which are expensive, unstable, and difficult to recycle.
New research suggests NFL's Rooney Rule has limited impact due to biases in lower-level hiring and promotion. A recent study found persistent racial disparity in lower-level coaching positions, highlighting the need for equal rewards at early stages of careers.
Researchers from Iowa State University and Wichita State University are developing a green fertilizer system that captures waste nitrogen and carbon dioxide to produce a fertilizer reducing nitrous oxide emissions. The project aims to promote sustainable farming practices in the Midwest region.
A recent study by Iowa State University researchers found that individual student scores were slightly higher but consistent with in-person, proctored exams when taking online, unsupervised exams. The results hold true across different academic disciplines, class sizes, and test styles, indicating the validity of these assessments.
Researchers at Iowa State University found that limiting social media usage to 30 minutes a day significantly improved mental health outcomes, including lower anxiety, depression, and loneliness scores. Participants who exceeded the time limit still showed improvement, highlighting the importance of self-limiting behavior.
A new study examines the historical marketing of 'Indian remedies' in the 19th century, revealing a trend of cultural appropriation that continues in modern New Age spirituality. The author argues that individualistic approaches to Indigenous healing practices can be harmful and undermine community control over narratives.
A new study from Iowa State University finds that adverse childhood experiences can increase vulnerability to PTSD, even after controlling for combat exposure. The researchers suggest that early trauma can affect coping mechanisms and social support networks, making individuals more susceptible to stressors.
Researchers argue that negative emotions can be beneficial when leveraged correctly, rather than seen as counterproductive. By analyzing scenes from three blockbuster movies, they show how teams can shift fear to anger and use shared identity and values to overcome challenges. To help teams adapt, experts recommend paying attention to ...
A study found that fatigued law enforcement officers have difficulty collecting information that could bring justice to victims. Researchers linked sleep deprivation to increased resistance from interviewees, decreased ability to establish rapport, and difficulties in managing emotions.
A recent study by Iowa State University researchers found that virtual fitting rooms can have a negative impact on consumers with a high body mass index (BMI), leading to decreased self-esteem and lower product evaluations. However, the technology appears to enhance sales for shoppers with a low BMI, highlighting the need for marketing...
A remarkably well-preserved sabertooth cat skull found in southwest Iowa offers clues about the iconic Ice Age species' ecology, diet, and habitat. The researchers believe it belonged to a male subadult weighing around 550 pounds when it died.
A recent study by Iowa State University researchers highlights the varying approaches of NGOs in Turkey and Bulgaria when communicating with the public about migration. Turkish NGOs tend to use a one-way communication mode, while those in Bulgaria are more innovative and engaging, emphasizing personal stories. The findings suggest that...
Researchers found smart senior towns scored higher on every quality-of-life dimension compared to vulnerable senior towns, citing better medical services, shopping options, housing, child services, and entertainment venues. Small towns with a larger population tend to support more resources for community foundations and local services.
Researchers from Iowa State University and Tufts University are using quantum computing to simulate and study atomic nuclei. They aim to understand the fundamental laws of nature governing nuclear formation in the Big Bang and supernovae.
A new funding proposal for a major rehabilitation of the 27 locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River suggests a public-private partnership to finance the project. The plan, proposed by Iowa State University's Yoshinori Suzuki, could pay off in the long run and reduce delays and bottlenecks for shippers.
Two research projects aim to convert rejected plastic wastes into materials for construction industries. The first project uses anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis to produce biogas and bio-oils, while the second project employs plasma technology to break down single-use plastics and create biodegradable polymers.
Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a new procedure to improve eyewitness lineup accuracy and detect suspect guilt or innocence. The 'rule out' procedure adds confidence questions to standard lineups, allowing witnesses to provide more valuable information about their decision.
A new study found that customers from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups rated poorer quality service less negatively than white consumers. This suggests that relying solely on customer surveys to improve service may not be effective in addressing discrimination.
Researchers at Iowa State University have identified a metabolic switch that can be modified to control fat production, which could lead to more effective treatments for childhood obesity and cancer. The discovery involves altering the acetylation levels of fatty acid synthase, an enzyme critical to de novo lipogenesis.
Climate simulations predict a 66% increase in North Atlantic tropical cyclones and 34% increase in inactive seasons by the end of this century. The number of strong hurricanes is expected to rise due to a warmer climate, posing increased risks to coastal regions.
A new study from Iowa State University finds that more education increases self-employment rates in the US, particularly in high-growth industries. For women, additional years of education also boosts entrepreneurship by increasing their confidence, according to economists John Winters and Kunwon Ahn.
A new study synthesizes years of research on monarch habitat, finding that establishing habitat near crop fields with insecticide use will support breeding generations and increase population growth. The study suggests a 100-125 feet buffer is essential to add conservable land.
Researchers have developed a new microscope that can measure supercurrent flow at extremely small scales and high energies. The Cryogenic Magneto-Terahertz Scanning Near-field Optical Microscope (cm-SNOM) instrument is being used to study superconductivity, which has applications in quantum computing and medical imaging.
Researchers found that adding a decoy option can increase the likelihood of a crowdfunding project being funded by up to 28%, as it makes more expensive rewards seem more attractive. The study tested this approach in digital markets where billions of people make choices daily.
Physicist Alex Travesset's calculations show how controlled evaporation can assemble into a pinwheel-shaped, two-layered structure with chiral properties. The nanostructure has unusual optical, mechanical and electronic characteristics, making it a significant breakthrough for specially engineered materials.
A study found that consumers are more likely to shop elsewhere if they view a return policy change as unfair. Retailers may be able to offset costs by specifically targeting 'serial returners' with the policy change, improving customer intentions and reducing negative word of mouth. Targeted policies for serial returners can lead to po...
A new atlas reveals extreme differences in urban built-up heights globally, with the Global South having nearly as much infrastructure as the Global North. This data can inform city planning and economic development efforts to address inequality and climate change.
Researchers found high-end hotels inflate their ratings on platforms like Tripadvisor and Expedia when facing greater competition from Airbnb. The study, published in MIS Quarterly, suggests that hotels use fake positive reviews to counter negative reviews from rival hotels., Low-end hotels remain unaffected by Airbnb's presence.
Researchers found that people who use combination of spacing and retrieval practice retain information for longer periods of time. These techniques involve recalling previously learned material through flashcards, practice tests or open-ended writing prompts to recognize what they do and don't know.
Researchers predict that reduced Ukrainian grain exports due to the war will lead to increased food insecurity and higher carbon dioxide emissions. The study estimates a potential increase in global agricultural land use of 16.3-45 million acres, driving up carbon emissions by 527-1.6 billion metric tons.
Researchers recommend prioritizing COVID-19 vaccine access to older people of color and those with high-contact jobs, followed by working-age non-Hispanic whites and Asians. The study found that 'ethnic homophily' matters in vaccination strategies, leading to more deaths prevention.
A new approach to making nanocarriers for drug delivery features a soft, fat-like liposome interior surrounded by a hard shell of gold nanoparticles. The hybrid nanocarriers are designed to transport medicine across the body's blood brain barrier, a major hurdle protecting the brain from pathogens.
Researchers at Iowa State University found a 900-year cooling trend in the Gulf of Maine, reversing to rapid warming since the late 1800s. The study used clam shell data and climate simulations to link the change to increased greenhouse gas concentrations.
A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science found that boosting diverse program offerings and investing in advertising can improve racial and income representativeness. Government funding had the greatest positive effect on DEI, followed by foundation funding.
Researchers have developed a digital quantum simulation platform to study exotic states of matter, which could provide unique properties for new technologies in precision measurement science and information storage. The platform enables observation of distinctive states taken out of their normal equilibrium.
Researchers found that short bouts of reduced circulation with a blood pressure cuff can boost vascular and cardiac functions, lower blood pressure, and reduce the heart's workload. This technique, known as remote ischemic preconditioning, may be beneficial for people at high risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A new study from Iowa State University found that people's likelihood of eating or avoiding gene-edited foods is primarily driven by their social values and trust in government and industry. Around 60% of women surveyed said they would avoid gene-edited foods.
Researchers at Iowa State University are developing a physics-based system using artificial intelligence to improve the cybersecurity of energy delivery systems. The 'GridDeep' project aims to prevent, detect, and mitigate attacks on renewable sources sending power to the grid.
A new study published in PNAS Nexus shows how artificial light at night alters the natural seasonal processes of plants in urban regions of the United States. The study found that levels of artificial light during nighttime hours lengthen pollen season for many plants, affecting city dwellers with allergies.
Wind-dominant electric grids face challenges in recovering from blackouts. Researchers at Iowa State University have developed grid-forming controllers and stall-prevention systems to enable certain wind turbines to blackstart a power grid. This critical step enhances the resilience of wind farms to blackouts.
Researchers at Iowa State University found that startups near state lines are more likely to set up shop in states with lower property taxes. The study, published in Small Business Economics, showed a significant distortion in tax rates between Iowa and its neighboring states, particularly South Dakota. Property taxes were found to hav...
A new model developed by Iowa State University researchers could improve matches between students and schools, reducing stress and inefficiencies in the admissions process. The algorithm pairs most students with their top choice schools, while also considering factors such as competition for seats and financial constraints.
A study of over 6,000 franchises in South Korea found that terminating contract with a wayward franchisee can decrease profitability initially but leads to recovery in two years. Young, rapidly growing chains benefit more from ending contracts compared to mature, slow-growing chains.