An experimental study found that humans are less likely to exhibit fairness, trust, and cooperation when interacting with a large language model (LLM) compared to another human. Participants in online games played with either a human or an LLM acting on behalf of another person showed reduced social behavior.
In dry conditions, desert locusts produce smaller hatchlings with a 'lunchbox strategy', allocating energy to their first meal for survival. This adaptation allows them to outlast rivals and access more food, giving them an advantage in harsh environments.
Researchers model how human behavior, in response to disease risk information, creates waves of infection. This model helps explain recurrent patterns seen in real-world epidemics by incorporating social and operational factors.
A survey of 3,000 US residents found that Americans prefer domain experts over non-experts or algorithms for content moderation. Small juries of independent experts were viewed as the most legitimate, while large, diverse juries with minimal qualifications were also seen as acceptable.
Neurosymbolic AI proposes an alternative model that requires less computing power, allowing smaller players to enter the field. This approach enables efficient and trustworthy AI systems without unsustainable energy use or gatekeeping.
Marine ecosystem services in China are immense, including atmospheric regulation, carbon storage, and coastal protection. Implementing policy and governance frameworks can improve environmental and economic sustainability, food security, and support global commitments.
The study analyzes 369,161 posts from Reddit's 'AITA?' board, finding that dilemmas concerning relational obligations were the most common type. Violations of trust, such as lying and cheating, were evaluated more negatively than acts of harm, highlighting the importance of trust in moral cognition.
A study found that state-level abortion policies diverge from public preferences in the US, with Democrat-leaning states having more permissive laws than residents preferred. Republican-leaning states have more restrictive laws in line with resident opinions.
A recent study published in PNAS Nexus has found that 5G exposure does not alter gene expression and methylation profiles in human skin cells. The researchers used advanced equipment to control for temperature, which was previously cited as a potential cause of adverse effects.
Scientists create colorful replica of famous statue smaller than human hair using new 3D printing method. The microscale technique uses lasers to cure individual pixels and can produce multiple colors on demand.
A recent study suggests that highly diverse microbial ecosystems may actually decrease stability under stress conditions. In contrast, low-diversity ecosystems often exhibit increased growth rates and community stability when faced with starvation or high salinity.
Researchers surveyed 654 people who planned to take psychedelics, finding a weak correlation between lifetime psychedelic use and delusional ideation. The study suggests that schizotypal traits may not be caused by taking psychedelics, with only 1/3 of participants experiencing lingering hallucinatory sensory experiences after four weeks.
Human consumption of antibiotics has increased by 65% since 2000, resulting in estimated 8,500 tonnes reaching river systems globally. Chronic environmental exposure can reduce microbial diversity and increase antibiotic-resistant genes, impacting fish and algae health.
Researchers found that surgery induces accumulation of senescent cells in the hippocampal region of aged mice, leading to neuroinflammation. Dosing with a combination of Dasatinib and Quercetin reduced surgery-induced inflammation.
The article highlights the vulnerability of US Gulf coast archaeological sites to climate change-induced sea level rise and extreme weather. The study calls for an integrated approach combining coastal ecosystem management with archaeological and historical resource preservation using Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge.
Researchers found that a narrow island separating the two species suggests recent speciation or extensive gene flow. The study proposes sexual selection as a key driver of species differentiation.
Researchers designed urinals using physics and differential equations to minimize splashback, improving hygiene and accessibility. The Nautilus design fits various urination heights, making it accessible for children and people with wheelchairs.
A study reveals that AI-powered content on a Russian-backed outlet increased publication rate by over 100% and broadened topics, while maintaining persuasive power. The research warns of the urgent need to mitigate AI-assisted propaganda campaigns.
Researchers discovered plastic-degrading enzymes in landfills worldwide, suggesting a promising method for plastic recycling. The study identified 31,989 possible enzymes and predicted protein functions using machine learning and tertiary structure modeling.
The article explores the role of AI in engineering, highlighting benefits such as improved transportation and manufacturing, but also raises concerns about safety, privacy, bias, and governance. The authors discuss weaknesses in data-driven models and call for research into regulatory frameworks to address these issues.
The study identifies suitable areas for offshore wind installations, with 18% of sites acceptable from a socio-environmental perspective. Smaller projects may offer less uncertainty in their impacts, making them more robust for development.
Researchers explore merging public elementary schools to reduce racial segregation, finding a median reduction of 20% in some districts. The approach also slightly increases commute times, but can halve district-wide segregation with careful planning.
Recent studies demonstrate that smartwatches can detect infections early through subtle physiological changes, prompting timely action to slow disease spread. By identifying infections sooner and reducing social contacts, wearable technology may help contain future outbreaks and prevent pandemics.
Researchers have found unique fish species in deep-sea oxygen-depleted zones of a Red Sea coral reef system. Lanternfish and other species thrive in conditions where oxygen levels are less than 2 μmol kg’¹
Researchers used fMRI data to predict choices made by thousands of people on crowdfunding websites, finding consistent associations in the NAcc region. This neuroforecasting technique has potential for scaling up predictions of human behavior across diverse populations.
Large language models (LLMs) can alter sentiment in research summaries, making it difficult to accurately assess public opinion on climate change. LLMs tend to display a more neutral tone than original texts, regardless of prompts or model sophistication.
Researchers developed a submersible robot that leverages vortices to boost efficiency in autonomous underwater vehicles. By 'surfing' vortex rings, CARL reduces energy consumption by one-fifth compared to traditional methods.
Scientists have identified peptides that can capture and hold microplastics, providing a potential solution for removing these tiny plastic particles from environments. The method combines biophysical modeling, molecular dynamics, quantum computing, and reinforcement learning to optimize the binding of plastics to the peptides.
Reducing smartphone use improves cognitive functioning, mental health, and wellbeing. Blocking internet access for two weeks resulted in significant improvements in sustained attention ability and symptoms of depression.
Researchers use CRISPR-Cas9 to remove duplicate chromosomes in trisomy 21 cells, restoring gene expression and cellular phenotypes. The technique shows promise as a potential medical intervention for people with Down syndrome.
The study found that counties with strong emphasis on fairness norms had higher odds of favoring green practices, while those emphasizing purity norms had stronger influence on household carbon footprint. Counties with high education levels also showed increased support for green attitudes.
Human-caused fires in the Western US are growing faster than lightning fires due to climate-driven changes in dryness and heat. The study found that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions account for 81% of the increases in flammable days, highlighting the need for more accurate fire risk models.
Researchers found branch patterns in art to mirror those in nature, with values of α ranging from 1.5 to 2.8, corresponding to natural trees. Abstract artworks can be visually identified as trees using realistic α values, while works deviating from scaling exhibit reduced recognition.
Researchers analyzed census data from 1980-2020 to assess the effect of undocumented residents on congressional apportionment. Their findings indicate a minimal impact on party representation in the House and presidential election outcomes.
A significant gender gap was found in the use of AI for research, with male researchers experiencing a notable increase in productivity after ChatGPT's release. Female researchers spent less time using AI and perceived it as less efficient, exacerbating existing productivity disparities.
A study of 80,337 people across 76 countries found that those with higher incomes and financial well-being reported greater prosocial actions and attitudes. Higher income individuals were more likely to donate, volunteer, and trust others, although they also showed lower trust in others.
A study reveals that large cities have ceased to be centers of upward social and economic mobility, with population density and connectedness associated with reduced intergenerational mobility. Urban expansion has also led to decreased average social capital, contributing to growing inequality within and across generations.
A study on painted lady butterfly migrations found that environmental conditions, rather than genetic coding, drive their migratory patterns. The research revealed that butterflies can travel vast distances, crossing the Sahara Desert, without showing significant genomic differences between short and long-distance migrants.
Researchers discovered that pancreatic β cells produce a neuroprotective agent called Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23), which can stop amyloid-β-induced neuronal cell death. FGF23 may increase ribosomal proteins, helping to maintain homeostasis in neurons.
A study of 1,485 participants across 14 countries reveals significant national and gender differences in exclusionary behavior. Men and ideologically right-wing participants are more likely to propose unequal splits.
A study found a link between oral microbiome and dementia risk, with certain bacteria associated with better executive function. A nitrate-rich diet may favor beneficial oral bacteria, potentially delaying cognitive decline.
Adopting paywalls leads to a strategic shift in newspaper coverage, with a 5.1% decrease in local news and modest declines in soft news, according to a study of US newspapers between 2006-2022. Smaller cities and urban areas experiencing demographic changes exhibit notable declines in local news and increases in popular content.
A study analyzing data from 35,000 retailers found that public mass shootings lead to a 3.5-5.5% increase in weekly alcohol sales for at least two years. The authors suggest whole-community approaches to address the trauma of mass shootings and its impact on alcohol consumption.
A 2022 survey of Palestinians and Israelis identified 55 mutually preferable peace agreements to the status quo, highlighting areas of potential agreement. Women and older respondents showed a greater willingness to compromise than men and younger respondents, emphasizing the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
A study of ancient Roman teeth reveals that urban dwellers weaned their babies earlier than rural communities, following medical recommendations similar to those in modern cities. The findings support the idea that cities act as information hubs and offer more medical resources, leading to closer adherence to expert health guidelines.
A study recommends planting alternative crops in areas currently growing maize and rapeseed to increase productivity by 14.1% while minimizing leached nitrogen and water use. The optimal crop distributions also promote future food security with coordinated actions at the national scale.
Researchers highlight the risks of bypassing natural selection in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), which can lead to deleterious epigenetic changes and increased health problems. They propose applying evolutionary principles to ART protocols to improve outcomes for human ART and animal production.
Researchers found that large language models adjust their responses to appear more desirable when given the Big Five personality test. This 'social desirability bias' suggests that LLMs can emulate human-like preferences for certain personalities.
The global energy return on investment for agriculture increased from .68 to .91 between 1995 and 2019, reflecting improvements in efficiency. However, the ratio has plateaued since 2014, indicating that more energy is required to produce food than it provides in calories.
Researchers used machine learning to predict multiple types of intelligence from brain connections, with general intelligence performing best. The model's accuracy improved when trained on theory-driven connections, suggesting there are still unknown aspects of intelligence to discover.