Researchers will conduct ethnographic research in public libraries to better understand the activities and needs of low-income users. A 'Digital Swiss Army Knife' prototype is being developed to provide password generation, secure access, and session protection on portable devices.
A second Autonomous Terrestrial Laser Scanning system will be installed on Greenland's Helheim Glacier to monitor ice loss rates and improve sea level rise predictions. The new data will help understand glacier dynamics and variability, enabling better estimates of future sea level rise.
A new study led by a University of Kansas sociologist reveals that 'marrying up' has become easier for men and improves their economic well-being. The researchers found that women are more likely to marry less-educated men, leading to a decrease in the overall net advantage of being female in terms of family-standard-of-living.
A long-term study at the University of Kansas investigates how to restore native prairie ecosystems on abandoned farmland. Excess nitrogen has been shown to lead to a loss in plant diversity and simplify the system, favoring only a few species. The research aims to speed up restoration processes and re-establish original biodiversity.
A new study reveals that frontline supervisors use micro-power strategies to cope with their middle-manager status, leading to inconsistent treatment of employees and supervisees. These strategies, used on a case-by-case basis, create a system that functions differently depending on location, potentially damaging morale.
A new study led by a University of Kansas marketing researcher found that consumers tend to prefer wider product faces, such as watches and cars, in situations where they feel the need to project dominance. In contrast, narrower faces are often associated with feelings of threat or intimidation.
A University of Kansas researcher found that well owners in Kansas use more water during droughts due to their ability to irrigate crops. Unlike non-well owners, who cut back on water usage, well owners tap into the aquifer to sustain crops during dry years.
Research by University of Kansas sociologist Ruth Stamper finds that local food systems in Kansas and Missouri help disparate groups build relationships, bridging moral orders and environmental ideologies. Through shared sustainable farming knowledge and education, farmers from diverse backgrounds find common ground.
Research examines alternative reasons for climate change denial in Louisiana, highlighting economic and cultural influences. Despite high rates of denial, parish residents show environmental awareness, suggesting a focus on local issues like coastal erosion.
Researchers found immigrant detention centers function like jails, with inmates required to wear orange jumpsuits and color-coded by threat level. The centers are often built in remote locations, making it difficult for detainees to communicate with families or access legal assistance.
A University of Kansas researcher found that bumper stickers can facilitate social communication on highways, with drivers using labeling, affective, and puzzle modes to interpret messages. The use of mass-customized stickers has led to a shift towards more specific and unique messages, requiring new interpretive orientations.
A study by University of Kansas researcher Andrea Gómez Cervantes explores the consequences of racial profiling on Latino immigrants and their family members. Indigenous-Latino immigrants face heightened risks of detention, institutional violence, and social exclusion due to their race and ethnicity.
Researchers found that people with insecure attachment styles have weaker social networks, struggle to form new relationships, and are more likely to dissolve ties. Primes can improve attachment security and relationship maintenance on social networks.
Researchers at University of Kansas have discovered that fetuses can discriminate between languages with distinct rhythmic properties, suggesting language development may start in the womb. The study uses magnetocardiogram technology to measure fetal heart rate responses to speech sounds, revealing an early sensitivity to language rhythm.
A graduate research fellow investigates how fungi and fire enable pine savanna ecosystems to prosper, discovering mutualisms that promote equilibrium and fire adaptation. The study aims to understand the role of plant-fungal interactions in shaping ecosystem dynamics.
Exosomes, nanoscale sacs containing biomarkers, can capture changes in enzyme expression due to smoking, disease status, and environmental exposure. Researchers aim to use this non-invasive method to achieve personalized medicine for children and teens with varying levels of individual variability.
A doctoral student is studying how soil microbes drive plant invasion in the Galapagos Islands, a biodiversity hotspot. The researcher aims to understand the role of mycorrhizal fungi and plant pathogens in shaping plant community structure and diversity.
A new study finds that most Americans, including Democrats, do not believe voter ID laws suppress turnout, contradicting party leaders' claims. The findings highlight the disconnect between public opinion and partisan rhetoric on voter ID laws.
A new study found that U.S.-born Latino male middle school students who were aware of the Arizona immigration bill had difficulty exhibiting proper classroom behavior, such as following instructions and staying quiet. The study also discovered that awareness of the law predicted lower levels of academic self-regulation among male stude...
A research lab at the University of Kansas is analyzing human immune responses to develop an effective vaccine or drug therapy against Epstein-Barr Virus. By studying B cells, researchers aim to understand why some people are protected from EBV-associated diseases while others suffer from health issues.
A University of Kansas study found that US grant programs providing training to international military and civilian personnel since 1995 are tied to fewer conflict-related civilian casualties. In contrast, arms-sales programs have no effect on improving human rights in foreign countries.
Researchers at the University of Kansas conducted a study suggesting that explicit racial prejudice is a reliable predictor of the free speech defense of racist expression. The study found that people with high levels of prejudice were sensitive to their own freedom of expression and used the 'free speech' argument to justify their pre...
A new study published in Journal of Consumer Research found that individuals with larger working memory capacities tend to feel like they've had an experience more often, leading to faster satiation. This could have implications for marketers and consumers seeking to manage cravings for unhealthy foods.
Researchers tracked the impact of Brazil's Soy Moratorium on deforestation and soy production in Mato Grosso. The study found a significant reduction in deforestation after the moratorium took effect, with a shift towards more efficient agricultural practices.
Researchers provide photographic proof of climate change using images of retreating glaciers worldwide. The study aims to boost public awareness of the loss of glaciers' importance in maintaining Earth's atmosphere and scientific archives.
A University of Kansas researcher suggests a possible therapeutic intervention for chemobrain, a cognitive impairment plaguing up to a third of cancer patients following chemotherapy. The study found that KU-32 prevents cognitive decline in rats caused by chemotherapy treatment by inducing the heat shock response.
Researchers at the University of Kansas found that weather whiplash, caused by changing climate patterns, will degrade Midwest's drinking water due to extreme fluctuations between drought and floods. This leads to a spike in nitrogen levels in surface waters, forcing municipalities to construct costly nitrate-removal facilities.
A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research suggests that humanlike electronic products can replace human contact for lonely individuals. However, this phenomenon has limits, and certain cues can snap participants back to reality, highlighting the need for consumers to be aware of potential pitfalls.
Researchers at the University of Kansas have observed counterintuitive motion of electrons during experiments, moving from top to bottom layer without being spotted in the middle. This quantum transport efficiency is promising for new materials in solar cells and electronics.
A new study identified seven health behavior patterns based on smoking status, alcohol use, physical activity, physician visits and flu vaccination, which are associated with mortality. The research highlights the importance of considering behavioral decisions across multiple behaviors to create more effective interventions.
A study by University of Kansas researcher Emily Rauscher found that children with sensitive genotypes face disadvantage in poor families but advantage in wealthier ones. This suggests that environment, not genes alone, determines economic outcomes.
A recent study by University of Kansas researchers found that people's political leanings and their own weight shape their opinions on obesity-related public policies. Republicans tend to believe eating habits cause obesity, while Democrats who identify as overweight are more likely to attribute the issue to genetics.
Researchers found that genetic modifications are unlikely to conquer Earth due to natural resistance. Gene drives, like CRISPR/Cas9, can spread quickly but will eventually be outcompeted by natural selection.
Researchers are exploring aerobic exercise as a potential treatment for mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) in wounded warriors. The study aims to improve soldiers' quality of life by assessing intensive cardiorespiratory exercise, which may help alleviate symptoms such as migraines and motor problems associated with mTBI.
A new study by University of Kansas researcher Jessica Li found that broad smiles lead to perceptions of warmth but less competence, while slight smiles elicit more competence and lower risk perceptions. This can impact consumer behavior in different contexts.
A new $525,000 grant aims to improve understanding of shallow cumulus clouds' behavior, which play a crucial role in atmospheric circulation and global climate. The research will focus on the mixing process called entrainment, aiming to enhance weather forecasts and climate model projections.
Researchers found a unique limestone rock at the Krapina Neanderthal site in Croatia, collected over 100 years ago. The discovery suggests Neanderthals had a curiosity for collecting and assigning symbolic significance to objects.
A new $100,000 grant will support research training and educational outreach in vertebrate paleontology at the University of Kansas. Students will participate in fieldwork in Wyoming and Turkey to study early mammal evolution and migration.
A new study finds that postdoctoral positions do not provide a positive return on investment for biomedical scientists, with the median annual starting salary being $44,724 compared to $73,662 for those directly entering the workforce. The researchers recommend changes to postdoc science positions, such as hiring staff research scienti...
A researcher at the University of Kansas is examining the role of nonprofits in community cohesion and recovery after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The study aims to reveal the social-ecological drivers of response and current extent of recovery in approximately 92 communities using data from various disciplines.
A new study by a University of Kansas professor suggests that parental financial support for education is associated with higher socioeconomic outcomes, including income and wealth. Young adults from families in the top quarter of the wealth distribution received over eleven times more money for school than those in the bottom half.
Research found that consumers in dominant collectivist cultures support local CSR initiatives more than those from foreign companies. In contrast, individualistic cultures like the US see no difference between domestic and foreign CSR efforts. Firms must adapt their marketing strategies for global expansion.
University of Kansas researchers aim to optimize communications at 5 gigahertz, a frequency three times farther up the dial than previous test ranges. They will combine higher efficiency modulation with forward error control codes to improve signal transmission and reduce power consumption.
Experts argue that authoritarian leaders effectively mobilize public support using discourse that aligns with the country's history and traditions. The study analyzes Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan's presidents' rhetoric between 1997-2015.
A University of Kansas study suggests that China's one-child policy led to an underreported number of births, rather than a large-scale sex-selective abortion. The researchers found that local government officials made agreements with farmers to allow extra children in exchange for social stability, resulting in a significant number of...
A new study at the University of Kansas investigates the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation for depression therapy. Researchers will apply a safe, low current of electricity to the brain and measure changes in brain chemistry and neural activity among participants.
Researchers found people with early Alzheimer's disease have different daily patterns of activity than those without the disease, spending less time in moderate-intensity activities. Customized interventions targeting morning physical activity may help improve sleep and slow cognitive decline.
A new research effort is underway in the Solomon Islands and surrounding nations to catalog biodiversity and study evolution. The project aims to fill gaps in data and test hypotheses using modern methods.
Researchers found striations on a Homo habilis fossil, indicating the ancient human was likely right-handed. The discovery sheds light on brain lateralization and its relationship with handedness and language.
A US study found that the country secretly detains citizens from democracies in 'black sites,' while openly holding those from non-democracies in known prisons. The researchers argue that this behavior is rooted in the 'Perceptual Theory of Legitimacy', which suggests good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people.