A new study finds that choosing a college major can significantly impact lifetime earnings, with STEM majors resulting in $700,000 to $800,000 higher earnings. In contrast, social science or liberal arts majors with advanced degrees may not see substantial increases in lifetime earnings.
Researchers led by Caroline Chaboo explore the 'arms race' dynamics in leaf beetles, where tortoise beetles develop unique defenses against predators. The study aims to understand how this arms race drives evolution and generates biodiversity, shedding light on human morphology and behavior.
A team of researchers at the University of Kansas has identified a potential neuroprotective mechanism for Alzheimer's disease, focusing on the ApoE2 gene. The study suggests that ApoE2 carriers may be resistant to Alzheimer's disease due to enhanced brain energy metabolism.
Researchers created the smallest quark-gluon plasma in proton-lead collisions, contradicting previous expectations. This discovery sheds new light on high-energy physics and helps define the conditions needed for quark-gluon plasma existence.
Research suggests that humor plays a crucial role in attracting romantic partners. Men who can make their partner laugh are more likely to be interested in dating them. On the other hand, studies found no connection between humor and intelligence. The study proposes that shared laughter is a stronger indicator of romantic interest than...
A new study found that black students and white students with minority teachers have more positive attitudes towards school discipline. Increasing diversity in teachers can enhance perceptions of fairness, supporting a recommendation for schools to hire teachers that match their enrollment demographic.
Researchers at the University of Kansas found that large wind farms can trigger a slowdown effect in atmospheric flow, resulting in less renewable energy generated. This phenomenon, known as the 'turbulence-attenuation effect,' affects wind turbines' ability to generate electricity.
A University of Kansas researcher studied Chapter 205, the state's quarantine law from 1917 to 1942, and found that it punished poor women disproportionately. The study highlights the social control of sexuality and how social inequalities influenced its implementation.
The shift to technified coffee production has worsened economic and ecological conditions for farmers in poor nations like Honduras, Colombia, and Vietnam, due to increased water usage and monoculture farming practices.
A University of Kansas study found that American women use their book club memberships to increase their popularity in the dating field. They also utilize reading as a means to develop self, social capital, and construct their sexual identities. In contrast, Irish women do not find this relevance and join book clubs for different reasons.
The Keystone XL Pipeline debate in Nebraska pitted economic benefits against environmental concerns, with supporters framing job creation as a key selling point. Rural landowners and farmers opposed the project due to fears of aquifer contamination, while proponents stressed national security and energy independence.
A University of Kansas researcher's study found that compulsory schooling laws in Northern US states led to more people marrying those with the same education level and race, potentially contributing to economic inequality. The study suggests that regional differences in economic development may have influenced this outcome.
A University of Kansas study reveals that physical activity is more beneficial for preventing and managing diabetes among college graduates than those with less education. Adults with a college degree who are physically active were 6% less likely to have pre-diabetic symptoms.
Scientists from the University of Kansas are investigating how climate, plate tectonics and other factors influenced evolution by bringing species together in modern-day Turkey 42 million years ago. The study aims to shed light on the role climate change played in mammalian evolution and its relevance today.
Researchers have developed a web-based tool allowing everyday people to record and submit speech errors, including 'tip-of-the tongue' states, slips of the tongue, and malapropisms. This crowdsourced database aims to provide new insights into language acquisition, production, and perception.
Researchers are working to reduce uncertainty in carbon cycle science by harmonizing data on key components, including Mexico and the US. This will help better understand how diverse regions respond to climate change and improve confidence in models.
A University of Kansas researcher found that compulsory schooling laws increased school attendance rates and shifted occupational distribution toward skilled and non-manual occupations. This shift created more skilled jobs and raised the occupational distribution, benefiting not only lower-class children but also the broader workforce.
A new NASA-funded investigation found that radiation from solar events is too weak to cause concern at ground level. However, previous research suggested a possible connection between cosmic rays and the rate of birth defects.
A study by University of Kansas researchers found that US media over-represent individuals involved in policy-making, whereas South Korean media prioritize executive branch coverage. This suggests that journalistic operating procedures and relationships with government officials play a significant role in shaping media coverage.
A study on White-breasted nuthatches found that environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall, drive genetic differences between populations, rather than geographical distance. This discovery challenges the traditional view of isolation-by-distance and provides insights into species adaptation to unique habitats.
A recent study published in Science Advances found that temperature changes are the primary environmental influence on bird species distribution in Mexico. The researchers analyzed historical data and current distributions of 115 bird species to find that only temperature change had significant impacts on avifaunal turnover.
A new study using Social Security Administration's personal income tax data confirms the value of college education by measuring individual lifetime earnings over 20 years. The study estimates significant long-term economic benefits of college education, with men earning an average of $840,000 more over 50 years than high school gradua...
A new $20,000 grant from the National Geographic Society will support Chan Kin Onn's research on revealing the hidden diversity and riverscape genetics of reptiles and amphibians in Malaysia. Through genetic analysis and ecological niche modeling, Chan aims to catalog and conserve species threatened by habitat destruction.
Researchers investigate how sex chromosomes allow gene dosage imbalances without negative effects, with a focus on butterflies and moths as model species. The goal is to understand the mechanisms of 'sex chromosome dosage compensation' (SCDC) in different species.
A team of scientists has developed a method using commercial-grade laser equipment to find and analyze fossils of dinosaurs, revealing complex details unseen with traditional visual enhancers. The technique causes fossil samples to fluoresce, allowing for the detection of fakes and the identification of new species.
A University of Kansas researcher found that strong corporate culture among employees is only important if the business faces strong pressure from the outside to be successful. Firms like Whole Foods and Apple thrived on competition, while companies with large employee turnover struggled.
Researchers at the University of Kansas are working to improve the detection of life on Mars by combining Raman spectroscopy with gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. They aim to analyze rocks from Earth similar to those found on Mars to strengthen evidence collection, as conditions on the Martian surface are inhospitable.
A study published in Political Research Quarterly found that social media platforms don't break new ground among political discussion forums. Users with strong social connections tend to prefer like-minded discussions and tailor their privacy settings accordingly. In contrast, users who facilitate connections between different groups a...
A new study published in the Journal of Money Credit and Banking found that consumers' willingness to take on risk plays a significant role in driving fluctuations in US housing prices. The researchers identified interest rates, rent, and consumer enthusiasm as key drivers of national and local market prices.
A researcher at the University of Kansas will investigate how organisms transition from aquatic to terrestrial existence, analyzing South American water scavenger beetles. The study aims to understand the mechanics of evolution and how species respond to environmental instability tied to climate change.
A study found that most partisans prioritize winning elections over policy or ideological goals, leading to increased partisan hostility and uncivil attitudes. The researchers analyzed survey data from the 2010 Cooperative Congressional Election Study and found that loyalty to the party is a primary motivator for many partisans.
Researchers have identified six chemical compounds that inhibit HuR, a protein promoting tumor growth. The findings hold promise for treating various cancers and could lead to a novel class of cancer therapies.
Researchers are developing technology to shore up user privacy on leading social media sites, addressing the growing concern of users' information being shared beyond their intended group. The project aims to design a formal model and mechanism to enforce privacy policies, protecting users from malicious access and 'leaky boundaries',
Fossil discoveries in Libya's Sirt Basin reveal a unique group of ancient mammals, shedding light on climate change and environmental shift. The findings suggest that global cooling and drying led to habitat fragmentation, promoting allopatric speciation and altering the evolution of primates.
A recent study found that new mothers experiencing higher social stressors have a 2.5 times higher odds of having only partial or no restrictions on smoking in their home, exposing infants to secondhand smoke. The researchers identified statistically significant socio-demographic and socio-economic trends in home smoking rules, highlig...
Researchers found that people with different flirting styles show attraction in ways that match their style. Sincere flirts are attentive and less fidgety, while traditional flirts lean into interactions and adopt open body postures. Physical flirts offer fewer compliments when attracted to a romantic match.
Researchers discovered two new species of water monitor lizards in Manila's black market, which were previously unknown to science. Genetic analysis revealed distinct genetic variations from known local species, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
Researchers at the University of Kansas are developing an iPhone and Android app called iChequIt that gauges Ebola risk based on social media posts and contact-tracing records. The app will provide users with a running score of their likelihood of contact with the deadly virus, but it's not meant to advise people how to live their lives.
A new study by University of Kansas professors found that partisanship among the most educated Americans can lead to a divergence in fact understanding. Well-educated respondents disagreed more along partisan lines than less-educated respondents on highly politicized issues, suggesting education alone may not be enough to create consen...
Research at the University of Kansas explores how native language impacts processing auditory words in a second language. Annie Tremblay's study investigates cues that signal word beginnings and endings, finding that some cues are easier to pick up than others.
Researchers fabricated a new substance from atomic sheets that interlock like Lego toy bricks, offering potential for next-generation materials. The material, made of graphene and tungsten disulfide, combines the good properties of each component layer, enabling efficient solar cells and flexible electronics.
Astronomers find compact, young galaxies shut down their prodigious star production due to a lack of cool dense gas, rather than supermassive black holes. The energy from the star formation itself creates a shortage of gas within the galaxy.
A researcher at the University of Kansas is exploring a new way to cool power plants using laptop-cooling technology, which could save freshwater and reduce costs. The approach involves using closed thermosyphons, which are commonly used in laptop computers to keep them cool, but have not been scaled up for use in power generation.
A new study from the University of Kansas found that neighborhoods that encourage walking for leisure and transportation are associated with improved physical health and cognition in older adults. The research suggests that easy-to-walk communities can help stave off cognitive decline, even in individuals with mild Alzheimer's disease.
A study by a University of Kansas professor found that black and Hispanic children were significantly underrepresented in autism identification rates from 2000 to 2007, despite the overall increase in diagnoses. This disparity may reflect unequal access to services and diagnosis, with white students receiving more intensive supports.
A study by Jennifer Schon found that adult children's relationship satisfaction with their parents is modestly influenced by the number of communication tools used, such as cell phones, email, and social networking sites. Adding another channel can lead to a modest increase in relationship quality and satisfaction, especially for paren...
A University of Kansas doctoral student proposes using social networks as a source for photo-vouchered biodiversity records, particularly for insects and other organisms in developing nations. The proposed system leverages metadata associated with photos, requiring users to tag posts with terms indicating biodiversity elements.
Fossilized lamprey larvae, 125 million years old, have been discovered in Inner Mongolia, providing insights into the life cycle and evolution of this ancient fish. The study sheds light on the development of all animals with a backbone, revealing that human body features originate from jawless fishes like the lamprey.
Scientists at the University of Kansas have developed a miniaturized biomedical testing device for exosomes, promising earlier detection and improved survival rates for patients. The lab-on-a-chip technology uses magnetic beads to isolate exosomes from plasma samples, enabling minimally invasive and cost-effective cancer diagnosis.
Researchers discovered that a genetic modifier called Pla2g2a can protect against colon tumors in mice, which could have significant implications for cancer research and treatment. The study found that mice with the resistant allele of Pla2g2a had fewer tumors than those with the sensitive allele.