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Global warming's biggest offenders

A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals the US and China are among the 7 countries most accountable for global warming. The study assigns a temperature change value to each country reflecting its contribution to observed global warming, with the US responsible for a significant 20% of the observed warming.

SourceConcordia University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJan 15, 2014

Race and romance online

A study of 126,134 users on OkCupid.com found that racial barriers to romance are not insurmountable online. While people tend to self-segregate by race, they are more likely to reciprocate a cross-race overture and initiate interracial contact in the future.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 4, 2013

Use redistricting maps to make organ allocation more equitable, Johns Hopkins researchers advocate

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have created a new model to allocate organs from deceased donors more equitably. The model uses mathematical formulas similar to those used in redistricting maps to analyze supply and demand factors, reducing geographic disparities by half and significantly decreasing waitlist deaths.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateJul 11, 2013

6 faculty named Fellows of AAAS

Six Penn State faculty members have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, including Peter Hudson, Soundar Kumara, Andrew Read, Nitin Samarth, Matthew Thomas, and Karl Zimmerer. They were recognized for their research in various fields, including wildlife disease ecology, interdisciplinary indust...

Making crowdsourcing more reliable

Crowdsourcing researchers have developed novel methods to verify information collected through crowdsourcing. The methods use incentives to recruit participants to verify reports, ensuring the accuracy of gathered data. This improvement can be particularly valuable in time-critical tasks where established hierarchies are lacking.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 10, 2012

Northern conifers youngest of the species

A Yale University study found that most Northern conifer species emerged within the past 5 million years, with mountainous environments driving the formation of new species. The researchers also discovered significant differences in conifer evolutionary dynamics between the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 4, 2012

MSU plan would control deadly tsetse fly

Researchers at Michigan State University have created a satellite-guided plan to effectively control the tsetse fly, which spreads sleeping sickness disease in Africa. The plan uses unprecedented precision to predict where and when to direct eradication efforts, significantly reducing costs and increasing effectiveness.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalApplied Geography·DateMay 7, 2012

Pond hockey heats up

Canada's outdoor skating season has decreased significantly due to global warming, with the Prairies and Southwest regions experiencing the largest decreases. The research predicts a complete end to outdoor skating in British Columbia and Southern Alberta within a few decades.

SourceConcordia University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 5, 2012

Breastfeeding saved babies in 19th century Montreal

Research from Concordia and McGill universities found that breastfeeding protected infants from contaminated food and water, while also postponing the arrival of siblings, leading to improved maternal and child health. French-Canadian children who were weaned earlier faced a disproportionate number of deaths.

SourceConcordia University·JournalPopulation Studies·DateDec 20, 2011

Mile End chic under study

The study found that Mile End's unique blend of industrial architecture, cultural diversity, and public spaces draws designers to the area. However, gentrification concerns arise as heritage preservation efforts and rising rents threaten the neighbourhood's character.

A research study reveals deterioration in Mediterranean farmland patrimony

A research study by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid finds that traditionally irrigated Mediterranean landscape has suffered loss of cultural and ecological patrimony due to modernization. The study highlights the need for multifunctionality in hydraulic policy and conservation efforts to preserve these valuable landscapes.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalScripta Nova Revista Electrónica de Geografía y Ciencias Sociales·DateFeb 28, 2011

Researchers map out ice sheets shrinking during Ice Age

A set of maps created by the University of Sheffield have illustrated the pattern and speed of shrinkage of the large ice sheet that covered the British Isles during the last Ice Age. The maps use new information on glacial landforms, such as moraines and drumlins, to predict future ice losses in Greenland and Antarctica.

SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalQuaternary Science Reviews·DateFeb 11, 2011

AMA's position on coverage expansion was inconsistent with the views of most physicians

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that most physicians and American Medical Association (AMA) members opposed the AMA's position on coverage expansions. The survey of 5,157 physicians revealed only 12.5% supported the AMA's views, with notable disparities based on specialty, income, and demographics.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 9, 2010

'Great speciators' explained: It's intrinsic

New research reveals that white eyes in the Zosteropidae family form new species at a faster rate than any other bird, with the fastest known rate among birds being around 2.24-3.16 species per million years. This supports the 'Great Speciator' hypothesis, suggesting intrinsic traits of sociability and adaptability drive the system.

SourceAmerican Museum of Natural History·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 26, 2009

Nurture over nature

Researchers found that up to one-third of genes are differentially expressed due to environment, with respiratory genes upregulated in urban populations. The study suggests that environmental factors play a large role in modulating gene expression, and that the same gene can be expressed differently depending on the environment.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateApr 22, 2008

Mapmaking for the masses

Citizens can generate accurate geographic information using Web 2.0 technologies, offering valuable insights into local activities and unreported events. Volunteered geographic information has the potential to revolutionize geographic information systems.

SourceSpringer·JournalGeoJournal·DateDec 3, 2007

Researchers find evidence of warming climate in Ohio

Researchers at Ohio State University found that summer nighttime low temperatures in Ohio have risen by about 1.7 degrees Celsius (about 3 degrees Fahrenheit) since the 1960s, mainly due to increased humidity and cloud cover. This warming trend is expected to affect the state's climate, with a typical summer night being 20 degrees Fahr...

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Climate·DateOct 8, 2007