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A missing link in haze formation

A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania has discovered a crucial link between alcohol molecules and haze formation. Alcohols like methanol reduce particle formation by consuming sulfur trioxide, converting it to more sticky compounds that promote growth.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 25, 2019

Equal earnings help couples say 'I do' and stay together

A recent study by Patrick Ishizuka at Cornell University suggests that cohabitating couples are more likely to get married when they earn as much as their married peers. When both partners have equal earnings, they are less likely to separate. The study validates a theory called the marriage bar, which states that couples who reach a c...

SourceCornell University·JournalDemography·DateApr 12, 2018

Looking for a good nonprofit CEO?

Researchers found that non-profit CEOs with higher 'warmth' scores tended to have lower total revenue and funding from private sources. In contrast, for-profit CEOs who appear more powerful are often associated with greater success in the corporate world.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPerception·DateJun 22, 2016

How tree crickets tune into each other's songs

Researchers studied how tree crickets adjust their ears to match the changing frequency of their song with rising temperatures. By analyzing nerve cell reactions and ear vibrations, they found that tree cricket ears can adapt at a cellular level to recognize specific frequencies.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalBiological Letters·DateMay 4, 2016

Wrinkle predictions

A team of MIT mathematicians developed a theory predicting wrinkled patterns on curved surfaces, confirmed through experiments. The theory states that curvature is the main parameter determining pattern formation, with thicker shells forming hexagonal patterns and thinner shells resulting in labyrinthine configurations.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateFeb 2, 2015

Privacy challenges

MIT researchers report that just four pieces of information are enough to identify 90% of people in a data set. Adding coarse-grained price information reduces the number of data points needed to reach 94%. The study highlights the risks of re-identification and encourages socially beneficial uses of big data.

Nature's tiny engineers

Scientists at MIT and Weizmann Institute found that corals actively engineer their environment to enhance nutrient exchange through turbulent flows. The cilia on coral surfaces produce strong swirls of water that draw in nutrients while driving away waste products.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 1, 2014