The Balzan Foundation has awarded four prestigious prizes in 2008 for outstanding contributions in Visual Arts, Moral Philosophy, Preventive Medicine, and Science of Climate Change. Maurizio Calvesi, Thomas Nagel, Ian H. Frazer, and Wallace S. Broecker received the awards with a total prize money of one million Swiss Francs.
A University of Georgia study found that even brief exposure to art makes consumers evaluate products more positively, due to the 'art infusion effect'. The study revealed that art can increase perceived luxury and sophistication in everyday items, making it a powerful marketing tool.
Researchers confirm the Olmec people wrote down their speech around 900 BC, based on nearby art and a stone block discovery in southern Veracruz, Mexico. This finding is significant as it marks the first strong indication of visual recorded speech among the Olmec civilization.
A new study published online by Vision Research documented a 70 percent improvement in eye chart performance in 19-year-old subjects with lazy eye. The training program involved detection of a small "gabor" exercise that generalized to marked improvement in standard vision tests.
A chamber opera project, 'Hidden States,' explores parallels between alchemy and contemporary genetic science, featuring a sequence of five monologues on sequencing and cloning. The project has been funded by the Wellcome Trust's Engaging Science Programme to raise awareness of biomedical research.
A two-year study found that first-year medical students who received visual training on detailed artworks improved their observational skills by 10 percent. This improvement enabled them to make correct diagnoses without relying on costly blood tests and x-rays.
New York University scientist Denis Pelli finds that the transition from grid to face in Close's paintings occurs at relatively short distances, revealing a size-dependent breakdown of shape perception. This challenges existing theories and credits Chuck Close with discovering this effect.