Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Financial tool considered climate change uncertainty to select land for conservation

Researchers used the Modern Portfolio Theory to develop a diversified land portfolio for conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region. The study found that considering both benefits and costs resulted in the most efficient land acquisition, with the central area proving more cost-effective than the eastern region.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 21, 2012

Restocking rural communities

The Kansas State University Rural Grocery Initiative is helping rural communities across the US reopen grocery stores using $409,000 grant funding. The initiative has already established stores in several Kansas towns and is providing guidance on creating new stores through a tool kit with community assessments and financial support.

New evidence details spread of amphibian-killing disease from Mexico through Central America

A team of researchers used museum specimens to document a wave of <i> Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis </i> infection spreading from southern Mexico to western Guatemala and Costa Rica. The study highlights the devastating impact of this epidemic on amphibian populations, with over 40% in decline globally.

SourceSan Francisco State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 2, 2011

UCSF study finds African-Americans bear disproportionate burden of smoking costs in California

A new analysis by UCSF researchers found that African Americans account for over 8% of smoking-attributable healthcare expenditures and 13% of smoking-attributable mortality costs in California. The study aimed to provide an objective picture of the economic burden of tobacco use on African American Californians.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateJan 13, 2010

Is global warming unstoppable?

A University of Utah scientist argues that energy conservation doesn't save energy, but instead spurs economic growth and accelerated energy consumption. The study finds a constant link between global energy use and accumulated economic productivity, tied to a physical constant of 9.7 milliwatts per inflation-adjusted dollar.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalClimatic Change·DateNov 23, 2009

Franklin letters found

A trove of Benjamin Franklin letters has been discovered in the British Library, dating from 1755. The letters, written by Thomas Birch and copied by him in 1757 or 1758, provide new insights into the 'wagon affair' and Franklin's involvement in the French and Indian War.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalThe William and Mary Quarterly·DateApr 23, 2009

A quarter of the world's population depends on degrading land

A new study measures global land degradation using remotely sensed imagery, revealing 24% of the world's productive land is degrading. The worst-hit areas are Africa south of the Equator, SE Asia and S China, with a quarter of the world's population depending on these degrading areas.

SourceWiley·JournalSoil Use and Management·DateMar 20, 2009

Religious beliefs significantly tied to national political participation

A recent study published in Social Science Quarterly explores the impact of religious behaviors and beliefs on political participation. Researchers found that generalized, macro religious beliefs have a significant effect on national political participation, while individually experienced micro beliefs have no influence.

SourceWiley·JournalSocial Science Quarterly·DateJun 24, 2008

From butterflies to freshwater supplies

The Stanford Institute for the Environment has awarded a total of $640,000 in grants to support innovative interdisciplinary research. Five proposals have been selected for funding, including projects focused on reintroducing butterflies to campus lands and assessing agricultural-urban water markets in India.

Moving out and moving in

The Northeast region experienced slow population growth during the 1990s, primarily due to high levels of domestic out-migration. New foreign immigration played a crucial role in offsetting this trend, with nearly 3.1 million new immigrants arriving in the region, accounting for over 100% of population growth.

Money, Jobs Decide Who Cohabits Or Marries

A new Cornell University study suggests that cohabitation is driven by economic factors rather than weak family values. Women who cohabit tend to earn more than single or married women, while men who cohabit have lower earning potential and less stable job histories.

SourceCornell University·JournalSocial Forces·DateFeb 8, 1999

Study Finds Economic Downturns Unrelated To Incidence Of Hate Crimes

A new study analyzing hate crime data from New York City from 1987 to 1995 found no statistical link between economic fluctuations and rates of hate crimes. The researchers suggest two reasons for this lack of correlation: the decay of aggressive impulses over time, and the role of political leaders in framing economic grievances.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJul 16, 1998

Why Do Americans Want Children?

A study examining childbearing intentions in low-fertility societies like the US found that people value children beyond their economic benefits. Respondents ranked importance of social and economic priorities, with many considering children a vital source of social capital.

SourcePopulation Council·JournalPopulation and Development Review·DateJun 27, 1997