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Scrap for cash before coins

Researchers found evidence of bronze scrap being used as cash in Europe during the late Bronze Age (1350-800 BC), challenging traditional notions of money's emergence. This practice spread across Western Eurasia, paving the way for a global market.

Older adults most likely to make the effort to help others

New research from the University of Birmingham found that older adults are more likely to work harder for others, even without financial reward. This 'prosocial behaviour' is crucial for social cohesion and contradicts the stereotype that older adults become less altruistic as they age.

Worth one's salt

Researchers at LSU discovered a vast network of ancient Maya salt kitchen buildings, indicating the salt was produced on a large scale. Salt cakes were standardized units, potentially used as currency, and played a crucial role in the economy.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Higher income predicts feelings such as pride and confidence

Research by American Psychological Association found that higher income predicts more positive self-regard emotions such as confidence, pride and determination, while lower income is associated with negative emotions like sadness and fear. The study analyzed data from over 1.6 million people across 162 countries.

What happens when consumers pick their own prices?

A new paper examines the benefits of pick-your-price (PYP) over pay-what-you-want (PWYW) and fixed pricing strategies for firms and consumers. The study finds that PYP enhances purchase outcomes, increases feelings of pricing control without effort, and boosts sales in various contexts.

Happiness really does come for free

A study found that communities with low monetization have remarkably high levels of happiness, comparable to Scandinavian countries. The researchers interviewed 678 people and found that social and economic factors play a bigger role in higher monetized sites.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Not all banking crises involve panics

A new paper by MIT researchers suggests that many banking crises create long-term macroeconomic damage, regardless of whether they involve panics or not. The study found that a 30% decline in bank equity predicts a 2.7% drop in real GDP after three years, even without a panic.

An ancient economy

A team of archaeologists has discovered that the Chumash Indians in California were using shell beads as currency around 2,000 years ago. The team's findings, published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, challenge long-held assumptions about the origins of money in the Americas.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Do promotions make consumers more generous?

Charitable organizations can benefit from soliciting donations immediately after price promotions. By targeting consumers who have participated in promotions and focusing on the amount of money saved, organizations can optimize their donation appeals.

Money matters to happiness--perhaps more than previously thought

A new study by Matthew Killingsworth from the University of Pennsylvania found that money does influence happiness, contrary to previous research suggesting a dollar-value plateau. Higher earners experience increased feelings of control over life, leading to greater well-being.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Call for 'debt driving licence'

A new study recommends protecting first-time borrowers from long-term debt by introducing psychometric tests to assess age, experience, and personality traits. The study argues that lenders should have a duty of care and control access to credit more carefully for young people and those with impulsive tendencies.

The first battle for oil in Norway

Standard Oil's grip on the Scandinavian oil market weakened due to competing companies, leading to a court decision in the USA that dissolved the company into 34 smaller entities. Despite this, Standard Oil's successors remained significant players in Scandinavia until the 1930s.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Why consumers think pretty food is healthier

A study published in the Journal of Marketing found that consumers rate healthy foods as more natural and nutritious when they are presented in a visually appealing way, according to classical aesthetics principles. This effect can influence consumer behavior, leading to increased willingness to pay for pretty food.

Forgetting past misdeeds to justify future ones

In a study published in PNAS, researchers found that when participants were informed they could return some of the money they had overreported, they forgot their past cheating behavior more accurately. This 'unethical amnesia' allowed them to restore their reputation, making it more acceptable for future moral breaches.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

A pain reliever that alters perceptions of risk

A new study suggests that acetaminophen makes risky activities seem less dangerous, leading to increased risk-taking. The study found that participants who took the pain reliever rated activities like bungee jumping and starting a new career as less risky than those who took a placebo.

Resource sharing and life expectancy

A study of 34 countries found that intergenerational resource sharing is associated with lower mortality rates and increased life expectancy. The nature of sharing did not affect the outcome, suggesting that it may reflect social interconnectedness and benefit human health.

Dealing a blow on monetarism

Researchers from Lobachevsky University analyze data on M2 monetary aggregate, monetary base, and money multiplier to study impact of financial innovations on money supply. They find evidence of endogenous origin of money supply in Russian economy for both periods of time, confirming structuralism and preference for liquidity.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Study reveals impact of powerful CEOs and money laundering on bank performance

A study by University of East Anglia researchers found that banks with powerful CEOs and smaller boards are more susceptible to money laundering and take greater risks. The impact of money laundering is heightened by the presence of powerful CEOs, but large and independent executive boards can partially mitigate this effect.

Owe the IRS? No problem, some Americans say

A recent study from Ohio State University found that households immediately increase their spending after receiving tax refunds. In contrast, when households owe taxes, they do not reduce their spending, instead using other sources of funds to pay the bill. This challenges traditional economic theories about how people spend their money.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Helping consumers in a crisis

A new study shows that quantitative easing drove down mortgage interest rates, allowed consumers to refinance their house loans, and spent more on everyday items, bolstering the economy. However, the benefits were primarily targeted at mortgage holders from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Study: Women entrepreneurs are more motivated by social impact than money

A study from Carnegie Mellon University and Columbia Business School found that women entrepreneurs are more motivated by social impact than money, while men are more driven by financial gains. The research also revealed that individuals from altruistic cultures are more likely to respond to messages focused on social impact.

Spending on primary care vs. other US health care expenditures

A national health care survey from 2002 to 2016 found primary care spending significantly higher than other areas of healthcare expenditure. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, highlights the substantial financial investment in primary care services.

Memory misfires help selfish maintain their self-image

A study by Yale psychologists and economists found that people tend to misremember being more generous than they actually were when asked about past behavior. This faulty recall helps individuals maintain a positive self-image and can reduce the need for motivated reasoning.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Money can't buy love -- or friendship

Researchers at UB and Harvard Business School found that people who base their self-worth on financial success experience pressure and lack of autonomy, leading to negative social outcomes. The study emphasizes the importance of preserving personal relationships in maintaining good mental health.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Giving cryptocurrency users more bang for their buck

A new cryptocurrency-routing scheme, Spider, has been developed to boost the efficiency of certain networks designed to speed up blockchain transactions. This routing scheme lets users invest only a fraction of funds in each account, allowing for roughly four times more transactions before rebalancing on the blockchain.

Organized cybercrime -- not your average mafia

Researchers identified common attributes of cybercrime networks, revealing how they function and work together. These networks are composed of hackers coming together due to shared functional skills, often collaborating to cause greater disruption.

Single payer systems likely to save money in US, analysis finds

A single payer system would replace private insurance and simplify billing, leading to savings through lower drug costs and efficiencies. The study found that 19 of 22 models predicted net savings in the first year, averaging 3.5% of total healthcare spending.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Product distribution restraints are not equal research shows

Researchers Heski Bar-Isaac and John Asker found that MAP can be beneficial for consumers who seek lower prices, but also allows manufacturers to get more money from less price-discriminating shoppers. The study suggests a one-size-fits-all approach to regulating MAP is misguided.

Researchers explore factors affecting money management skills in multiple sclerosis

A study found that individuals with multiple sclerosis who struggle with money management have difficulty with executive functioning and low depressive symptomatology. This can lead to serious financial, legal, and psychological consequences. Understanding these underlying factors is crucial for identifying those at risk and providing ...

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Immigrants who naturalize outearn their peers

A new study from the Immigration Policy Lab at ETH Zurich and Stanford University found that immigrants who naturalized earned more money each year than those who didn't, with the boost in income being largest for people facing the greatest disadvantages in the labor market. Citizenship was shown to counteract discrimination in the job...

Love, lies and money: Study introduces, defines and measures financial infidelity

Researchers introduce the concept of financial infidelity, defined as engaging in a financial behavior expected to elicit disapproval and intentionally failing to disclose it. The study's findings reveal that consumers prone to financial infidelity exhibit stronger preferences for secretive purchase options and concealing their actions.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Why women select college majors with lower earnings potential

A study by Ohio State University sociologist Natasha Quadlin found that women tend to choose college majors with lower earning potential than men, even when both prioritize economic returns. Women often opt for majors in fields perceived as more open and available to them.

Financial therapy can aid well-being, stability

Researchers found that financial therapy improves couples' overall well-being and financial stability by understanding how financial behaviors are tied to feelings and beliefs. Nearly all participants wanted to learn more about their financial behaviors and communicate better after sessions.

How religion can heighten or help with financial stress

A study by University of Arizona researcher Ashley LeBaron found that religious involvement can both relieve and worsen financial stress. On one hand, religion can reduce materialism, bring monetary blessings, and foster a positive outlook on financial struggles. On the other hand, it can also impose increased financial obligations, re...

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

EPFL researchers invent low-cost alternative to Bitcoin

A new cryptocurrency system, Byzantine Reliable Broadcast, achieves safe and secure transactions with virtually zero energy cost. This paradigm shift is made possible by assuming all players are honest until proven guilty, eliminating the need for complex consensus tasks.

Don't make major decisions on an empty stomach, research suggests

A study by Dr Benjamin Vincent found that hunger significantly alters people's decision-making, making them more impatient and prone to settling for smaller rewards. This effect carries over into other kinds of decisions, such as financial and interpersonal ones, indicating a potential danger for those experiencing hunger due to poverty.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

What if we paid countries to protect biodiversity?

A team of international researchers has developed a financial mechanism to support the protection of the world's natural heritage. The socio-ecological design option proved most efficient in incentivizing additional conservation action, particularly for countries lacking in global conservation goals.

Your spending data may reveal aspects of your personality

A study analyzing over 2 million spending records found correlations between spending categories and specific personality traits. For example, those who were more open to experience tended to spend more on flights, while those with greater self-control spent less on bank charges.