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Loyalty is trump

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum found that loyal customers play out their loyalty in price negotiations, gaining an extra 5% discount without issue. This study turned the perception of customer loyalty on its head, highlighting its negotiating power in stores across various sectors.

How a fall in duck hunting is shooting a financial hole into conservation efforts

A new study reveals that the decline in duck hunting, with annual sales of 'duck stamps' falling by 36%, is resulting in a significant financial loss for conservation efforts. The loss of revenue could have resulted in up to $126 million being invested in habitat conservation, with potentially 42,495 ha of wetlands being made available.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Study finds incentive price for reducing HIV risk in Mexico

A study found that conditional cash transfer programs can improve behavior among gay men and male sex workers in Mexico City. Gay men would participate at a rate of over 75% if offered $7-8.75/month, while male sex workers would participate for significantly less, $156/year.

The housing market: Consumers struggle to get the price right

A new study found that consumers systematically underestimate the selling price of others' items and overestimate their own willingness to pay. This bias can lead to reduced satisfaction in transactions and economic losses for both buyers and sellers.

'Dirty money' affects spending habits, new study finds

A new study found that currency's physical appearance dramatically affects consumer behaviour, with people preferring to spend dirty, crumpled currency in social situations. The researchers' findings challenge long-held beliefs about the value of money and suggest that it can be a part of conspicuous consumption.

Trying to save money? Ask for crisp new bills at the bank

A new study by Fabrizio Di Muro and Theodore J. Noseworthy found that consumers tend to spend more on worn bills due to feelings of disgust, but are more likely to hold onto crisp currency for social reasons. The researchers suggest that money's physical appearance can influence spending behavior, making it a vehicle for social utility.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Transforming America by redirecting wasted health care dollars

A recent study proposes redirecting $750 billion in wasteful healthcare spending towards various initiatives, including businesses, education, infrastructure, and job retraining. The potential outcomes include reducing deficit, funding preschool programs, improving transportation projects, and promoting rural development.

Happiness at work depends on a good salary, but also on how much colleagues earn

A recent UC3M study suggests that relative earnings affect job performance and happiness. When comparing oneself to peers who earn more, individuals tend to be unhappier and work longer hours. The researcher attributes this effect to social comparisons, highlighting the importance of considering colleague earnings when setting salaries.

App helps dairy farmers milk profits during volatile times

The DairyCents app estimates income over feed cost per cow, helping farmers plan financially. It also compares feed prices across the country and allows farmers to reference their current feed prices, potentially leading to better deals with suppliers.

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.

Beliefs drive investors more than preferences, study finds

A new study found that individual investors' decisions are primarily motivated by their beliefs about a stock's future rather than their feelings toward losses and gains. Investors act on their beliefs to speculate on stock prices, suggesting that the 'disposition effect' may be driven more by complex reasons than emotions.

Firms with political ties may be bad investment

Research suggests that firms with political connections often hold excess cash, which may be used to support politicians' agendas rather than maximize profit. Poor corporate governance and lack of transparency are also common in these firms, leading to a deadlock between minority shareholders and large shareholders.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Study questions whether becoming a doctor pays off for women

A study published in the Journal of Human Capital found that most women primary-care doctors would have made more money becoming physician assistants after factoring in training costs. Most women doctors do not work enough hours to amortize their expensive training, leading to a lower net present value compared to PAs.

Good news: Fewer maternal and child deaths

Global efforts to save women, newborn babies, and young children are not moving fast enough. Despite progress in some countries, many still struggle with high rates of maternal and child mortality.

Inequality and investment bubbles

Research by physics professor Victor Yakovenko links income inequality with bursting financial bubbles. He models income distribution using statistical physics, finding a long tail in the upper 3% of incomes that correlates with investment downturns.

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.

New index identifies periods when global stock markets might decline

Researchers developed a 'fragility index' to measure likelihood of global stock market losses by identifying periods with high risk exposures across multiple countries. The index shows an increasing probability of a global draw-down when systemic risk is high, resulting in more extreme stock movements.

Inheritance -- do we spend it or save it?

A new study suggests that people save only about half of their inherited wealth, with the remaining amount spent, donated, or lost. This decision has significant implications for families, financial markets, and the economy.

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.

A scarcity of women leads men to spend more, save less

A study from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management found that when men perceive women as scarce, they become more impulsive, save less, and increase borrowing. This effect is seen in both laboratory experiments and archival data from over 120 US cities.

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.

'Tis the season to be wary of elder financial abuse

Research by Virginia Tech's Karen A. Roberto found that elderly women are nearly twice as likely to fall victim to financial abuse, while younger males between 30-59 commit most cases. Seniors can prevent financial abuse with awareness and precautions.

Impatient people have lower credit scores

A new study published in Psychological Science found that people with poor credit scores are more impatient and prefer shorter-term gains over longer-term benefits. This impulsivity can lead to strategic defaulting on loans, as individuals weigh the costs of delayed gratification against short-term benefits.

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.

Under money strains, some older adults may turn to alcohol

A study of over 2,300 older Americans found that those under financial strain were at risk of boosting their drinking, especially men and those with less education. In contrast, older women tended to cut down on drinking when facing financial hard times.

Logic fights impulse in economic decision-making

Researchers found a small group of people with high cognitive control can behave rationally in the Ultimatum Game, making more money. Most people offer uneven splits and reject offers, driven by strong emotional motives.

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.

The cost of consumer fibbing: Can it hurt to tell a little white lie?

A new study by Jennifer J. Argo and Baba Shiv found that telling white lies can have negative repercussions for the people who tell them, including increased willingness to spend money on services or tips. Consumers who lie about their wait experiences evaluated these experiences more favorably than those who were honest.

Minimizing extinctions in a changing climate: New study

A new decision-support model developed by scientists can guide allocation of conservation funding to save more species from extinction. The model incorporates both ecological and economic information, prioritizing conservation activities based on a yearly budget.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Paper money worldwide contains bisphenol A

A new study finds that paper money from around the world contains bisphenol A, a potentially toxic substance. The amounts of BPA on currency are higher than in house dust, but human intake is lower due to dermal absorption.

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.

How too many options can impair the ability to make skillful choices

Research by Columbia Business School and University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that offering too many 401k funds deters employees from enrolling in the plan. The study revealed a decrease in equity fund allocation and an increase in 'nothing' allocation as the number of funds increases.

Mid-Atlantic states' unique plan to replace region's dirtiest trucks

The Mid-Atlantic Dray Truck Replacement Program aims to double the impact of a federal cash-for-clunkers-style program by combining public and voluntary private contributions. The initiative will offer $15,000 to truckers for new vehicle down-payments and help arrange financing.

Will psych majors make the big bucks?

A new study found that psychology majors' median starting salary of $35,300 is well below the average for college graduates. Advanced degrees also do not seem to improve earnings in this field.

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.

Big bucks for MLB megastars mean big team profits, but fewer wins

A new study from the University of Michigan found that MLB teams that spend more on superstar players tend to win fewer games. The research suggests that if a team wants to maximize profits, it should prioritize paying a few high-caliber players, while prioritizing wins requires a more balanced player distribution.

Sense of justice built into the brain

The study reveals that the brain's amygdala plays a key role in triggering an automatic reaction to unfairness, even when rational thinking suggests otherwise. The findings have significant implications for our understanding of human behavior and decision-making processes.

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.

Sense of justice built into the brain

A new study found that the brain has an automatic reaction to unfairness in financial fairness games, linked to increased amygdala activity. Targeting this region can reduce aggression and increase tendency to accept unfair distributions of money.

Gas versus groceries

University of Alberta researchers argue that grocery retailers need to change their tactics in the face of rising gas prices to attract shoppers. To survive, they must provide one-stop shopping and promotions that offer value to customers, such as discounted fuel prices or savings incentives from in-store purchases.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Lottery winners do not want their winnings to change them

Research at the University of Gothenburg reveals that most lottery winners maintain their normal lives with prudent consumption. Winners value work and leisure equally, and only a minority use their prize money to devote less time to work. Despite cautious spending, they experience increased happiness, security, and freedom.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Language may play important role in learning the meanings of numbers

A new study reveals that deaf people in Nicaragua who developed their own 'homesigns' language lack a complete understanding of numbers greater than three. The research suggests that language plays a vital role in learning mathematical concepts, including the value of large numbers.

Apologies aren't as good as people imagine they'll be

A recent study published in Psychological Science found that people's predictions of apology value are often inaccurate. The researchers used an experiment to test how individuals perceive apologies and discovered that those who imagined receiving an apology valued it more than those who actually received one.