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Stuck to the subway: less privileged people have fewer possibilities to adapt their mobility behaviour to heat

A new study by PIK researchers reveals that less privileged people in NYC face limitations in adapting their mobility behavior to heat, leading to increased health risks. The analysis of mobility data from 438 NYC subway stations shows that those already at higher risk have the fewest options to adjust their behavior.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalThe Lancet Planetary Health·DateOct 9, 2023

Hyenas inherit power from mothers, but it’s a privilege they pay dearly for

A study found that every member of a hyena clan, except the highest-ranking queen, suffers downward mobility across their lifetime due to demographic processes. Hyenas can move up and down in the hierarchy over time, but they slide down more often than jumping up.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 26, 2023

Advanced universal control system may revolutionize lower limb exoskeleton control and optimize user experience

Researchers developed a new method for controlling lower limb exoskeletons using deep reinforcement learning, enabling more robust and natural walking control. The system has the potential to benefit users with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and other neurological conditions.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 15, 2023

New study reveals the resilience patterns of human mobility in response to extreme urban floods

Researchers analyzed mobile phone signaling records to understand how people moved in response to the 2021 Zhengzhou flood. The study found that female, adolescent, and older adults were more vulnerable to flooding due to lower mobility resilience. It also identified four abnormal patterns of human mobility, which accounted for 50% of ...

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateJun 5, 2023

How mums are taking the lead in shaping children’s education – new study

A new global study found that mother's educational status is increasingly important in shaping children's educational status, while father's educational status has declined. The research challenges traditional assumptions on social mobility and highlights the need for a gender-sensitive approach to measuring intergenerational mobility.

SourceLancaster University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 8, 2023

Harnessing smartphones to track how people use green spaces

A new study demonstrates how anonymized smartphone data can monitor public use of parks and green spaces, shedding light on relationships between people and nature. The findings highlight potential for GPS data to inform management and optimize benefits for both recreation and biodiversity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2022

Electric car sales drive toward cleaner air, less mortality

Research found that widespread electric vehicle adoption will significantly reduce air pollution and associated mortality in US metropolitan areas, with Los Angeles projected to see 1,163 fewer premature deaths annually. Electric vehicles could bring up to $12.61 billion in economic health benefits by 2050.

SourceCornell University·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·DateDec 8, 2022

Prediction of human movement during disasters to allow for more effective emergency response

A team of researchers developed a unified model to predict human movement during large-scale extreme events. The model reveals 'spatiotemporal decay' and 'temporal decay,' showing people limit their mobility near disaster zones and exhibit faster changes in lower income areas.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 10, 2022

Evacuating outside the lines

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba found that allowing cross-border evacuations can reduce evacuation time by 14% and improve public safety. However, intermunicipal cooperation is required to make this approach effective.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction·DateJul 26, 2022

Pandemic-related shifts in alcohol sales explored across 16 US states

An analysis of data from 16 US states reveals a major increase in wine and spirit sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, accompanied by changes in the relationship between alcohol sales and business visits. Sales of spirits and wine increased by as much as 20-40% in some states, while beer sales declined overall.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateDec 15, 2021

A call for research on food insecurity among migrants on the move

Food insecurity among migrants on the move is a pressing issue, with limited scientific literature documenting its prevalence and severity. A new study proposes a definition of migrants in active mobility and recommends interdisciplinary actions to inform policy and strategies guaranteeing access to food.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalJournal of Immigrant and Minority Health·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 23, 2021

New model shows how cities can safely lift COVID-19 restrictions

A new model developed by NYU Tandon School of Engineering researchers provides a data-centric approach to reopening towns and can serve as a blueprint for areas with low vaccine rates. The model shows that increasing access to social gatherings and public transportation at a certain rate supports a safe, rapid reopening.

SourceNYU Tandon School of Engineering·JournalAdvanced Theory and Simulations·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 2, 2021

New app tracks human mobility and COVID-19

Researchers developed an interactive web application to analyze connections between human mobility, government policies and COVID-19 cases on a global scale. The app shows the impact of COVID-19 on human movement patterns and informs decision-making for higher-level policies.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalJournal of Geovisualization and Spatial Analysis·DateJun 14, 2021

Human mobility in early Europe

A study of genetic and isotopic analyses reveals that most female skeletons were nonlocal, arriving as adults, and contributed to cultural communication and exchange. The findings suggest that female mobility played a key role in the spread of technological advancements during this period.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 4, 2017

People's movement perturbed during, but similar after Hurricane Sandy

A study analyzing Twitter data from over 700,000 tweets found that New Yorkers resumed normal mobility less than 24 hours after Hurricane Sandy. The researchers observed similar geographical and statistical distributions of locations before and after the hurricane, suggesting resilience in human movement during the disaster.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 19, 2014

New model for epidemic contagion

A new model for epidemic contagion has been developed, accounting for human mobility patterns and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. The study found that older diffusion-based models overestimated the speed of epidemics, highlighting the importance of considering home locations in modeling human mobility.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJan 11, 2012

Redrawing our borders

A Northwestern University team analyzed Wheres's George? data to identify areas of high connectivity, finding that some borders split states, while others align with cultural segmentation. The study reveals the strength of local travel over long-distance relationships.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 18, 2010