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Better Education Leads to Longer Lifespan
A new study by researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the Vienna University of Economics and Business has found that life expectancy is best predicted by a person’s level of education. The new research challenges the conventional knowledge that connects income level to lifespan. Samuel Preston first demonstrated this connection in… Read More
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Cognitive Gains From Meditation Remain 7 Years Later
Cognitive gains developed through intensive meditation can last for years, a new study suggests. The study is part of the Shamatha Project, a comprehensive longitudinal study on the varied effects of meditation on human cognition, psychology and biology. The research is published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. Led by Clifford Saron, a research scientist… Read More
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Beetles and Plants Inspire Efficient Water-Harvesting Technology
A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas and Penn State University has developed a surface that can rapidly collect water molecules from fog and air vapor and direct them toward a reservoir along lubricated microgrooves. The researchers drew inspiration for the design of their “hydrophilic directional slippery surface,” or SRS, from… Read More
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Scientists Develop Model to Ease Air Traffic Congestion Without Sacrificing Equity
Researchers from Dartmouth College and Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new model for airport flight scheduling that promises to manage air traffic congestion without systematically favoring certain airlines over others. At the busiest airports, the combination of low capacity and heavy air traffic is a major cause of delays in the U.S., costing over… Read More
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Positive Impact of Social Media on Gift-Giving
Social media is impacting the way we give gifts, according to a new study by researchers from Cornell University, MIT and Facebook. The researchers found that the spread of online gift-giving in social networks is causing people to give more gifts both online and in person. “The exchange of gifts is an age-old human behavior and… Read More
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Ultrashort Laser Pulses Produce Reactive Carbon Dioxide
What if the inert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be converted into a usable raw material? Plants do this during photosynthesis, turning carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar when exposed to light. Inspired by this process, physico-chemists at the University of Bonn in Germany have developed a new way to generate a reactive variant… Read More
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Advancing the Manufacture of Stretchable Electronics and Soft Robots
A research team from the Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute at Oregon State University’s College of Engineering have developed a method for modified, 3D-printable metal alloy. This development could lead to the rapid manufacture of stretchable electronics, including flexible computer screens and soft robots. The study is published in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies.… Read More
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80% of U.S. Energy Could Come From Wind and Solar Power
The U.S. could reliably source 80 percent of its electricity demand from wind and solar power alone, according to a joint study by researchers from the University of California–Irvine (UCI), the California Institute of Technology, and the Carnegie Institution for Science. The ability to produce this much renewable energy is encouraging, as the conversion of… Read More
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Farm-Fresh Food for Appalachian State Students
Students at Appalachian State University can now enjoy sustainably-produced and locally-grown meat, eggs, produce, and herbs without having to leave campus, thanks to a new farm-to-table initiative. The initiative is a partnership between Appalachian State’s Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development and Food Services, which was spearheaded by Interim Farm Manager Todd Rudicill and Food… Read More
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Writing ‘To-Do’ Lists Can Help You ‘Fall Asleep Faster’
Researchers at Baylor University have recently demonstrated that writing a “to-do” list before bed may reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep. “We live in a 24/7 culture in which our to-do lists seem to be constantly growing and causing us to worry about unfinished tasks at bedtime,” Michael K. Scullin, lead… Read More