New York City greenlights congestion pricing – here’s how this toll plan is expected to improve traffic, air quality and public transit

One more reason not to drive into midtown Manhattan: Soon it will cost an extra $15 as New York City launches its long-debated congestion pricing system.

John Rennie Short, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
April 10, 2024 ~9 min

During the 2024 eclipse, biologists like us want to find out how birds will respond to darkness in the middle of the day

Since an eclipse only lasts a few minutes, you need more than just a handful of scientists running around collecting data on bird activity. That’s where a new app comes in.

Liz Aguilar, Ph.D. Student in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Indiana University • conversation
April 4, 2024 ~8 min


Characterizing social networks

A new method to measure homophily in large group interactions offers insights into how groups might interact in the future.

Stephanie Martinovich | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering • mit
April 2, 2024 ~6 min

Study finds workers misjudge wage markets

Employees underestimate salary levels in their own industry, leading them to spend less time exploring the job market.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News • mit
March 14, 2024 ~7 min

Why do bees have queens? 2 biologists explain this insect’s social structure – and why some bees don’t have a queen at all

A queen’s main job in the hive is to lay eggs and pass genes on to offspring. But many bee species do just fine without queens or big colonies.

Aviva Liebert, Professor of Biology, Framingham State University • conversation
March 4, 2024 ~7 min

‘Swarm of one’ robot is a single machine made up of independent modules

‘Loopy’ is a multicellular robot inspired by biology and designed to react to its environment without instructions on how to do so.

Trevor Smith, PhD Candidate in Mechanical Engineering, West Virginia University • conversation
Feb. 26, 2024 ~5 min

Mothers’ dieting habits and self-talk have profound impact on daughters − 2 psychologists explain how to cultivate healthy behaviors and body image

Adopting healthy behaviors and thought patterns around food and nutrition takes time and intentional effort. But it will lead to more lasting change and positive outcomes than quick-fix dieting will.

Ashleigh Gallagher, Senior Lecturer, University of North Carolina – Greensboro • conversation
Feb. 22, 2024 ~10 min

Study measures the psychological toll of wildfires

Research in Southeast Asia quantifies how much wildfire smoke hurts peoples’ moods; finds the effect is greater when fires originate in other countries.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News • mit
Feb. 13, 2024 ~7 min


Why monkeys attack people - a primate expert explains

Tourists can do a number of things to avoid dangerous encounters with monkeys.

Tracie McKinney, Senior Lecturer in Biological Anthropology, University of South Wales • conversation
Jan. 31, 2024 ~6 min

The surprising reason why insects circle lights at night: They lose track of the sky

A new study shows how artificial light at night scrambles insects’ normal flight patterns, pulling them off course into orbit around the light.

Yash Sondhi, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Entomology, Mcguire Center for Lepidoptera & Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida • conversation
Jan. 30, 2024 ~9 min

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