Could sharing a bedroom with your pets be keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep?

Pets provide a source of comfort and intimacy for many owners drifting off to sleep. But according to new research, they may also disrupt your ability to fall or stay asleep.

Brian N. Chin, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Trinity College • conversation
April 3, 2024 ~5 min

Many travel nurses opt for temporary assignments because of the autonomy and opportunities − not just the big boost in pay

A new study found that temporary assignments in new places reignited nurses’ passion to help others and helped them rediscover the meaningfulness of their work.

Ivan Gan, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, University of Houston-Downtown • conversation
March 29, 2024 ~4 min


New studies suggest millions with mild cognitive impairment go undiagnosed, often until it’s too late

Medicare covers an annual well-check visit that could potentially identify cognitive issues, but only about half of beneficiaries take advantage of them.

Ying Liu, Research Scientist, Center for Economic and Social Research, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences • conversation
March 21, 2024 ~6 min

Chilling out rather than blowing off steam is a better way to manage anger − new review of 154 studies reveals what works

Activities such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation, yoga and meditation help people manage their anger, according to a meta-analysis of studies involving more than 10,000 participants.

Brad Bushman, Professor of Communication, The Ohio State University • conversation
March 20, 2024 ~5 min

Pacemaker powered by light eliminates need for batteries and allows the heart to function more naturally − new research

Researchers designed an ultrathin pacemaker that can be implanted via minimally invasive techniques, potentially improving recovery time and reducing the risk of complications.

Pengju Li, Ph.D. Candidate in Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering • conversation
March 15, 2024 ~6 min

Sharks, turtles and other sea creatures face greater risk from industrial fishing than previously thought − we estimated added pressure from ‘dark’ fishing vessels

The toll on wildlife from illegal fishing, bycatch and entanglement in fishing gear is likely underestimated, because it doesn’t account for ‘dark’ fishing vessels, a new study finds.

Heather Welch, Researcher in Ecosystem Dynamics, University of California, Santa Cruz • conversation
March 6, 2024 ~7 min

Omega-3 fatty acids are linked to better lung health, particularly in patients with pulmonary fibrosis

Essential fats found in fish and nuts are tied to many protective health benefits. Researchers found they may also slow decline of lung function and prolong the lives of pulmonary fibrosis patients.

John Kim, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia • conversation
Feb. 27, 2024 ~5 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


Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff and turn a profit

Phosphorus and nitrogen contribute to water pollution and cause harmful algal blooms. New research shows how mats of floating flower beds can take advantage of these nutrients while cleaning the water.

Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, Professor of Agroecology, Florida International University • conversation
Feb. 13, 2024 ~5 min

Self-extinguishing batteries could reduce the risk of deadly and costly battery fires

Lithium-ion battery fires are becoming increasingly common as electric vehicles spread, and are hard to extinguish. A new approach uses an electrolyte based on a commercial fire extinguisher.

Bingan Lu, Associate Professor of Physics and Electronics, Hunan University • conversation
Feb. 6, 2024 ~7 min

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