Dementia risk factors identified in new global report are all preventable – addressing them could reduce dementia rates by 45%

Worldwide, the number of people with dementia is set to dramatically rise in the next 25 years. But a new report shows it doesn’t have to happen.

Laura Gitlin, Dean Emerita and Distinguished Professor of Nursing and Health, Drexel University • conversation
Aug. 12, 2024 ~6 min

Ancient grains of dust from space can be found on Earth − and provide clues about the life cycle of stars

Most presolar grains were destroyed in the formation of the universe. But some survived on meteorites.

Sachiko Amari, Research Professor of Physics, Washington University in St. Louis • conversation
Aug. 7, 2024 ~3 min


AI helps lighten the load on the electric grid – without skimping on people’s energy use

Smart buildings can team up to be more energy efficient while keeping the people inside comfortable.

Zoltan Nagy, Assistant Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin • conversation
Aug. 7, 2024 ~5 min

Racism and discrimination lead to faster aging through brain network changes, new study finds

Black women who are more frequently exposed to racism showed stronger connections in areas of the brain involved in rumination and heightened vigilance, both of which lead to faster biological aging.

Nathaniel Harnett, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard University • conversation
Aug. 5, 2024 ~6 min

Robocars promise to improve traffic even when most of the cars around them are driven by people, study finds

Long before all vehicles become self-driving, AI could drastically improve traffic conditions. Traffic jams could become a thing of the past when even as few as 5% of cars are driven by robots.

Weizi Li, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, University of Tennessee • conversation
Aug. 1, 2024 ~5 min

Online fundraising may require different strategies for different devices − new research

Because smartphones can make people focus more on their personal needs, it can be harder to persuade their users to donate on them than it is when someone sees an appeal on their PC.

Kristen Ferguson, Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Notre Dame • conversation
July 31, 2024 ~5 min

Cancer costs for Americans with private health insurance rose after the ACA rollout and fell for those with Medicaid

When patients spend large sums on their cancer care, it can be hard for them to afford basics such as food and housing.

Olajumoke Olateju, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Houston • conversation
July 24, 2024 ~5 min

Late bedtimes and not enough sleep can harm developing brains – and poorer kids are more at risk

Less sleep and later bedtimes are linked to a section of the brain involved in emotion regulation suffering reduced growth, along with weaker connections to other brain areas.

Melissa Hansen, Ph.D. Candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience, Colorado State University • conversation
July 18, 2024 ~5 min


Abortion restrictions harm mental health, with low-income women hardest hit

The uptick in anxiety, depression and other mental health issues happened after states enacted bans or restrictions on abortion.

Michaela R. Anderson, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania • conversation
July 11, 2024 ~5 min

Lucy, discovered 50 years ago in Ethiopia, stood just 3.5 feet tall − but she still towers over our understanding of human origins

A photo of Lucy’s reconstructed skeleton next to a live four-year-old girl shows how human Lucy was – and how small.

Denise Su, Associate Professor of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University • conversation
June 27, 2024 ~4 min

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