Follow ScienceDaily - Society, filter it, and define how you want to receive the news (via Email, RSS, Telegram, WhatsApp etc.) https://follow.it/rss52 Mon, 17 Jan 2022 20:38:58 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvgVSdOJICOZ8SejEQ2Mq9rY What if video games, instead of being an obstacle to literacy, could actually help children improve their reading abilities? Scientists have tested an action video game for children, aimed to enhance reading skills. The results demonstrate improved reading abilities after just twelve hours of training. Notably, these gains persist over time, to the point that language school grades are seen to improve more than a year after the end of training.]]> Mon, 17 Jan 2022 18:51:13 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvgVSdOJICOZ8SejEQ2Mq9rY https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvgDC4hHLHCKg5s0ohxaO6Yr To get through challenges such as the pandemic or the climate change, citizens must change their habits and behaviors. But how can this be achieved without resorting to coercive measures? The answer to this question may be the 'nudges' that have been gaining popularity over the last decade. By making small changes in our environment, these interventions aim to encourage changes in our behavior, while preserving our freedom of choice. From adding informative labels to reorganizing the food offer in a cafeteria, the overall effectiveness of these interventions has now been demonstrated.]]> Mon, 17 Jan 2022 16:30:04 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvgDC4hHLHCKg5s0ohxaO6Yr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvghI6tUnTBTBJs0ohxaO6Yr The Internet of Things (IoT) is completely enmeshed in our daily lives, a network of connected laptops, phones, cars, fitness trackers -- even smart toasters and refrigerators -- that are increasingly able to make decisions on their own. But how to ensure that these devices benefit us, rather than exploit us or put us at risk? New work proposes a novel framework, the 'impact universe,' that can help policymakers keep the public interest in focus amidst the rush to adopt ever-new digital technology.]]> Fri, 14 Jan 2022 18:57:10 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvghI6tUnTBTBJs0ohxaO6Yr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviYLyTXnRN4cClmFkX7M1Jw Rivers need water -- a fact that may seem ridiculously obvious, but in times of increasing water development, drought, and climate change, the quantity of natural streamflow that remains in river channels is coming into question, especially in the Colorado River basin. Newly published research poses a tough question in these days of falling reservoir levels and high-stakes urban development: whether the continued development of rivers for water supply can be balanced with fish conservation.]]> Thu, 13 Jan 2022 22:14:04 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviYLyTXnRN4cClmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvh73hugrlJWMSlmFkX7M1Jw Fine particle pollution affects most of the world's population, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as well as premature deaths, all at a cost to society. A multidisciplinary research team has now drawn up various scenarios that would reduce the mortality caused by fine particles by two thirds over the entire conurbation, and has shown that the benefits obtained would exceed the costs of the policies implemented.]]> Thu, 13 Jan 2022 18:14:48 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvh73hugrlJWMSlmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvj2kRpPkpDYk11cWWor9YPv We create countless memories as we live our lives but many of these we forget. Why? Counter to the general assumption that memories simply decay with time, 'forgetting' might not be a bad thing -- that is according to scientists who believe it may represent a form of learning.]]> Thu, 13 Jan 2022 18:14:21 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvj2kRpPkpDYk11cWWor9YPv https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvi08CJncQfyEl1cWWor9YPv Economic growth goes down when the number of wet days and days with extreme rainfall go up, a team of scientists finds. Rich countries are most severely affected and herein the manufacturing and service sectors, according to their study. The data analysis of more than 1.500 regions over the past 40 years shows a clear connection and suggests that intensified daily rainfall driven by climate-change from burning oil and coal will harm the global economy.]]> Wed, 12 Jan 2022 19:15:03 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvi08CJncQfyEl1cWWor9YPv https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvgC5jVLIujYx6CY3L745TL_ Teaching younger children through 'guided' play supports key aspects of their learning and development at least as well - and sometimes better - than the traditional direct instruction they usually receive at school, a new analysis finds. Guided play broadly refers to playful educational activities which, although gently steered by an adult using open-ended questions and prompts, give children the freedom to explore a learning goal in their own way. The new study gathered data about the impact of this approach on 3,800 children aged three to eight. It found that guided play can be just as effective as more traditional methods of classroom instruction in the development of key literacy, numeracy and social skills - as well as the acquisition of executive functions (a cluster of essential thinking skills). The findings also suggest that children may master some skills - notably in maths - more effectively through guided play than via other methods.]]> Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:40:06 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvgC5jVLIujYx6CY3L745TL_ https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvgC5jVLIujYx-T5HJgy6HUf Researchers have come up with a computer model that mirrors the way misinformation spreads in real life. The work might provide insight on how to protect people from the current contagion of misinformation that threatens public health and the health of democracy.]]> Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:37:03 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvgC5jVLIujYx-T5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvggYY3zgOIzjJs0ohxaO6Yr An estimated 370,000 Californians rely on drinking water that may contain high levels of arsenic, nitrate or hexavalent chromium, and contaminated drinking water disproportionately impact communities of color in the state, finds a new analysis. Because this study is limited to three common contaminants, results likely underestimate the actual number of Californians impacted by unsafe drinking water.]]> Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:36:47 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvggYY3zgOIzjJs0ohxaO6Yr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjlLvgy8Wt_0ps0ohxaO6Yr As climate change continues and the incidences of drought rise, water is increasingly becoming scarce for manufacturing. But a new study suggests that there is a silver lining -- companies that use water may pivot to become efficient and more eco-friendly during periods of water scarcity.]]> Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:41:51 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjlLvgy8Wt_0ps0ohxaO6Yr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjlLvgy8Wt_0nn9ye8UNv30 Prompted by the increasing prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) in society, researchers investigated public attitudes toward the ethics of AI. Their findings quantify how different demographics and ethical scenarios affect these attitudes. As part of this study, the team developed an octagonal visual metric, analogous to a rating system, which could be useful to AI researchers who wish to know how their work may be perceived by the public.]]> Mon, 10 Jan 2022 17:33:23 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjlLvgy8Wt_0nn9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviVnusKQBmhiilmFkX7M1Jw Returning to college to earn a bachelor's degree leads to both an immediate increase in annual income after graduation and an increase in annual income growth each year after graduation, according to an economics researcher.]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2022 22:21:14 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviVnusKQBmhiilmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviA7-ySOeNMTOzdsCmHakzH A philosophy team analyzed the role self-deception plays in everyday life and the strategies people use to deceive themselves. The team described four strategies used to stabilize and shield the positive self-image. According to their theory, self-deception helps people to stay motivated in difficult situations.]]> Fri, 07 Jan 2022 17:06:52 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviA7-ySOeNMTOzdsCmHakzH https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjCjshvFYxilOzdsCmHakzH The fossil record, which documents the history of life on Earth, is heavily biased by influences such as colonialism, history and global economics, palaeontologists argue.]]> Thu, 06 Jan 2022 17:59:55 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjCjshvFYxilOzdsCmHakzH https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjbA1aGDGsrgqCY3L745TL_ A new nationwide analysis of 122 plans from 20 US cities found that many plans fail to explicitly define green infrastructure. When they do, they tend to focus on stormwater management, favoring engineered facilities over parks and larger urban green spaces. The study is the first systematic review of the use and definition of the green infrastructure concept in US city plans.]]> Wed, 05 Jan 2022 18:14:38 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjbA1aGDGsrgqCY3L745TL_ https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvg_x4POhE2XQnn9ye8UNv30 The benefits of good education and lifelong learning extend into old age. The initial findings of a long-term study show that certain degenerative processes are reduced in the brains of academics. Their brains are better able to compensate age-related cognitive and neural limitations.]]> Wed, 22 Dec 2021 22:30:35 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvg_x4POhE2XQnn9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviWzDHE3rTK0qCY3L745TL_ A recent study found that the total indirect emissions from the supply of chain of electric vehicles pale in comparison to the same indirect emissions from fossil fuel-powered vehicles.]]> Wed, 22 Dec 2021 04:25:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviWzDHE3rTK0qCY3L745TL_ https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviWzDHE3rTK0iejEQ2Mq9rY Scientists have discovered a neural mechanism that is believed to support advanced cognitive abilities such as planning and problem-solving.]]> Tue, 21 Dec 2021 23:27:18 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRviWzDHE3rTK0iejEQ2Mq9rY https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjniE-TkysBqps0ohxaO6Yr Some of the same brain systems known to play a role in learning from trial and error also are engaged when people conform to social norms, scientists report in a new study. The findings are important, the researchers said, because changing one's behavior to align with one's peers can contribute to community-building or -- depending on the goals and values of the group -- societal breakdown.]]> Tue, 21 Dec 2021 17:42:27 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/1zkO6lqtRvjniE-TkysBqps0ohxaO6Yr