Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka research shows Aotearoa has been increasingly accepting new bird species from around the world since the start of the Ice Age, offering clues into future migration patterns. Since the Ice Age drastically changed the Aotearoa landscape from widely forested to grass and shrubland, researchers set out to determine which of our living and recently extinct birds are a result of existing lineages that adapted to their environment tens of millions of years ago and which are the…
Globally, women’s workforce participation is about 25% lower than men’s, often due to barriers such as domestic responsibilities and cultural norms. Vocational training can increase employment opportunities, but women may not be able to attend training programs that require them to be away from home. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in collaboration with an international research team, explored whether hybrid distance learning can improve accessibility to job training for rural women in Nepal. “We had been working in…
Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) have uncovered how perceptual memories linked to positive emotions, such as joy or happiness, are strengthened during sleep. The study, published in the scientific journal Neuron, could help scientists understand the neurological basis for overcoming conditions like drug or sexual addiction. Why do emotional events, whether positive or negative, create strong, long-lasting memories of external information such as music, scene smells and textures received at the events? We know that sleep is…
For the first time, DNA evidence has confirmed killer whales in Australia hunted a white shark for its liver. Based on DNA analysis from the bite wounds on the carcass of a large white shark washed ashore near Portland in Victoria in 2023, the Flinders University-led study identified that killer whales were responsible for consuming the mid-section containing the nutritionally rich liver. Around the world, killer whales (Orcinus orca) have been observed preying on various shark species including white sharks…
The first randomized control trial of the school-based intervention called Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG) shows significant reductions in depression, anxiety and behavior problems among refugee and immigrant students. The study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, was co-led by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Loyola University, in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Results were published in the American Journal of Community Psychology. Key findings are summarized in an infographic. STRONG is…
Too Much of a Good Thing… Excessive sugar consumption is linked to several non-communicable diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Animals naturally crave sugar, and uncontrolled sugar preferences can lead to high sugar intake, raising the risk of hyperglycemia and metabolic diseases. Gut-Brain Axis and the Regulation of Sugar Cravings Previous research suggests that food cravings in humans are driven by signals from the gut to the brain, highlighting the gut’s crucial role in shaping…
Pandemic-inspired online lab uses Hexbug toys to study gas behavior and electrical conduction. Although the sudden switch to remote and hybrid learning was seen as an enormous challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic, academic and commercial interest in creative online lab class development has since skyrocketed. In the American Journal of Physics, by AIP Publishing, researchers from Pomona College in California developed an online undergraduate physics lab course using small robotic bugs called Hexbug Nanos (TM) to engage students in scientific…
… expands experimental teaching and learning with intelligent technology. Experimental learning is indispensable for conveying science content in a comprehensible way in school lessons. Experimental materials are constantly being developed and offer new didactic possibilities. For example, researchers are working on an intelligent photometer at Technische Universität Kaiserslautern (TUK). In addition to its function as a measurement and experimentation platform, it is also capable of storing user paths in order to subsequently optimise the teaching and learning experience by means…
Research led by Göttingen University shows constructing microscope improves children’s understanding. Microscopy is an essential tool in many fields of science and medicine. However, many groups have limited access to this technology due to its cost and fragility. Now, researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Münster have succeeded in building a high-resolution microscope using nothing more than children’s plastic building bricks and affordable parts from a mobile phone. They then went on to show that children aged 9-13 had…
Educational scientists at the University of Jena study the use of VR headsets in teacher training. Educational scientists at Friedrich Schiller University Jena are working on a new project studying how virtual reality can enrich teacher training – and thus also enhance teaching in schools. Digital learning has received a lot of attention and valuable input during the coronavirus pandemic, both in schools and universities. This topic must now be pursued further to develop, test and ultimately apply new methods….
High-profile research institutions, clinics and companies from seven European countries have formed a European Training Network aiming at the development of innovative light-based procedures for cancer diagnostics and therapy. The PHAST (Photonics for Healthcare: multiscAle cancer diagnosiS and Therapy) program funded by the European Commission provides an excellent, interdisciplinary qualification in the vibrant field of biophotonics for 15 Early Stage Researchers which will be enrolled in a strong multidisciplinary PhD program. The application phase for the program is ongoing and…
Foreign language teaching in primary schools literally opens up new worlds for primary school children: with a large portion of curiosity, willingness to learn…
Which career is right for me? Which pension scheme should I invest in? Which chess move should I make next? In many of the decisions we make, the number of…
During early postnatal development, primary sensory regions of the brain undergo periods of heightened plasticity (critical period), which sculpt neural…
Parents know one of the paradoxes of human development well: Toddlers seem to acquire knowledge about their world effortlessly, but at the same time they often…
“The teaching materials available today are either overly complex, under-stimulating, or only appeal to children who already have a keen interest in…
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