https://phys.org/science-news/ en-us The latest science news on archaeology, fossils, mathematics, and science technology from Phys.org This week in our wrap up, we lull you into a false sense of security with adorable lion cubs then ambush you with terrifying pulsars. We do this not out of a sense of malice but to prepare your mind for the possibility of a giant cosmic void. Also, Japan has launched a new fusion research facility. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-saturday-citations-adorable-kittens-violent.html Other Sat, 02 Dec 2023 09:00:02 EST news620652209 If Thanksgiving dinner conversations have turned into heated political arguments over the past two decades, social media may be to blame. Popular social media figures—or influencers—who create or share distorted political messages may cause political parties to moderate their policies to win over independent voters in general elections but tend to polarize the rest of society, according to researchers who created a model to study how social media may affect election cycles. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-social-media-affect-voter-opinions.html Social Sciences Political science Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:28:47 EST news620666919 Hip hop dancing can be used to spread awareness of disability rights and help those with sight problems to participate in performance equally, a new study says. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-hip-awareness-disability-rights-equality.html Social Sciences Education Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:09:27 EST news620654965 Mothers who took parental leave part-time or for shorter periods were more likely to engage in income-generating activities or pursue education. A new study uncovers surprising patterns in parental leave usage among newly arrived migrant women in Sweden, specifically focusing on their integration into the labor market. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-flexible-parental-immigrant-mothers.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:47:03 EST news620653621 A representative survey by IU International University of Applied Sciences reveals there are still significant differences between the sexes in career trajectories. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-kids-career-traditional-role-largely.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:27:47 EST news620652463 Before having our first baby last year, we wondered whether we had the money, time and necessary skills to raise a child. Perhaps you find yourself contemplating the same? Many people certainly have, as birth rates have been declining across the world for the past 200 years. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-child-uk-200000here.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:51:04 EST news620650261 It seems like we have free will. Most of the time, we are the ones who choose what we eat, how we tie our shoelaces and what articles we read on The Conversation. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-professor-science-free-doesnt-mistaken.html Other Social Sciences Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:18:41 EST news620648318 Modern slavery affects an estimated 120,000 people in the UK. Under international law, countries must identify and protect survivors, while prosecuting and punishing those who traffic and exploit them. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-dont-victims-modern-slavery-prisonwhy.html Social Sciences Political science Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:18:24 EST news620648300 A new survey, analyzed by the University of Bristol and commissioned by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, shows nearly two-thirds (65%) of households, amounting to 18.4 million, have consumer debt and more than 4 in 10 households (44% or 12.5 million) have taken out new borrowing in the past six months. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-reveals-high-consumer-debt-majority.html Economics & Business Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:18:20 EST news620648297 Online platforms are awash with ads for so-called "green" products. Power companies are "carbon neutral." Electronics are "for the planet." Clothing is "circular" and travel is "sustainable." Or are they? https://phys.org/news/2023-12-social-media-ads-littered-green.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:59:04 EST news620647142 Quality of life for young trans and gender diverse (TGD) people is being impacted by inconsistent and conflicting parental support, according to research led by Nottingham Trent University (NTU) with the University of Brighton. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-inconsistent-conflicting-parental-impacting-quality.html Social Sciences Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:51:03 EST news620646661 Research in the International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management has investigated workplace happiness and its impact on productivity within and outside the information technology sector in Delhi. Their findings shed light on the significant impact of workplace happiness on employee engagement and emphasize its universal relevance. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-happy-workforce-productive.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Fri, 01 Dec 2023 08:41:02 EST news620642461 According to a recent survey by the News Media Association, 90% of editors in the United Kingdom "believe that Google and Meta pose an existential threat to journalism." https://phys.org/news/2023-12-news-sight-big-social-media.html Economics & Business Political science Fri, 01 Dec 2023 08:01:04 EST news620640062 A research group led by the Nagoya University Museum and Graduate School of Environmental Studies in Japan has clarified differences in the physical characteristics of rocks used by early humans during the Paleolithic. They found that humans selected rock for a variety of reasons and not just because of how easy it was to break off. This suggests that early humans had the technical skill to discern the best rock for the tool. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-paleolithic-humans-understood-properties-stone.html Archaeology Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:23:03 EST news620637781 It's an iconic episode of "Seinfeld"—Jerry tries to return a jacket and when asked why, he replies, "spite." In fact, he goes on to explain, he didn't care for the person who sold it to him. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-unwanted-holiday-gift.html Social Sciences Fri, 01 Dec 2023 03:48:24 EST news620624890 A series of 'bone biographies' created by a major research project tell the stories of medieval Cambridge residents as recorded on their skeletons, illuminating everyday lives during the era of Black Death and its aftermath. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-bone-biographies-reveal-medieval-england.html Archaeology Social Sciences Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:00:01 EST news620582536 Choosing to be child-free is more common than ever before in some countries, including the US. Many people see not having children an ethical and ecological choice, made to protect the environment, people and other species. Being child-free is about being "green". Consequently, more positive discourses around childlessness are emerging. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-child-free-deemed-selfish-decadesthe-history.html Social Sciences Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:40:01 EST news620566462 A new study published in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation evaluates the employment outcomes and ongoing support needs among graduates of Project SEARCH in Michigan, a one-year school-to-work transitional program. Replicated at more than 500 sites across the United States and worldwide, the program prepares students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to attain and maintain competitive employment upon graduation. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-michigan-school-to-work-transitional-high-success.html Economics & Business Education Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:58:04 EST news620585882 Four in five primary caregivers of nine-month-old babies reported cuddling, talking and playing with their little one several times a day, in England's first national long-term study of babies in over two decades, led by UCL (University College London). https://phys.org/news/2023-11-pressures-young-families-parents-precious.html Social Sciences Education Thu, 30 Nov 2023 15:08:03 EST news620579276 In their 60-year's history, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had to go through several radical organizational changes. New research by ESMT Berlin and Warwick Business School shows what NASA's history can teach organizations about strategic agility, and how organizations can adapt their business models effectively to cater to external challenges. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-nasa-strategic-agility.html Economics & Business Thu, 30 Nov 2023 15:04:15 EST news620579053 School students experience a wide range of achievement emotions during the years they spend attending school. Some of those emotions, such as joy and pride, are positive. Yet students also experience boredom and anger when they find achievement activities too difficult or too easy. These differing emotions are important for adolescents' development trajectories. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-high-school-students-academic-linked.html Social Sciences Education Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:32:03 EST news620577121 A new study has made a compelling case for significantly expanding rail infrastructure in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LICs and LMICs), in order to reach climate goals and provide economic benefits. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-railways-poorer-countries-climate-goals.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:28:04 EST news620576882 An international team of researchers has released an exhaustive look at support for Russia's autocratic President Vladimir Putin across several neighboring countries. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-putin-men-older-generations-traditionalists.html Social Sciences Political science Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:13:04 EST news620575982 Every day, families across the U.S. have to make difficult decisions about budgeting, spending, insurance, investments, savings, retirement and on and on. When faced with these choices, financial literacy—that is, knowing how to make informed decisions about money—is key. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-financial-literacy-gender-gapolder-women.html Economics & Business Thu, 30 Nov 2023 13:40:01 EST news620566575 Ticking up the thermostat a degree or two is going to cost anyone more money, but a new study from UConn researchers suggests Black households pay more to keep their homes comfortable, in part due to increased cold sensitivity. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-black-households-pay-higher-cold-related.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:57:57 EST news620571474 It's been over 50 years since there was a legal and cultural shift around women keeping their last names when they married. But many women who marry men still opt to change their name to their husband's upon saying, "I do." https://phys.org/news/2023-11-women-husband.html Social Sciences Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:57:03 EST news620571421 When it comes to how we talk, accents are often the thing people focus on first. We love to do impressions, and certain accents even have an impact on what we buy. But what exactly is an accent, and how does one develop? https://phys.org/news/2023-11-qa-accents-linguist.html Social Sciences Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:54:03 EST news620571241 The shaky pause in fighting agreed between Hamas and Israel is bringing much needed relief to the civilians of Gaza. With its future still uncertain, aid workers are rushing to deliver food, water and other vital supplies. However, it is clear that resources are insufficient to meet the current needs of Palestinian civilians. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-aid-workers-war-zones-gaza.html Social Sciences Political science Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:20:01 EST news620567248 Environmental nonprofit organizations that have diverse leadership and work in equity-deserving communities receive considerably less philanthropic support than conventional, mainstream nonprofits, according to new research published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-mainstream-environmental-nonprofits-philanthropic-expense.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:12:27 EST news620568740 While many people want to achieve major long-term goals—such as improving their diet, quitting smoking or adopting a more sustainable lifestyle—they often find it difficult to do so. Is it all down to a lack of self-discipline? No, it's not, according to social psychologist Professor Wilhelm Hofmann from Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-sustainable-consumption-difficult.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Thu, 30 Nov 2023 11:58:05 EST news620567882