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Signature size and narcissism − a psychologist explains a long-ago discovery that helped establish the link
Signature size and narcissism − a psychologist explains a long-ago discovery that helped establish the link Signature size has been found to be related to status and self-esteem, as observed by social psychologist Yoan Valat in a study conducted over 50 years ago. Valat’s research involved analyzing signatures of faculty members, students, and blue-collar workers […]
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Rediscovery of African American burial grounds provides long-overdue opportunities for collective healing
Rediscovery of African American burial grounds provides long-overdue opportunities for collective healing The rediscovery of African American burial grounds provides long-overdue opportunities for collective healing and reconciliation. African Americans have been denied access to white burial grounds since the British colonial period, leading to the establishment of segregated burial grounds that were often forgotten or […]
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Nuclear-powered missiles: An aerospace engineer explains how they work – and what Russia’s claimed test means for global strategic stability
Nuclear-powered missiles: An aerospace engineer explains how they work – and what Russia’s claimed test means for global strategic stability Nuclear-powered missiles, like Russia’s Burevestnik, are a type of cruise missile that use fission of nuclear fuel to generate thrust, offering significant advantages over conventional missile systems. The key advantage of nuclear-powered flight is the […]
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New book argues superhuman AI puts humans on path to extinction
New book argues superhuman AI puts humans on path to extinction A new book has been released arguing that superhuman AI poses an existential threat to humanity. The book suggests that the development of superhuman AI could lead to human extinction due to its potential for self-improvement and uncontrollable growth. Experts in the field of […]
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How the Philadelphia Art Museum is reinventing itself for the Instagram age
How the Philadelphia Art Museum is reinventing itself for the Instagram age The Philadelphia Art Museum has rebranded itself as simply “Philadelphia Art Museum” (PhAM) to appeal to a younger and more diverse audience, signaling a transformation in tone, purpose, and reach. The new logo features a bold, circular emblem that is designed to hold […]
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How Hershey’s chocolate survived an attack from Mars − and adopted a business strategy alien to its founder
How Hershey’s chocolate survived an attack from Mars − and adopted a business strategy alien to its founder Hershey’s chocolate survived an attack from Mars by adopting a business strategy alien to its founder Milton Hershey. The company responded to Mars’ aggressive marketing tactics by modernizing its operations and introducing new products. Milton Hershey’s paternalistic […]
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How can America get rid of its last coal power plants?
How can America get rid of its last coal power plants? A new study offers data-driven strategies for shuttering America’s remaining coal plants, which currently have no retirement plans and pose a threat to national climate goals. The study developed a framework combining graph theory and topological data analysis to classify the US coal fleet […]
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Future of nation’s energy grid hurt by Trump’s funding cuts
Future of nation’s energy grid hurt by Trump’s funding cuts The Trump administration’s cancellation and freezing of clean energy funding has also hurt essential work to improve the nation’s power grid, leaving Americans vulnerable to more frequent and longer-lasting power outages. The Department of Energy has defended the cancellations, citing that the projects did not […]
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Fed lowers interest rates as it struggles to assess state of US economy without key government data
Fed lowers interest rates as it struggles to assess state of US economy without key government data The Federal Reserve (Fed) lowered interest rates by a quarter point at its latest monetary policy meeting due to the ongoing federal shutdown, which has limited access to key economic data. The Fed is struggling to assess the […]
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Despite naysayers and rising costs, data shows that college still pays off for students – and society overall
Despite naysayers and rising costs, data shows that college still pays off for students – and society overall Despite rising costs and negative perceptions, data shows that college still pays off for students and society overall. College graduates earn more immediately after graduation and later on in their careers than high school graduates. The shift […]
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An Indigenous approach shows how changing the clocks for daylight saving time runs counter to human nature – and nature itself
An Indigenous approach shows how changing the clocks for daylight saving time runs counter to human nature – and nature itself Daylight saving time (DST) is often debated as to its necessity, but an Indigenous approach highlights how it runs counter to human nature and nature itself. The traditional Western view of DST assumes humans […]
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You’ve just stolen a priceless artifact – what happens next?
You’ve just stolen a priceless artifact – what happens next? The recent heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where eight priceless pieces of jewelry were stolen, raises questions about how the thieves can capitalize on their haul. The recovery rate for stolen artworks is low, with most works never being found. In fact, only […]
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When coal smoke choked St. Louis, residents fought back − but it took time and money
When coal smoke choked St. Louis, residents fought back − but it took time and money St. Louis residents fought back against coal smoke pollution in 1939, which had become a chronic problem due to the widespread use of sulfur-rich coal for heat and power. The city’s mayor, Bernard Dickmann, created a commission to investigate […]
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Trump’s words aren’t stopping China, Brazil and many other countries from setting higher climate goals, but progress is slow
Trump’s words aren’t stopping China, Brazil and many other countries from setting higher climate goals, but progress is slow Despite Trump’s climate skepticism, many countries have set higher climate goals, including China, which has committed to cutting its net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% from peak levels by 2035. The European Union has pledged a […]
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Thousands sign petition calling for ban AI “superintelligence”
Thousands sign petition calling for ban AI “superintelligence” Over 28,000 people have signed an online petition calling for a ban on AI “superintelligence”. The petition includes signatures from hundreds of public figures and several prominent AI pioneers. The development of AI superintelligence is seen as a potential threat to humanity’s existence. The petition aims to […]
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The disgraceful history of erasing Black cemeteries in the United States
The disgraceful history of erasing Black cemeteries in the United States The Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground in Richmond, Virginia, holds the remains of over 22,000 enslaved and free people of color, established in 1816. The cemetery has faced deliberate acts of violence, including grave robbing, construction projects, and destruction by city officials, who formally […]
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Surrealism is better known for its strangeness than the radical politics and revolutionary ambitions of its creators
Surrealism is better known for its strangeness than the radical politics and revolutionary ambitions of its creators Surrealism, often associated with its strange and fantastical art, was actually a radical movement that aimed to revolutionize society through the power of the human psyche. The movement was founded by André Breton and his fellow artists in […]
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Rethinking polygamy – new research upends conventional thinking about the advantages of monogamous marriage
Rethinking polygamy – new research upends conventional thinking about the advantages of monogamous marriage Contrary to conventional thinking, new research suggests that polygamy may not be as harmful as previously believed. A recent study found that polygyny does not lock large numbers of men out of marriage, and in some contexts, men are actually more […]
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Relying heavily on contractors can cut attendance by 27% for museums, theaters and other arts nonprofits – new research
Relying heavily on contractors can cut attendance by 27% for museums, theaters and other arts nonprofits – new research Nonprofits that rely heavily on contractors can experience a 27% decrease in attendance at museums, theaters, and other arts organizations. The use of flexible labor arrangements, such as hiring contractors instead of full-time employees, may not […]
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Push to close the AI skills gap among young workers
Push to close the AI skills gap among young workers The job market has changed significantly due to the rise of artificial intelligence. A new generation of young workers is graduating into this new landscape, where AI is increasingly taking over entry-level jobs. This shift highlights the need for young workers to develop skills that […]
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Pumpkins’ journey from ancient food staple to spicy fall obsession spans thousands of years
Pumpkins’ journey from ancient food staple to spicy fall obsession spans thousands of years Pumpkins have a rich history that spans thousands of years, originating in Central and South America and being introduced to Europe through the Columbian Exchange. Pumpkins are not just bright orange; they come in a variety of colors, sizes, and textures, […]
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People see leaders who change too fast as less authentic
People see leaders who change too fast as less authentic A new study from the University of South Florida found that leaders who change too fast are viewed as less authentic. Employees tend to see rapid changes in response to feedback as insincere, while gradual changes are perceived as more genuine and authentic. The study’s […]
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Office of Space Commerce faces an uncertain future amid budget cuts and new oversight
Office of Space Commerce faces an uncertain future amid budget cuts and new oversight The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) plays a crucial role in regulating commercial activities in space, including licensing satellite launches, advocating for space commerce, and coordinating flight paths to prevent collisions. The OSC has faced budget cuts and new oversight, with […]
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Many Colorado homeowners are underinsured − here’s what to do before the next fire
Many Colorado homeowners are underinsured − here’s what to do before the next fire Many Colorado homeowners are underinsured, with 74% of those affected by the Marshall Fire having insufficient coverage to rebuild their homes. Even households with incomes above $180,000 were found to be underinsured, with 72% holding policies that did not cover the […]
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Is it wrong to have too much money? Your answer may depend on deep-seated values – and your country’s economy
Is it wrong to have too much money? Your answer may depend on deep-seated values – and your country’s economy A new study published in PNAS Nexus found that people’s views on having too much money are shaped by cultural and moral instincts, rather than just economic factors. The study surveyed over 4,300 people across […]
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Influencers could learn a thing or two from traditional journalism about disclosing who’s funding their political coverage
Influencers could learn a thing or two from traditional journalism about disclosing who’s funding their political coverage Influencers have been accused of being influenced by undisclosed payments from organizations like Chorus, which has funded liberal political influencers with monthly stipends ranging from $250 to $8,000. The lack of transparency around these payments raises concerns about […]
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ICE is building a social media panopticon
ICE is building a social media panopticon ICE is expanding an online surveillance system to track millions of users on social media platforms. The agency has paid $5.7 million for an AI-powered platform called Zignal Labs, which can ingest and analyze vast amounts of publicly available data. The platform provides “real-time intelligence” that could potentially […]
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Extinction rates have actually slowed down
Extinction rates have actually slowed down Contrary to previous studies, extinction rates have actually slowed down over the past 100 years, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. The study, led by Kristen Saban and John Wiens, analyzed data from almost 2 million species that went extinct […]
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College faculty are under pressure to say and do the right thing – the stress also trickles down to students
College faculty are under pressure to say and do the right thing – the stress also trickles down to students College faculty are under immense pressure to say and do the right thing, leading to stress and burnout that trickles down to students. The academic profession is caught in the crosscurrents of culture and politics, […]
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Coal plants emitted more pollution during the last government shutdown, while regulators were furloughed
Coal plants emitted more pollution during the last government shutdown, while regulators were furloughed A study found that coal-fired power plants emitted more pollution during the 2018-2019 government shutdown, while regulators were furloughed. The analysis of six years’ worth of air quality data showed that particulate matter emissions increased by 15% to 20% during the […]
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