science wire

Levers to cut the rate of home repossessions in the UK
Oxford University academics have produced an economic forecasting model which suggests that the rate of home repossessions in the UK in 2011 would have been at least 23 per cent higher had the government not intervened with a range of policies to protect mortgage payers in difficulties.

Online purchasers seeking discounts exhibit herd mentality
We might like to think we're not influenced by other people, but new research from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management indicates otherwise, especially when it comes to consumer behaviour.

Jean Allard, first female vice president at UChicago, 1924-2012
Jean Allard, the first female vice president at the University of Chicago and a longtime Hyde Park resident, died Sunday, Jan.

Conservation clusters: making the case
A new study reveals how the gathering together of conservation organisations in one location - a 'conservation cluster' - can work best to reap global rewards.

U-M to lead statewide Tech Transfer Talent Network to bring more inventions to market
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - To turn an invention into a marketable product that can benefit society, you need, above all else, the right people involved.

Recession increases work-related stress by 40 per cent, study finds
One in four workers experience work-related stress in times of recession — and work-related stress increases by 40 per cent overall, according to new research. A study, published in the journal Occupational Medicine , also found that the number of staff taking time off due to job stress increased by 25 per cent during an economic downturn.

'Storm of the century' may become 'storm of the decade'
As the Earth's climate changes, the worst inundations from hurricanes and tropical storms could become far more common in low-lying coastal areas, a new study suggests. Researchers from Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that regions such as the New York City metropolitan area that currently experience a disastrous flood every century could instead become submerged every one or two decades.

Psychology Professor Studies Science of Motivation
Forget carrots and sticks, the widely used catch phrase suggesting people are motivated by the desire to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

Professor Timothy M. Frye Discusses the Russian Political Scene
In the late 1980s, Timothy Frye , a recent Middlebury College graduate with a B.A. in Russian language and literature, went for the first time to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, where Mikhail Gorbachev had just come to power.

U-M experts available to comment on Michigan primary
Media Advisory ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan voters return to the polls Feb. 28 for the Republican primary, and University of Michigan experts can provide their analysis.

Leadership tussle - constitutional doubts

Foreclosed: Architecture Center Reimagines Suburbia After Housing Crisis
Columbia faculty talk about the Foreclosed exhibit and the mission of the Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture.

Women’s Leadership Council provides data on women faculty at University
The University of Chicago has released an inaugural Report on the Status of Academic Women at the University of Chicago , providing detailed data on the representation of women across the faculty of the University, including leadership positions held by female faculty members.

Carbon storage project combines innovation and outreach
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Geologists are hoping to learn a great deal about geologic carbon sequestration from injecting 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into sandstone 7,000 feet beneath Decatur, Ill.

Sweden’s Best-Kept Technology Secret
At the KTH Symposium, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation explains how scientific co-operation with Sweden benefits American research.

Swarm constellation heads north
Swarm constellation heads north The three satellites that make up ESA's Swarm magnetic field mission were presented to the media today.

The fate of a thin liquid filament
Scientists have solved one of the printing industries greatest challenges - whether a liquid thread will break up into drops.

Despite Leadership, Maryland Higher Education Is Leaving Citizens Behind, Penn GSE Study Finds
Maryland's higher education system is leaving poor, black and Hispanic residents behind, according to a new study from the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Higher Education Research, " Much

Despite Leadership, Maryland Higher Education Is Leaving Underserved Citizens Behind, Penn GSE Researchers Find
Maryland's higher education system is leaving poor, black and Hispanic residents behind, according to a new study from the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Higher Education Research, " Much

Penn's Amy Gutmann Reappointed Chair of Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues
Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, has been re-appointed chair of the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues by President Obama.

British scientist warns AAAS of the threat posed by ocean acidification
One of the country’s leading voices on ocean acidification has addressed a prestigious conference in Canada with a warning that marine biodiversity is at risk due to the corrosive effects of carbon dioxide.

Information security: weakness in popular protection system
An unexpected flaw has been detected of a system that is widely used for protection of online transactions.

InterDigital and Calit2 Launch InterDigital Innovation Challenge
InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC) and the University of California, San Diego division of the California Institute for Tele and Information Technology (Calit2) today announced the launch of the InterDigita

£9.3 million project to improve oil refining in Russia gets the green light
For Immediate Release Wednesday 15 February 2012 Multi-million pound project to improve sustainability and efficiency of Russian oil industry is given green light A £9.3 million international consortium to make oil refining in Russia more efficient and environmentally sustainable has been given the green light this week.

Cleaning up Earth's orbit: A Swiss satellite to tackle space debris
The proliferation of debris orbiting the Earth – primarily jettisoned rocket and satellite components – is an increasingly pressing problem for spacecraft, and it can generate huge costs.

U-M experts available to discuss Chinese vice president’s visit to U.S
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, widely expected to be his country's next leader, on Tuesday meets with President Obama.

Start-up finds online meaning
Software developed at Oxford University that accurately assesses what people mean from what they say online will provide a valuable ‘sentiment analysis' tool for businesses, particularly finance companies.

’Storm of the Century?’ Try ’Storm of the Decade’
With climate change, today's '100-year floods' may happen every three to 20 years, according to new research. Last August, Hurricane Irene spun through the Caribbean and parts of the eastern United States, leaving widespread wreckage in its wake. The Category 3 storm whipped up water levels, generating storm surges that swept over seawalls and flooded seaside and inland communities.

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Guadagno visits PPPL
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno visited the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) on Monday, Feb.

Saltwater crocodile breeders to benefit from genome sequence
The genome sequence of the saltwater crocodile has been completed by an international collaboration of scientists, including researchers from the University of Sydney.

Life sentences
The Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) Research Editor PAM CRICHTON explores the role of booksellers in Australia.

On-site worker rescue plan urged for confined spaces
Many employers are mistakenly relying upon public fire departments to rescue workers from confined spaces, such as water and sewer pipes, manholes and tunnels, according to an analysis by University of California, Berkeley, health researchers of hundreds of deaths in the United States over 13 years.

ISS fellowships free some of Cornell’s top social scientists to pursue research
The Institute for the Social Sciences (ISS) at Cornell will sponsor 12 of the university's most promising social scientists for one semester, enabling them to pursue their research, free from teaching and most departmental duties.

From buskins to brothel-creepers: our love affair with shoes
Tomorrow Cambridge historian Ulinka Rublack will give a public talk that will set footwear at the centre of her argument that in neglecting to explore the history of things we miss a golden opportunity to further our understanding of the past.

ESA’s new Vega launcher scores success on maiden flight
ESA's new Vega launcher scores success on maiden flight PR 3 2012 - Vega, ESA's new launch vehicle, is ready to operate alongside the Ariane 5 and Soyuz launchers after a successful qualification flight this morning from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Men are not from Mars, women are not from Venus
UTM English professor Mari Ruti takes on the self-help industry in her book The Case for Falling in Love Professor Mari Ruti of the Department of English and Drama at the University of Toronto Mississauga has written about love for both academic and mainstream audiences.

Decades-old riddle in economics — solved?
Zerbe to speak Zerbe's work on benefit-cost analysis will figure into his presentation, “An Inquiry into the Foundations of Welfare Economics,” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.

Not for profit: Why democracy needs the humanities
Author and philosopher Martha Nussbaum says a declining emphasis on the study of the humanities could lead to a world of "useful profit makers with no imaginations." From the United States to India and the United Kingdom, humanities and arts programs are being cut at all levels of education.

Advanced power-grid model finds low-cost, low-carbon future in West
The least expensive way for the Western U.S. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to help prevent the worst consequences of global warming is to replace coal with renewable and other sources of energy that may include nuclear power, according to a new study by University of California, Berkeley, researchers.

Infrastructure revolution
Technology has advanced to the point where the condition of bridges, tunnels and buildings can be monitored in unprecedented detail.

Scientists vs. Engineers
Inventors with which type of education generate broader patents? Scientists or Engineers? Marc Gruber's latest paper to be published in Management Science explores the issue. Abstract: Building on the seminal work of Allen (1977), we contribute to the emerging micro-level theory of knowledge recombination by examining how individual-level characteristics of inventors affect the breadth of their technological recombinations.

Smart Home Research Set to Begin
At the KTH Symposium, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation explains how scientific co-operation with Sweden benefits American research. AIMday Image is a forum for knowledge exchange between academic and industrial scientists in the field of image analysis Welcome to KTH on March 7! Reception and service at central level for international students after arrival at KTH.

Pupils given a taste of US Congress
Oxfordshire schoolchildren gained an insight into the workings of the United States Congress from two former Congressmen at the Rothermere American Institute on Monday 6 February 2012.

Berkeley Lab Launches New Institute to Build Low-Carbon Pathways to Prosperity
To some, the problems in developing countries may seem intractable: unsafe drinking water, subpar sanitation systems, limited access to electricity, low agricultural yields due to poor irrigation, environmentally unsustainable use of resources, and so on.

Carbon Dioxide Puts Waste Heat to Work
At the KTH Symposium, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation explains how scientific co-operation with Sweden benefits American research.

Many companies fall short of social responsibility promises
Whether eliminating child labor, creating environmentally friendly technology or working against all forms of corruption, many corporations fail to become socially responsible despite promises to change, a new University of Michigan study found. In an article recently published in the American Sociological Review, U-M sociologists Alwyn Lim and Kiyoteru Tsutsui say that corporations in developed countries "are more likely to make shallow commitments without substance" in response to external pressures from government and citizens to take socially responsible actions.

Research Looks to Cut Drug Development Costs
At the KTH Symposium, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation explains how scientific co-operation with Sweden benefits American research. AIMday Image is a forum for knowledge exchange between academic and industrial scientists in the field of image analysis Welcome to KTH on March 7! Reception and service at central level for international students after arrival at KTH.

Got photos? Yes, just ask SALLIE
A new free image repository gives the Stanford community a place to store and manage pictures and a huge database for finding images to use in university publications.

Science Frontiers Showcased at Scripps
From prediction of algal blooms that could poison seafood to identification of subseafloor oil deposits to an effort for the military to borrow camouflage techniques from octopi, the cross-section of research presented at Scripps Institution of Oceanography Jan. 19 ran the gamut from practical to fantastical.

Medical debt keeps rising, new report shows
Hard hit by one of the worst recessions in nearly a century, hundreds of thousands of Californians lost insurance coverage across the state as employers shed jobs and the health plans that came with those jobs, according to a new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Among the most alarming trends resulting from the so-called Great Recession: a significant jump in California's already high rate of residents with medical debt.

Professor cited in brief to U.S. Supreme Court on new public health law
In March, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in an historic legal challenge to the new health law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Spin-out secures record sales
A Cardiff University spin-out company which develops radio frequency equipment and device measurement to the semiconductor industry has secured $1.25M in sales of its technology.

Canopy commerce: forest conservation and poverty alleviation
Innovative approaches for protecting the future of Sierra Leone's Gola Forest - globally important for its biodiversity and its carbon reserves - are being developed by a collaboration of conservation agencies and University of Cambridge researchers.

High-Speed Train Research Pulls into the Station
At the KTH Symposium, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation explains how scientific co-operation with Sweden benefits American research.

Firms’ own social networks better for business than Facebook
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Using Facebook and Twitter may be good for a company's bottom line, but firms can rake in even bigger profits if they have their own virtual brand community, says a University of Michigan marketing professor.

First international client confirmed for new marine facility at Plymouth University
A British-Italian wave energy company has become the first international client to inwardly invest in Plymouth’s burgeoning marine renewables sector. 40South Energy Ltd has signed a contract with Plymouth University to establish a base of operation in its new marine facility on campus. The deal is the first for the £19m new Marine Building, which will offer business collaboration space for marine-focussed enterprise when it opens later this year.

New investment aims to establish the UK as a global graphene research hub
Today sees the announcement of full details of how an additional £50 million will be spent to keep the UK at the forefront of research into ‘wonder material' graphene.

Biodiversity conservation for life
This month, the University of Cambridge will be profiling research that addresses biodiversity conservation.

Effective link between diabetes researches and business sector
The Lund University Diabetes centre has been conducting cutting-edge research on diabetes for a number of years.

Driving the green
New study suggests that electric-powered trucks will save money for businesses.

MIT faculty speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos
Talks explore the mind/machine interface and the science of predicting the economy, among other topics.

A Study on the Impact of Good Teachers Sparks National Attention
Teachers who succeed in raising standardized test scores have a lasting influence on their students' lives, helping them avoid teenage pregnancy, go to college and earn more money as adults, accordin

Probing Question: What is the sandwich generation?
By Melissa Beattie-Moss Research/Penn State If you didn't know better, you might think the Sandwich Generation was the name of a new show on the Food Network.

Forging new research talent
The search is on for the next generation of talented researchers building their careers in Wales. Welsh Crucible, the development scheme for the nation's research leaders of the future, is recruiting for this summer's capacity-building programme.

Got creative block? Get out of your office and go for a walk
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The next time you're in need of creative inspiration, try thinking outside the box - or cubicle. New research by Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks and Suntae Kim of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business shows that engaging in physical acts and experiences enhances creative problem-solving.

David and Helen Gurley Brown Gift to Create Institute for Media Innovation at Columbia and Stanford
J-School and Stanford Engineering announce joint gift from David and Helen Gurley Brown Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and Stanford University's School of Engineering today

National Labs Seek Closer Industry Ties
The network of national laboratories run by the Department of Energy (DOE) has spawned countless scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs in the last 80 years.

Novartis extends commitment to help achieve final elimination of leprosy
New five-year commitment includes donation of treatments worth an estimated USD 22.5 million and is expected to reach an estimated 850,000 patients Novartis will also intensify efforts to buil

China’s investment flow helps region grow
A new study from The Australian National University shows that foreign direct investment (FDI) both into and out of China is improving economic stability and driving development in Asia and the Pacific. In a major study, Chunlai Chen from the ANU Crawford School examined levels of FDI in 49 developing countries between 1992 and 2008.

Stanford, Columbia get a joint $30 million gift for media innovation
The gift establishes a first-of-its-kind bi-coastal Institute for Media Innovation, bringing together the best in West Coast technology with East Coast content.

Roche commences tender offer for Illumina, Inc. for $44.50 per share in cash
Roche commences tender offer for Illumina, Inc.

Four decades - and counting - of feminist journalism
At a Stanford panel discussion, editors, activists and bloggers come together to salute Ms. magazine and consider the future.

Half of L.A. human-services nonprofits are struggling, new UCLA report shows
Roughly half of Los Angeles County's 6,300 human-services nonprofits — which provide such services as emergency shelter, food, hospice care, and support for foster children, at-risk youth and t

King’s India Institute launch
King's College London held the official inauguration ceremony yesterday for its new India Institute, which is aiming to become the leading international centre for the study of contemporary India.

Consumer confidence improves in January due to job gains
ANN ARBOR, Mich - Consumer confidence continued to improve in January due to positive news about potential job gains, according to University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin, director of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

Modelon based on simulation
Nowadays, it is cheaper and quicker to test a product or system using computer simulation than by building a prototype.

UChicago brings Akira clothing store to former Borders building on 53rd Street
The University of Chicago is bringing Akira , the apparel and shoes retailer, to Hyde Park, to occupy the majority of the first-floor space in the former Borders building at 1539 E. 53rd St&poi

Commentary in Nature: Can economy bear what oil prices have in store?
Stop wrangling over global warming and instead reduce fossil-fuel use for the sake of the global economy.

New website matches ideas with investors
New website matches ideas with investors A new collaboration between Sussex and four of the south-east's other leading research institutions was launched on Monday (23 January).

Roche responds to adoption of shareholder rights plan by Illumina Board of Directors
Roche responds to adoption of shareholder rights plan by Illumina Board of Directors Roche today responded to an announcement from Illumina, Inc.

Opening of UK site producing the heart of Galileo
Opening of UK site producing the heart of Galileo The first Galileo satellites are already in orbit, with more on the way.

Stanford scholars reflect on Arab Spring
A year after the Egyptian uprising, five scholars talk about democracy in the Middle East, how lives have changed in the Arab world, and what the United States has learned from the Arab Spring.

Making a ‘contract’ with society: GlaxoSmithKline’s research and development head discusses the company’s ethos
By Tanya Gubbay Wednesday 25 January 2012 The Chairman of Research and Development at one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies last night shared his insights into the philosophy behind its work, in a distinguished guest lecture at Imperial College Business School.

Attack or retreat? Circuit links hunger and pursuit in sea slug brain
CHAMPAIGN, lll. - If you were a blind, cannibalistic sea slug, living among others just like you, nearly every encounter with another creature would require a simple cost/benefit calculation: Should I eat that, do nothing or flee? In a new study, researchers report that these responses are linked to a simple circuit in the brain of the sea slug Pleurobranchaea .

Novartis delivers strong underlying financial performance in 2011, expects 2012 sales to be in line with 2011
Fourth quarter sales rose 5% while core operating income grew 17% in constant currencies (cc); full year sales up 12% cc and core operating income up 16% cc Core operating income grew 12% (

U-M experts available to comment on the State of the Union address
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan faculty are available to discuss tonight's State of the Union address, in which President Barack Obama will talk about the economy, taxes and other issues.

U of M survey: Minnesotans predict higher leisure travel spending in 2012
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/23/2012) —A majority of the state's residents spend their leisure time in Minnesota, and 78 percent said they plan to spend as much or more money on leisure travel in 2012 compared to 2011, a new survey by the University of Minnesota Tourism Center reveals.

Microbubbles provide new boost for biofuel production
Microbubbles provide new boost for biofuel production A solution to the difficult issue of harvesting algae for use as a biofuel has been developed using microbubble technology pioneered at the University of Sheffield. The technique builds on previous research in which microbubbles were used to improve the way algae is cultivated.

With $3.5 million, UW-led consortium will address national freight issues
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $3.5 million grant to the National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) , a consortium led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Penn GSE Researcher Scores a Publishing Hat Trick
Writing one book is a daunting task, but writing three - simultaneously - might seem near impossible.

Early Stage Venture Fund launches in Cambridge, Mass
Cambridge, Mass. - January 18, 2012 - When the "next big thing" is invented in a dorm room, ruminated over in a late-night café, or discovered in a laboratory, it will now find more support in - and its inventors will have better reasons to stay connected to - the Cambridge area.

Climate balancing: sea-level rise versus surface temperature change rates
Engineering our way out of global climate warming may not be as easy as simply reducing the incoming solar energy, according to a team of University of Bristol and Penn State climate scientists.

Promoting legal capability in the UK
A new framework, produced by the Personal Finance Research Centre (PFRC) at the University of Bristol and Law for Life, aims to improve public legal education so that more people are aware of their legal rights when faced with law-related issues in everyday life, such as consumer complaints, discrimination at work or debt problems.

Climate balancing: sea-level rise vs. surface temperature change rates
Guidelines for reporting of child abuse, sexual assault Board chair and vice chair issue statement on questions about Paterno Alumni Town Hall meetings begin in Pittsburgh Panel discussion 'Responding to Child Sexual Abuse' set for Jan.

Report backs government-funded older people’s advice service
Analysis of the FirstStop initiative reveals that the service saves money and improves quality of life. With better information and advice about how to deal with the housing, care and financial challenges of ageing, people are able to remain independent in their own homes or move to housing that really suits them." —Gemma Burgess A government-funded information and advice service helping older people to prepare for later life is proving a much-needed resource as Britain becomes an increasingly top-heavy society, a new report says.

Novartis receives approval for Lucentis and launches Galvus in China
Lucentis (ranibizumab) approved in China to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness and severe vision loss in people over 50 Oral type 2 diabetes treatment Galvu

Pro athletes are wise to bolster their star status, say researchers
Basketball fans in Cleveland may disagree, but two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Lebron James' decision to play with a higher-profile Miami Heat team and all-star teammates shows sound marketing and

Being happy at work is nice, but thriving is better--and more productive
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - While it may come as little surprise that happy employees are more productive, a high-performing workforce needs more than just a feeling of contentment - workers need to thrive, says a researcher at the University of Michigan.

President David Naylor discusses research and innovation
When the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation asked President David Naylor for his expertise and insight on innovation hubs and what makes them successful, he was happy to use Toronto as a prime example.

From field to biorefinery: Computer model optimizes biofuel operations
CHAMPAIGN, lll. - Research into biofuel crops such as switchgrass and Miscanthus has focused mainly on how to grow these crops and convert them into fuels. But many steps lead from the farm to the biorefinery, and each could help or hinder the growth of this new industry. A new computer model developed at the University of Illinois can simplify this transition, researchers say.

Jan. 20 U-M town hall: Cures for climate confusion
DATE: 6:30-8:00 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. EVENT: When the scientific experts have concluded that we are changing our climate, why do many U.S. citizens remain confused or skeptical?

People with chronic illness or disability face catastrophic costs, experts warn
Australians with a chronic illness or disability face serious levels of economic hardship, according to an article in the January issue of the Medical Journal of Australia .

Railroad hyperbole echoes all the way down to the dot-com frenzy
Stanford historian Richard White explores the role of the railroad in shaping the modern American West.

Tackling the temptation of illegal cheap tobacco
A pioneering programme to tackle the use of illicit tobacco in the North of England has had a positive impact and offers a blueprint for similar programmes both nationally and internationally, research by the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies has shown. ‘ Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health' is a pilot scheme which was launched in 2009 to improve the health of people in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humber by trying to reduce the supply of and demand for illegal cigarettes and tobacco.

KTH to Host New Smart Grids Centre
At the KTH Symposium, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation explains how scientific co-operation with Sweden benefits American research.

Seeking benefits, avoiding conflicts
A new report on Uganda's emerging oil and gas industry says companies can improve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to give fairer employment, compensation and land deals to communities. The report Seeking Benefits and Avoiding Conflicts: A Community-Company Assessment of Uganda's Hydrocarbon Industry is the culmination of a year of consultation, validation discussions, roundtables and workshops, conducted by the Ugandan members of the study team and coordinated by the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas (CSCO).

Novartis to restructure US business
Novartis to restructure US business to strengthen competitive position in light of loss of Diovan patent and announces charge for Rasilez /Tekturna.

Sound effects: Book examines impact of sound on culture
In "The Oxford Handbook of Sound Studies" (Oxford University Press), co-editor Trevor Pinch, professor of sociology and of science and technology studies, takes a look at how sound is experienced in machine shops, design studios, private homes and dance clubs.

Don’t Know Much About Charter Schools
UC San Diego researchers say the best studies reflect only the best schools and must be boosted with 'value-added' approaches for all the rest Some two decades into the grand national experiment with charter schools, how much do we really know about them? Not all that much.

A Scarcity of Women Leads Men to Spend More, Save Less
University of Minnesota Research Finds Sex Ratios Influence Financial Decisions MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/12/2012) —The perception that women are scarce leads men to become impulsive, save less, and increase borrowing, according to new research from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

University of Minnesota startup Drive Power uses mobile app DriveScribe to monitor and coach teen driving skills
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/12/2012) —Some 16.5 million drivers are involved in traffic accidents in the United States each year, and more than 12 percent of them are under the age of 20&m

Health insurance no guarantee for diabetes care in developing countries, Stanford researchers find
A doctor prepares an injection for a diabetes patient in a Cuban hospital. Diabetes is on the rise in Latin America and throughout many developing countries, but access to care and medication for the disease is often costly and scarce, according to Stanford researchers.

Science career ’not for me’ say many 10 year olds
Children as young as ten already see a career in science as ‘not for me'. Despite the majority of children enjoying the subject at school and viewing scientists positively, fewer than 17 per cent are interested in pursuing a career in science, according to research from King's College London, published today.

Keeping the supply chain moving smoothly
Too much, or… too little! Many companies need to work on improving their supply chains. EPFL researchers have analyzed the best strategies and proven that good supply chain coordination can result in significant savings.

Purchase deal over Hepatitis drug
American pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb has agreed the purchase of US biotech company Inhibitex, in a $2.5Bn (£1.6bn) deal which includes the promising new anti-hepatitis C drug INX-189, first designed and prepared in Cardiff University.

What happens to the young and educated without a job?
A new study led by the University of Oxford is looking at how young educated people who are unemployed become politicised in different ways - either through violent struggle or as reformers working for a more equal society.

Economic returns and job creation from major investments in low carbon cities
A new study from the Centre for Low Carbon Futures shows that UK cities could cut their energy bills by billions by exploiting commercially attractive opportunities in energy and carbon management.

Use of out-of-network services may explain higher health care costs for women
Women generally have been paying higher health care costs than men for many years, and this trend appears to be continuing or worsening since the major economic downturn began in 2008, according to Susan Busch, associate professor of health policy in the Yale School of Public Health.

Policy and Leadership Vacuum Undermines Higher Education in Washington State, Penn GSE Researchers Find
Embargoed until Jan. 8, 2012.

San Diego’s Algal Biofuels Research Enterprise Continues Rapid Growth
Scientists at UC San Diego are among the workers in the region transforming algae into transportation fuels. Credit: Photos by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications Despite the sluggish economy, San Diego's research efforts to produce new transportation fuels from algae continue to grow at a rapid pace, generating more than double the number of jobs for local workers in 2011 than were available in the region just two years ago.

KTH Spin-off Wins Boeing Order
At the KTH Symposium, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation explains how scientific co-operation with Sweden benefits American research.

The case of the missing gas mileage
Automakers have made great strides in fuel efficiency in recent decades - but the mileage numbers of individual vehicles have barely increased.

Stanford political scientist maps militant groups around the globe
A supporter of Indonesian militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir wears a shirt with the image of Osama bin Laden.

Innovation Scholarship for Superabsorbent Polymer

‘Extreme Sleepover #3’ – gathering the views of indigenous women in rural Ecuador
In the third of a series of reports contributed by Cambridge researchers, geographer Sarah Radcliffe describes her work with women from impoverished indigenous communities in Ecuador.

Divorce fears widespread among young cohabiting couples
With the share of married adults at an all-time low in the United States, new research by demographers at Cornell and the University of Central Oklahoma offers clues about what's preventing young adults from tying the knot. Through qualitative s with 122 cohabiting men and women, ages 18-36, researchers found widespread apprehension about divorce - even in those with no personal experience of divorce.

Traditional social networks fueled Twitter’s spread
Site's U.S. growth relied primarily on media attention, geographic proximity of users. We've all heard it: The Internet has flattened the world, allowing social networks to spring up overnight, independent of geography or socioeconomic status.

Cambridge Enterprise announces 2011 results
Income generated from the University of Cambridge's commercialisation activities continued to rise in 2011, as did the number of intellectual property, consultancy and equity agreements signed on behalf of the University and its researchers.

Novartis announces termination of ALTITUDE study with Rasilez / Tekturna in high-risk patients with diabetes and renal impairment
ALTITUDE study involved patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment who are at high risk of cardiovascular and renal events Committee overseeing study identified higher adverse events w

Expanded Data Repository at Austin and Arlington Campuses to Improve Research Capacity for Entire UT System
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin today announced that it is working with The University of Texas at Arlington to deploy a data rep

Stanford expert discusses Kim Jong Il’s death and what’s next for North Korea
People read an extra edition of a newspaper reporting the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Seoul.

Vega to fly ESA experimental reentry vehicle
Vega to fly ESA experimental reentry vehicle The launch of ESA's IXV Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle on Europe's new Vega rocket is now in detailed planning, a major step towards the craft's flight in 2014.

Trash-to-Energy Project in Bolivia Wins Funding
At the KTH Symposium, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation explains how scientific co-operation with Sweden benefits American research.

Abandoned mines hold potential to capture wind energy
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (12/16/2011) —Minnesota's Iron Range is pocked with ponds – abandoned open pit mines – that could help energy providers more efficiently use intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind, to meet state renewable energy mandates.

Stanford University reports FY 2011 financial results
Stanford University reported its financial results for fiscal year 2011 (FY2011), which ended Aug. 31, 2011.

The role of social media in protests
A study has explored the dynamics behind social network sites in recruiting and spreading calls for action that contribute to riots, revolutions and protests. Led by Oxford University and published in the journal Scientific Reports , the study finds that the most influential group consists of a small group of users close to the centre of a network.

Industrial "inertia to change" is delaying development of zero carbon homes, report finds
Tackling rising CO2 emissions from the residential sector could make a vital contribution towards mitigating climate change, according to a new report from the UCL Bartlett School of Planning.

Studying the European innovation potential
Dominique Foray will share his expertise in the "Innovation for Growth" group to support the Europe 2020 strategy.

Jobs Even in a Recession
At the KTH Symposium, the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation explains how scientific co-operation with Sweden benefits American research.

Least Nutritious Cereals Served Most Often in Minority Homes with Children
In the first study to examine cereal-buying patterns in homes in the United States, researchers at the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity found that minority families with children are most likely to buy the least nutritious cereals that are advertised directly to children. The study appears online in the journal Public Health Nutrition.

Age a barrier for breaking into the Bar
People aged 30 or over who choose to re-train as barristers are at a significant disadvantage to younger applicants, according to new research from King's College London.

Tool which targets carbon emission hotspots in supply chains developed
Tool which targets carbon emission hotspots in supply chains developed A management expert at the University of Sheffield has developed a tool to analyse supply chains in industry, enabling businesses to highlight waste hotspots and make their processes more environmentally friendly.

Michigan Ross researchers conduct largest HR study ever
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - In the largest global study ever of human resource professionals, researchers at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and the RBL Group found that HR managers play an integral role in the overall effectiveness of a company's performance.

After years of ’fracking,’ Pennsylvanians remain mixed about gas drilling
Despite having an eight-year head start on Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction, Pennsylvania residents are just as uncertain about the effects of horizontal hydraulic drilling as New Yorkers, researchers at Cornell and Penn State have found.

Christmas - it’s not about the money, money, money
Christmas doesn't have to cost a fortune and a simple handmade or pre-used gift can mean as much, if not more, than the present that broke the bank.

Quotas for women in local politics brings surge in documented crimes against women in India
An increase in female representation in local politics has caused a significant rise in documented crimes against women in India, new research has found. That is good news, say the authors of the study carried out at the Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE) at the University of Warwick in the UK, Harvard Business School and the IMF, who argue that the increase is down to greater reporting of crimes against women, rather than greater incidence of crimes against them.

Carlson School and Wells Fargo launch Sustainability Initiative
$250,000 grant supports research to help increase consumer demand for 'green' products MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (12/14/2011) —The University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management h

Research Strategy published
The 2011 UCL Research Strategy calls for a transformation of the understanding of the role of our comprehensive research-intensive university in the 21st century.

Brain drain of African doctors costs sub-Saharan Africa billions, saved U.S. nearly $900 million
Sub-Saharan African countries that invest in training doctors lose billions of dollars when those clinicians leave to work in developed nations, finds research recently published by BMJ ( bmj.com).

Report: Online coupons help consumers and restaurants
Daily online deals, or so-called "social coupons," help restaurants and consumers, according to a new report from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR).

Pen and Paper Computing: an old technology in a modern world
A talk by Nadir Weibel from the University of California San Diego Monday January 30th 2012, Room RLC D1 761 Access to information is one of the most crucial aspects of everyday life.

Journalism Professor Adds Up the High Cost of "Zero-Sum Politics"
Tom Edsall has covered every presidential campaign since 1968. He has reported on politics from more than 30 states and written five books on the subject.

Tobacco industry dying? Not so fast, says Stanford expert
Smoking is not going away. Worldwide, says Stanford historian Robert Proctor, the tobacco industry continues to create toxic products that cause not just lung cancer but also cataracts, ankle fractures, early onset menopause, spontaneous abortion and erectile dysfunction, among other maladies.

Innovative new approach to industry-funded research announced by U of M
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (12/09/2011) —The University of Minnesota today announced a new, unique approach to the way The new approach eliminates the need for protracted negotiations over rights to intellectual property that may result from industry-funded research.

Swarms of bees could unlock secrets to human brains
Swarms of bees could unlock secrets to human brains Scientists at the University of Sheffield believe decision making mechanisms in the human brain could mirror how swarms of bees choose new nest sites. Striking similarities have been found in decision making systems between humans and insects in the past but now researchers believe that bees could teach us about how our brains work.

£1 million drug treatment study launched
08 Dec 2011 University of Manchester researchers have been awarded £1 million to investigate the effectiveness of the Department of Health's ‘Payment by Results' (PbR) schemes in the treatment of addiction.

Kolb authors new book on facilitation of small groups
Berks students hold fundraiser to benefit Children's Alliance Center Penn State to create Center for the Protection of Children A message from President Rodney Erickson: The days ahead... Campus community and friends attend candlelight vigil Town Hall Forum video posted Judith A. Kolb, associate professor of workforce education, is the author of a newly released book that offers research, insights and suggestions on ways to improve the functioning of groups and teams.

How sustainable is nuclear power for the UK?
08 Dec 2011 Nuclear power could contribute significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the UK but this would lead to considerable impacts on natural resources and the environment, a report from The University of Manchester claims. The research into the sustainability of nuclear and other electricity options in the UK shows that nuclear power could make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

Economists: 9 million lost health insurance in recession
The "Great Recession" of 2007-09 - the longest and most severe U.S. recession since 1933 - has cost an estimated 9.3 million American adults their health insurance coverage due to unemployment, reports a working paper published online in November by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Former enemies influence EU governance of GMOs
The EU’s governance of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and food safety has given lobbyists a new role.

IT pioneer makes donation to fight autism
A leading UK businesswoman has made a major donation towards autism research.

Cities fail to recognise full potential of smart technologies
PA 380/11 Cities are wasting the potential of smart technologies by failing to realise the value of their hidden infrastructure and digital assets.

Australians prefer investment in urban rail over high-speed services
More Australians want improved rail services in major cities than they want high-speed intercity rail, the latest quarterly national transport survey from the University of Sydney shows.

Lending a helping hand to develop African soil information
West African soil scientists are learning how to make the most out of sub-Saharan African soil during a six-week visit to the University of Sydney.

CAFE standards create profit incentive for larger vehicles
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The current Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards create a financial incentive for auto companies to make bigger vehicles that are allowed to meet lower targets, according to a new University of Michigan study.

Scientists subject rocks to hellish conditions to combat global warming
A team of Earth scientists at Stanford University is subjecting chunks of rock to hellish conditions in the laboratory – all in the name of curbing climate change.

Growing income and gender gaps in college graduation
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A new study shows that the gap in rates of college completion between students from high-and low-income families has grown significantly in the last 50 years.

Cash for Clunkers was a clunker, says energy economist
The 2009 Cash for Clunkers federal vehicle trade-in program was a clunker, concludes a new study. The program, it says, would have been more effective with higher fuel economy requirements for new vehicles and different vehicle-age thresholds for various types of trade-in vehicles.

With changes, the grid can take it
MIT report shows that with new policies, U.S. electric grid could handle expected influx of electric cars and wind and solar generation.

Partnership for Progress in Electronics Strengthened by New Lab-Industry Investment
As manufacturers pack more and more circuitry into the tiny microchips on which electronic technologies depend, ultraviolet light's narrow wavelengths are essential for creating the densely patterned chips of the future.

Making finance serve society, the economy and the environment
Ways to make the financial system better serve Europe's economic, social and environmental needs are to be explored by a ¤10m international research project.

New thesis studies conditions for bank aid in the EU
Because of the major importance of banks for the financial system, the European Commission’s application of the rules on state aid has become more flexible.

Warwick economist to lead £15 million research initiative into private enterprise in developing countries
Warwick economist to lead £15 million research initiative into private enterprise in developing countries University of Warwick economics professor Christopher Woodruff will oversee a new initiative that plans to invest £15 million into research on private enterprise development in low-income countries, it was announced today.

Australian economy strongly influenced by East Asian market conditions
2 Dec 2011 Market fluctuations in East Asia and their impact on Australia is the focus of the latest edition of the Australian Economic Review (AER), the peak economic policy journal in the country.

Kaiser, Reich and the making of modern Germany
Europe is in crisis and its future is said to depend on Germany. The most comprehensive study of Germany's early modern history ever undertaken, published this week, questions just how much we know about its past - and how much we understand it as a result.

Digital church records offer window into past
Digital church records offer window into past The University of Sheffield's Humanities Research Institute (HRI) has completed a project with the University of York to digitise records of

30% more efficient solar thermal power plants
The efficiency of solar thermal power plants is improved by more than 30% thanks to the combination of two technologies.

Enticing words on bags of potato chips have a lot to say about social class, Stanford researchers find
Like politicians who adopt regional accents to appeal to local audiences, the manufacturers of potato chips vary the wording on their bags to convey their products' authenticity in different ways to different buyers.

200 lorry loads of concrete in one day: a construction challenge
A major construction logistics operation was staged on the West Cambridge site recently to create a substantial concrete base for some of the world's most powerful microscopes.

More than just tape: 3M partners with food scientist
When Martin Wiedmann, professor of food science, tests meat samples suspected to be tainted with salmonella, he may be able to do so even faster, thanks to a new high-tech tool recently added to his arsenal.

Six steps to a better material world
Every year we make 10 times our own bodyweight of steel, aluminium, cement, plastics and paper, for every person alive, using a fifth of all the world's energy supply to do so. Now researchers are releasing a manifesto to change that and help cut carbon emissions. And they've also released an album of songs to go with it.

COP 17 and a low carbon future for cities
Investing 2% of a modern city's GDP in low carbon and energy efficient opportunities for ten years would reduce that city's carbon emission levels by 40% at no net cost.

Moore Foundation Awards $6 Million for Research Leading to Earthquake Early Warning System
Released by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation: PALO ALTO, Calif. —The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded $6 million to three West Coast universities to create a prototype earthquake early warning system for the Pacific Coast of the United States.

Moore Foundation awards $6 million for earthquake early warning research
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded $6 million to three West Coast universities to create a prototype earthquake early warning system for the Pacific Coast of the United States. The grant will allow seismologists at the University of California, Berkeley; California Institute of Technology (Caltech); and University of Washington, Seattle, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), to learn about the science of earthquakes and the best way to capture and analyze seismic data.

Many packages far down on the wish list
This year's Christmas shopping is expected to set new records, and a common sales trick is to combine and sell goods and services in bundles, as in 'buy three pay for two.' Somewhat surprisingly, w

Health and Safety rules will be overhauled
Ragnar Löfstedt, Professor of Risk Management at King's College London, has recommended a suite of health and safety regulations be axed to reduce the red tape of legislation and ease the burden on business, in a review for Government published today.

New book on Optimal Control Theory
Thomas Weber published a new book at MIT Press, which gives a rigorous introduction to optimal control theory, with an emphasis on applications in economics. Content This book bridges optimal control theory and economics, discussing ordinary differential equations, optimal control, game theory, and mechanism design in one volume.

Doing good - or just talking about it?
UK companies making bold claims about social and environmental achievements are using incorrect and irrelevant data, say researchers at the University of Leeds and Euromed Management School (France).

New Mongolia centre sets ANU out from the herd
The rolling hills and sweeping steppes of Mongolia will seem closer to Australia with the launch of a new research and teaching centre at The Australian National University today.

A How-To Guide to Slashing California’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050
What will a day in the life of a Californian be like in 40 years? If the state cuts its greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 - a target mandated by a state executive order

Adolescent boys more prone to delinquency without a father
Adolescent boys are more prone to delinquency if they do not have a father figure in their lives, a University of Melbourne study has found, while adolescent girls seem unaffected by the presence or absence of fathers in their lives. The study, undertaken by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research at the Faculty of Business and Economics, found that the presence of a father figure during adolescence was most likely to have a preventive effect on whether male youths engage in risk-taking and deviant behaviour.

UK recovery will require strong public sector leadership confident of its special role and more closely connected with those it serves
Leadership in the public sector is facing an unprecedented crisis of confidence at a time when public services are facing huge challenges.

Satellites and Sun connect isolated communities to the world
Satellites and Sun connect isolated communities to the world A mobile phone unit connecting isolated communities to the rest of the world using satellites and solar power has caught the attention of ESA and the World Economic Forum.

War’s lasting legacy is a culture of violence -- see video
The civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia ended 10 years ago but these West African nations continue to struggle, partly because the wars created an economy based on warfare.

Lund - home to world’s top 100 “Global Innovators”
Three of the world’s “top 100 Global Innovators” are Swedish companies based in Lund, according to the 2011 Thompsons Reuters Top 100 Global Innovators report released last week.