By Hannah Wakeford, Associate professor, University of Bristol
When scientists study exoplanets, planets orbiting stars other than the Sun, they often lack three-dimensional information. For example, general mathematical relationships are used to estimate a planet’s radius, even though that distance may be different depending on where it is measured.
Similar principles apply to measuring the atmosphere of an exoplanet, which often blurs all the features around the planet into one average spectrum. A spectrum is the record of how starlight filters through the atmosphere.…
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By Alex Dittrich, Senior Lecturer in Zoology, Nottingham Trent University
Kat Hamill, Senior Lecturer in Zoology, Nottingham Trent University
Around this time of year, elaborate decorations featuring ghosts, vampires, zombies, witches and werewolves adorn front doors, gardens and shop windows across the country.
But you may be surprised to hear that in the animal world, there are many real-life creatures with similar tendencies to these fictional characters of our Halloween nightmares.
The southern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys torridus) howls at the moon to defend its territory and attract mates, a little like werewolves…
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By Carlos Gutiérrez Hita, Profesor titular de Universidad. Economía industrial (transporte, energía, telecomunicaciones), Universidad Miguel Hernández
Shortly after 8am, two high-speed trains set off from Madrid’s Atocha station bound for Seville Santa Justa, but neither reached their destination. A failure in the LZB system – an automatic safety, signalling and protection system that monitors trains’ movement and activates automatic emergency braking – triggered a chain of events that led to a fatal accident, which killed 69 people and left many more injured.
Across the EU’s rail network, which spans almost 227,000km, there are more than 25 different, non-interoperable…
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By Elisabeth Lafleur, Doctorante en psychologie, profil recherche-intervention, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Alison Paradis, Professor, Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Natacha Godbout, Full Professor, Professeure titulaire, Sexologie, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Why do some parents have more sexual difficulties than others after having a baby? Childhood trauma plays a significant role, amplifying the other factors at play.
Having a child brings its own set of challenges for couples. On top of the physical, emotional and relationship adjustments that come with parenthood, parents also face changes in their sex lives. In particular, many report less frequent sex and lower sexual satisfaction. Although these difficulties are common among parents, they…
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By Michelle Miller, Applied economic anthropologist, University of Wisconsin-Madison
A food systems researcher shows how trucking deregulation and lax antitrust enforcement let big grocery chains grow as rural distribution thinned.
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By Lindsey Murtagh, Distinguished Senior Fellow in Health Law, Brown University
Imagine you get hit by a car. An ambulance brings you to the nearest hospital. Your private health insurance covers emergency care, but the hospital isn’t in your plan’s network.
Before 2022, if you received emergency care from an out-of-network provider or hospital, you could get hit with an extra, often huge bill on top of what you owe as a copay, coinsurance or deductible.
A law called the No Surprises Act, which took effect in 2022, was designed to protect…
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By Thomas J Bassett, Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
After the United Nations adopted a resolution in September 2026 endorsing a map that more fairly represents the size of Earth’s landmasses, author and journalist Moky Makura of Africa No Filter – a main sponsor of the Correct the Map initiative – asked:…
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By Teri Finneman, Professor of Journalism, University of Kansas
Pamela E. Walck, Associate Professor of Journalism, Duquesne University
Catherine Bilskie, the advertising and office manager for the newspaper in Solon, Iowa, had seen many local news outlets close. So she was sure her job at the Solon Economist was about to go one Friday morning in February 2024.
But to her surprise, a new owner, Jason Brummond, appeared. He not only promised to keep her and her co-worker employed at the weekly paper but assured them raises if they agreed to an unusual new venture. And he wasn’t a wealthy benefactor or a representative from a private equity firm – he came from…
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By Shannon Roberts, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering, UMass Amherst
Driverless trucks with artificial intelligence on board could dramatically change the landscape of freight shipping. A few companies have begun testing early models on some limited routes in Texas and California. Simulations of automated fleets show the potential benefits of the technology: The vehicles could improve safety, enhance fuel economy and lessen transit…
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By Charlotte Pennington, Lecturer in Psychology, Aston University
Daniel Shaw, Lecturer in Psychology, Aston University
Evelyn Murray, PhD Candidate in Cyberpsychology, Aston University
Amid growing concerns about teenagers’ mental health and wellbeing, governments around the world are considering or enacting new restrictions on young people’s access to social media.
Australia has already legislated a ban on social media for under-16s, and the UK government has announced plans to introduce similar restrictions from spring 2027.
Yet a fundamental question remains largely unanswered: what exactly are governments trying to regulate through these bans?
Policymakers…
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