Research & Academic / Public News Service

In 2022, New Mexico joined the ranks of states offering free college for most through its Opportunity Scholarship. (theartofpics/AdobeStock)

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

NM studies financial equity among higher-education institutions

New Mexico is taking a deep dive into its funding of public colleges and universities to determine if inequities need to be addressed. The Higher …

The eclipse balloon, test-launched here by Iowa State students, is part of the University's High Altitude Balloon Experiments in Technology program. (Iowa State University)

Monday, April 29, 2024

IA eclipse research balloon pops, sends 'cool' data back to Earth

Environmental scientists in Iowa are starting to analyze data they collected with a research balloon during the recent solar eclipse. The mission was …

A U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission report says in 2019, 66% of women working in STEM careers were white, almost 15% were Black, 10% were Asian and 7% were Latinas. (Adobe Stock)

Institute blends culture, STEM education for IN youth

The solar eclipse has sparked more interest in science and technology, especially among young people. But the saying, 'You can't be what you don't …

From 2017 to 2019, Ohio ranked 46th among 50 states for pollution exposure, including exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Researchers link air pollution with dementia risk

Recent data ranks Columbus as the most polluted major city in the U.S., highlighting concerns about common pollutants, like smog and vehicle …

In partnership with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, volunteers are discovering new bee species and working to fortify bumble bee habitat, in Iowa and across the country. (Xerces/Katie Lamke)

Iowans asked to get busy counting beeezzz, please

The state Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University are looking for volunteers to help create a new Bumble Bee Atlas. Bees are an …

A New Mexico researcher suspects sports gambling and drinking feed off each other. (motortion/AdobeStock)

NM Research: Sports betting and booze fuel risky behavior

In just six years, the U.S. has pivoted from a complete ban on sports betting to a place where it is legal in most states, and young men could be …

Experts say the decline in college enrollment threatens the broader landscape of higher education, which relies on the talent and diversity of students, faculty and staff to thrive. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana colleges urged to prioritize student concerns

Amid a nationwide decline in college enrollment, schools and policymakers are being urged to prioritize student concerns, especially in conservative …

Colorado State University researchers identified a cybersecurity gap that could have exposed more than 14 million medium- and heavy-duty trucks that form the core of the U.S. shipping industry to hackers. (Adobe Stock)

Study: 14 million U.S. freight trucks vulnerable to hackers

New worker safety regulations meant to log how many hours truckers are on the road may have inadvertently exposed millions of U.S. 18-wheelers to …

More than 700 students from colleges and high schools across the nation will participate in the balloon launches during today's solar eclipse. (Adobe Stock/AI)<br />

Maryland students to study eclipse’s effect on atmosphere

As solar eclipse spectators are gathering in the path of totality, teams of students from Maryland and around the nation are preparing to launch …

Researchers say U.S. federal workers are generally high-performing, impartial and minimally corrupt compared with other countries' civil servants. (Adobe stock)

IN research: Federal workers defy 'deep state' stereotype

Hoosiers running for public office often criticize "the government," despite wanting to be part of it. Research published in The Conversation…

State and local officials expect millions of people to view the April 8 eclipse, which will cut across the United States in a swath from Mexico and South Texas through the upper Midwest and Canada. (Adobe Stock)

Millions expected to view total solar eclipse across Ohio, North America

Excitement is building for a rare celestial phenomenon that has not occurred in the United States since 2017. On April 8, a total solar eclipse will …

Kerner leads the development and deployment of AI and machine learning tools for the NASA Acres and NASA Harvest consortia. (Samantha Chow/Arizona State University)

ASU researcher uses AI to help address global challenges

An Arizona State University researcher is using artificial intelligence to transform data collected from satellites and other earth observation instru…

Iowa State University Assistant Biochemistry Professor Walter Moss and graduate student Jake Peterson discuss a computer rendering of an RNA molecule. (Iowa State University)

Iowa State scientists target disease in RNA

Researchers at Iowa State University are taking the next step in genetic medicine by targeting diseases in a person's RNA. Most drugs target …

According to the eco-sustainability site Treehugger.com, if someone was standing on the moon during a total eclipse, the earth would look dark because the sun would be behind it. (Adobe Stock)

Total solar eclipse will fascinate, mystify observers

Excitement and curiosity are building for a scientific phenomenon not seen in the United States since 2017. On April 8, a total solar eclipse will …

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped secure the funding for the Western Michigan University project. (VectorMine/Adobe Stock)

WMU secures $2.25 million grant for carbon capture research

Western Michigan University has gotten a significant funding boost, with a grant of more than $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. The …

One study shows in 2023 alone, almost 51.2 million square feet of self-storage space was rented - an area that would cover the whole of New York City's Central Park. (DavidGales/PhotoShop)

Spring means 'out with the old' – unless you can't part with clutter

Spring is often a time many of us get rid of unwanted stuff, but one New Mexico expert says that's harder than it sounds for people addicted to …

Corporate partners sign contracts to offer a graduate assistantship and pay the students. In turn, MSU pays the graduate assistant's tuition, fees and salary, so the assistantship is directly tied to the academic experience. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

MSU 'assistantships' give grad students an employment edge

By Victoria Lim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Missouri News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Col…

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will carve a narrow path of totality across 13 U.S. states, including Texas. (Rob Goebel/AdobeStock)

'Umbraphiles' plan Texas trip to view total solar eclipse

In less than a month from today, thousands of eclipse-chasers will travel to Texas for a dimming of the sun. And one city is making the most of the …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four adults and almost 20% of children in the United States have a seasonal allergy. (Sandor Jackal/Adobe Stock)

How do allergies affect your mood? A Wayne State study hypothesizes

Michigan researchers are examining a possible link between high pollen counts or allergy days and worsening mental health and increased suicide risk…

The USDA's Agricultural Census helps track New Hampshire's iconic maple and honey farms. An average of 160,000 gallons of maple syrup is produced each year in the Granite State while area beekeepers raise bees for honey and to provide important crop-pollination services for other farmers. (Adobe Stock)

Ag census reveals major boost in New England farm-production value

New agricultural census data show a significant increase in production value for New England farms over the past five years. There are nearly 31,000 …

The Center for Community News said a university investment model could be replicated elsewhere, saving struggling community papers that might otherwise be forced to shutter or sell. (Adobe Stock)

Two rural Iowa newspapers saved from extinction

The University of Iowa's daily newspaper has purchased two small-town papers as part of an attempt to keep local news alive in rural Iowa, while at …

Majorities of Americans expressed confidence in higher education in 2015, but by 2018, confidence had fallen across all groups, including a 17% drop among Republicans, according to Gallup. (Adobe Stock)

Maine’s Colby College counters higher ed mistrust with community outreach

Americans' confidence in higher education has plummeted but students and staff at Maine's Colby College hope continued community outreach will help br…

Ice cover duration for Lake Michigan has declined by 22 days over the last 50 years. (Climate Central 2024)

Dwindling Great Lakes ice cover highlights troubling trend

The Great Lakes region has experienced record low ice cover this winter, and scientists said it is important to keep an eye on the warming trends…

Authors of a new study on racism hope local communities and governments will use the findings to help create more just and equitable cities. (SusanVineyard/AdobeStock)

Study: Racial prejudice related to where you live and learn

The city where you live could be making you, your family and your friends more unconsciously racist, or by contrast, it could make you less racist…

The FCC's rule would give state attorneys general across the country new tools to go after bad actors behind these nefarious robocalls. (Adobe Stock)

AZ could lead way in AI-related legislation

Arizona lawmakers are hoping to make it easier for politicians to take legal action as the use of deepfakes increases during election campaigns…

40% of public schools nationwide reported it was very difficult or difficult to fill mental health professional roles, during the 2022-23 school year. (Adobe Stock)

School counselors teach time management to counter students’ high rates of stress

Time management is an essential skill for academic success, but school counselors say it can also help counter students' increasing struggles with …

Horses, like people, typically only show signs of osteoarthritis at advanced stages, when they experience joint pain. (Adobe Stock)

Horses could hold key to treating injury-related arthritis

Researchers at Colorado State University are making headway in identifying how osteoarthritis progresses in horses, and their findings could one day …

In the late 1800s, at the dawn of the automobile age, many people across the globe believed bicycles were the key to modern mobility. (University of Wyoming)

Historic Iron Riders GPS tour rounding the corner for Sheridan launch

Historians are heading into the final stretch as they work to launch a GPS-activated audio tour commemorating a 1,900-mile trek undertaken in 1897 by …

Legislators busy around the country, but not in NV

There are many states legislatures dealing with important issues this year, but Nevada's isn't one of them. Nevada's state legislature isn't …

On average, the lowest-income 20% of taxpayers face a state and local tax rate nearly 60% higher than the top 1% of households in Missouri, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. (tirachard/Adobe Stock)<br />

Missouri's taxes require more from low and middle-income families

New data show Missouri has the 35th most regressive state and local tax system in the country. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found …

The Smithsonian Institution estimates 600 million birds a year are killed in the U.S. by flying into windows. Window strikes are most common among migratory species, such as native sparrows and warblers, already facing some of the most drastic population declines. (OllieT/Adobe Stock)

MI study aims to minimize bird mortality from window strikes

Spring brings about migration season for birds, but home and workplace windows can often prevent them from getting to their final destination…

Using treatments derived from a person's blood stem cells, researchers are developing treatments that could end the need for bone marrow transplants. (Adobe Stock)

ISU stem-cell research aims to end bone-marrow transplants

Researchers at Iowa State University are using stem cells from a person's blood to treat certain types of cancer. Their work could mean the end of …

In 34 states, low-income families are taxed at higher rates than everyone else despite having the least ability to pay. Just six states plus D.C., tax low-income families at lower rates, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Fair Share Amendment helps improve tax fairness in MA

A new analysis finds that Massachusetts' recently adopted millionaire tax makes the state and local tax system much more equitable. Adopted through …

Studies show the development and dissemination of vaccines have saved millions of lives and played a critical role in historic increases in average life expectancy, from 47 years in 1900 in the U.S. to 76 years in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

MO groups dispel online vaccination misinformation

Public health experts are saying the rapid spread of health misinformation online is contributing to a dangerous decline in vaccination rates and an i…

On average, the lowest-income 20% of taxpayers face a state and local tax rate nearly 60% higher than the top 1% of households, according to Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH tax system requires more from low, middle-income families

New Hampshire has the 18th most regressive state and local tax system in the country, according to a new report. The Institute on Taxation and …

Vaccination rates among U.S. kindergartners for routine childhood shots have not returned to pre-pandemic levels with just 93% of students meeting vaccination requirements, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Vaccine rates drop as health misinformation spreads via social media

Public health experts say the rapid spread of health misinformation online is contributing to a dangerous decline in vaccination rates. Surveys show …

More than 95% of Mainers have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 84% of the state's population is considered fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Health misinformation online builds distrust in science, vaccines

Public health experts say the rapid spread of health misinformation online is contributing to a dangerous decline in vaccination rates. Surveys show …

More than 180,000 rural students attend public pre-K-through-12 schools in Missouri, almost double the rural U.S. average. (Song_about_summer/Adobe Stock)

Where's the money for rural Missouri education?

Nearly half of Missouri's public schools are in rural areas, and they serve more than one in five of the Show-Me State's students. But Missouri …

Utah women and girls experience disproportionate exposure to adverse childhood experiences, with 18.3% of females reporting four or more, compared with 13.9% of males. (Jose Manuel/Adobe Stock)

Research sheds light on current status of Utah women, girls

New research spotlights the status of women and girls in Utah, in five areas of focus. At Utah State University, Susan Madsen, founding director of …

Iowa has among the highest rates of cancer in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. Research shows people in rural Iowa die more frequently from cancer than their urban counterparts. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Iowans die from cancer at higher rate than urban counterparts

New research shows rural Iowans get cancer less often than their urban counterparts but die from it more frequently. Several factors are at play…

Uninsured people are more likely to support public health insurance programs, but are less likely to vote than people with health insurance, according to the American College of Physicians. Studies show this trend has contributed to a lack of Medicaid expansion in states that could benefit from it. (vejaa/Adobe Stock)

Doctors: Nation's health care system can only be improved through voting

Voting is not only good for democracy, it is also good for your health, according to one of the nation's largest medical associations. The American …

Doctors: Voting would improve U.S. health care system

Voting is not only good for democracy, it is also good for your health, according to one of the nation's largest medical associations. The American …

Southern New Hampshire University provided students with emergency grants during the pandemic ranging from $300-$2,000 to cover various basic needs, including health care, mental health services, housing, food and child care. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Pandemic-era aid helped cover students’ basic needs, kept them enrolled

College students receiving extra aid to help pay for food, housing or transportation are more likely to stay in school, according to new research…

Uninsured people are more likely to support public health insurance programs, but are less likely to vote than people with health insurance. Studies show this trend has contributed to a lack of Medicaid expansion in states that could benefit from it. (Adobe Stock)

Doctors say voting is critical to improving U.S. health care system

Voting is not only good for democracy - it's also good for your health, according to one of the nation's largest medical associations. The American …

Among the Texas small business owners responding to a survey, 81% said the cost of health care constrains their ability to grow. (MaksymYemelyanov/AdobeStock)

Study: TX small businesses want lower health care costs, higher transparency

A new survey of the nation's small business owners showed a major challenge to successful operations is trying to provide health care for their employ…

By 2030, more than one in five Americans will be at least 65 years old, and by 2050, the number of people age 60 and older globally is expected to double to more than 2 billion. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Study examines climate advocacy for seniors

While scientists say extreme climate changes are happening more frequently, a new study aims to link aging adults to it's risks and their potential …

A Spray underwater glider shortly after deployment in the Gulf Stream offshore of Miami, Fla., began one of the many glider-based surveys of the Gulf Stream completed by Associate Scientist Robert Todd's group at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution since 2015. (Robert Todd/WHOI)

Study confirms Gulf Stream warming, shifting toward Maine coast

The latest research finds the Gulf Stream has warmed faster than the global ocean over the past two decades, and has shifted toward the Atlantic …

Researchers at the University of Montana are working on a vaccine for tuberculosis. While considered a serious problem in underdeveloped parts of the world, cases in the United States are up, having jumped to 8,300 in 2022 from 7,874 in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Montana researchers awarded $12.3 million grant for tuberculosis vaccine

Researchers at the University of Montana have been awarded more than more than $12 million from the National Institutes of Health to continue their wo…

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