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lack of tolerance, institutional confidence threaten democracies

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The stability of democracies worldwide could be vulnerable if certain cultural values continue to decline, according to a new study published in Nature Human Behaviour. The findings by researchers from the United States and New Zealand are based on an analysis of survey data from 476,583 individuals in 109 countries. “It is often taken for granted … Read more

Rapid desolvation-triggered domino lattice rearrangement in a metal–organic framework

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In this work, we present a case system that can achieve rapid structural rearrangement of the whole lattice of a metal–organic framework (MOF) through a ‘domino’ alteration of the bond connectivity under mild conditions. Topological transitions between significantly different phases typically require extreme conditions to collectively break chemical bonds and overcome the stress caused to … Read more

UBC ditching single-use coffee cups and plastic food ware

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UBC Vancouver is ditching single-use coffee cups and plastic food ware, and encouraging students, faculty and staff to choose reusable options such as their own mugs, water bottles and cutlery instead. The move is part of UBC’s Zero Waste Food Ware Strategy—adopted in June 2019—aimed at keeping as many single-use coffee cups, plastic straws, bags … Read more

Elizabeth I identified as author of Tacitus translation

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A new article in the Review of English Studies argues that a manuscript translation of Tacitus’s Annales, completed in the late sixteenth century and preserved at Lambeth Palace Library, was done by Queen Elizabeth I. The article analyzes the translation’s paper stock, style, and crucially the handwriting preserved in the manuscript to positively identify Elizabeth I as … Read more

The coldest reaction

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The coldest chemical reaction in the known universe took place in what appears to be a chaotic mess of lasers. The appearance deceives: Deep within that painstakingly organized chaos, in temperatures millions of times colder than interstellar space, Kang-Kuen Ni achieved a feat of precision. Forcing two ultracold molecules to meet and react, she broke … Read more

Molière most likely did write his own plays

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Two French researchers from the CNRS and Ecole nationale des chartes disprove the theory according to which Corneille was Molière’s ghostwriter – a popular and century-old theory, defended by some academics and writers. According to their forthcoming study in Science Advances, Molière would most likely be the only author of his numerous masterpieces. Was Pierre Corneille … Read more

From firearms to fish – following patterns to discover causality

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Mathematicians have successfully applied a new, pictorial approach to answer complex questions that puzzle analysts, such as, do media stories on firearm legislation influence gun sales? Cause-and-effect queries like this pop up in various fields, from finance to neuroscience, and objective methods are needed to deliver reliable answers. Maurizio Porfiri, at the New York University, … Read more

Leftover grain from breweries could be converted into fuel for homes

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A Queen’s University Belfast researcher has developed a low cost technique to convert left over barley from alcohol breweries into carbon, which could be used as a renewable fuel for homes in winter, charcoal for summer barbecues or water filters in developing countries. Breweries in the EU throw out around 3.4 million tons of unspent … Read more

Making the case for qualitative data

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Traditionally, socio-environmental synthesis has involved using quantitative, or numerical, data to inform its findings. In a new Nature Sustainability article, however, researchers from the University of Maryland’s National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), make the case for why including qualitative data in socio-environmental (S-E) synthesis could benefit sustainability science, policy, and practice. [ad_336] The article, titled … Read more

Hubris behind corporate unethical behaviour

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New research from The Australian National University (ANU) has found overconfidence driven by outstanding performance is the decisive factor when companies behave badly. When high-performing companies and individuals behave unethically it is because past successes make them arrogant or cut corners to maintain strong performance. The research also found that under-performing companies tended to engage … Read more