How lead (maybe) caused the downfall of ancient Rome (video)

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2021 — Ancient Rome’s emperors did some pretty bizarre stuff — bursting into uncontrollable fits of laughter, appointing a horse as a priest, dressing in animal skins and attacking people … the list goes on. Why were…

How to awkwardly interact with people at a bar using chemistry (video)

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2021 — With pandemic restrictions lifting in the U.S., we’re starting to get back out in the world, meeting up with friends and coworkers at restaurants and bars. If you’re worried you forgot how to talk to…

Adapting laboratory techniques for remote instruction

The COVID-19 pandemic forced instructors to adapt their courses for online learning. Laboratory courses were particularly difficult due to lack of access to specialized equipment for remote learners. To overcome this challenge, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign designed…

Was your catalytic converter stolen? Here’s why (video)

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2021 — Catalytic converters cut down on toxic car emissions, and, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, they’re one of the greatest environmental inventions of all time. Today, catalytic converter theft is on the rise, and…

New nonprofit boosts Research4Life’s mission in lower- and middle-income countries

Wilmington, DC, April 22, 2021 – Friends of Research4Life , a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the United States, was launched to support the critical mission of the Research4Life partnership to enable full participation in the global information environment. Organizations…

Dog vs. machine: Who’s a better bomb detector? (video)

WASHINGTON, March 22, 2021 — What’s better at finding a hidden bomb — a dog or an electronic chemical detector? In this episode, the Reactions team travels to the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to find out: https:/ / youtu. be/…

Bentham Open welcomes Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI) as Institutional Member

Bentham Open is pleased to welcome Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI), Malaysia as Institutional Member. The partnership allows the researchers from the university to publish their research under an Open Access license with specified fee discounts. Bentham Open welcomes…

VIMS scientists want to hear your fish tales… or at least see your photos

Researchers at William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science are casting a wide net in search of fish photos. Their immediate goal is to use angler snapshots to train software to identify different fish species. Their ultimate goal is…

Foreign language learners should be exposed to slang in the classroom and here’s why….

Experts say English slang and regional dialect should not be banned from classrooms but when you’re getting to grips with a second language how helpful is it to learn non-standard lingo?

After COVID-19 hit, federal financial aid applications dropped sharply among first-year students

Washington, February 10, 2021–After the COVID-19 crisis hit last March, federal student aid applications among potential college freshmen in California dropped 14 percent between mid-March and mid-August, relative to prior years. While there were also initial declines in applications among…

Interactive game created by a Lithuanian team won World Summit Awards

An interactive educational game ‘Flight Across the Atlantic’ featuring the legendary flight of Lithuanian pilots was announced as one of the winners in the global digital innovation competition World Summit Awards (WSA)

Potential impact of COVID-19 school closures on academic achievement

Washington, October 29, 2020–A study published today in Educational Researcher , a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association, provides preliminary projections of the impact of COVID-19-related school closures in spring 2020 on student learning. The study authors found…

Why is fertilizer used in explosives? (video)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2020 — Over the last century, the compound ammonium nitrate has been involved in at least 30 disasters and terrorist attacks. Under normal circumstances, it’s totally harmless and used in things like fertilizer, so what makes ammonium…

UTEP and partners awarded $1.5 million NSF grant to improve quality of life for senior citizens

EL PASO, Texas – A team of interdisciplinary researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso in collaboration with the City of El Paso and El Paso Community College (EPCC) recently was awarded nearly $1.5 million from the National…

William F. Tate IV to examine the ‘segregation pandemic’ at 2020 AERA brown lecture

The American Educational Research Association is holding the 17th Annual Brown Lecture in Education Research on October 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EDT. The event, which will be held virtually, is free and open to the public. ASL…

How to beat spicy pepper heat (hint: milk isn’t the best) (video)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2020 — Maybe you’ve heard that milk is the perfect way to extinguish that spicy food burn. Why is milk so effective? And what if you can’t drink milk? This week, our lactose-intolerant host, Sam, tries to…

New research contradicts claims that Asian American students are harmed when they cannot attend their first-choice university

Washington, August 24, 2020–A new study finds evidence that contradicts claims in legal complaints to the U.S. Department of Justice arguing that Asian American students face negative consequences while in college as a result of not being admitted to and…