Do artists and scientists see the same thing in the shape of trees? As a scientist who studies branching patterns in living things, I’m starting to think so. Piet Mondrian was an early 20th-century abstract artist and art theorist obsessed with simplicity and essence of form. Even people who have never heard of Mondrian will...
Researchers at the Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH) in Spain have developed a mathematical model with three rules designed to improve revenue sharing on streaming platforms. As more consumers turn to subscription-based platforms, the distribution of revenue in streaming services has become a crucial issue in the digital economy. Content creators and artists argue that the...
Financial markets are reacting not just to Donald Trump’s return to the White House but also to the unpredictability of this victory, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. Investors must diversify their portfolios to mitigate risks associated with political volatility and to remain vigilant about the potential for abrupt market corrections. ...
Men and women have different priorities and concerns regarding visibility in urban spaces Multifamily residential buildings with multiple floors are common in South Korea. These buildings usually have pilotis—support structures like pillars that elevate the building, creating an open ground floor generally used for parking vehicles. These piloti parking spaces are often risky to navigate...
Study reveals impact of emergency savings during COVID-19 Older adults who didn’t have enough savings to cover emergency expenses during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic faced another surprising problem: higher levels of loneliness. In a new study, researchers at The Ohio State University found that adults over the age of 65 faced increases...
In our digital times as we are inundated with YouTube videos, memes and social media, satire is everywhere, but it can be more damaging to people’s reputations than direct criticism, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. Seemingly innocuous satire may be more harmful than direct criticism because it can dehumanize people and...
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has long been a key player in global development, offering assistance in health, education, economic growth, and governance. While its mission is well-intended, USAID has faced growing criticism over inefficiencies, waste, unintended consequences, and the political nature of foreign aid. Given these concerns, dismantling USAID and reimagining...
I broke its neck. When making a vase at the potter’s wheel, I torqued its slippery neck clear off the pot as I tried to thin it into a graceful curve. I find vases gratifying to make and their shapes especially pleasing to the eye. But vases also must be handled with particular care because...
Elon Musk’s role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, is on the surface a dramatic effort to overhaul the inefficiencies of federal bureaucracy. But beneath the rhetoric of cost-cutting and regulatory streamlining lies a troubling scenario. Musk has been appointed what is called a “special government employee” in...
The United States’ security depends on leaders who make well-informed decisions, including matters ranging from diplomatic relations around the world to economic relations, threats to the U.S., up to the deployment of military force. The nation’s intelligence community – 18 federal agencies, some military and others civilian – has the responsibility of gathering information from...
