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Economics at phys.org

Friday, Dec 12

18

Global measures consistently underestimate food insecurity: 1 in 5 who suffer from hunger may go uncounted

phys.org

International humanitarian aid organizations rely on analyses from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, a global partnership that monitors and classifies the severity of food insecurity to help target assistance…

Wednesday, Dec 10

20

Used cooking oil yields super strong glue and recyclable plastics

phys.org

Plastics are made from crude oil and petroleum by-products, so a team of scientists decided to explore if they could turn waste cooking oil into a useful plastic material, and they succeeded.

Friday, Dec 5

13

Social justice must guide global ecosystem restoration for lasting success, say researchers

phys.org

Social justice must be at the heart of global restoration initiatives—and not "superficial" or "tokenistic"—if ecosystem degradation is to be addressed effectively, according to new research.

Subnational income inequality revealed: Regional successes may hold key to addressing widening gap globally

phys.org

Income inequality is one of the most important measures of economic health, social justice and quality of life. More reliably trackable than wealth inequality, which was recently given a gloomy report card by the G20, income inequality is…

Wednesday, Dec 3

20

Smart material instantly changes colors on demand for use in textiles and consumer products

phys.org

Scientists have developed a revolutionary technique for creating colors that can change on command. These are structural colors that don't rely on dyes or pigments and can be used for display signage, adaptive camouflage and smart safety…

Friday, Nov 28

19

Eight ways to resist spending too much on Black Friday bargains

phys.org

It is that time of the year again—Black Friday is almost upon us. What used to be just an American event has now taken over the calendar in many other countries as one of the key shopping events of the year.

Friday, Nov 14

11

Fight over fossil fuels drawdown looms at UN climate summit

phys.org

Two years after nations agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, dozens are pushing to go even further at the COP30 climate summit, setting up a showdown with oil powers.

Military spending remains cornerstone of San Diego's economy, impact report reveals

phys.org

The military continues to play a vital role in powering San Diego's economy, supporting nearly 357,000 local jobs and contributing $61.3 billion to the region's total economic output, according to the 2025 Military Economic Impact Report …

08

Global companies are still committing to protect the climate, and they're investing big money in clean tech

phys.org

The Trump administration has given corporations plenty of convenient excuses to retreat from their climate commitments, with its moves to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, roll back emissions regulations, and scale back clean energy…

100 years of menus show how food can be used as a diplomatic tool to make and break political alliances

phys.org

Food brings people together. It serves as a tool to communicate political stances, to cultivate cross-cultural comprehension or, if necessary, create tensions. Menus can reflect these intentions by using food to create specific…

06

The world's carbon emissions continue to rise—but 35 countries show progress in cutting carbon

phys.org

Global fossil fuel emissions are projected to rise in 2025 to a new all-time high, with all sources—coal, gas, and oil—contributing to the increase.

03

What should you do if you find a meteorite? Space rock experts explain

phys.org

On Sunday November 2, people in eastern Victoria witnessed a bright streak across the sky followed by a loud sonic boom that felt like an earthquake. The event was captured by security cameras and mobile phones.

Friday, Nov 7

11

Leaders turn up the heat on fossil fuels at Amazon climate summit

phys.org

World leaders will meet for a second day of climate talks in the Brazilian Amazon on Friday after fiery speeches and renewed criticism of Big Oil marked the opening session.

06

Agriculture in Brazil: How land-use choices affect biodiversity and the global climate

phys.org

Over the past 50 years, Brazil has emerged as one of the world's agricultural giants. Becoming a leading global exporter of soybeans, beef, coffee and sugar has significantly boosted its economy and placed the country at the center of the…

04

What 50 years of buried data tell us about Canada's mining oversight

phys.org

The global demand for critical minerals is surging. Driven by the clean-energy transition, digital infrastructure, and geopolitical shifts, governments in Canada are pushing to unlock subsurface resources. These minerals—like lithium,…

Thursday, Nov 6

23

Gyromorphs combine liquid and crystal traits to enhance light-based computers

phys.org

Researchers have been developing computers that deploy light (photons) rather than electricity to power storage and calculations. These light-based computers have the potential to be more energy efficient than traditional computers while…

Mapping a new frontier with AI-integrated geographic information systems

phys.org

Over the past 50 years, geographers have embraced each new technological shift in geographic information systems (GIS)—the technology that turns location data into maps and insights about how places and people interact—first the computer…

Friday, Oct 31

04

Global climate models need the nitrogen cycle—all of it

phys.org

Nitrogen is an important component of the global environment, affecting agriculture, climate, human health, and ecosystems. The role of the nitrogen cycle has become more widely appreciated, yet Earth system models (ESMs) used to predict…

Finnish undergrads outperform their US counterparts in critical thinking skills upon entry to higher education

phys.org

Finnish undergraduate students enter education with stronger critical thinking and argumentation skills than their U.S. counterparts. In both countries, students finishing undergraduate education demonstrate significantly better critical…

03

Drones reveal unexpectedly high emissions from wastewater treatment plants

phys.org

Greenhouse gas emissions from many wastewater treatment plants may be more than twice as large as previously thought. This is shown in a new study from Linköping University, where the researchers used drones with specially manufactured…

Thursday, Oct 23

23

First high-resolution structure of key herpes virus protein opens path to new antivirals

phys.org

An international research team has determined the first high-resolution structures of the herpes simplex virus origin-binding protein (OBP), a critical component of viral DNA replication that has eluded structural characterization for four…

'Molecular dam' stops energy leaks in nanocrystals to boost efficiency of light-driven reactions

phys.org

A team of scientists has found a way to slow energy leaks that have impeded the use of tiny nanocrystals in light-driven chemical and energy applications.

Friday, Oct 17

06

Study reveals corporate directors on charity boards drive pro-corporate lobbying

phys.org

A study in Management Science finds that public charities with corporate directors on their boards are significantly more likely to lobby on behalf of the connected firms' political interests. More to the point, the research found that…

Old-school material could power quantum computing and cut data center energy use

phys.org

A new twist on a classic material could advance quantum computing and make modern data centers more energy efficient, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State.

Project identifies new plant-based anti-inflammatory and anti-aging ingredients for sustainable cosmetics

phys.org

In a collaborative project, scientists at the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, together with 16 partners from 11 European countries, have discovered new plant-based ingredients with proven anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects…

Social media comments can act as 'quick warning signals' against misinformation, study shows

phys.org

Comments from ordinary users on social media platforms can be a force for good, helping others identify false information and navigate what is accurate, new research shows.

Thursday, Oct 9

23

Sped-up evolution may help bacteria take hold in gut microbiome

phys.org

Everywhere you go, you carry a population of microbes in your gastrointestinal tract that outnumber the human cells making up your body.

Early planting to avoid heat doesn't match current spring wheat production, study finds

phys.org

Planting wheat earlier in the spring to avoid crop damage from ever-hotter summers may not keep harvests on pace with current levels.

22

Individual electrons trapped and controlled above 1 K, easing cooling limits for quantum computing

phys.org

Researchers from EeroQ, the quantum computing company pioneering electron-on-helium technology, have published a paper, titled "Sensing and Control of Single Trapped Electrons Above 1 Kelvin," in Physical Review X that details a…

Analysis finds gaps in forest carbon offset projects, with most overstating climate impacts

phys.org

Most Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) forest carbon offset projects significantly overstate their climate benefits, according to a new study published in Science.