Hacker News
- ‘Fake news’ poses corrosive existential threat to democracy – Study https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/fake-news-poses-corrosive-existential-threat-to-democracy-study 53 comments
- Scientists have discovered toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ present in samples of drinking water from around the world, a new study reveals. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were detected in over 99% of samples of bottled water sourced from 15 countries around the world. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2024/forever-chemicals-found-in-bottled-and-tap-water-from-around-the-world 356 comments science
- Changing food choices could help reduce greenhouse gases: If the 56.9% of people who currently over-consume switched to the planetary health diet proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission, it would save 32.4% of global dietary emissions https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2024/changing-food-consumers-choices-may-help-cut-greenhouse-gases 3 comments science
- For the first time, scientists show that microbes living in tree bark or in the wood itself are removing methane, a greenhouse gas, on a scale equal to or above that of soil. If all the bark of all the trees of the world were laid at flat, the area would be equal to the Earth’s land surface. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2024/trees-reveal-climate-surprise-bark-removes-methane-from-the-atmosphere 2 comments science
- A link between the neurotransmitter dopamine and the mentalising abilities of healthy people has been identified for the first time in a new study https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2024/dopamine-linked-to-mentalising-abilities 6 comments science
- Health impacts of abuse more extensive than previously thought. Exposures to intimate partner violence had a moderate association with an increased risk of major depressive disorders (63%) and an increased risk of maternal abortion and miscarriage (35%). https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/health-impacts-of-abuse-more-extensive-than-previously-thought-research-says 2 comments science
- Raising the temperature of frozen food by just 3°C could safely reduce food loss and cut carbon emissions by 17.7 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/raising-frozen-food-temperature-by-30c-can-make-global-food-chain-more-sustainable-say-experts 9 comments environment
- Eye-safe laser technology to diagnose traumatic brain injury. The novel technology is expected to be developed into a hand-held device for use in the critical ‘golden hour’ after traumatic brain injury. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/eye-safe-laser-technology-to-diagnose-traumatic-brain-injury 10 comments science
- Vehicle exhaust filters do not remove ‘ultrafine’ pollution: Study https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/vehicle-exhaust-filters-do-not-remove-ultrafine-pollution-new-study 3 comments environment
- New evidence shows water separates into two different liquids at low temperatures. This new evidence, published in Nature Physics, represents a significant step forward in confirming the idea of a liquid-liquid phase transition first proposed in 1992. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/new-evidence-shows-water-separates-into-two-different-liquids-at-low-temperatures 841 comments science
- ‘Fake news’ poses corrosive existential threat to democracy - study - University of Birmingham https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/fake-news-poses-corrosive-existential-threat-to-democracy-study 6 comments pakistan
- ‘Fake news’ poses corrosive existential threat to democracy https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/fake-news-poses-corrosive-existential-threat-to-democracy-study 45 comments europe
- Online ‘fake news’ is an existential threat to democracy - not because most people believe bogus content, but because of the corrosive effect it has on trust among citizens and their faith in democratic institutions representing them, according to a new study. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/fake-news-poses-corrosive-existential-threat-to-democracy-study 578 comments worldnews
- ‘Fake news’ poses corrosive existential threat to democracy - study https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/fake-news-poses-corrosive-existential-threat-to-democracy-study 515 comments technology
- Online ‘fake news’ is an existential threat to democracy - not because most people believe bogus content, but because of the corrosive effect it has on trust among citizens and their faith in democratic institutions representing them, according to a new study. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/fake-news-poses-corrosive-existential-threat-to-democracy-study 1842 comments science
- ‘Beam-steering’ technology takes mobile communications beyond 5G: A new beam-steering antenna increases transmission efficiency and opens frequencies for mobile communications that are inaccessible to current technologies https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/beam-steering-technology-takes-mobile-communications-beyond-5g 4 comments technology
- New approach can predict pollution from cooking emissions. Organic aerosols – such as those released in cooking – may stay in the atmosphere for several days due to nanostructures formed by fatty acids as they disperse. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/new-approach-can-predict-pollution-from-cooking-emissions 3 comments science
- In a poorly ventilated small office with high levels of air pollution, they calculated that five houseplants would reduce NO2levels by around 20 per cent. In the larger space, the effect would be smaller -- 3.5 per cent, though this effect would be increased by adding more plants. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2022/03/common-houseplants-can-improve-air-quality-indoors.aspx 57 comments science
- 'Tatooine-like' exoplanet spotted by ground-based telescope https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2022/02/tatooine-like-exoplanet-spotted-by-ground-based-telescope.aspx 7 comments europe
- An additional 100,000 elective operations could be cancelled in England this winter as a result of the Omicron wave leading to increased hospital admissions, a new study reveals. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/12/cancelled-operations-this-winter.aspx 5 comments science
- Research has found nearly half of global tropical wetland methane emissions are funnelled out by trees, with the unexpected result that trees are also important for emissions at times when the floodplain water table sits below the surface of the soil. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/12/trees-are-biggest-methane-'vents'-in-wetland-areas-%E2%80%93-even-when-they're-dry.aspx 3 comments science
- Human waste contaminating urban water leads to 'superbug' spread - study. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/07/human-waste-leads-to-superbug-spread.aspx 37 comments science
- Over-80s show similar antibody responses following single vaccination with either Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/04/covid-antibody-response-vaccine-older-people.aspx 5 comments science
- Increased green space in prisons can reduce self-harm and violence - "The study is the first to attempt large-scale mapping of green space within prison environments and link it to well-being in a robust, statistically significant way." https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/02/increased-green-space-in-prisons-can-reduce-self-harm-and-violence.aspx 46 comments science
- UK embraces hydrogen-fuelled future as transport hub and train announced https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2020/09/uk-embraces-hydrogen-fuelled-future-as-transport-hub-and-train-announced.aspx 5 comments technology
- Specific sleep problems among babies and very young children can be linked to mental disorders in adolescents. Researchers examined data of 14,000 individuals over three decades https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2020/06/infant-sleep-problems-can-signal-mental-disorders-in-adolescents.aspx 3 comments science
- Many families must 'dance' their way to COVID-19 survival. While some families may enjoy more free time because they are not commuting, others face unprecedented situations, such as disrupted careers, caring for others and suffering from the loss of income. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2020/06/families-dance-to-covid-survival.aspx 7 comments science
- A supernova at least twice as bright and energetic, and likely much more massive than any yet recorded has been identified by an international team of astronomers, led by the University of Birmingham. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2020/04/scientists-discover-supernova-that-outshines-all-others.aspx 7 comments science
- Researchers have created the first mechanistic model of carbon emissions changes during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). These simulations predict peak emissions flux of 0.2–0.5 PgC yr^–1 and show that the North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP) could have initiated PETM climate change https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2019/12/volcanic-rocks-create-global-warming.aspx 8 comments science
- Link between inflammation and mental sluggishness: People with chronic disease report severe mental fatigue or ‘brain fog’ which can be debilitating. A new double-blinded placebo-controlled study show that inflammation may have negative impact on brain’s readiness to reach and maintain alert state. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2019/11/link-between-inflammation-and-mental-sluggishness-shown-in-new-study.aspx 1254 comments science
- Recycling technologies for end-of-life lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are not keeping pace with the rapid rise of electric vehicles, storing up a potentially huge waste management problem for the future, according to a new study https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2019/11/uk-needs-to-act-to-prevent-electric-vehicle-battery-waste-mountain.aspx 3 comments science
- It's never too late to start exercising, new study suggests. Older people who have never taken part in sustained exercise programmes have the same ability to build muscle mass as highly trained master athletes of a similar age, according to new research with older men based on muscle biopsies. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2019/08/never-too-late-to-start-exercising-new-study-shows.aspx 40 comments science
- A simple tweak to the sleeping patterns of 'night owls' -- people with extreme late sleeping and waking habits -- could lead to significant improvements in sleep/wake timings, improved performance in the mornings, better eating habits and a decrease in depression and stress https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2019/06/night-owls-can-retrain-their-body-clocks-to-improve-well-being-and-performance.aspx 4 comments science
- Mothers’ breast milk can provide protection against infection that lasts for life. New research has found that the transfer of immunity can be long-term, beyond the period of breastfeeding, and protection was driven by the transfer of immune cells, completely independent of antibodies https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2019/05/breastfeeding-immunity-mums-babies-research.aspx 35 comments science
- The human brain works backwards to retrieve memories. When retrieving information about a visual object, the brain focuses first on the core meaning - recovering the 'gist' - and only afterwards recalls more specific details. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2019/01/human-brain-works-backwards-to-retrieve-memories.aspx 7 comments science
- In a study published today, a team of ten drought scientists argue that while many dams and reservoirs are built or expanded to alleviate droughts and water shortages, they can paradoxically contribute to make them worse. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2018/11/new-study-water-conservation.aspx 7 comments science
- New study links antibiotic resistance to common household disinfectant triclosan which is commonly found in domestic products, finds study by University of Birmingham published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2017/07/study-links-antibiotic-resistance-to-triclosan.aspx 13 comments science
- Youngest siblings more likely to go into business, study finds. http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2016/07/youngest-siblings-more-likely-to-go-into-business-study-finds..aspx 5 comments science
- A (new) defence to Anselmian theism [PDF] http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/college-artslaw/ptr/philosophy/nagasawa-anselmian.pdf 28 comments philosophy
- Quran written around the start of Islam found http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2015/07/quran-manuscript-22-07-15.aspx 14 comments worldnews