The National Bureau of Economic Research has published a new working paper by economists Ali Shourideh (Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business), Maryam Farboodi (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and Nima Haghpanah (Yale University) that provides a framework for regulators and policymakers grappling with the complexities of digital privacy and personalized pricing.
Paleobiologist Geerat Vermeij is enthralled with mollusks. Their shells line the surfaces and fill the cabinets and drawers in his office on the second floor of the Earth and Planetary Sciences Building at UC Davis. But Vermeij's deep study of these organisms isn't just about the animals themselves, it's an avenue for deeper insights about the principles governing evolution and history.
Mitochondria are essential for cell survival, repair, and adaptation. Not only do they generate most of the energy needed during a cell's life, but they also regulate cell death, calcium balance, and responses to stress. When mitochondria fail, which is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases and many inflammatory and metabolic disorders, cells lose their ability to meet energy demands and maintain internal stability.
Quantum computers work by applying quantum operations, such as quantum gates, to delicate quantum states. Ideally, quantum computers can solve complex equations at staggeringly fast speeds that vastly outpace regular computers. In real hardware, the operations of quantum computers often deviate from the ideal behavior because of device imperfections and unwanted noise from the environment. To build reliable quantum machines, researchers need a way to accurately determine what a quantum device is actually doing.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of financial technology worldwide, including in many African countries, but it also brought financial hardships, leading to negative impacts on digital financial inclusion. In a new study, researchers have assessed financial data from more than half of the countries in Africa. They found that financial worries related to the pandemic reduced individuals' likelihood of adopting digital financial services, and that this effect was not uniform but was moderated by demographic and institutional characteristics.
A new study shows how climate and light conditions interaction affect the early growth in abarco, a highly valued tropical timber species, offering critical guidance for reforestation and sustainable forest management in the face of climate change. Abarco—a native South American tree prized for its timber and ecological importance—shows strong early growth and survival but also sensitivity to air humidity and sunlight intensity, according to researchers from the University of Eastern Finland and AGROSAVIA—Colombia.
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck, together with partners from Sydney and Waterloo, have presented a new diagnostic method for quantum computers. It makes errors in individual quantum bits visible during logical calculation and evaluates them. The new method was demonstrated on an ion trap quantum processor in Innsbruck. It can be used to identify critical error sources—a key to developing more robust, fault-tolerant quantum processors.
For the first time, research shows that a key social trait in honey bees is linked to measurable physiological advantages that can improve colony survival. A study published on the bioRxiv preprint server uncovers how hygienic honey bee colonies mount stronger individual immune defenses against Nosema ceranae, a widespread pathogen that threatens honey bee health worldwide.
A new financial study from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business examines nearly five decades of market data and finds that the decline of value investing appears more cyclical than permanent. David Ng, professor at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and co-authors argue that value stocks—companies whose shares trade at relatively low prices—go through predictable cycles of outperforming and underperforming growth stocks.
Polls consistently show overwhelming support for measures like universal background checks and raising the minimum age for gun purchases. But Congress rarely acts. A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences helps explain why.
