A recent study looked at how often third-year English students in a Chinese university used their phones. They tracked app usage for two weeks and asked students about their habits. The results showed that students spent over 2, 500 hours combined on apps like WeChat and Douyin. Surprisingly, most s
Pittsburgh just opened a nearly $12 million lab packed with gear that could push science in the region forward. Called the Western Pennsylvania Quantum Information Core, or WP-QIC for short, this place sits in Pitt’s old engineering building and gives researchers tools to study quantum materials und
A recent study from universities in California, Tennessee and Massachusetts shows that the way people speak to AI chatbots matters. Researchers tested several popular models, such as GPT‑5. 4 and Gemini 3. 1 Pro. They found that polite requests, like “please” or “thank you, ” make the bots giv
New research digs into how long someone has epilepsy and whether it affects their brain’s waste removal system. Using a special brain scan called DTI-ALPS, scientists measured how efficiently fluid moves through the brain’s tiny cleaning tunnels. They found that the longer epilepsy lasts, the more t
Researchers often turn to large health databases to study surgical outcomes. One popular option is TriNetX, a platform that collects real-world medical data. But can it really help answer key questions about surgeries? The short answer is yes—but only if used carefully. TriNetX pulls patient record
Most Americans see brain health as a top priority, yet very few actually know how to safeguard it. A recent study found that 88% of adults worry about losing their memory as they age, but only 9% feel well-informed about keeping their brain sharp. The gap between concern and action is striking. Whil
The president’s decision to fire every member of the National Science Board last week is a sharp blow to the United States’ scientific future. The board had guided the National Science Foundation, which funds a wide range of research from chemistry to climate science. Its removal leaves the fo
For three decades, deadlines have been a constant companion, shaping the rhythm of my work. The pressure once felt like an ache, but repeated exposure turned it into a familiar habit. I have spent many years navigating the complex world of scientific communication, sharing findings with local newspa
When the air feels itchy and your hair jumps, it might mean a storm is coming. Scientists noticed a faint blue light that sometimes appears on tree tops during heavy weather. This glow, called corona discharge, is a tiny electric spark that can be seen when the sky splits into two layers of charge.
Cancer studies rely on people joining big research groups called cohorts. These groups help scientists spot patterns between lifestyle choices, genes, and cancer risks. But it takes more than just collecting data. Real progress happens when researchers treat participants like partners, not just subj
