Expert computer programmers show higher proficiency in certain behavioral and attention skills than their novice peers. To identify the responsible brain regions, scientists used fMRI to analyze the brain activities of 30 programmers of different skill level, finding that seven regions of the frontal, parietal and temporal cortices in expert programmers’ brains are fine-tuned for…

While many physics instructors are beginning to incorporate lessons on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom, it can often feel like an add-on rather than an integral component of becoming a physicist. Scientists are helping to change this by presenting discussions and activities on DEI as a fundamental and essential part of physics training.…

Lego could be used as a practical tool to train doctors in anaesthetic skills according to new research that has shown a simple task using the building bricks can help improve technical skills — a finding that could improve medical training and patient safety. Scientists from the University of Nottingham’s School of Psychology and School…

Mathematicians have partnered with artificial intelligence to suggest and prove new mathematical theorems. While computers have long been used to generate data for mathematicians, the task of identifying interesting patterns has relied mainly on the intuition of the mathematicians themselves. However, it’s now possible to generate more data than any mathematician can reasonably expect to…

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented both challenges and opportunities for medical training. Remote learning technology has become increasingly important in several fields. A new study finds that in a remote environment, an artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring system can outperform expert human instructors. The Neurosurgical Simulation and Artificial Intelligence Learning Centre at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological…

In a recent study, scientists provide evidence of the effects of photodissociation on the quantum level for an atmospheric pollutant, formaldehyde, thereby showing photodissociation reactions can’t be treated classically, like ‘billiard-balls’ coming together, colliding and reconnecting, said an author of a new study. Take, for instance, a microscopic view of the delicate, protective barrier of…

A new study of 100 mobile apps for kids found that 72 violated a federal law aimed at protecting children’s online privacy. Researchers developed a tool that can determine whether an Android game or other mobile app complies with the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Dr. Kanad Basu, assistant professor of electrical and…

Educational institutions have had to transition to remote learning and exam taking. This has led to an increase in the use of online proctoring services to curb student cheating. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers explored the security and privacy perceptions of students taking proctored exams. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers led by Adam Aviv, an…

Toddlers whose mothers received special coaching in talking about memories grew into teenagers who experience better wellbeing, research shows. The study found that 15-year-olds told more coherent stories about turning points in their lives if their mothers had been taught the new conversational techniques 14 years earlier. These adolescents also reported fewer symptoms of depression…

New research from the shows that reading aloud can triple a child’s resilience at school, particularly for children at-risk. Focussing on early primary-aged children who had suffered abuse or neglect, the study explored factors that could modify the negative effects of adverse life circumstances, finding that one of the biggest predictors of resilience in both…