Scientists studied the biomechanics of swimmer ‘kickstarts’ using force sensors and motion-capture cameras. They found that force exerted by the hands on the starting platform is significant, which may assist in training. As people watching the recent Summer Olympics are well aware, the time interval separating a Gold medalist from a non-medalist can be a…

For safety’s sake, a self-driving car must accurately track the movement of pedestrians, bicycles and other vehicles around it. Training those tracking systems may now be more effective thanks to a new method. Generally speaking, the more road and traffic data available for training tracking systems, the better the results. And the CMU researchers have…

A study compared crime rates near abandoned houses that were demolished and similar properties that were not, finding no reduction in violent or property crime near those torn down. Findings suggest simply demolishing dangerous houses is not enough to reduce crime. Since the housing foreclosure crisis of 2007-08, the number of abandoned homes across the…

Forensic scientists have discovered a new way of presenting fragile evidence, by reconstructing a ‘jigsaw’ of human bone fragments using 3D printing. In the first known study of its kind, researchers took fragmented burnt human bones and tested the ability to make 3D models suitable to be shown to a jury in court. In the…

A team of researchers have, for the first time ever, linked 40 years of productivity data from the construction industry with the actual work done. The results show that productivity in the construction industry has been declining since the 1970s. The results also explain the decline and how to achieve far more efficient construction in…

Can Switzerland, as planned, cut its CO2 emissions to zero by 2050? Researchers have investigated what measures would be necessary to achieve this reduction and how much it might cost per person. In August 2019, the Swiss Federal Council decided on an ambitious target to limit climate change: From the year 2050 onward Switzerland should,…

New research identifies climate change challenges faced by U.S. Department of Defense facilities, and solutions that might serve as a model for other large organizations. A team of University of Arizona researchers set out to understand how climate change might affect Department of Defense facilities and activities across the globe, and what actions the department…

There are 12 essential attributes that explain why commercial carbon capture and sequestration projects succeed or fail in the U.S., researchers say. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) has become increasingly important in addressing climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) relies greatly on the technology to reach zero carbon at low cost. Additionally,…

Research predicts an end to deregulated competitive pubic transport in the UK as a consequence of Covid-19 social distancing measures leading to drastically reduced ridership, requiring a major rethinking of the provision of public transport. This paper, published in Transport Policy, argues that the situation will require a fundamental approach to long-term policy for transport…

Gen Z adults are interested in using apparel rental services to reduce overconsumption, according to a new study. Apparel rental, also known as collaborative apparel consumption, extends the life of an article of clothing because people don’t throw it away after wearing it a few times. Apparel rental, also known as collaborative apparel consumption, extends…