https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Doshisha University Recommender systems suggest potentially relevant content by evaluating user preferences and are essential in reducing information overload. However, when users join a new online platform, recommendation systems often struggle to understand their preferences. With no prior interactions in the new environment, these "cold-start" users are difficult to serve accurately. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-deep-framework-cold-problem.html Consumer & Gadgets Mon, 16 Mar 2026 06:56:58 EDT news692862972 Emergency evacuations during natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis increasingly rely on advanced technology to effectively assess real-time crowd movement and points of congestion. Disaster-preparedness involves the development of an optimized technology that is easy to use and interpret. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-02-smart-cameras-evacuations-approach-smarter.html Engineering Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:50:02 EST news691414862 Human beings are social animals; they need places to relax, connect with others, and feel a sense of belonging beyond the demands of home and work. Traditionally, these "third places" are thought to be limited to cafes, clubs, gardens, and other neighborhood community spots. However, with an increase in digitally shaped life schedules, a new question arises: Do online spaces offer the same social values as offline ones? https://phys.org/news/2026-02-competitive-gaming-discord-fosters-social.html Social Sciences Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:16:12 EST news690815701 Blue carbon refers to organic carbon captured and stored by the marine and vegetated coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows. These ecosystems act as powerful carbon sinks, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere efficiently like terrestrial forests. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-conveying-concept-blue-carbon-japanese.html Environment Sat, 31 Jan 2026 19:40:01 EST news688912482 English has become a global language, dominating various sectors from science to tourism. One major way to learn English is through TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teachers. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-early-career-english-language-teachers.html Education Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:33:15 EST news688735981 Crystallization is a well-explored natural phenomenon where atoms or molecules arrange themselves into highly organized solid forms called crystals. This phenomenon has been widely utilized across pharmaceutical and agrochemicals industries, as well as in the food industries, to form, separate, and purify pure crystalline materials. The process is usually considered a solid-liquid phase transition, but it can also involve liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). https://phys.org/news/2026-01-elucidating-liquid-phase-equilibrium-conditions.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:52:17 EST news688650721 Deep neural networks (DNNs) have become a cornerstone of modern AI technology, driving a thriving field of research in image-related tasks. These systems have found applications in medical diagnosis, automated data processing, computer vision, and various forms of industrial automation, to name a few. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-stress-ai-vision-rethinking-adversarial.html Security Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:06:58 EST news688392384 Peer reflection on microteaching plays a crucial role in teachers' training programs as it equips novice teachers with opportunities to understand their peers' practices. It enhances their reflective thinking, teaching awareness, and bridges the gap between theoretical and practical teaching practices. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-interactional-dynamics-advice-peer-microteaching.html Education Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:10:01 EST news688056659 Rising trade frictions over the past decade have sparked urgent questions about their long-term impact on global economies. The U.S. now applies tariffs of 66.4% on Chinese exports, which is higher compared to the average rate of 19.3%, while China retaliates with a 58.3% import tariff on U.S. exports, higher than the average rate of 21.1%. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-japanese-tariff-policies-economic-growth.html Economics & Business Sat, 10 Jan 2026 15:20:01 EST news687172773 Nitrogen is a crucial component of proteins and nucleic acids, the fundamental building blocks of all living things, and thus is essential to life on Earth. Gaseous N2 from the atmosphere can be fixed by soil bacteria capable of converting N2 to ammonia or nitrates (NO3). https://phys.org/news/2025-12-chance-discovery-toxic-nitric-oxide.html Biochemistry Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:42:18 EST news683908921 In recent years, governments worldwide have expressed concern over rising inequality, eroding social cohesion, and declining trust in institutions. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-social-happiness-inequality-nations.html Social Sciences Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:28:03 EST news683292481 Feedback is one of the most important aspects of teacher education, but how exactly it works in practice remains underexplored. Most studies focus on how teachers deliver lessons, while little attention has been paid to how teacher educators provide feedback and how that feedback can shape reflection and professional growth. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-conversation-analysis-reveals-teacher-feedback.html Education Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:36:04 EDT news679836962 Throughout human history, many cultures have developed belief systems that tied nature to the supernatural, fostering practices that preserved and sustained their environments. Forest spirits, river gods, or deities were often seen as guardians of natural domains, and exploiting nature carried the risk of retaliation from these beings. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-divine-ancient-tool-modern-sustainability.html Social Sciences Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:04:03 EDT news679737841 Vibrations are everywhere—from the hum of machinery to the rumble of transport systems. Usually, these random motions are wasted and dissipated without producing any usable work. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-noise-power-symmetric-ratchet-motor.html General Physics Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:35:11 EDT news676802108 Traditional polymers such as plastics are widely utilized for their chemical inertness and durability. However, these very properties make them non-degradable in nature and cause long-term environmental damage due to their persistence. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-explore-strategies-environmentally-safe-polymer.html Polymers Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:09:04 EDT news676123741 Today, high school students worldwide face unprecedented levels of stress as they navigate academic pressures, issues with social identity, and future career decisions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-tackling-depressive-symptoms-high-school.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:54:04 EDT news670089241 Over the past decade, much research has focused on the connection between skeletal muscle health and cognitive disorders. Scientists have found that sarcopenia, a geriatric syndrome characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, appears to be strongly associated with an elevated risk of dementia. The complex relationship between our muscles and brain health represents a promising frontier in preventive medicine, particularly as global populations continue to age. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-muscle-quality-clues-early-cognitive.html Neuroscience Fri, 23 May 2025 08:32:04 EDT news667207921 Intracellular protein trafficking and secretion of proteins into the extracellular environment are sequential and tightly regulated processes in eukaryotic cells. Conventionally, proteins that are bound for secretion harbor an N-terminal signal peptide that guides their movement from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus to the exterior of the cell. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-autophagy-lysosomal-pathways-orchestrate-unconventional.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 23 May 2025 08:29:05 EDT news667207742 Bone-destructive diseases such as osteoporosis and chronic inflammatory arthritis affect millions of people worldwide, causing pain, fractures, and decreased quality of life. These conditions often result from the dysregulation of osteoclasts—specialized cells responsible for breaking down bone tissue. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-fine-tuning-osteoclast-approach-bone.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Thu, 22 May 2025 11:52:04 EDT news667133522 In today's increasingly interconnected world, language learning has become essential for education, business, and cultural exchange. However, accurately measuring proficiency in language learners is a complex matter. One particularly valuable approach involves asking learners to listen to sentences and then repeat them back as accurately as possible. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-automated-speech-recognition-language-accessible.html Education Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:50:04 EDT news663594601 Fluids play a crucial role in industrial processes like cooling, heating, and mixing. Traditionally, most industries would utilize Newtonian fluids—which have a constant viscosity—for such processes. However, many are now adopting viscoelastic fluids, which can behave as both liquids and elastic materials. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-turbulent-viscoelastic-fluids.html General Physics Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:55:04 EDT news662986502 Oxysterols are a class of molecules derived from cholesterol via oxidation or as byproducts of cholesterol synthesis. Despite their relatively low concentration within our bodies, oxysterols are known to play many important biological roles, acting as transcriptional regulators, precursors for bile acid, and key players in brain development. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-unveiling-intricate-mechanisms-oxysterol-cell.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:46:04 EST news659274362 Studying the social behavior of animals in their natural environments is necessary for advancing our understanding of neurological processes. To achieve this, tracking multiple individuals simultaneously and accurately as they interact in shared spaces is crucial. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-virtual-markers-enable-highly-accurate.html Ecology Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:04 EST news659273761 Technological advances have led to the widespread use of electric devices and vehicles. These innovations are not only convenient but also environmentally friendly, offering an alternative to polluting fuel-driven machines. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-quasi-solid-battery-combines-safety.html Energy & Green Tech Mon, 13 Jan 2025 11:43:03 EST news655990981 In today's world, telecommunications and global connectivity have witnessed an unprecedented increase, making intercultural communication an unavoidable reality. A concerning aspect of such communication is the element of cultural and linguistic diversity between people. However, there is very little consensus on whether cultural diversity truly matters in intercultural communications or if it simply promotes miscommunication. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-linguistic-discusses-cultural-differences-affect.html Social Sciences Fri, 10 Jan 2025 11:18:21 EST news655730298 Walking speed can provide insights into health, extending beyond mere mobility, so much so that it is considered to be the "sixth vital sign." Past studies have suggested that a slow walking speed is correlated with the development of cardiovascular diseases and an increased risk of mortality in the elderly. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-subjective-simple-predictor-metabolic-health.html Health Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:29:04 EST news653822941 Batteries have become an integral component of modern technology. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can be found virtually everywhere, from handheld electronic devices and electric vehicles to the large power banks used in renewable energy generation systems. However, current LIB designs suffer from some crippling drawbacks, including low durability and the use of toxic liquid electrolytes. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-12-porous-electrode-boost-solid-state.html Engineering Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:29:04 EST news653570941 Hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas that smells like rotten eggs, is produced naturally from decaying matter. This gas is lethal to breathe in, and hydrogen sulfide present in high concentrations can cause death very rapidly. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-antidote-deadly-hydrogen-sulfide-gas.html Biochemistry Tue, 10 Dec 2024 12:14:43 EST news653055279 Developing reliable methods to replace dead or damaged tissue is one of the primary goals of regenerative medicine. With steady advances in tissue engineering and biomedicine, scientists are almost at a point where growing cell sheets in the lab and transplanting them onto damaged or diseased organs is becoming a reality rather than fiction. https://phys.org/news/2024-12-scientists-ultrasound-based-technique-tool.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 05 Dec 2024 09:53:26 EST news652614800 The growing concerns about air pollution and its harmful effects on human health and climate change have led to increasingly stringent vehicular emission norms. These regulations have contributed to significant reductions in carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter from transportation sources. The European Union's Euro 7 standard, set to take effect in 2026, further tightens these limits by establishing a threshold for 10 nanometer particulate matter emissions and requiring low-temperature emissions testing at -7°C. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-analysis-spray-impingement-wall-formation.html Automotive Tue, 27 Aug 2024 14:21:03 EDT news643987261