news 2024

People who are either too trusting or too mistrustful are more likely to believe conspiracy theories and ascribe to vaccine hesitancy, finds a new study by UCL researchers. The research, published in PLOS Global Public Health, also found that people who are highly credulous are less capable of recognising fake news.

In a recent study at the University of Twente, researchers discovered a way to scatter light in a special, symmetrical way using nanotechnology. This has potential for future technologies such as anti-counterfeiting. For the study, the researchers printed cubes about five times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, which consisted of rods in random directions.

Around 43% of NHS workers who took part in a recent study have considered leaving their role or taking early retirement. The national study, published today in Lancet Europe, also discovered a striking link between suffering from symptoms of depression, anxiety or PTSD, and wanting to leave healthcare.

When water freezes slowly, the location where water turns into ice - known as the freezing front - forms a straight line. Researchers from the University of Twente showed how droplets that interact with such a freezing front, cause surprising deformations of this front. These new insights were published in a publication in the scientific journal Physical Review Letters and show potential for applications in cryopreservation and food engineering techniques.

Women earn more if they mostly went to school with other girls as children, report researchers at the University of Basel and Durham University. Their findings are based on data from 750,000 schoolchildren. Men and women should earn the same amount of money. But they do not; women tend to have different professions than men and also earn less.

Charlotte Nawijn, PhD candidate at the University of Twente, has developed a new technique to improve ultrasound images of blood flow. Using a smart ultrasound pulse train, she reduced noise in contrast ultrasound images. Nawijn obtained her PhD on this subject on 24 October with the defence of her dissertation 'Bubbles and Waves for Ultrasound Imaging and Therapy' .

In a time when many sectors are facing significant labor shortages, it is important to pay attention to the well-being of people in the workplace. "It's time for positive organizations that prioritize the well-being of their employees," states Professor Marianne van Woerkom in her inaugural lecture, which she will give on October 18 at Tilburg University.

Disadvantaged communities are not seeing significant benefit from years of urban regeneration in east London and local residents report feeling more insecure than ever about their livelihoods, finds a new report by UCL researchers. The report, " Prosperity in East London 2021-2031 " looked at living standards across five east London Boroughs where there have been significant physical, economic and social changes in the last few decades.

On 17 October 2024, Martina Lamberti publicly defended her PhD thesis, "Know the Past to See the Future: Memory and Prediction in In-Vitro Cortical Neurons" , at the University of Twente. Her research sheds light on how the brain predicts future events and forms memories. These findings could open new doors in understanding neurological conditions like dementia.

The healthcare sector is heading toward a global shortage of 10 million workers. Research from Tilburg University shows how HR departments can creatively contribute to the battle for healthcare staff, and why they need to go beyond traditional methods. 'Many healthcare organizations are still looking for candidates who meet all the requirements.' Staff shortages in healthcare are high on political agendas.

Two fifths of 32-year-olds in England want children - or more children, if they are already parents - but only one in four of them are actively trying to conceive. A new report, published today by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, shows that more than half of this generation have already become parents, and half of those without children would like to start a family.

From detecting cancer in medical imaging to recommending additional lesson plans for students in K-12 education, algorithm technologies have become crucial across many different industries. Whether algorithms lead to improved efficiency is another question, according to University of Michigan researchers.

On 18 September it's International Equal Pay Day-a day to reflect on the global fight for equal pay between men and women. At UvA Economics and Business, this topic is examined from a variety of angles. From fatherhood bonuses and diversity issues in tech startups to the impact of contraception on women's careers-these studies shed light on the hidden dynamics behind the gender gap.

People who reduce their screen time on by merely one hour a day improve both their well-being and their motivation at work. On average, we spend three and a quarter hours a day looking at our phones. Cutting back this time by one hour a day is not only good for our mental health, but also helps us to feel happier and more motivated at work.

Data suggests the switch to EVs may not mean the loss of assembly jobs some predicted Study: Higher labor intensity in US automotive assembly plants after transitioning to electric vehicles (DOI: 10.1038/s41467'024 -52435-x) U.S. auto plants producing battery electric vehicles have required a larger workforce than traditional internal combustion engine plants-a finding that runs counter to early predictions about how EVs would impact the industry.

In today's fast-paced business environment, organisational change is inevitable, yet around 60% of these changes fail. Leaders can play a crucial role in navigating these transitions, but achieving success calls for more than just traditional leadership styles - it's also about mastering certain political skills.

Australian workers living with long COVID cost the economy, on average, about $9.6 billion in 2022, according to a new study from The Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Melbourne. The researchers calculated the number of lost labour hours of Australian adults who were unable to work, or were forced to work reduced hours, in 2022 because they were experiencing ongoing COVID-19 symptoms up to 12 months after their initial diagnosis.

Those with more severe long COVID are more likely to miss more workdays or not return to work at all, a new study finds. A new Yale study finds that the effects of long COVID have caused many Americans to miss extensive work time, and that 14% of study participants reported not returning to work in the months after their infection.

A new study has found that flexible work arrangements can sometimes boost employee retention, but they can also lead to higher turnover. Most people think of flexible work arrangements as an employee benefit. But giving people the opportunity to work from home and choose their start and end times seems to have both positive and negative effects on employee retention.

Scientists have found that a worker's lifetime exposure to 'permissible' levels of silica dust results in a considerable risk of developing silicosis. New research led by Imperial College London has found that workplace exposure to silica dust is linked to an increased risk of the acute lung condition silicosis and recommends current occupational exposure limits should be halved.