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Soils are losing their fertility, biodiversity is declining dramatically, and microplastics and toxins are spreading to even the most remote ecosystems - with serious consequences for the climate, harvests, prosperity and global security.

Carnegie Mellon University research could help shape U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) strategies for deploying secure digital capabilities on the battlefield as well as in critical areas like cybersecurity, disaster response and communications. A new CMU  Software Engineering Institute (SEI) study shows how DOD programs are getting better and faster at delivering secure software and where challenges persist.

In the evolving landscape of retail, brands increasingly pursue direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategies to gain greater control over customer relationships and data. According to Michiel Van Crombrugge, Associate Professor at Erasmus School of Economics, this shift, however, can strain relationships with traditional retail partners.

New research on the role of digital communications evidence in Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) applications involving rape and sexual offences, has been published today (3 June). Researchers examined 119 applications made to the Commission where it was claimed by the applicant their conviction was unsafe.

Research leads to results. SnT's research reveals unexpected insights into the perception of entrepreneurs on their biodiversity impact. The findings can inform policymaking and entrepreneurship to improve the sustainability impact of entrepreneurship.

A comprehensive new study by econometrician Philip Hans Franses of Erasmus School of Economics, analysing the relationship between Chinese loans and economic growth across 49 African countries, reveals a striking conclusion: in general, Chinese loans do not associate with significant positive economic development on the continent.

Companies transitioned to remote and hybrid work models as the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, but many firms have rescinded or revised these policies, requiring employees to return to the office at least part-time. In a new study , researchers examined the effect of physical work environments on organizational processes and outcomes.

Walking mobility is fundamental to urban sustainability and quality of life in any city, but there are few studies on how pedestrians move through public space and what urban and social factors influence this. A new study by researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), the University of Barcelona and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) has found that, in the case of Barcelona, pedestrian behaviour varies greatly from one neighbourhood to another.

A new AI weather prediction system, developed by researchers from the University of Cambridge, can deliver accurate forecasts tens of times faster and using thousands of times less computing power than current AI and physics-based forecasting systems. The system, Aardvark Weather, has been supported by the Alan Turing Institute, Microsoft Research and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts.

International research team tests effects of social media posts on valuation of chocolate   Does triggering certain emotions increase willingness to pay for sustainably produced food? In social media, emotional messages are often used to influence users' consumer behaviour. An international research team including the University of Göttingen investigated the shortand medium-term effects of such content on consumers' willingness to pay for bars of chocolate.

A sneaky form of advertising favoured by oil giants influences public opinion with climate action misperceptions, but researchers are studying potential solutions. In the battle against climate disinformation, native advertising is a fierce foe. A study published in the journal npj Climate Action by researchers from Boston University (BU) and the University of Cambridge, evaluates two promising tools to fight misleading native advertising campaigns put forth by big oil companies.

A group of legal researchers from the Department of Law at the University of Luxembourg is working hand in hand with computer scientists at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) to push the boundaries of Regulatory Technology (RegTech), while keeping in mind the legal framework which surrounds its use.

Concentrations of lead in the air remain substantial in developed and developing countries, largely the result of industrial emissions. Even with the decline in lead in gasoline, developed countries, including the United States, still have substantial air lead emissions and in part as a result, blood lead levels in children are high worldwide.

A new study by Assistant Professors Clément S. Bellet of Erasmus School of Economics and Eve Colson-Sihra of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem uncovers how economic inequality significantly alters the spending priorities of poor households, often at the cost of their basic nutritional needs. The research, published in the Journal of the European Economic Association, provides compelling evidence that inequality influences consumption habits among the poor, shifting their spending toward luxury goods and away from necessities such as staple foods.

Leif Brandes and doctoral student Katharina Dölp have investigated how global brands use non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The result: the right mix of different factors can increase sales, but reputational risks must always be taken into account. In recent years, a new concept has shaken up the digital marketing landscape: "non-fungible tokens".

Study suggests shoppers may rebel against tax by reducing consumption  A study co-conducted by Carey Business School researchers may have real world implications for policymakers who want to raise taxes Shoppers who oppose a certain tax may reduce their consumption of that good compared to consumers who supported that tax.

The new year is the perfect time to set goals, not only on a personal level but also in the workplace. Research shows that this works: employees at small cassava processing companies in Ghana increased their production by 16% by setting daily goals, even without financial incentives. Economists from Tilburg University demonstrate that goal setting is a cost-effective practice benefiting both workers and employers in small businesses.

Study identifies emotional benefits of both giving and receiving personalised gifts. There is joy in giving but research from the University of Bath shows that personalisation can transform a gift from a mere object into a more meaningful experience that raises recipients' self-esteem and makes them feel more cherished.

When Bloomingdale's opened its first "Bloomie's- store in 2021, it seemed like a natural evolution. After all, loyal customers had affectionately used the nickname for years. But new research suggests this marketing strategy - known as nickname branding - might actually harm brand performance and customer perception.