An undersea magnitude 7.4 earthquake toppled buildings in parts of northern Indonesia, sent people fleeing from their homes, killed at least one person and generated a small tsunami Thursday.
Source: Phys.org – latest science and technology news stories
Researchers at the University of Manchester have used artificial intelligence to uncover a complex picture behind England’s long-running productivity puzzle, challenging the idea that the country’s economic performance can be explained by a simple North-South divide. In a major study published in the Spatial Economic Analysis journal, Professor Cecilia Wong and Dr. Helen Zheng applied “GeoAI” techniques—combining geography and artificial intelligence—to analyze how productivity varies across local authorities in England between 2010 and 2022.
A new international study offers insights into the health risks posed by crops’ absorption of “contaminants of emerging concern” (CECs) and flags knowledge gaps the authors say must be addressed. CECs include pharmaceuticals, microplastics, engineered nanomaterials and PFAS (commonly known as “forever chemicals”). The researchers warn that even when present at very low concentrations, these chemicals can subtly alter plant physiology, disrupt soil health and pose wider environmental and human health risks.
