New research from Michigan State University with colleagues at Stanford shows that the sense of social connection in VR during classroom instruction (called social presence) enhances student outcomes compared to videoconferencing — until virtual meeting fatigue sets in.

Community policies, such as those for zoning or parking, are typically made at the top, which can leave community members feeling frustrated or left out of the process. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science (SCS) developed the web-based tool PolicyCraft to help community members use concrete cases to collaboratively craft policy. The research team found that policies created with PolicyCraft received stronger support and greater consensus.

About The Study: Between 2021 and 2023, prevalence of current cannabis use increased among adults age 65 or older nationally, with key demographic subgroups experiencing marked increases. Adults with the highest incomes initially had the lowest prevalence of cannabis use vs other income levels, but by 2023, they had the highest prevalence, which may indicate better access to medical cannabis given its costs. 

A new study focussing on depression shows how digital games can be used to learn about mental illness / publication in ‘Frontiers in Psychology’

A novel study reveals a significantly higher concentration of recreational (nonmedical) cannabis retailers in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas and neighborhoods with greater proportions of populations of color across 18 US states in which cannabis use is legal for adults. The study, appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, offers critical insights for policymakers and public health officials, underscoring the need for strategies to ensure equitable distribution of cannabis retailers.

To meet Europe’s demand for green hydrogen, governments and the private sector have high hopes for production in Africa. A study led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now shown that the financing costs for production facilities in African countries would be much higher than previously assumed. Only 2 percent of around 10,000 investigated locations would be competitive for exports to Europe. This would require price and offtake guarantees from European governments.