A University of Massachusetts Amherst study has found that gerrymandering in North Carolina resulted in reduced access to healthcare services. As states across the country grapple with politically charged redistricting efforts, the finding could ultimately offer a new strategy to fight gerrymandering in the courts, the researchers say.

Developed over five years with a $1.2 million Science Education Partnership Award from the National Institutes of Health, MuMu -- short for Multispecies Multiplex -- was created by University of Nebrsaka-Lincoln scientists and emerging media artists. It allows players to experience existence as an apple tree, a prairie dog and a robotic tractor, among other roles, to gain an understanding of network science. 

A research team from the Urban and Transportation Systems Laboratory, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology has developed an innovative evaluation framework that quantitatively evaluating the quality of life (QOL) in future smart cities by integrating physical accessibility (transportation networks) and digital accessibility (ICT networks). The study shows that while digital services such as telework, online learning, and e-commerce can improve convenience and support sustainability, essential in-person services and physical social interactions remain critical for well-being and equity. The findings were published in the international academic journal Sustainability (MDPI).