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Matt Shipman

person in a black coat has their fingers crossed behind their back.

Mar 18, 2024

New Technique Helps AI Tell When Humans Are Lying

The technique was developed for use in contexts when humans have an economic incentive to lie, such as applying for a mortgage. 

photo shows a green, leafy plant against a white backdrop

Mar 13, 2024

Simple Trick Could Improve Accuracy of Plant Genetics Research

A simple trick improves the accuracy of techniques that help us understand how external variables – such as temperature – affect gene activity in plants. 

photo shows pedestrians and cars moving through a busy intersection in a city

Mar 12, 2024

New Traffic Signal Would Improve Travel Time for Both Pedestrians and Vehicles

Adding a fourth light to traffic signals would shorten wait times at street corners for pedestrians, as well as improve traffic flow for both autonomous vehicles and human drivers. 

photo shows a classroom of students watching a teacher. the hairstyles of the three kids in the back row suggest they are of different races (you only see them from behind)

Mar 11, 2024

No, An Anti-Racist Program in Schools Didn’t Stress Out Kids

A new study finds an anti-racist intervention did not cause stress or feelings of alienation among high school students. 

a gavel rests on a white table

Mar 6, 2024

What Drives ‘Drug-Induced Homicide’ Prosecutions in North Carolina?

A desire to reduce overdose deaths is spurring DIH prosecutions -- but the evidence suggests it may be harming public health. 

young woman leans against a wall with her hair hanging into her face

Mar 4, 2024

It’s Not Just You: Young People Look, Feel Older When They’re Stressed

A new study finds younger adults look and feel older on stressful days – but only on days when they also feel they have relatively less control over their own lives. 

image shows robot in a lab, standing in front of a whiteboard that shows a range of catalytic reactions

Feb 27, 2024

AI-Driven Lab Speeds Catalysis Research

The new tool, called Fast-Cat, can provide more information in five days than is possible in six months of conventional testing. 

cartoonish image shows a person holding a computer and looking up at a maze of paths that all lead to different glowing lights

Feb 15, 2024

Do AI-driven Chemistry Labs Actually Work? New Metrics Promise Answers

The idea of a self-driving lab is wonderful. But how well do they actually work? 

black and white photo shows the bars of a prison cell

Feb 12, 2024

Studying the Impact of U.S. Penal System ‘Pay-to-Stay’ Policies

Until now, little research has been done on the impact these policies have on incarcerated people, their families, and their communities. 

an old woman's hands are folded in her lap

Feb 7, 2024

Easy Things We Can Do to Cope With Traumatic Loss

A new study finds there are simple activities that help people improve their mood and emotional well-being after the traumatic loss of a loved one. 

photo shows young child's hands coloring with magic markers

Feb 6, 2024

Study IDs Ways to Better Help Children Experiencing Homelessness

The study suggests public service systems need to do a better job of working with parents to support homeless children. 

photo shows a plate on a pink background. The plate has a frowny face drawn on it. A knife and fork rest on the plate.

Jan 29, 2024

Study Urges People to Think Twice Before Going on a Diet

The work underscores how toxic yo-yo dieting can be and how difficult it can be for people to break the cycle. 

photo shows rear view of a woman sitting on a hillside and looking thoughtfully into the distance

Jan 24, 2024

Study: The More People Know About Pregnancy, the More Likely They Are to Support Access to Abortion

The more people know about pregnancy, the more likely they are to oppose legislation that limits women’s access to abortions – regardless of political ideology. 

neon lights show the outline of the human body overlayed with an outline of the brain

Jan 16, 2024

Modified Soft Material Promises Better Bioelectronics

The advance is an order-of-magnitude improvement in the ability of soft bioelectronic materials to function efficiently in biological environments. 

black-and-white video still shows a ringlike object in a square space that has one gap for an entrance. A bright white line shows the path that the object has taken in tracing the contours of the space.

Jan 8, 2024

New Soft Robots Roll Like Tires, Spin Like Tops and Orbit Like Moons

The device, which operates without human or computer control, holds promise for developing technologies that can be used to navigate unknown environments.