Better learning through handwriting

ScienceDaily (2011-01-24) -- Writing by hand strengthens the learning process. When typing on a keyboard, this process may be impaired. Neurophysiologists have examined research which goes a long way in confirming the significance of these differences. When writing by hand, our brain receives feedback from our motor actions, together with the sensation of touching a pencil and paper. These kinds of feedback is significantly different from those we receive when touching and typing on a keyboard.

Humans have been provoking climate change for thousands of years, carbon history shows

ScienceDaily (2011-01-24) -- The Roman Conquest, the Black Death and the discovery of America -- by modifying the nature of the forests -- have had a significant impact on the environment. These are the findings of scientists in Switzerland who have researched our long history of emitting carbon into the environment.

With cloud computing, the mathematics of evolution may get easier to learn

ScienceDaily (2011-01-22) -- An innovative, educational computing platform hosted by the cloud (remote, high-capacity, scalable servers) is helping university students understand parts of evolutionary biology on an entirely new level. Soon, high-school and middle-school students will benefit from the same tool as well.

Creating simplicity: How music fools the ear

ScienceDaily (2011-01-24) -- What makes music beautiful? The best compositions transcend culture and time -- but what is the commonality which underscores their appeal? New research suggests that the brain simplifies complex patterns, much in the same way that "lossless" music compression formats reduce audio files, by removing redundant data and identifying patterns.

Mathematical model could help predict and prevent future extinctions

ScienceDaily (2011-01-26) -- In an effort to better understand the dynamics of complex networks, scientists have developed a mathematical model to describe interactions within ecological food webs. The work illustrates how human intervention may effectively aid species conservation efforts.

Childhood self-control predicts adult health and wealth

ScienceDaily (2011-01-25) -- A long-term study has found that children who scored lower on measures of self-control as young as age 3 were more likely to have health problems, substance dependence, financial troubles and a criminal record by the time they reached age 32.

First-ever global map of surface permeability informs water supply, climate modelling

ScienceDaily (2011-01-25) -- Researchers have produced the first map of the world outlining the ease of fluid flow through the planet's porous surface rocks and sediments.