News by Subject Social & Behavior

Modified natural materials will be an essential component of a sustainable future, but first a detailed understanding of their properties is needed. The way heat flows across bamboo cell walls has been mapped using advanced scanning thermal microscopy, providing a new understanding of how variations in thermal conductivity are linked to the bamboo's elegant structure. The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, will guide the development of more energy-efficient and fire-safe buildings, made from natural materials, in the future.

This process causes structures to deteriorate internally and can even cause buildings to collapse.

Adding plants and trees to the landscapes near factories and other pollution sources could reduce air pollution by an average of 27 percent, new research suggests. The study shows that plants -- not technologies -- may also be cheaper options for cleaning the air near a number of industrial sites, roadways, power plants, commercial boilers and oil and gas drilling sites.

By examining crime patterns near Universal Studios Florida, a new study found that the location of the theme park was associated with an uneven distribution of crime in Orlando, with nearby facilities (e.g., bars, hotels, restaurants) that generated crime playing a role.

Crime rates are likely to be higher in neighborhoods near theme parks which are major tourist attractions, according to new findings published in the peer-reviewed journal Justice Quarterly.

A new study publishing in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people living in neighborhoods considered to be the least walkable were up to 33% more likely to have a high predicted 10-year cardiovascular risk compared to individuals living in the most walkable neighborhoods.

A research group has analyzed roughness and ability to repel water on surfaces produced by 3D printing and has created prediction models for industry implementation

Almost one third of Canadians live near a major road -- and this means they go about their everyday lives exposed to a complex mixture of vehicle air pollutants. A new national study led by University of Toronto Engineering researchers reveals that emissions from nearby traffic can greatly increase concentrations of key air pollutants, with highly polluting trucks making a major contribution.

How can planners reduce the stress of city living and improve the mental health of city dwellers? An interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin has developed a set of recommendations which aim to address these questions. Entitled 'The Charta of Neurourbanism', their work has been published to coincide with the Berlin Mental Health Week.