Consumer & Retail Industry News & Analysis

Rush Hour Air Pollution Inside Cars Worse Than Previously Thought

Researchers determined that commuters were exposed to twice as much harmful particulate matter during rush hour than previously thought. Additionally, the researchers found that the chemicals linked to oxidative stress (thought to be related to the development of various diseases such as cancer and heart disease) were also double what was previously thought.

UK to Require Drone Registration and Education

The rules apply to anyone who owns a drone that weighs more than 250 grams (8 oz).

Plastic World

A new study provides the first global analysis of the production, use and fate of all plastics ever made.

Wine Industry's Bottom Line Improved By AI

Using a technique called “prescriptive analysis,” the AI program considers all of the factors that go into the mass production of wine, including temperature, inventory and the changeover from white wine to red wine production.

Pay for Reducing Carbon Emissions

Currently, deforestation (the removal of trees) lends to a significant amount of human-induced carbon emissions.

EV Charging Stations Set for Trans-Canada Highway

The Canadian system being developed consists of an energy storage system, using large-format lithium-ion batteries, along with multiple outlet charging units that can be charge several EVs at once.

Only 36 Percent of Science Teachers Teaching in Their Field of Study

After focusing almost entirely on early career teachers, Nixon and his team believe that only 36 percent of science teachers are teaching in the subjects they were trained in.

Smart Toys Minus the Batteries

Frustrated by a mobile device's inability to hold a charge, researchers designed a child’s smart puzzle using a simple, lightweight and flexible Smart Puzzle Triboelectric Nanogenerator (SP-TENG) to both produce and store energy without having to rely on a battery.

Flights from Mexico to the U.S. Subject to Higher Security Measures

Beginning immediately, laptops and tablets on flights destined for the U.S. from Mexico are now subject to stringent security measures put into place by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Brighter, Full-Color Holograms Viewed with Low Light

The technology could be used in a range of applications from currency and ID badges to amusement park rides and other entertainment

Programmable Thermostat? Good Device That's Largely Ignored

For those households that use central air conditioning and have a programmable thermostat, more than two-thirds adjust temperatures without programming it.

3-D Printed Sensor to Help Fight Against Waterborne Illnesses

A 3-D printed device that can monitor drinking water in real time has been created by a team of researchers from the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus.

Future of Women in STEM Fields Improving

While men continue to dominate STEM-related fields—earning STEM degrees at a far greater rate than women—new research suggests that this phenomena may be changing.

Pouches Kill E. Coli, Other Pathogens

The inexpensive pouch, which releases chlorine dioxide gas eliminating E. coli and other illness-causing pathogens from fruits and vegetables, is made up of a semi-permeable membrane that allows for a controlled venting of the gas.

UK Pilots Want Tougher Drone Regulations

With an uptick in drone-related incidents, the British Airline Pilots Association is calling for tougher drone regulations.

Hackers Guessing at Passwords, PINs Thanks to Headsets

With only a handful of EEG (electroencephalograph) headsets on the market, researchers are calling for improved methods of securing the devices.

Making Polycarbonates from Lemon

Because many everyday products are produced using polycarbonates (for instance, airplane windows and phone cases), several million tons of polycarbonate are created globally each year. Wanting to cut down on the amount of BPA used in the production of polycarbonates, researchers discovered a substitute.

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