All posts tagged: key

A key psychological factor helps explain how planetarium films boost interest in science

A key psychological factor helps explain how planetarium films boost interest in science

Getting people excited about science can be a challenge, but a recent study offers a promising approach. Researchers discovered that inducing awe, specifically through immersive planetarium films, is highly effective at sparking and growing people’s interest in scientific subjects. This suggests awe could be key to making science more engaging for everyone. The work has been published in the journal Cognition and Emotion. Scientists have long recognized that emotions play a significant role in how we learn and remember things. Emotions related to knowledge and understanding, termed epistemic emotions, are particularly relevant in learning environments. For example, feeling curious can lead to deeper engagement with new material, while boredom can hinder learning. Awe is one such emotion, often described as the feeling we get when we encounter something vast and beyond our current understanding, prompting us to adjust our perspective of the world. Though awe is thought to be a driving force behind science learning, exactly how it affects our thinking processes during learning has remained largely unknown. Previous research exploring awe has often taken …

DOGE Has Started Gutting a Key US Technology Agency

DOGE Has Started Gutting a Key US Technology Agency

At least dozens of workers for the Technology Transformation Services, housed within the US General Services Administration, were fired Wednesday afternoon, sources tell WIRED. The sudden cuts seemingly targeted probationary and short-term staffers, including workers supplied by the Presidential Innovation Fellowship program, which brings skilled technologists from the private sector to work in government for a few years at a time. Around 50 of the 70 members of the US Digital Corps, an early-career, two-year government fellowship, were terminated as well, sources say. Sources also tell WIRED that TTS management met with workers individually prior to the terminations, giving them one last chance to take the deferred resignation offered in the “Fork in the Road” email from late last month. One TTS staffer called the meetings “coercive for sure.” It’s unclear how many people are being let go, but multiple sources tell WIRED that list could be upwards of 70 if not more. Prior, there were around 650 TTS employees. Fired staffers are expected to receive a formal termination email later Wednesday evening. “From the …

Elon Musk Ally Tells Staff ‘AI-First’ Is the Future of Key Government Agency

Elon Musk Ally Tells Staff ‘AI-First’ Is the Future of Key Government Agency

In a Monday morning meeting, Thomas Shedd, the recently appointed Technology Transformation Services director and Elon Musk ally, told General Services Administration workers that the agency’s new administrator is pursuing an “AI-first strategy,” sources tell WIRED. Throughout the meeting, Shedd shared his vision for a GSA that operates like a “startup software company,” automating different internal tasks and centralizing data from across the federal government. The Monday meeting, held in-person and on Google Meet, comes days after WIRED reported that many of Musk’s associates have migrated to jobs at the highest levels of the GSA and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Prior to joining TTS, which is housed within the GSA, Shedd was a software engineer at Tesla, one of Musk’s companies. The transition has caused mass confusion amongst GSA staffers who have been thrown into surprise one-on-one meetings, forced to present their code—often to young engineers who did not identify themselves—and left wondering what the future of the agency’s tech task force will look like. Shedd attempted to answer these questions on Monday, …

New school accountability regime: 8 key findings

New school accountability regime: 8 key findings

Hundreds of ‘stuck’ schools will get up to £100,000 specialist support, it has been announced, as government sets out its new intervention regime. A consultation has been launched today on school accountability reform, to run alongside Ofsted’s proposal to overhaul inspection with report cards. Describing “stuck schools” as the “new front in the fight against low expectations”, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “I will not accept a system that is content for some to sink, even while others soar.   “The opportunity to succeed must be the right of every child. We simply can’t allow stuck schools to disappear off the radar.”   Here’s your trusty Schools Week explainer of all you need to know … 1. Automatic academisation still for ‘special measures’ schools … Ofsted will continue to identify schools in a category of concern: either ‘special measures’ or ‘requires significant improvement’ (the latter is to be renamed from the current ‘serious weaknesses’). Despite repealing a ‘duty’ to academise such schools as part of its schools bill reforms, Labour said the “default intervention” for both maintained and …

The key to a greener future

The key to a greener future

Lithium battery recycling is proving to be a crucial solution for reducing environmental impact and securing the future supply of critical battery metals. A recent study by Stanford University highlights the significant advantages of recycling lithium-ion batteries compared to mining virgin metals, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water usage, and energy consumption. The research found that lithium battery recycling emits less than half the GHGs of traditional mining processes and uses only a quarter of the water and energy. The benefits are even more pronounced for recycling defective scrap materials, which account for approximately 90% of the recycled supply. This process results in just 19% of the GHG emissions, 12% of the water use, and 11% of the energy use compared to conventional mining and refinement methods. Key sources of recyclable lithium batteries The primary sources of recyclable lithium batteries come from two main streams: defective scrap material from battery manufacturers and end-of-life batteries collected from businesses and consumers. These sources provide essential metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and …

Ofsted school report cards: The 11 key proposals

Ofsted school report cards: The 11 key proposals

More from this theme Recent articles Ofsted has today set out how its proposed new inspection model and school report cards will work. A consultation on the proposals will run until April 28, with findings reported in the summer. The return of inspections after the summer break will then be delayed until November to allow enough time to implement the changes, Ofsted said. You can read our news story on the changes here, and a Q&A with Ofsted boss Sir Martyn Oliver here. Here’s your usual handy Schools Week explainer… 1. Report cards to judge schools on 9 areas… Report cards will judge schools on eight areas, plus safeguarding. Early years and sixth forms will also have their own categories – meaning a school could have 11 ratings in total. Ofsted said these areas “represent the component parts of great education provision” and “provide the nuance” parents and professionals want. They will allow inspectors to “highlight poor practice with more precision – pointing laser-like to specific issues, not shining a floodlight on the whole provider”. …

8 Key Historical Sites to Visit in Coimbra, Portugal

8 Key Historical Sites to Visit in Coimbra, Portugal

  Coimbra is one of the oldest cities in Portugal, with a deep connection to the country’s history. The city met the first Moors arriving in the Iberian Peninsula and became the birthplace of six Portuguese kings from the First Dynasty.   Today, Coimbra is a vibrant city with a remarkable past most people do not know about. Walk along the riverside or wander the narrow cobbled streets in the old town. You will be baffled by the city’s incredible monuments and its architecture.   What to Visit in Coimbra?   There are many reasons to visit Coimbra and many more to stay indefinitely!   1. Almedina Tower and Arch Almedina Tower and Arch. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Get the latest articles delivered to your inbox Sign up to our Free Weekly Newsletter Please check your inbox to activate your subscription Thank you! This is the entrance to Old Town Coimbra. The Almedina Tower and Arch foundations date back to the Moorish occupation and were once part of the city walls. Historians believe Sesnando Davides …

Alexie Glass-Kantor and Dunja Gottweis Join Art Dubai Group in Key Roles

Alexie Glass-Kantor and Dunja Gottweis Join Art Dubai Group in Key Roles

The Art Dubai Group, the organization behind what is arguably the Gulf region’s most prominent commercial art fair, Art Dubai, has announced two senior appointments to newly created roles as part of its broader expansion strategy. Alexie Glass-Kantor has been appointed to a newly created position at Art Dubai Group, executive director, Curatorial, while Dunja Gottweis will assume the role of director of the Art Dubai fair. Both Gottweis and Glass Cantor have a great depth of experience in the global art fair stage, underscoring the organization’s ambition to solidify its influence in the region and expand its international reach. Related Articles “For 20 years the Art Dubai Group has championed cultural exchange and artistic dialogue, establishing itself as a cornerstone of the Gulf’s cultural landscape,” Glass-Kantor said in a statement. “I am excited to build on the organization’s ambitious projects, advocate for artists, and create pathways for global dialogue and connection.” Glass-Kantor, who previously served as executive director of Artspace in Sydney, will oversee Art Dubai Group’s artistic strategy, focusing on partnerships and institution-building. …

New research identifies key predictors of science success in young students

New research identifies key predictors of science success in young students

A recent study published in Learning and Individual Differences has shed light on how motivation impacts science achievement and career aspirations among students aged 11 to 14. Researchers found that the most successful and ambitious students tended to have a motivational profile marked by high expectations of success, a genuine interest in science, and a belief in its importance and utility. Additionally, these students perceived the “cost” of studying science—such as the effort involved—as low. The researchers behind the new study aimed to address a critical issue: the declining interest in science during adolescence and its implications for educational and career choices. With a growing demand for workers skilled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, understanding what drives students to pursue science is essential. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of motivation, but few have considered how multiple facets of motivation—such as the expectation of success, interest in science, and perceived costs—interact to influence achievement and aspirations. “This is partly as I have an interest in the psychology of learning and what makes some young …

Americans agree on key issues despite partisan narratives

Americans agree on key issues despite partisan narratives

The United States presents a paradox: Though the media and public opinion suggest it is a nation deeply divided along partisan lines, surveys reveal that Americans share significant common ground on many core values and political issues. As a political philosopher, I am deeply concerned about the perceived contrast between the public’s shared political concerns and the high level of polarization that is dividing the electorate. Sharing common ground on key issues Despite the prevailing narrative of polarization, Americans frequently agree on essential issues. For instance, there is widespread support for high-quality health care that is accessible to all and for stronger gun-control regulations. Remarkably, many Americans advocate for both the right to bear arms and additional restrictions on firearms. There is strong support for fundamental democratic principles, including equal protection under the law, voting rights, religious freedoms, freedom of assembly and speech, and a free press. On critical issues such as climate change, a majority of citizens acknowledge the reality of human-caused climate change and endorse the development of renewable energy. Similarly, support for …