NASA's compact infrared cameras enable new science

by Karl B. HilleKarl B. Hille, NASA

Goddard engineer Murzy Jhabvala holds the heart of his Compact Thermal Imager

 camera technology – a high-resolution, high-spectral range infrared sensor suitable

 for small satellites and missions to other solar-system objects. Credit: NASA

A new, higher-resolution infrared camera outfitted with a variety of lightweight filters could probe sunlight reflected off Earth's upper atmosphere and surface, improve forest fire warnings, and reveal the molecular composition of other planets.

The cameras use sensitive, high-resolution strained-layer superlattice sensors, initially developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Their compact construction, low mass, and adaptability enable engineers like Tilak Hewagama to adapt them to the needs of a variety of sciences.

"Attaching filters directly to the detector eliminates the substantial mass of traditional lens and filter systems," Hewagama said. "This allows a low-mass instrument with a compact focal plane which can now be chilled for infrared detection using smaller, more efficient coolers. Smaller satellites and missions can benefit from their resolution and accuracy."

Engineer Murzy Jhabvala led the initial sensor development at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as well as leading today's filter integration efforts.

Jhabvala also led the Compact Thermal Imager experiment on the International Space Station that demonstrated how the new sensor technology could survive in space while proving a major success for Earth science. More than 15 million images captured in two infrared bands earned inventors, Jhabvala, and NASA Goddard colleagues Don Jennings and Compton Tucker an agency Invention of the Year award for 2021.

Data from the test provided detailed information about wildfires, better understanding of the vertical structure of Earth's clouds and atmosphere, and captured an updraft caused by wind lifting off Earth's land features called a gravity wave.

The groundbreaking infrared sensors use layers of repeating molecular structures to interact with individual photons, or units of light. The sensors resolve more wavelengths of infrared at a higher resolution: 260 feet (80 meters) per pixel from orbit compared to 1,000 to 3,000 feet (375 to 1,000 meters) possible with current thermal cameras.

The success of these heat-measuring cameras has drawn investments from NASA's Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), Small Business Innovation and Research, and other programs to further customize their reach and applications.

Jhabvala and NASA's Advanced Land Imaging Thermal IR Sensor (ALTIRS) team are developing a six-band version for this year's LiDAR, Hyperspectral, & Thermal Imager (G-LiHT) airborne project. This first-of-its-kind camera will measure surface heat and enable pollution monitoring and fire observations at high frame rates, he said.

NASA Goddard Earth scientist Doug Morton leads an ESTO project developing a Compact Fire Imager for wildfire detection and prediction.

The Compact Thermal Imager captured unusually severe fires in Australia from its perch on the International Space Station in 2019 and 2020. With its high resolution, detected the shape and location of fire fronts and how far they were from settled areas — information critically important to first responders. Credit: NASA

"We're not going to see fewer fires, so we're trying to understand how fires release energy over their life cycle," Morton said. "This will help us better understand the new nature of fires in an increasingly flammable world."

CFI will monitor both the hottest fires which release more greenhouse gases and cooler, smoldering coals and ashes which produce more carbon monoxide and airborne particles like smoke and ash.

"Those are key ingredients when it comes to safety and understanding the greenhouse gases released by burning," Morton said.

After they test the fire imager on airborne campaigns, Morton's team envisions outfitting a fleet of 10 small satellites to provide global information about fires with more images per day.

Combined with next generation computer models, he said, "this information can help the forest service and other firefighting agencies prevent fires, improve safety for firefighters on the front lines, and protect the life and property of those living in the path of fires."

Probing clouds on Earth and beyond

Outfitted with polarization filters, the sensor could measure how ice particles in Earth's upper atmosphere clouds scatter and polarize light, NASA Goddard Earth scientist Dong Wu said.

This applications would complement NASA's PACE—Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem—mission, Wu said, which revealed its first light images earlier this month. Both measure the polarization of light wave's orientation in relation to the direction of travel from different parts of the infrared spectrum.

"The PACE polarimeters monitor visible and shortwave-infrared light," he explained. "The mission will focus on aerosol and ocean color sciences from daytime observations. At mid- and long-infrared wavelengths, the new Infrared polarimeter would capture cloud and surface properties from both day and night observations."

In another effort, Hewagama is working with Jhabvala and Jennings to incorporate linear variable filters which provide even greater detail within the infrared spectrum. The filters reveal atmospheric molecules' rotation and vibration as well as Earth's surface composition.

That technology could also benefit missions to rocky planets, comets, and asteroids, planetary scientist Carrie Anderson said. She said they could identify ice and volatile compounds emitted in enormous plumes from Saturn's moon Enceladus.

"They are essentially geysers of ice," she said, "which of course are cold, but emit light within the new infrared sensor's detection limits. Looking at the plumes against the backdrop of the sun would allow us to identify their composition and vertical distribution very clearly."

Provided by NASA 

NASA's PACE data on ocean, atmosphere, climate now available

Youths' attitudes in post-conflict Colombia reflect both cynicism and hope for peace, research finds

by Patrick Lejtenyi, Concordia University

Photo of La Candelaria, Bogotá. Credit: Michael Barón on Unsplash

Following numerous attempts at peace, in 2016, the Colombian government and the FARC, the largest left-wing guerilla group, signed a peace treaty. Although Colombians were deeply divided about the treaty's prospects when it was first signed, the agreement put an end to six decades of armed conflict in which hundreds of thousands of Colombians, 80% of them civilians, perished. When it came to the prospect of peace, skepticism and hope were at odds, including among the urban youth in Bogotá, Colombia's capital.

A newly published study of Colombian youths' perspectives on the conflict and its aftermath brings that skepticism and hope for restoration into focus. The paper, published in Political Psychology, was led by Laura Pareja Conto and Holly Recchia, a professor of education in the Faculty of Arts and Science.

The study revealed a deep cynicism regarding the peace accord, an overall disillusionment with the country's political system and distrust toward both the government and the FARC. However, it also showed that these youth generally supported the peace process, with 57% saying they hoped it would succeed.

They expressed strong feelings about the need to improve the lives of the conflict's victims, accountability for harm and ending a seemingly intractable cycle of violence.

Most students also expressed having a limited understanding of the history of the Colombian armed conflict, which the researchers noted is a possible point of intervention. The country aims to reconstruct a more inclusive narrative of the events and root causes that propelled the conflict.

Divided but hoping for the best

The data were gathered in 2018 from interviews with 77 adolescents at two high schools in Bogotá. The researchers chose public schools located in neighborhoods with lower to middle socioeconomic status to reflect the reality of the majority of the city's residents.

"At the time, Colombia was very polarized. The country was in the middle of a presidential election and the divide following the peace agreement plebiscite was still palpable," says Pareja Conto. "With this study, we aimed to go beyond this division to explore the concerns and tensions in how youth understand the armed conflict and peace process."

"We were not surprised by the levels of cynicism, given the history of the conflict in Colombia and the corruption that has plagued its different political systems and institutions," adds Recchia. "It reflects youths' apt understandings of their social realities. But we found that this cynicism was juxtaposed with their focus on improving the lives of people who were impacted, on restoring relationships and ending violence—this was the real take-home for us."

According to Colombia's truth commission, at least eight million Colombians were displaced between 1985 and 2019. Bogotá remains the country's largest receptor. To protect the participants' privacy and well-being, the researchers did not ask about their own personal experiences of the conflict.

They were asked about their knowledge of the conflict itself, the peace treaty and how it was being discussed in the public sphere. The students also described their conversations with others about the conflict and the peace process. All the questions were open-ended.

Each participant was presented with two hypothetical though realistic scenarios depicting harmful events that resulted in either loss of life or damage to infrastructure. They were asked how best to address these harms and to justify their proposals. Their answers were then codified and analyzed by the researchers.

The results were not meant to provide an authoritative portrait of Colombian youth, the researchers note. Rather, it was meant to provide a sociopolitical and psychological analysis of urban Colombian adolescents at a certain time and place.

Shared humanities

Pareja Conto acknowledges that her home country remains divided but has made significant strides in the years since the peace agreement was signed. Peace education initiatives are being implemented in Colombian schools, with possibilities for nuanced classroom discussions on difficult issues like justice and reconciliation.

The research could have relevance outside Colombia, given the unfortunate prevalence of conflict around the globe.

"The data make evident that even when people hold opposing perspectives, common ground can be identified. Across the political spectrum, youth are expressing underlying concerns about restoring those who have been harmed and ending cycles of violence," she says.

"It's a humane orientation to express empathy for people who have experienced profound loss, but beyond this, youth are very nuanced in their proposed optimal solutions for restoration and peace."

Contributing authors include Angelica Restrepo from Concordia University, Gabriel Velez from Marquette University, Roberto Posada-Gilede from Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Cecilia Wainryb of the University of Utah.

More information: Laura Pareja Conto et al, Urban Colombian youths' perspectives on the armed conflict and possibilities for ways forward, Political Psychology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/pops.12962

Provided by Concordia University Better pregnancy outcomes linked to reduction of armed conflict in Colombia

The Washington Post Tells Staff It’s Pivoting to AI

"AI everywhere in our newsroom."

 Futurism
/ Artificial Intelligence/ Ai/ Journalism/ Media

Image by Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty /

Already facing scandal, the Washington Post's new-ish CEO and publisher, Will Lewis, has announced that the newspaper will be pivoting to artificial intelligence to turn around its dismal financial situation.

As Semafor media industry editor Max Tani tweeted, Lewis told Post staffers today that the newspaper will be looking for ways to use AI in its reporting as it seeks to recoup some of the $77 million it lost last year.

"To speak candidly: We are in a hole, and we have been for some time," the CEO said, per an announcement. "This is all repairable, all doable, particularly if we do it together."

The paper's chief technology officer, meanwhile, announced to staffers that going forward, WaPo is to have "AI everywhere in our newsroom," according to Tani. It's unclear, however, what exactly that directive will entail.

A former NewsCorp executive who published the Wall Street Journal and was CEO of its parent company, Dow Jones, from 2014 until 2020, Lewis' short tenure at WaPo has already been plagued by controversy.

After being personally tapped by WaPo owner Jeff Bezos for the gig, Lewis began working as publisher of the newspaper at the beginning of 2024. Almost immediately, reports about NewsCorp's hacking scandal in the early 2010s, which involved the royal family and several celebrities, and which Lewis oversaw the response to, resurfaced. Along with it came new allegations published by the Daily Beast that he led a so-called "witch hunt" to find those responsible.

In another WaPo-related Tani scoop, Semafor reported today that the paper's editors sought to downplay Lewis' alleged participation in the coverup of the hacking scandal. Those reports came in light of a new UK ruling in a lawsuit brought by Prince Harry. Lewis and WaPo have both denied that he took part in any such coverup.

Notably, the newspaper's announcement about its new revenue-boosting efforts doesn't include any explicit mention of AI. Instead, it makes vague reference to experimentation with "new offerings over the next few months."

Coincidentally, news of WaPo's AI pivot comes the same day as the announcement of a landmark deal between NewsCorp and OpenAI that will allow the AI firm to use content from the conglomerate's properties, which include the WSJ, the New York Post, and the Times of London.

It's a big day for NewsCorp and a big day for AI — and a bad one, we reckon, for the media as a whole.

More on AI in media: Meet AdVon, the AI-Powered Content Monster Infecting the Media Industry

Female judges tend to hand down harsher sentences in cases involving sex offenses, finds study

by Cristina Sáez, Open University of Catalonia

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The Cannes Film Festival began a few days ago with nine women accusing the French producer Alain Sarde of raping or sexually assaulting them when they were minors or young actresses. If it reaches the courts, the sentence in this case will depend on the French penal code, but also on factors outside the law, such as the sex of the judges.

A study led by researchers from the Empirical and Applied Victimology (VICRIM) group in the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) concludes that in cases involving sexual offenses in which the victims are mostly women and minors, female judges tend to be more punitive than their male counterparts, especially when deciding upon the length of sentences.

The paper is published in the journal Criminology & Criminal Justice.

"The sex of the judges has an impact on sentences," said Laura Arantegui, a predoctoral researcher at the UOC and the lead author of the study, who pointed out that although "Spanish law is quite strict when it comes to determining penalties by type of crime, there are a number of human factors that can also affect sentencing. And one of them is the judges' sex."

Conditioned by gender roles

Over the last four decades, many more women have entered the judiciary, which was traditionally a male field. This has led to research into the influence that the sex of judges may have on the judicial decisions they make. Although being a man or a woman are not legal factors, they do have some impact on the sentences that are handed down, as a person is inevitably conditioned by the traditionally different roles played by the two sexes in society, which can lead to them having different points of view about vulnerable social groups.

Previous studies focusing on sex offenses committed against minors found that in courts with more than one judge, the length of the sentence increased by about 3.5 months for every additional woman on the bench.

In this recent study, the researchers at the UOC focused on cases involving sexual offenses committed between 2019 and 2020 that came to trial in Spanish provincial courts, which deal with offenses subject to prison sentences of more than five years, where the sentences are handed down by benches made up of three judges.

They reviewed more than 2,200 cases, which were mostly sex offenses and sexual abuse of women and minors, and they concluded that the sentences were harsher when there were more women on the bench. However, when the bench was composed exclusively of female judges, the sentence imposed also depended on other variables.

"When it comes to the length of sentences, women are tougher than their male counterparts, imposing longer sentences, which is not to say that they are fairer. However, we found no significant results in terms of the number of convictions. In other words, there are no differences between men and women when it comes to determining guilt, but the punishment they impose is heavier," explained Arantegui.

Greater empathy for victims

In view of the results obtained in this study, and based on the conclusions of previous studies, the researchers at the UOC suggest that the reason for this difference between male and female judges could be that female judges identify with more vulnerable groups.

"When dealing with this type of sex offense, women act as representatives of their gender and undoubtedly try to defend these victims, whom they see as more helpless or in a situation of inferiority, and perhaps for this reason they're more punitive," said Arantegui, a member of the UOC's Faculty of Law and Political Science.

As for the composition of benches of judges, the study concludes that the important factor is not the number of women (0, 1, 2 or 3), but instead the sex of the presiding judge, and in particular, that of the reporting judge.

According to Arantegui, the next step will be to examine what happens in cases of sexual violence that come before a single judge, and to expand the types of cases studied to determine whether the judges' sex also has an impact on other types of crimes.

More information: Laura Arantegui et al, Does the sex of judges matter? Analysis of sentencing in sex crimes in Spain, Criminology & Criminal Justice (2024). DOI: 10.1177/17488958241239785

Provided by Open University of Catalonia Study: Spanish courts hand down milder sentences for rapes if they are committed by the victim's partner or ex-partner

 

Preteens use dating apps, and 1 in 4 are sexual minorities: Study

by University of Toronto

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Though most online dating apps have a minimum age requirement of 18 years, a new study finds that a small number of 11–12 year-olds use them. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) preteens are 13 times more likely to report engaging in online dating compared to their heterosexual peers.

The research is published in the journal BMC Research Notes.

"Lesbian, gay, or bisexual adolescents, including preteens, may have limited romantic partner options in their schools, where they may also face discrimination, bullying, and stigma because of their sexual orientation," says lead author Jason Nagata, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. "Dating apps may allow adolescents to easily identify other LGB users in close geographic proximity, whereas it may be more difficult to determine a potential partner's sexual orientation in real life."

The researchers analyzed data from 10,157 adolescents, mostly 11 to 12 year-olds, who are part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. Data were collected from 2018-2020. Adolescents answered questions about online dating app use and their sexual orientation.

The study also found that preteen boys were nearly three times more likely to report online dating compared to girls.

"Preteen boys are more likely than girls to report that social media made them feel more connected with their significant other," says co-author Kyle T. Ganson, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. "Prior research has found that half of boys reported that social media made them feel more emotionally connected with their significant other, compared to 37% of girls."

The higher rates of online dating in LGB and male preteens may reflect trends in general screen use. A related study found that LGB preteens spend four more hours per day on screens in general, including television, videos, social media, and texting, than their heterosexual peers. Similarly, preteen boys spend 45 more minutes of total screen time daily than girls.

"Although online media can have benefits such as connection and socialization for LGB adolescents, parents and media literacy programs should provide guidance to mitigate risks from online dating such as cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, privacy violations, and the exchanging of inappropriate content," Nagata says. "Parents should talk to their adolescents about media usage, including online dating, and develop rules through a family media use plan."

More information: Jason M. Nagata et al, Social epidemiology of online dating in U.S. early adolescents, BMC Research Notes (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s13104-024-06777-w

Provided by University of Toronto 

Transgender preteens report 13 hours of daily screen time

Study findings show transitioning gender identities is not linked with depression

by University of Texas at Austin

Credit: Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

A longitudinal study of LGBTQ+ youths has found that transitioning gender identities is not associated with depression and that about 1 in 3 gender-minority youths change their gender identity more than once. In fact, the study found higher rates of depression among transgender youths are more closely associated with bullying and victimization.

The findings from a team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and in Brazil are outlined in a paper in JAMA Network Open.

The study followed 366 LGBTQ+ young people ages 15–21 in two U.S. cities from 2011 to 2015 and measured depressive symptoms periodically, as well as the young people's self-reported gender identity and other factors.

During the study period, three-fourths of the participants maintained a gender identity consistent with their sex at birth (known as cisgender) throughout the three years, and another 9% maintained a transgender identity during the study period. Variations in gender identity were observed among other participants, including about 8% who reported a transgender identity earlier on and moved to a cisgender identity by the end of the study.

"Exploring gender identity and gender expression is a normal part of adolescence and growing up for some youth," said André Gonzales Real, a clinical psychiatrist and UT doctoral student in human development and family sciences and corresponding author on the paper.

"Depression among transgender youth is a big public health concern, but it's not gender identity or transitioning that is at the root. It's the bullying, rejection and victimization we need to be worried about."

Of the ouths who reported a different gender identity during the study, almost one-third did so more than twice. Among these youths, the rate of depressive symptoms was the lowest of the different groups and remained largely stable throughout the study.

Specifically, researchers found that young people who transitioned from a cisgender identity to a transgender identity were more likely to experience symptoms of depression than those who maintained a cisgender identity throughout the study.

Importantly, when researchers controlled for bullying and victimization, which is more common for transgender youths, there was no statistical difference in depressive symptoms between groups. The finding lends key context to earlier reports of links between youth depression and gender transition.

"We found that gender identity is not the primary driver of mental health. Mental health is related to the environment young people are living in," said Stephen Russell, the Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor in Child Development at UT and an author of the paper. "Being a transgender young person does not lead to depression on its own, but the social environment that many of these young people experience does."

Researchers also concluded that there was no change in depressive symptoms measured before and after transitions to transgender—or to cisgender. Finally, the study found that results were the same regardless of participants' use of hormones and puberty blockers.

Many studies looking at long-term outcomes for transgender and gender diverse youths come from clinical settings. The study is innovative in using a community-based sample, working with young people involved in community organizations serving LGBTQ+ youths.

Maria Inês Rodrigues Lobato of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil is also a corresponding author on the paper.

More information: Trajectories of Gender Identity and Depressive Symptoms in Youths, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11322 , jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman … /fullarticle/2818886

Journal information: Child Psychiatry & Human Development 

Provided by University of Texas at Austin 

Transgender preteens report 13 hours of daily screen time

 

Autistic-led study reveals urgent priorities for supporting autistic girls and gender diverse youth

by University of Technology, Sydney

Credit: University of Technology Sydney.

A new study led by autistic people and researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) sheds light on the challenges faced by autistic girls, women and gender diverse people within health care, the education system and society.

The research paper, titled "Nothing About Us, Without Us': Research Priorities for Autistic Girls, Women and Gender Diverse People in Australia" and published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, highlights the urgent need for inclusive supports to maximize the well-being of autistic people and provides key considerations for the National Autism Strategy that is currently under community consultation.

Study co-lead Dr. Rachel Grove from the UTS School of Public Health, said the research aims to address the longstanding gaps in understanding the experiences of autistic women, girls and gender diverse people.

"Historically, autism has been viewed through a gendered lens with incorrect assumptions that only boys can be autistic, resulting in oversight and inadequate support. It was critical to ensure that autistic people undertook the research," said Dr. Grove.

Sarah Gurrin, an autistic co-lead on the project said autistic people have often been studied by academics with no lived experience and a narrow view of what autism is.

"This is vital research to help ensure there is not another lost generation of autistic girls, women and gender diverse people."

The researchers heard from over 100 autistic girls and gender diverse people aged from 7 to 17. Parents and health professionals were deliberately excluded to prioritize the perspectives of autistic youth.

As Hayley Clapham, an autistic co-lead in the research explains, "for too long autism research focused on children and young people has predominantly reflected the perspectives of clinicians, educators and parents.

"To ensure that research accurately responds to the needs and experiences of autistic young people, it is crucial that researchers prioritize their inclusion in the shaping and informing of research and outcomes that directly impact their lives."

The findings, distilled into six key research priority areas for autistic young people, provide a roadmap for meaningful change.

The foremost concern expressed by autistic girls and gender diverse young people was the need for greater understanding and support at school, including tailored inclusive support across all educational environments.

One autistic young person told the researchers, "The fact is that I can be in a school system where I don't receive the support I need because I'm not visibly struggling. I think there needs to be more awareness spread of how autism looks and that it's not a little mold that someone can fit into."

Autistic girls and gender diverse young people also want a better understanding of their experiences, strengths and challenges related to puberty, sensory differences, self-regulation needs, and to see themselves represented in society and the media.

As one autistic young person put it, "I didn't really see representation of an autistic person that looked or acted like me, a girl, a teenager, all of these things."

The third priority outlines the pressing need for specialized mental health services tailored to the autistic experience. This is critical given autistic women are 83% more likely to lose their life by suicide than the general population.

One young person said, "I spent years struggling in school until I mentally broke … Why does it take so long to help autistic females? Why do we have to be mentally exhausted?"

Other research priorities included friendships and relationships, and inclusive policies and resources that affirm and respect diverse gender identities and focus on support first. The researchers say this is critical given the greater gender diversity among autistic people.

The final research priority focuses on accommodations to make life easier, such as practical adjustments that alleviate stress, build capacity and promote autonomy.

The researchers also spoke to over 300 autistic women and gender diverse adults, with a further eight key priorities identified, including understanding experiences of trauma, abuse and sexual violence, and addressing barriers in health care, education and the workplace.

One autistic adult spoke of the importance of recognizing the strengths of autistic young people and supporting them to flourish, "I think these girls, these strengths and these brains need to be embraced and utilized. These brilliant, brilliant human beings… I wished that I had those tools, and that I was allowed to thrive and to be who I am when I was that young."

Tess Moodie, an autistic co-lead in the research said, "For years we have been saying there should be nothing about us without us.

"I am hopeful this will set the standard for commitments from future researchers, both for the priorities, but also in authentically collaborating with autistic people in co-development of research.

"This work sets the agenda for future research to help autistic young people live better lives in our neurotypical-centered world."

More information: Rachel Grove et al, 'Nothing About Us, Without Us': Research Priorities for Autistic Girls, Women and Gender Diverse People in Australia, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06330-5

Journal information: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 

Provided by University of Technology, Sydney 

Autistic people's feelings mostly misread—empathy works both ways, research reveals

Polyamory among youth: New research highlights stigma and depressive symptoms

by Eric W. Dolan
May 22, 2024
in Consensual Non-Monogamy

(Photo credit: Adobe Stock)

A recent study published in Psychology & Sexuality suggests that polyamory is not only present among adolescents but also comes with significant stigma and mental health challenges. This research, one of the first to focus on polyamorous youth, found that 16.7% of the participants at an LGBTQ+ summer camp identified as polyamorous or ambiamorous. These adolescents reported higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to their peers.

Polyamory refers to a relationship structure in which individuals have multiple romantic partners simultaneously, with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. Unlike cheating, which involves secrecy and betrayal, polyamory is based on honesty, communication, and mutual agreement among all partners. Polyamorous relationships can vary widely and do not necessarily involve sexual activity; they may focus on emotional and romantic connections.

Ambiamory is a related term that describes a person’s flexibility in their relationship preferences. Ambiamorous individuals are open to either monogamous or polyamorous relationships, depending on their current situation and the preferences of their partners. Essentially, ambiamorous people do not have a fixed preference for one type of relationship structure over another; instead, they adapt to what feels right based on their circumstances and the dynamics with their partners.

The motivation behind the new study stemmed from the growing visibility and acceptance of polyamory among adults, coupled with a lack of understanding about its presence and impact among adolescents. While polyamory has been featured more prominently in media and research focusing on adults, there has been little exploration of how these relationship structures affect younger individuals.

To investigate whether polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents experience higher levels of mental health challenges, study author Traci Gillig surveyed individuals at Brave Trails, a summer camp designed specifically for LGBTQ+ youth. A total of 323 adolescents, aged 12 to 17, participated in the research. These participants were selected as they attended the camp during the summer of 2023.

Participants completed surveys at two different points: before the camp began and on the last full day of the camp. These surveys included standardized assessments to measure anxiety and depressive symptoms. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder subscale of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 was used to assess anxiety, while the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Short Form was employed to measure depressive symptoms. These tools are well-established in psychological research and provide reliable data on the mental health status of the participants.

In addition to mental health assessments, the surveys asked participants about their preferred relationship structure and their comfort level with being open about their relationship preferences in their home communities. The participants could choose from options like monogamous, polyamorous, ambiamorous, or unsure, and they were also given the opportunity to elaborate on their responses through open-ended questions.

The study also included qualitative elements. Participants provided written explanations about their perceptions of safety and acceptance regarding their polyamorous identity. These qualitative responses were analyzed thematically to identify common patterns and themes related to their experiences and feelings of safety in their home environments.

Gillig found that a substantial portion of the camp’s participants, approximately 16.7%, identified as polyamorous or ambiamorous. These polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents exhibited elevated depressive symptoms before attending the camp. However, the study found no significant difference in anxiety levels between polyamorous/ambiamorous youth and their peers at the outset, indicating that the impact on mental health may be more pronounced in terms of depressive symptoms rather than anxiety.




A notable aspect of the findings was the impact of the supportive environment provided by the LGBTQ+ camp. All adolescents, regardless of their relationship preferences, showed improved mental health by the end of the camp. Both depressive symptoms and anxiety levels decreased significantly after spending time in this accepting and affirming setting. This highlights the importance of creating supportive spaces for marginalized youth, where they can explore their identities without fear of judgment or discrimination.

Despite the overall improvement in mental health, the study revealed that many polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents did not feel safe being open about their identity in their home communities. Less than half (44.4%) of these youth felt safe or would feel safe disclosing their polyamorous identity at home. The qualitative data provided deeper insight into this issue, with many adolescents expressing concerns about being misunderstood, judged, or stigmatized if they were open about their relationship preferences.

The thematic analysis of the written responses identified several reasons why these adolescents did not feel safe. The most common reasons included the stigmatization of polyamory, a lack of understanding about polyamorous relationships, and uncertainty or fear about how people would react. Many adolescents mentioned that even those who accepted their LGBTQ+ identity might not be supportive of their polyamorous identity, indicating a specific gap in acceptance and understanding within their communities.

“It was notable that many of the polyamorous teens said they wouldn’t feel safe being out in their home communities,” said Gillig, an assistant professor at Washington State University. “They felt like they would be misunderstood or that people have stereotypes or judgments around what it means for them to be poly, like that they are promiscuous or don’t perceive cheating as a problem.”

“Youths’ experience with being polyamorous or ambiamorous is similar to being LGBTQ+ in that if they perceive that they won’t be supported, then they’re not as likely to disclose their identity at home. We know from research with queer youth that this can cause elevated levels of depressive symptoms,” she added. “My hope is that parents would have an open mind, if their child comes to them and expresses that they identify as polyamorous or if they have questions about it.”

On the other hand, the adolescents who did feel safe being open about their polyamorous identity often cited supportive or indifferent attitudes in their communities, knowing other polyamorous individuals, and a strong comfort with their own identity as reasons for their sense of safety. These protective factors underscore the importance of having visible support networks and fostering an environment where diverse relationship structures are understood and accepted.


The study, “Polyamorous and ambiamorous adolescents: a first empirical look at mental health in an LGBTQ+ sample,” was published online on April 28, 2024.

Promethium bound: Rare earth element's secrets exposed

May 22, 2024

DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Summary:

Scientists have uncovered the properties of a rare earth element that was first discovered 80 years ago at the very same laboratory, opening a new pathway for the exploration of elements critical in modern technology, from medicine to space travel.

FULL STORY


Scientists have uncovered the properties of a rare earth element that was first discovered 80 years ago at the very same laboratory, opening a new pathway for the exploration of elements critical in modern technology, from medicine to space travel.

Promethium was discovered in 1945 at Clinton Laboratories, now the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and continues to be produced at ORNL in minute quantities. Some of its properties have remained elusive despite the rare earth element's use in medical studies and long-lived nuclear batteries. It is named after the mythological Titan who delivered fire to humans and whose name symbolizes human striving.

"The whole idea was to explore this very rare element to gain new knowledge," said Alex Ivanov, an ORNL scientist who co-led the research. "Once we realized it was discovered at this national lab and the place where we work, we felt an obligation to conduct this research to uphold the ORNL legacy."

The ORNL-led team of scientists prepared a chemical complex of promethium, which enabled its characterization in solution for the first time. Thus, they exposed the secrets of this extremely rare lanthanide, whose atomic number is 61, in a series of meticulous experiments.

Their landmark study, published in the journal Nature, marks a significant advance in rare earth research and might rewrite chemistry textbooks.

"Because it has no stable isotopes, promethium was the last lanthanide to be discovered and has been the most difficult to study," said ORNL's Ilja Popovs, who co-led the research. Most rare earth elements are lanthanides, elements from 57 -- lanthanum -- to 71 -- lutetium -- on the periodic table. They have similar chemical properties but differ in size.

The other 14 lanthanides are well understood. They are metals with useful properties that make them indispensable in many modern technologies. They are workhorses of applications such as lasers, permanent magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicles, X-ray screens and even cancer-fighting medicines.

"There are thousands of publications on lanthanides' chemistry without promethium. That was a glaring gap for all of science," said ORNL's Santa Jansone-Popova, who co-led the study. "Scientists have to assume most of its properties. Now we can actually measure some of them."

The research relied on unique resources and expertise available at DOE national laboratories. Using a research reactor, hot cells and supercomputers, as well as the accumulated knowledge and skills of 18 scientists in different fields, the authors detailed the first observation of a promethium complex in solution.

The ORNL scientists bound, or chelated, radioactive promethium with special organic molecules called diglycolamide ligands. Then, using X-ray spectroscopy, they determined the properties of the complex, including the length of the promethium chemical bond with neighboring atoms -- a first for science and a longstanding missing piece to the periodic table of elements.

Promethium is very rare; only about a pound occurs naturally in the Earth's crust at any given time. Unlike other rare earth elements, only minute quantities of synthetic promethium are available because it has no stable isotopes.

For this study, the ORNL team produced the isotope promethium-147, with a half-life of 2.62 years, in sufficient quantities and at a high enough purity to study its chemical properties. ORNL is the United States' only producer of promethium-147.

Notably, the team provided the first demonstration of a feature of lanthanide contraction in solution for the whole lanthanide series, including promethium, atomic number 61. Lanthanide contraction is a phenomenon in which elements with atomic numbers between 57 and 71 are smaller than expected. As the atomic numbers of these lanthanides increase, the radii of their ions decrease. This contraction creates distinctive chemical and electronic properties because the same charge is limited to a shrinking space. The ORNL scientists got a clear promethium signal, which enabled them to better define the shape of the trend -- across the series.

"It's really astonishing from a scientific viewpoint. I was struck once we had all the data," said Ivanov. "The contraction of this chemical bond accelerates along this atomic series, but after promethium, it considerably slows down. This is an important landmark in understanding the chemical bonding properties of these elements and their structural changes along the periodic table."

Many of these elements, such as those in the lanthanide and actinide series, have applications ranging from cancer diagnostics and treatment to renewable energy technologies and long-lived nuclear batteries for deep space exploration.

The achievement will, among other things, ease the difficult job of separating these valuable elements, according to Jansone-Popova. The team has long worked on separations for the whole series of lanthanides, "but promethium was the last puzzle piece. It was quite challenging," she said. "You cannot utilize all these lanthanides as a mixture in modern advanced technologies, because first you need to separate them. This is where the contraction becomes very important; it basically allows us to separate them, which is still quite a difficult task."

The research team used several premier DOE facilities in the project. At ORNL, promethium was synthesized at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a DOE Office of Science user facility, and purified at the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center, a multipurpose radiochemical processing and research facility. Then, the team performed X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the National Synchrotron Light Source II, a DOE Office of Science user facility at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory, specifically working at the Beamline for Materials Measurement, which is funded and operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The team also performed quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility at ORNL, using the lab's Summit supercomputer, the only computational resource capable of providing the necessary calculations at the time. In addition, the researchers used resources of the Compute and Data Environment for Science at ORNL. They expect future calculations to be performed on ORNL's Frontier, the world's most powerful supercomputer and the first exascale system, which is able to perform more than a quintillion calculations each second.

Popovs emphasized that the ORNL-led accomplishments can be attributed to teamwork. Each of the Nature paper's 18 authors was critical to the project, he said.

The achievement sets the stage for a new era of research, the scientists said. "Anything that we would call a modern marvel of technology would include, in one shape or another, these rare earth elements," Popovs said. "We are adding the missing link."

Besides Popovs, Ivanov and Jansone-Popova from ORNL's Chemical Sciences Division, the paper's co-authors include Darren Driscoll, Subhamay Pramanik, Jeffrey Einkauf, Santanu Roy and Thomas Dyke, also of ORNL's Chemical Sciences Division; Frankie White, Richard Mayes, Laetitia Delmau, Samantha Cary, April Miller and Sandra Davern of ORNL's Radioisotope Science and Technology Division; Matt Silveira and Shelley VanCleve of ORNL's Isotope Processing and Manufacturing Division; Dmytro Bykov of the National Center for Computational Sciences at ORNL; and Bruce Ravel of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

This work was primarily co-sponsored by DOE's Office of Science for ligand synthesis, lanthanide complexation studies, crystallization processes, spectroscopic analyses and simulation efforts. The production, purification and preparation of the promethium sample were supported by the DOE Isotope Program, managed by the Office of Science for Isotope R&D and Production. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collection and refinement were supported by the DOE Office of Science.

Story Source:

Materials provided by DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Original written by Lawrence Bernard and Leo Williams. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:Darren M. Driscoll, Frankie D. White, Subhamay Pramanik, Jeffrey D. Einkauf, Bruce Ravel, Dmytro Bykov, Santanu Roy, Richard T. Mayes, Lætitia H. Delmau, Samantha K. Cary, Thomas Dyke, April Miller, Matt Silveira, Shelley M. VanCleve, Sandra M. Davern, Santa Jansone-Popova, Ilja Popovs, Alexander S. Ivanov. Observation of a promethium complex in solution. Nature, 2024; 629 (8013): 819 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07267-6

Extreme complexity in formation of rare earth mineral vital for tech industry

Date:May 20, 2024

Source: Trinity College Dublin

Summary:

Researchers have unveiled that myriad, intricate factors influence the genesis and chemistry of bastnasite and rare earth carbonates, which are critically needed for today's tech industry and its hardware outputs. Their work unveils a newly acquired depth of understanding that had previously been unexplored in this field. In combination, the findings mark a significant advancement and promise to reshape our understanding of rare earth mineral formation.


FULL STORY

In a ground-breaking study, researchers from Trinity College Dublin have unveiled that myriad, intricate factors influence the genesis and chemistry of bastnäsite and rare earth carbonates, which are critically needed for today's tech industry and its hardware outputs.

Their work, just published in international journal Global Challenges, unveils a newly acquired depth of understanding that had previously been unexplored in this field. In combination, the findings mark a significant advancement and promise to reshape our understanding of rare earth mineral formation.


Crucially, as global demand for rare earth elements continues to rise -- largely to satisfy the growing demand for the mobile phones, batteries and speakers in which they are put to work -- insights from this research could have far-reaching implications and various industrial and environmental applications.

What have the researchers found?

Contrary to prior assumptions, the new research reveals that the formation of bastnäsite -- the top rare earth mineral exploited by industry -- is not a straightforward process but instead one driven by a very complex interplay of multiple factors.

The experimental approach involved studying the interaction between solutions containing multiple rare earth elements and common calcium-magnesium carbonate minerals like calcite, aragonite and dolomite (which are ubiquitous in nature) under hydrothermal conditions ranging from 21 to 210 °C. The team tested two solution types: one with equal rare earths concentrations, and another one simulating concentrations more typical of the usual hydrothermal fluids found on Earth.

The findings show that when the common calcium-magnesium carbonate minerals react with rare earth-rich fluids, they change their structures and chemical compositions, forming a series of rare earth-bearing minerals with exotic names like lanthanite, kozoite, bastnasite and cerianite, with very complex chemistries, shapes and textures.


Particularly interesting is that different solution types lead to distinct outcomes: For example, equal-concentration solutions promote kozoite and bastnasite crystallisation, maintaining similar rare earths ratios in solids and solutions.


Conversely, hydrothermal fluids mimicking the ones found on Earth result in rare earth-bearing minerals with varied elemental distributions -- and some of these even go through decarbonation processes due to the formation of rare earth oxides.

Ultimately, the experiments showcase the extremely dynamic nature of rare earths mineral formation, with unstable minerals transforming into more stable ones over time, and sometimes developing textures impacted by adjacent mineral reactions that further underscore the complexity of the process.

What are the potential implications?

The implications of this research extend far beyond the laboratory. Understanding the complex processes involved in bastnäsite formation has profound implications for geologists and industry alike. The research demonstrates that the development of advanced simulation models is strongly needed, allowing scientists to replicate natural conditions and explore alternative methods for mineral extraction or synthesis.

While challenges remain, the insights from this study open the door for new experimental protocols to understand the fate of rare earth elements in complex geological ores where they concentrate.

Melanie Maddin, PhD researcher in Geology in Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, is the lead author of this study. She said: "These findings challenge the models previously applied to rare earth mineral formation. Our research highlights the dependence of crystallisation pathways, mineral formation kinetics, and chemical texture on a myriad of factors, including rare earth concentrations, ionic radii, temperature, time, and host grain solubility."


Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco, Principal Investigator of the research group and Professor in Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, emphasised the significance of these findings in understanding not only bastnäsite formation but also the broader field of rare earth mineralogy.

Dr Rodriguez-Blanco, a funded investigator in iCRAG (Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre in Applied Geosciences), said: "This study opens new avenues for research in geochemistry and mineralogy, paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of mineral formation processes."

Story Source:

Materials provided by Trinity College Dublin. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:Melanie Maddin, Remi Rateau, Adrienn Maria Szucs, Luca Terribili, Brendan Hoare, Paul C. Guyett, Juan Diego Rodriguez‐Blanco. Chemical Textures on Rare Earth Carbonates: An Experimental Approach to Mimic the Formation of Bastnäsite. Global Challenges, 2024; DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202400074


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Trinity College Dublin. "Extreme complexity in formation of rare earth mineral vital for tech industry." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 May 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240520122731.htm>.

International court rules GHGs are marine pollution

Credit: Flavio Coelho via Getty Images

May 23, 2024

Matthew Ward Agius
Matthew Agius is a science writer for Cosmos Magazine.


Small island nations have hailed a ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea that greenhouse gases are a form of marine pollution.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is an independent judicial body that adjudicates maritime disputes that come under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

On Tuesday, ITLOS ruled on a 2022 request from 9 small Pacific and Caribbean island nations to consider greenhouse gas emissions as a form of pollution, which is regulated by the Convention.

Greenhouse gases are molecules like carbon dioxide and methane that cause global temperatures to rise due to their heat-trapping effect on the atmosphere and the oceans.

This causes ocean warming, acidification, ice sheet melt and disruption to other marine systems. Ocean warming and its knock-on effects are forecast to cause sea level rise that will inundate many small island nations.

In a unanimous opinion, the ITLOS found “anthropogenic [created by human activity] greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere constitute pollution of the marine environment”.

It means 168 nations that are parties to the Convention, which includes Australia, have “the specific obligations to take all necessary measures to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and to endeavour to harmonise their policies in this connection.”

There’s also a significant scientific component in the ruling, which says these necessary measures “should be determined objectively, taking into account… the best available science and relevant international rules and standards contained in climate change treaties such as the UNFCCC [Climate Change Convention] and the Paris Agreement”.

The ruling is an advisory opinion and is not legally binding. However it is seen by experts on the law of the sea as offering a potential precedent for courts – including within nations themselves – on states’ obligations under the Convention.

Constantinos Yiallourides, deputy director of the Centre of Environmental Law at Macquarie University, says the ruling would have “authoritative value” in how states engage with the Convention.

“It would reinforce the global environment and climate change regime, and it is likely that other international and national courts would consider the ITLOS Advisory Opinion when making assessments on climate-related cases, including challenging the legality of high-emitting activities due to their potential carbon footprint on the oceans,” Yiallourides says.

It’s a view echoed by Melbourne University’s Margaret Young, an international law specialist with expertise in the law of the sea.

Young says the need for state parties to consider scientific evidence in their actions is noteworthy.

That includes a requirement in the ruling for state parties to uphold a stringent standard of due diligence in controlling greenhouse gas emissions.

“There’s a real emphasis of ‘best available science’ in this judgement,” Young says.

“What the court is really cleverly doing is saying states have to act with due diligence to prevent marine pollution from greenhouse gas emissions. ‘Due diligence’ is increasingly being discussed by these international courts because it does require states to act to a particular standard.

“The court is not about to say specifically what each country has to do, but it is able to give a sense of the seriousness with which it treats this issue, especially where pollution crosses state boundaries: ‘stringent’ is a really important word that’s been used here.”