DGIST develops high-performance piezoelectric fiber sensor for real-time landslide detection

DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)

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□ DGIST (President Lee Kunwoo) has announced that a research team led by Dr. Lim Sang-kyu in the Department of Energy and Environmental Technology has developed a smart fiber sensor that can detect natural disasters such as landslides in real time. The new fiber is based on piezoelectric technology, which converts pressure into electricity. Its three-dimensional (3D) structure dramatically improves performance, facilitating the implementation of a self-powered sensor system that can operate without an external power source.

 

□ Piezoelectric fibers generate electricity when pressed or bent. These materials are used in wearable devices, smart fiber sensors, and energy-harvesting devices. However, conventional fiber structures have multiple air layers that have an unknown effect on performance. Hence, the structure limits power output.

 

□ The research team developed a new nanomaterial, tin titanate nanorods (SnTiO₃NR), which they fabricated into piezoelectric fibers using Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a polymer. The fiber has an eight-pronged cross-section that resembles flower petals. It is woven, using a special weaving technique, into a 3D double-raschel structure with two overlapping layers. Within the structure, an air layer is formed between the fibers that helps absorb shock, transmit pressure, and amplify signals.

 

□ According to the research results, the fiber sensor can generate a voltage of up to 92.8 V and a current of 4.13 mA when a pressure of 1 Nm-2 is applied to a 5 cm × 5 cm area––enough to light 22 LEDs without an external power source. That power is also sufficient to run everyday sensor systems or small electronic devices. This demonstrates that a simple change in fiber structure can substantially improve performance. Notably, the power output is more than double that of conventional planar structures, demonstrating the exciting potential of high-performance smart fibers.

 

□ The research team also used the fiber to implement a Bluetooth-based real-time landslide detection system that can operate without an external power source. The system can detect external forces and transmit data wirelessly. It can therefore be used in various fields in a range of applications from detecting signs of disasters, such as landslides caused by heavy rain, to tracking health and exercise records.

 

□ Dr. Lim Sang-kyu commented as follows: “We have identified structural and non-structural factors that can enhance the performance of piezoelectric fibers. Our research can contribute to the development of smart sensing technologies, which can be used to preemptively respond to various disasters such as landslides caused by heavy rain.”

 

□ The research was supported by DGIST’s institution-specific research program. The research was published in the April 21, 2025 online edition of Advanced Functional Materials, an international authoritative journal in the field of materials science.

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Journal

Advanced Functional Materials

DOI

10.1002/adfm.202504271 

Article Title

Double Raschel-Structured Fabric Based on SnTiO3 Nanorod-Embedded 8-Petal Cross-Section PVDF Fibers for an Advanced Disaster Warning System

 

Beyond intuition: using mathematical models to shape behavior

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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A new study introduces choice engineering—a powerful new way to guide decisions using math instead of guesswork. By applying carefully designed mathematical models, researchers found they could influence people’s choices more effectively than relying on gut instincts or even traditional psychology. This discovery could pave the way for smarter, more ethical tools to improve decision-making in areas like education, health, and everyday life.

A new study published in Nature Communications demonstrates that mathematical models can be more effective than psychological intuition when it comes to influencing human decisions. Led by Prof. Yonatan Loewenstein from Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) at Hebrew University, in collaboration with Dr. Ohad Dan from Yale University and Dr. Ori Plonsky from the Technion, the research introduces a novel concept: choice engineering.

The study draws a distinction between two approaches to influencing behavior. The first, known as choice architecture, has gained widespread popularity since one of its pioneers, Richard Thaler, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2017—with behavioral insights (“nudge”) teams emerging in governments around the world. Choice architecture relies on psychological principles—such as primacy, anchoring, or intuitive heuristics—to subtly steer decisions. The second approach, proposed by the researchers, is choice engineering: a method that uses computational models and optimization techniques to systematically shape behavior with precision.

To put these approaches to the test, the team launched an academic competition where international academic teams were tasked with designing an incentivization mechanism (“reward schedule”) that would get people to choose one of two objectively equal-value options. More than 3,000 participants took part in the experiment, each exposed to one of several reward strategies. Some were built on intuition and psychological insights, while others were crafted using computational models.

The most effective schedule was based on a computational model called CATIE (Contingent Average, Trend, Inertia, and Exploration), designed by Dr. Ori Plonsky together with Prof. Ido Erev from the Technion. The model integrates multiple behavioral tendencies into a unified predictive framework. This CATIE-based strategy significantly outperformed those based on the widely used machine-learning model Q-learning, and those informed by qualitative intuition alone.

“Our study shows that just as engineers use mathematical models to build bridges or design aircraft, we can use models of learning and decision-making to influence behavior—reliably and efficiently,” said Prof. Loewenstein.

The findings demonstrate that behavior can be engineered with surprising accuracy when guided by well-calibrated models. Moreover, the study offers a new method for evaluating cognitive models—not only by their explanatory power, but also by their effectiveness in shaping real-world decisions.

The implications are far-reaching. In fields ranging from education and public health to digital design and policy-making, choice engineering could enable the development of empirically optimized, scalable interventions. At the same time, the researchers note that ethical frameworks will be essential to guide the responsible application of these tools.

As a proof of concept, this study underscores the emerging potential of mathematical modeling in the cognitive sciences—not just for understanding behavior, but for actively guiding it.
 

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Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-025-58888-y 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Behavior engineering using quantitative reinforcement learning models

Article Publication Date

20-May-2025

 

UK Study finds Reform voters more datable than Tories

But left-wing voters had a better chance of getting a match overall

University of Southampton

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Credit: University of Southampton

Reform voters enjoy more success on dating apps than Conservative voters, according to new research from the University of Southampton and Harvard University.

The study, published in the Journal of Politics found that even left-wing voters are more likely to swipe right (‘like’) on a Reform voter’s profile than a Conservative voter.

Dating preferences were heavily split along the left-right divide, with left-wing voters more likely to reject someone on the right than vice-versa.

Researchers say increasing polarisation is driving centre-right voters into the arms of potential romantic partners to their political right, and away from those on the centre-left.

 “Voters from the two main parties are very unlikely to want to date someone from the other party,” says Dr Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte, lead author of the study from the University of Southampton. “Conservative voters were much happier to match with a Reform UK voter than someone who voted Labour.

“This isn’t about falling in love with the radical right. It’s about Conservative voters being more comfortable dating someone they disagree with on some things than dating someone from the opposite ideological camp altogether. That’s a striking illustration of just how polarized our societies have become.”

Overall, Labour, Green, and Lib Dem voters had a better chance of getting a match than Reform and Conversative voters, likely due to the fact people who use dating apps tend to be younger and therefore more socially liberal.

With radical right parties enjoying success in the polls, researchers wanted to see if voting for Reform UK or Vox in Spain carried any social stigma that might put off other dating app users.

To find out, 2,000 18- to 40-year-olds (who make up 85 percent of Tinder users) in Britain and Spain were asked to swipe left (reject) or right (like) on more than 20,000 different fictitious dating profiles using an online app.

The profiles were AI-generated variations of attractive men and women’s faces. Their bios contained information including their occupation, hobbies, interests, and schooling, and some included an indication of who they voted for.

Dr Alberto López Ortega, a co-author on the paper from Harvard University, says: “While Reform voters had a below average favourably on dating apps, they are four points more likely to enjoy success on the dating market than Conservative supporters.

“This suggests that dating a Reform UK voter is not ‘beyond the pale’ and support for the radical right has become more normalised. That said, we found expressing support for either party is likely to be a ‘red flag’ for more left-wing dating app users.”

In Spain, Vox supporting profiles had less chance of being matched than other parties, but those on the right were 47 per cent more likely to ‘like’ them than those on the left.

Researchers say tolerance of radical right parties means centre right parties may be more likely to engage with them, as there seems to be little risk of alienating their own voters in doing so.

“When there’s no social stigma for supporting the radical right, the electoral cost of cooperation collapses,” said Dr Turnbull-Dugarte. “This helps explain why mainstream parties like the Conservatives (and even more recently Labour) have increasingly adopted copy-cat positions on immigration, or why the idea of a Tory-Reform pact no longer feels far-fetched.

“If voters don’t punish the association — and might even prefer it — then the political incentive to hold the line against radical right positions simply disappears.”

The paper Far Right Normalization & Centrifugal Affect. Evidence from the Dating Market is published in the Journal of Politics and is available online.

Ends

Contact

Steve Williams, Media Manager, University of Southampton, press@soton.ac.uk or 023 8059 3212.

Notes for editors

1. The paper Far Right Normalization & Centrifugal Affect. Evidence from the Dating Market is published in the Journal of Politics. An advanced copy is available upon request.
2. For Interviews with Dr Stuart Dr Turnbull-Dugarte please contact Steve Williams, Media Manager, University of Southampton press@soton.ac.uk or 023 8059 3212.
3. Images available here: https://safesend.soton.ac.uk/pickup?claimID=onyERkzeiuiCAQnA&claimPasscode=MnTQQ8gwfRsCaCPw

Additional information

The University of Southampton drives original thinking, turns knowledge into action and impact, and creates solutions to the world’s challenges. We are among the top 100 institutions globally (QS World University Rankings 2025). Our academics are leaders in their fields, forging links with high-profile international businesses and organisations, and inspiring a 22,000-strong community of exceptional students, from over 135 countries worldwide. Through our high-quality education, the University helps students on a journey of discovery to realise their potential and join our global network of over 200,000 alumni. www.southampton.ac.uk

www.southampton.ac.uk/news/contact-press-team.page

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Dating success rates by partisanship 

Conservative voters had the lowest chance of getting a match online, below Reform UK. Labour voters had the best chance, with similar success rates amongst the Greens and Lib Dems. Credit University of Southampton.

Credit

University of Southampton

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Journal

The Journal of Politics

DOI

10.1086/736698 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Far Right Normalization & Centrifugal Affect. Evidence from the Dating Market

Article Publication Date

16-May-2025

 

Most people trust climate scientists less than other scientists – but not everywhere

Striking differences in trust in climate scientists across countries and ideologies may offer clues for getting people to support global warming action

University of New South Wales

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Dr Omid Ghasemi is a researcher with the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response, Sydney.

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Credit: UNSW Sydney

Climate scientists are overall less trusted than other types of scientists, according to a new study led by the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response (ICRR).

Dr Omid Ghasemi and colleagues compared responses from a survey of nearly 70,000 people across 68 countries on the trustworthiness of climate scientists with a broad range of other ideological and demographic factors. 

“We don’t exist in a vacuum, and this research allows a new lens to view different factors that may influence how people view climate scientists – and the forces undermining public confidence in their work,” Dr Ghasemi says.

The results, rated on a 5-point scale from 1 (not at all), to 5 (very strongly), revealed an overall average trust rating of 3.5 for climate scientists worldwide compared to 3.62 for scientists in general. 

However, six countries, and China in particular, bucked the trend entirely, indicating significantly higher trust in climate scientists.

Political polarisation putting ice caps at risk 

The research showed people with right-leaning political views tended to trust climate scientists less overall, including in the US, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and much of Europe. 

“It’s arguably not a surprise that you see significant increases in the trust gap between climate scientists and other scientists in these countries,” Dr Ghasemi says.  

“They have had decades of coordinated efforts by conservative political actors and fossil fuel interests to politicise climate science and undermine its credibility.” 

Interesting too, says Dr Ghasemi, are those countries which showed the opposite relationship, or no significant association between ideology and trust in climate scientists. 

“In some Eastern European, Southeast Asian, and African countries, right-leaning individuals tended to trust scientists and climate scientists more,” Dr Ghasemi says.  

“This might suggest that political leadership attitudes, rather than peoples’ political views, better explain these differences in trust.”

Demographic differences behind doubts 

The survey data, collected as part of the collaborative Trust in Science and Science-Related Populism (TISP) project, covered a total 111 variables. 

Dr Ghasemi’s analysis of the data collected reveals some non-political factors may also be linked to higher trust in climate scientists, such as living in cities, having stronger religious beliefs, valuing science or the scientific method, or being a younger rather than older adult. 

Meanwhile, people who support social hierarchies and those who believe common sense is better than scientific expertise are less likely to trust climate scientists.

An embeddable map is available. Click here.

An embeddable map is available. Click here.

Credit

Omid Ghasemi

Journal

Environmental Research

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Gaps in public trust between scientists and climate scientists: a 68 country study

Article Publication Date

19-May-2025

COI Statement

NA.

 

First-of-its-kind global study shows grasslands can withstand climate extremes with a boost of nutrients

Faced with drought, fertilizer helps grasslands grow strong

\Binghamton University

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Cedar Creek Long Term Ecological Research Site was one of 26 sites studied as part of a global study examining the effect of drought and nutrient addition on grasslands.

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Credit: Sydney Hedberg

Fertilizer might be stronger than we thought. A new international study featuring faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York found that fertilizer can help plants survive short-term periods of extreme drought, findings which could have implications for agriculture and food systems in a world facing climate stressors.

“Resources such as nutrients and water have been fundamentally altered by humans on a global scale, and this can disrupt how plants grow,” said Amber Churchill, an assistant professor of ecosystem science at Binghamton University and co-author on the study. “Extreme changes in these resources are therefore predicted to have an even larger potential impact, with implications for a range of economic sectors. This is especially true for global grasslands, where resource availability for water and nutrients directly supports livestock and pastoralism on all inhabited continents.”

To address this issue, the researchers assessed how grasslands respond to extreme drought and increased nutrient availability through field experiments at 26 sites across 9 countries.

“It took what are often very site-specific methodologies, where we're interested in the impacts of nutrients or the impacts of drought and water availability, and it scaled a single site experiment up to something at a much larger spatial scale,” said Churchill. “The ability to test both variation in nutrients, as well as this global change driver of impacts of drought in combination at such a huge spatial extent – that's the really novel aspect of this experiment.”

The researchers added nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – essential nutrients that all plants need – as well as a one-time addition of a series of micronutrients. They found that while drought alone reduced plant growth by 19%, adding fertilizer increased plant growth by 24%. Importantly, the combination of the two resulted in no net change in growth, largely driven by grasses that were able to take advantage of the added nutrients even under drought. 

“The really big takeaway is that adding nutrients can offset the impact of drought, and this is really true in areas that are already pretty dry,” said Churchill.

Churchill worked at two of the 26 sites. At the Yarramundi site at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment of Western Sydney University, she managed data, recording the number of plants present in the area. At the Cedar Creek Long Term Ecological Research Site in Minnesota, she was in charge of cleaning all data and organizing it to be shared with the network of researchers. 

“In terms of drought, we get less growth; we add fertilizer, we get more growth. As you're seeing some of those idiosyncrasies, the sort of follow-up lines are where it gets a little bit more interesting,” said Churchill. “Traditionally, we might hypothesize that if plants are already limited by water at, say, an arid site, plants may not be able to respond to adding nitrogen. But we actually found the opposite of that, where plants are able to better respond to the nitrogen addition under these more arid conditions. And so that's a really sort of a striking difference than what we might have expected.”

Churchill will be creating similar treatments at Binghamton University as part of the Pasture and Lawn Enhanced Diversity Global-change Experiment (PLEDGE), at Nuthatch Hollow, a 75-acre, “open-air lab” at Binghamton University.

While adding fertilizer might temporarily offset the effects of drought, said Churchill, it’s not a feasible long-term solution.

“In a forage production system where you need to offset the effects of drought, adding fertilizer will remove that effective drought,” she said. “That's a great benefit, but that costs a lot of money. So there's a tradeoff there. It can be a tool used, but it's not going to be the long-term solution.”

Churchill said that in terms of management, the number of plant species growing might be a more important factor in surviving drought.

“We have a prediction that as you have more species, one of those species is more likely to withstand the drought, so you'll get at least some biomass, even if each species doesn’t make it. And so the idea is you'll have more stable biomass over the long term if you have more species present. That's something we can't test with this data set, because we're only looking at one year. But longer-term data sets can look at that sort of a question.”

The paper, “Aridity modulates grassland biomass responses to combined drought and nutrient addition,” will be published May 19 in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

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Journal

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Aridity modulates grassland biomass responses to combined drought and nutrient addition

Article Publication Date

19-May-2025