Do you know an exceptional woman in science — or are you one yourself? The Story Exchange, a nonprofit media platform, is compiling its annual Women to Watch in Science list and is taking submissions through Sept. 20. “We particularly encourage submissions from early- and mid-career female scientists, whose work might benefit the most from this recognition,” noted Executive Director Sue Williams. Learn how to apply or nominate someone here.
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Science
What’s Going on Inside Your Dog’s Brain When You Smile at Them?
Laura V. Cuaya/University of Vienna
It doesn’t take much on a dog’s part to elicit a smile from their owner — or from passersby on the street, many of whom often begin cooing at the pup before even taking stock of the person holding the leash. While previous research has suggested that canines can differentiate people’s facial expressions (something any pet parent can attest to), less is known about the biology involved. A new study investigated what actually takes place inside a dog’s brain during this process, finding that images of smiling faces activated the same region that lights up when pups anticipate tasty treats. In the study, published Monday in the journal iScience, researchers conducted brain scans on eight dogs while the animals were shown photos of strangers with either neutral or happy expressions. The happy faces triggered activity in the temporal cortex, which is associated with cognitive processing, and the caudate nucleus, associated with reward processing. Read our full article to learn about how dogs process other facial expressions (and see a pic of the researchers with their own participating pups).
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Audiologists Didn’t Expect This From a Hearing Aid
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Inside Australia’s New “World-Leading” Minimum Pay Rules for Gig Delivery Workers
Ye Myo Khant—SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
Starting Aug. 17, food and grocery delivery workers in Australia will start making a minimum of 31.30 Australian dollarsper hour (around $22.10 USD), up from the country’s general minimum wage of 26.44 ($18.67). The roughly 18% pay boost is expected to benefit about 250,000 workers and was hailed by the Transport Workers Union as “a landmark moment for the Australian gig economy.” “Gig workers in Australia were left outside of our workplace systems for far too long. From Monday, they will be entitled to an absolute world-leading set of standards that we will build on over time,” TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said in a joint statement with Uber Eats and DoorDash, per Reuters. Under the new order, workers will be paid a minimum hourly rate for “engaged” time, covering the period of accepting a job, waiting for the order, and fulfilling the delivery. They will also be covered by injury insurance while on the job and have a right to unpaid time off. “This is a great moment for gig workers who play such a critical role in Australia’s economy and in the lives of millions of Aussies who rely on food delivery every day,” Ed Kitchen, the managing director of Uber Eats in Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement to SBS News.
Humanity
Back-to-School Season Calls for Fresh Haircuts, Confidence, and Kindness
Jetta Productions Inc—DigitalVision/Getty Images
If you have kiddos or grandkids heading back to class soon, there’s likely a lot on the agenda right now — books, outfits, lunches, and, the subject of this story, haircuts. Barbershops in Atlanta are seeing a surge of activity as kids get fresh cuts and a boost in confidence for the first day of school, CBS News reported. And many salons across the country are going the extra mile and offering free haircuts for students. One of those shops is A Cut Above the Rest Neighborhood Barbershop in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, which is continuing its 31-year tradition of providing complimentary haircuts for K-12 students. Owner Shawn Moses said he hopes the act of kindness will create a ripple effect once class is in session. “You look good, feel good, and act good, and you do good,” he told News Channel 5 Nashville. Even those who have long aged out of the school system can still take part in the buzzy back-to-school energy that abounds this time of year — if you’ve been considering treating yourself or someone else to a new cut, take this as your sign to go for it.
In Other News
Social Security added 14 health conditions to its fast-track disability program — see the new additions (read more)
The same driver who broke the sound barrier in 1997 just set the land speed record for a hydrogen-powered car (read more)
A way to ease severe peanut allergies may lie within gut bacteria, according to a new study (read more)
10,000 electric buses are in operation across Latin America, the result of a joint effort from 80 cities in 13 countries (read more)
Loggerhead turtles are reaching record high nesting numbers along the East Coast this summer (read more)
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Inspiring Story
Clear compassion
This summer, Stephen Jalland, a father of three in the U.K., started clearing people’s overgrown gardens for free and quickly realized the simple act went far beyond giving them a better view of their yards. “It can aid in making them feel a little bit better about themselves,” he said, adding: “I’ve said to people: ‘I’m going to make you a space where you can come out of the house and sit and have a cup of coffee and enjoy the sunshine.’ It’s a safe space, a happy space, a clear space.”
Photo of the Day
Owen Humphreys—PA Images/Getty Images
As the moon moved past the sun yesterday, millions of people across the world — namely, in Spain, Iceland, Greenland, and some of Portugal and Russia — gazed skyward to experience the awe of a total solar eclipse. This marked the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe in nearly three decades, calling for festivals, protective eyewear, and lots of enthusiasm. See photos of the eclipse itself.
Money: Find a Student Loan That Fits
Federal aid doesn’t always cover the full cost of school. When there’s a gap, a private student loan can help pay for tuition, housing, books, and other qualified education expenses. Comparing lenders side by side on Money.com makes it easy to review rates and terms, so you can find an option that fits your needs. It’s not about borrowing more. It’s about making an informed choice for what’s next.
