All posts tagged: increases

A smaller social network increases loneliness more drastically for those with depression

A smaller social network increases loneliness more drastically for those with depression

Published by José Betancourt

A study in Germany found that people reporting greater loneliness tend to have fewer social relationships. This association was present both in depressed individuals and in those without depression, but the correlation was notably stronger in depressed individuals. The paper was published in BMC Psychiatry. Loneliness is a feeling of sadness or distress that happens when a person feels socially or emotionally disconnected. It is not the same as simply being alone, because someone can be alone without feeling lonely. A person can also feel lonely even when surrounded by other people. Loneliness usually reflects a gap between the relationships a person wants and the relationships they actually have. It can be temporary, such as after moving to a new place or losing contact with friends. It can also become chronic when the feeling lasts for a long time. Chronic loneliness is linked to poorer mental health, including depression and anxiety. It can also affect physical health by increasing stress and harming sleep and overall well-being. Study author Valeria Koppert and her colleagues wanted to …

Uber increases stake in WeRide as robotaxi partnership ramps up in Dubai

Uber increases stake in WeRide as robotaxi partnership ramps up in Dubai

Published by skeptic

Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide have launched robotaxi operations without a human safety operator in Dubai as part of a broader expansion in the Middle East. Riders can now book the vehicles through Uber’s app, with operations in commercial and industrial districts like Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park Second, and Jabal Ali Industrial First, as well as suburban areas and the maritime trading hub Al Hamriya Port. The service is operated locally by Tawasul, a mobility and fleet operator in the United Arab Emirates. The companies first introduced robotaxis to Dubai in December under a pilot program, but didn’t charge for rides and still had a human safety operator on board. The government’s Roads and Transport Authority issued a driverless vehicle trial permit to the companies last month. The deployment signals an escalation in WeRide’s robotaxi operations in the region. It also coincides with Uber’s increased stake in the company. Uber now holds a 5.82% stake in WeRide, according to documents filed Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The equity stake …

Day 3 Spring Sale Green Deals – Anker eufy smart security devices 50% off, Bluetti increases power station savings, Segway, more

Day 3 Spring Sale Green Deals – Anker eufy smart security devices 50% off, Bluetti increases power station savings, Segway, more

Published by skeptic

It’s day 3 of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, and we’re continuing our coverage of all the best ongoing deals there and elsewhere through the rest of March. Among today’s headliners, we have Anker’s massive lineup of eufy smart security devices seeing up to 50% discounts, like the SoloCam S220 Solar Security Camera 2-Pack at its $100 low. There’s also Bluetti’s expanded Spring Sale event with increased power station savings up to 58% off + our exclusive bonus savings codes for even lower rates – all starting from $329. We also have Segway’s extended Spring EV Sale with hundreds of savings on e-scooters starting from $150, an amazing roundup of all Greenworks’ cordless electric tools at up to 42% off, Mammotion robot lawn mowers down at lows, and much more waiting for you below. And for all the ongoing hangover deals from past days and latest Big Spring Sale deals alike, you can find them all collected into our Green Deals spring shopping hub here. Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, …

UK drivers: are fuel price increases making you cut back? | US-Israel war on Iran

UK drivers: are fuel price increases making you cut back? | US-Israel war on Iran

Published by Sam Flores

We’d like to speak to people in the UK who are cutting back on fuel use after the increase in petrol and diesel prices linked to the war in Iran. Are you taking fewer journeys or using alternative modes of transport? Are you still travelling to work the same number of days a week? Have you cited fuel costs as a reason to work from home? If you drive a vehicle as a job, how much have you seen your typical fuel bill increase by? And are there ways that you can conserve fuel, such as planning routes more carefully? If you are a business owner with a fleet of vehicles, how are you managing your costs? We’d like to hear from you. Share your experience You can share your experience using this form. Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide us for the purpose of the feature and we will delete …

Brain volume in bipolar disorder increases during depression and shrinks during remission

Brain volume in bipolar disorder increases during depression and shrinks during remission

Published by José Betancourt

A longitudinal neuroimaging study comparing individuals with bipolar disorder and healthy participants found that bipolar disorder patients with a higher number of depressive episodes tended to show increases in gray matter volume of the right exterior cerebellum. The paper was published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of mania or hypomania, which involve elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, and reduced need for sleep. These episodes alternate with depressive episodes, marked by sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, and feelings of hopelessness. Research suggests that differences in brain structure, neurotransmitter systems, and emotional regulation networks may play a role in the development of bipolar disorder. This disorder typically begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, although it can appear earlier or later in life. Study author Florian Thomas-Odenthal and his colleagues wanted to explore changes in gray matter volume of the brain in individuals suffering from bipolar disorder with and without recurring depressive or manic …

Are fuel price increases making you cut back? We would like to hear from you | US-Israel war on Iran

Are fuel price increases making you cut back? We would like to hear from you | US-Israel war on Iran

Published by Sam Flores

The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global shipping routes and caused a surge in global oil market prices. The strait of Hormuz, one of the most important waterways in the world, through which about a fifth of international oil supplies usually travel, has been all but closed since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran. Last week, oil prices topped $100 per barrel for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine four years ago. The price of kerosene has been especially affected by the conflict and, in several parts of the world, has been rising faster than other fuels such as petrol and gas. The Indian government has invoked emergency powers and directed refiners to maximise production of LPG, to prevent a shortage of the fuel widely used for cooking. It cut sales to industry to avoid a shortage for 333 million homes with LPG connections, Reuters reported. In Sri Lanka, LPG and kerosene are commonly used for cooking in domestic settings. On Sunday, Sri Lanka introduced fuel rationing to extend …

Watching violent Black video game characters increases unconscious bias in White viewers

Watching violent Black video game characters increases unconscious bias in White viewers

Published by José Betancourt

When people watch violent video game characters, the race of those digital avatars can shape the viewers’ racial biases in real life. A recent experiment published in the International Journal of Psychology found that seeing a Black character perform violent acts increased unconscious prejudice among White participants. Black participants actually reported lower levels of overt racism after watching the same footage. These results highlight how racial representations in digital media can silently mold the attitudes of different audiences in entirely different ways. Tailson Evangelista Mariano, a researcher at the Catholic University of Pernambuco in Brazil, led the investigation alongside colleagues from Brazil and Portugal. The research team wanted to understand how interactive media impacts the way people view different racial groups. Most past research on media and prejudice has focused on passive formats like television and movies. Mariano and his team wanted to see if the highly engaging nature of video games produced similar effects. They also wanted to see if the race of the person watching the game changed the outcome. To do this, …

Mamdani Proposes Massive Estate Tax Exemption Cut From M To 0K, Among Other Tax Increases

Mamdani Proposes Massive Estate Tax Exemption Cut From $7M To $750K, Among Other Tax Increases

Published by Jenni Sidey

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is urging Albany to consider a sweeping overhaul of New York’s estate tax, proposing to sharply lower the exemption threshold and dramatically increase the top rate on large inheritances. His plan would cut the exemption from more than $7 million to $750,000 while boosting the highest tax rate from 16 percent to 50 percent, Bloomberg reported.  The idea was included in a policy memo his administration recently shared with state lawmakers as they negotiate the state budget, according to NY Focus. The estate tax proposal is one of several revenue measures Mamdani’s office has floated as the city prepares for a significant budget gap. New York City is projecting a $5.4 billion deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1, and the mayor is asking state officials to help identify new sources of funding to help close the shortfall. Among the other proposals is a narrower package of business tax increases aimed specifically at companies operating in the city. The administration estimates those changes could generate about $1.75 …

Surge in GPS interference around Strait of Hormuz increases shipping risks

Surge in GPS interference around Strait of Hormuz increases shipping risks

Published by Sam Flores

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has almost completely stopped. Since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, hundreds of vessels have dropped anchor on either side of this strategic passage between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday, March 4, that they had “complete control” of the Strait. From the onset of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, they had warned that transit through the waterway was not allowed, threatening to target any ship trying to pass.  Since then, several vessels have come under fire, including from drone strikes. Maritime security agencies raised the threat level to “critical” for the Strait, a key artery which carries 20% of the world’s oil. Physical threats are not the only challenge these vessels face, however. They must also navigate a surge in electronic interference. This video shows the aftermath of an attack on the tanker Skylight in the Strait of Hormuz on March 1, 2026. To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. …

NASA increases Artemis programme missions

NASA increases Artemis programme missions

Published by skeptic

As part of the Golden Age of exploration and discovery, NASA is increasing the cadence of missions under the Artemis programme. Expanding the Artemis programme is set to achieve the national objective of returning American astronauts to the Moon and establishing an enduring presence. The expansions include standardising vehicle configuration, adding an additional mission in 2027, and conducting at least one surface landing each year thereafter. Artemis IV: A new mission for 2028 As teams prepare to launch Artemis II in the weeks ahead, the Artemis III mission, now scheduled for 2027, will be designed to test systems and operational capabilities in low Earth orbit to prepare for an Artemis IV landing in 2028. This new mission will endeavour to include a rendezvous and docking with one or both commercial landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, in-space tests of the docked vehicles, integrated checkout of life support, communications, and propulsion systems, as well as tests of the new Extravehicular Activity (xEVA) suits. NASA will further define this test flight after completing detailed reviews with its industry partners. A growing …