Freckled monitor

advertisement advertisement advertisement Drink less, quit smoking, start to eat healthily, be nice to your relatives, exercise more, and give up your toxic relationships. These are just some of the common resolutions most of us make and subsequently break, year after year. Although estimates vary, scientific evidence suggests that new year’s resolutions are typically broken within the first few weeks, and less than 20% of people are able to maintain them for a couple of years, and with a few slips in between. advertisement advertisement Psychologically, there is something quite interesting about our enthusiasm for starting the new year trying to be a better version of ourselves, only to give up and revert to our undesirable habits shortly thereafter, and recycle the same resolutions the following year. One interpretation is that our resolutions simply reflect unrealistic hopes and wishful thinking or optimism delusion. Another is that we’re just … [Read more...] about Consider this if you’re serious about making changes that stick this year

advertisement advertisement advertisement Sometimes it seems like cities were designed to kill birds. Take for instance the single night in October when more than 1,000 birds were killed when they collided with buildings in the city of Philadelphia. Due to a combination of confusing reflections from building windows, disorienting light pollution, and the location of tall buildings in the direct flight paths and habitats of many birds, deadly collisions—sometimes in mass numbers—are depressingly common. Researchers estimate that collisions with buildings cause up to one billion bird deaths in the United States every year. advertisement advertisement The Bird-Friendly City: Creating Safe Urban Habitats, by Timothy Beatley. Citing new policies, building materials, and DIY designs, Beatley shows how urban environments can be tweaked to allow birds to live and thrive in human-centric spaces. Beatley, a professor at the University of Virginia School … [Read more...] about Why cities should be designed for birds

advertisement advertisement advertisement Like many other physicians, Dr. Sandra Esparza and her husband Ramon closed their 17-year old primary care practice in December. It had always been a strain to both run the business and be the practice’s lead physicians, but the pressures of the pandemic made operating their company unsustainable. After closing their practice, Ramon, who is a pediatrician, started working full-time at a local clinic in Austin. Esparza started working for Doctor On Demand. She’s now licensed in 10 states caring for a stream of patients she’s never seen before and probably won’t see again. advertisement advertisement The Esparzas aren’t alone. COVID-19 has put unprecedented stress on doctors’ offices across the United States. In December, the nonprofit Physicians Foundation reported that roughly 8% of physician practices were forced to close because of the pandemic. Another 4% of physician practices … [Read more...] about As thousands of doctors’ offices shutter, telehealth becomes a way of life

advertisement advertisement advertisement Racial and ethnic minority communities that lack internet access have been left behind in the race to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The average monthly cost of internet access, about $70, can be out of reach for those who can barely afford groceries. advertisement advertisement Reporters and scholars have written about the effects of lack of internet access in rural areas in the U.S. and developing countries, but they have paid less attention to the harm of lack of internet access in racial and ethnic minority communities in major cities. We are researchers who study health disparities. We are concerned that even when vaccinations are offered in these communities, those at greatest risk for COVID-19 may be unable to obtain appointments without the help of family or friends. This includes racial and ethnic minority communities and older adults, the age group that is currently being vaccinated. Our research suggests that … [Read more...] about No internet, no vaccine: How lack of internet has limited vaccine access for racial minorities

advertisement advertisement advertisement Before it released its megahit game Fortnite , Epic was known for creating one of the most popular video game engines in the world, which serves as the backbone of countless games you love: the Unreal Engine. While Fortnite is defined by its cartoony-meme violence, the Unreal Engine has been celebrated for pushing the bounds of visual realism. advertisement advertisement And now, Epic is sharing its latest breakthrough on its engine with a feature called MetaHumans . MetaHumans are highly convincing, completely digital people. The twist? While high-end digital characters can require a month or more to create, an artist using MetaHumans can construct them in mere minutes. In the video above, you can see just how convincing the MetaHumans look. Their skin ranges from porcelain to freckled to wrinkled, sun-weathered leather. When they speak, their lips don’t appear to pop out from the … [Read more...] about The company behind ‘Fortnite’ just made it shockingly easy to create lifelike people