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The latest polls from the FAU/MainStreet Research reveal a highly competitive landscape in the battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with both the presidential and U.S. Senate races showing narrow Democratic leads. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic Senate candidates hold slight edges, but with numbers within the margin of error, these races could swing either way in the final stretch.

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FAU’s Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC) has received an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to advance ocean energy technologies. Collaborating with various experts and organizations, SNMREC will conduct a pioneering feasibility study for an ocean current test facility off Palm Beach County, marking a first in leveraging top marine energy expertise. The project’s end goal is to improve the nation’s competitiveness in marine energy technology, encourage domestic manufacturing, and create jobs while helping to achieve the nation’s energy goals.

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Among 88,183 U.S. high school students, marijuana use declined from 23.1% in 2011 to 15.8% in 2021, with first-time use before age 13 dropping from 8.1% to 4.9%. In 2021, use was highest among 12th graders (22.4%) and 11th graders (18.7%). Notably, girls (17.8%) surpassed boys (13.6%) in reported use in 2021, reversing past trends. While Asian, Hispanic, and white adolescents saw declines, Black adolescents had a higher usage rate of 20.5% in 2021, indicating ongoing racial disparities.

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In the 1990s, the San Miguel Island fox nearly went extinct, with numbers dropping to just 15. A recovery program increased their population by 2010, but from 2014 to 2018, it fell to 30% of its peak due to a new acanthocephalan parasite, exacerbated by a prolonged drought. A collaborative research effort employed morphological and molecular methods, alongside necropsy records, to identify the parasite and assess its health impacts on the foxes.

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Research of online victimization in the metaverse is sorely lacking. A new study examined harm in the metaverse among a sample of 5,005 U.S. teens aged 13 to 17. Findings show a significant percentage of youth reported harm in these spaces, including hate speech, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, grooming behaviors (predators building trust with minors), and unwanted exposure to violent or sexual content. The study also revealed notable gender differences in experiences.

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Alaska’s Iliamna Lake harbor seals have been difficult to study because of their remoteness. They weren’t even identified as harbor seals until 2013. Now, a new genetic study has found significant differences, indicating that the Iliamna seals may represent a unique, endemic form of harbor seal. Findings suggest they may be evolutionarily, reproductively, and demographically distinct from other Pacific harbor seal populations sampled across the Pacific, including Japan, the Commander Islands, other parts of Alaska, and California.

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Nearly 52% of Floridians favor candidates who reduce climate impacts. About 68% believe the state should take more action on climate issues and and 67% feel the federal government should as well. Notably, 88% acknowledge climate change is occurring. About 75% of respondents advocate for a diversified energy mix to include more electricity produced by renewable sources. Nearly 73% of respondents worry about home energy expenses and nearly 58% are concerned about being able to afford and maintain homeowners’ insurance due to climate change.

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Over the past decade, decreasing vaccination rates now threaten the huge beneficial impacts of vaccinations in the U.S. and globally. Researchers discuss the multifactorial barriers including increasing vaccine hesitancy and new clinical and public health challenges in vaccinations of U.S. adults.

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The project will offer career counseling, work-readiness skills training, and customized-training leading to a certificate in cybersecurity, cloud computing solutions, and computer-aided design and 3D printing. The project will assist individuals with disabilities nationwide to acquire certified skills needed for entry into high quality technology sectors and can serve as a model for similar initiatives.

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Researchers explored how infants act purposefully by attaching a colorful mobile to their foot and tracking movements with a Vicon 3D motion capture system. The study tested AI's ability to detect changes in infant movement patterns. Findings showed that AI techniques, especially the deep learning model 2D-CapsNet, effectively classified different stages of behavior. Notably, foot movements varied significantly. Looking at how AI classification accuracy changes for each baby gives researchers a new way to understand when and how they start to engage with the world.

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Since 1990, childhood obesity has nearly doubled globally, with the U.S. at the forefront. In Southern Europe, 10-15% of children are obese, while Asia has nearly half of all overweight kids under 5. Nearly 70% of the average U.S. child's diet consists of ultra-processed foods, which are increasingly consumed by children under 24 months, raising obesity risks and reducing immunological protection. Addressing pediatric obesity requires a multifaceted approach from tackling the influence of social media and advertising on children’s food choices to increasing physical activity.

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Using blushing coral star and genomic DNA analyses, researchers have uncovered vital links between coral populations at varying depths. They identified four distinct genetic lineages, finding strong connectivity between shallow and mesophotic populations. Importantly, mesophotic reefs emerged as crucial reproductive sources, particularly in the Lower and Upper Keys. Corals from these deeper zones hold significant potential to replenish and restore the declining shallow reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

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A new national poll shows U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris with a narrow lead over former U.S. President Donald Trump. The poll also uncovers complex voter attitudes toward democracy, economic policies, and the impact of celebrity endorsements.

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As the school year revs up, a renowned child developmental psychologist highlights the robust benefits of pretend play on cognitive, social, and emotional development in children and cautions how “learning through play” has changed with the demands of contemporary society. Given natural selection’s shaping of childhood for the acquisition and refinement of species-adapted social-cognitive skills – much through pretend play – he says it’s unfortunate that modern culture is ignoring the evolved wisdom of how best to educate young children.

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A groundbreaking study using a tiny roundworm could pave the way for new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Researchers have linked the worm gene swip-10 to copper regulation – a vital element for brain health found in everyday items like wiring and cookware. Understanding the roles of swip-10 and MBLAC1, a protein involved in processing cellular materials, could lead to the development of effective medications and opens new avenues for advancing brain disease treatments.

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The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has selected Gregg Fields, Ph.D., Florida Atlantic University’s interim vice president for research, as a Fulbright Specialist Program grantee following a competitive application process.

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Redlining from the 1930s, marked minority and low-income neighborhoods as “hazardous,” which influenced mortgage and insurance decisions. Results show that redlined areas have less greenspace and more pavement, intensifying urban heat. While higher temperatures generally decreased walking in “still desirable” or “best” neighborhoods, this effect was not significant in “definitely declining” or “hazardous” areas, possibly due to greater reliance on walking for essential activities. Findings underscore the lasting impact of discriminatory policies on environmental vulnerability and physical activity.

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Historically, Lake Okeechobee was thought to be impaired only by phosphorus, focusing efforts on reducing agricultural runoff. However, new comprehensive sampling across the Lake Okeechobee Waterway and its connected estuaries shows that toxic algal blooms also are driven by rising nitrogen levels from human waste and urban runoff. Increased nitrogen, worsened by extreme rainfall, significantly fuels bloom severity. Findings underscore the need for integrated nutrient management and improved wastewater treatment to protect the lake and its estuaries.

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Researchers examined environmental factors associated with crash incidence in lower-income and more affluent areas in Broward and Palm Beach counties, revealing that the nature of pedestrian crash risk is markedly different in lower income communities than in more affluent ones.