Cigarette addiction

Researchers learn more about link between substance addictions and genetics

“We know from twin studies that genetics may account for why some people use and abuse substances, aside from environmental factors, such as family issues or personal trauma,” said Hyejung Won, assistant professor of genetics and member of the UNC Neuroscience Center. Scientists are beginning to understand the genetic differences that help explain different responses…

Rideshare

California regulator calls for Uber, Lyft measures to prevent sexual assaults

The California Public Utilities Commission is California’s primary regulator of ride-sharing companies and the only agency that gathers safety data on them. After thousands of reported sexual assaults on Uber and Lyft rides in the past decade, the California Public Utilities Commission has ruled greater measures are needed. The commission is California’s primary regulator of…

Satellite orbit

Tasmanian observatory’s telescope mount to help avert collisions in space

Thousands of satellites and hundreds of thousands of objects orbiting Earth, such as debris and discarded rocket bodies, are being tracked to avoid collisions. Source: ESA/NASA, Flickr. A Tasmanian observatory has a new telescope mount that will help track fast-moving satellites and prevent catastrophic space collisions. The Greenhill observatory at Bisdee Tier near Hobart is…