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Street scene in Cheonan, a city in western South Korea.

Authors scrutinize Korean perceptions of ‘short tongue’ phenomenon

Image on side of ancient vessel depicting Clytemnestra and Orestes

Scholar links Greek tragedy, new evidence on transmission of trauma

A closeup image of the shield of comic book character Captain America, held around the edges by red colored fingers of a large hand.

Finding Easter eggs in entertainment boosts enjoyment, fan behavior, study finds

Research from the University of Kansas has shown that when people found “Easter eggs” — hidden objects, characters or references to another story in their entertainment — they reported enjoying the movie or entertainment more and that they were more likely to engage in fan behavior, like posting about it online.

Science and Technology

To attempt world record, researchers will use their finding that prep phase is most vital to accurate three-point shooting

Researchers at the University of Kansas found three-point shooters with greater flexion in their hips, knees and ankles during the prep phase of shooting were the most accurate. They are using these findings to help a former college player prepare to set a world record for most consecutive made three-point shots.

KU awarded $2.2 million NIH research career training grant renewal

For almost 30 years, the Office for Advancing Success in Science at KU has provided opportunities for undergraduates to engage in research through grant support from the National Institutes of Health. KU has recently been awarded a $2.2 million Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) grant from the NIH that will carry on this tradition for another five years.
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Fraser Hall with sun setting on the Lawrence campus of the University of Kansas.

KU physics & astronomy postdoc wins highly competitive NASA Hubble Prize Fellowship

Hayley Beltz, a postdoctoral researcher in physics & astronomy, won a highly competitive NASA Hubble Prize Fellowship, making her the first KU scientist to receive the prestigious award in its 36-year history. The fellowship will enable her to use data collected from the Hubble Space Telescope to analyze magnetic fields on planets outside our solar system — known as exoplanets.
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Health and Well-Being

Study shows social capital improves public health, but not equally for all communities

A study from the University of Kansas has found that high levels of social capital, such as civic participation, leads to better public health. However, the improvement was not equal among white and Black populations in the same communities with high levels of social capital, meaning more work is necessary to improve health outcomes for all, according to the authors.

Startup from School of Pharmacy seeks to redefine oral testosterone replacement therapy

SteroCore, a startup emerging from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, is developing a novel oral testosterone therapy designed to work with, rather than bypass, the liver’s natural physiology. The company’s approach aims to address longstanding challenges in testosterone replacement therapy.
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Three adults sit at a table and combine ingredients while cooking dinner in their home.

KU study tracks 43 years of intellectual and developmental disability funding trends

The latest available data shows a vital shift toward community-based care for nearly 1 million Americans, but University of Kansas researchers warn that Medicaid uncertainty could force a return to institutions.
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Teaching, Learning and Behavior

Students with lower self-control tend to procrastinate with short-form video; sleep suffers, but not grades, study finds

Research from the University of Kansas has found that college students with lower self-control and who use short-form video to escape tend to procrastinate more with apps like TikTok, Instagram reels and YouTube shorts. And while students had lower-quality sleep if they procrastinated with short-form video, it did not show to negatively affect their academics.

Study finds emphasis on conversation facilitation helps journalists re-engage communities

A research project among educators, students, journalists and communities in six states has found that pairing student journalists with communities through structured conversation can help to rebuild trust while also teaching future reporters how to listen to and investigate on the needs of overlooked populations. A KU journalism faculty member is co-author of the new study, published in Journalism Practice.
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A closeup image of the shield of comic book character Captain America, held around the edges by red colored fingers of a large hand.

Finding Easter eggs in entertainment boosts enjoyment, fan behavior, study finds

Research from the University of Kansas has shown that when people found “Easter eggs” — hidden objects, characters or references to another story in their entertainment — they reported enjoying the movie or entertainment more and that they were more likely to engage in fan behavior, like posting about it online.
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Arts, Architecture and Humanities

Scholar links Greek tragedy, new evidence on transmission of trauma

A University of Kansas scholar has won a fellowship from the National Humanities Center to work on a book drawing parallels between the rhythmic tropes of ancient Greek tragedy and cutting-edge scientific research on epigenetic trauma.

Enslaved people transformed clothing into instruments of rebellion, research reveals

In a new article, Zay Dale, assistant professor of English at the University of Kansas, reveals how textiles operated as violent aesthetic tools in the formation of Black existence during American slavery, but enslaved people transformed these fibers into instruments of refusal, creativity and ontological reclamation.
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KU professor Scott Murphy seated in his office.

Music theorist finds chord’s ‘third nature’ in composition suppressed during Soviet era

Music theorists have previously described how certain chords contain the possibility of flowing smoothly into other similar-sounding chords, which they refer to as the chord’s “second nature.” Now a University of Kansas professor of music theory has published a paper that sets out the “third nature” of a chord.
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Business, Economics and Innovation

Social media discussions fueled ‘meme stock’ events and significant short squeezes, research finds

In a new article, Angel Tengulov, assistant professor of finance at the University of Kansas, examines how discussions on social media fueled the association between retail trading and subsequent stock returns during the “meme stock” events of 2021 that sparked massive short squeezes.

Witnessing service workers being treated poorly inspires bigger tips, study finds

In a new article, Jonathan Beck, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Kansas, finds that customers who witness incivility toward service employees experience feelings of pity, followed by increased emotional support and, ultimately, an increased tip for the target employee.
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A Mason jar filled with tips sits on a counter of a restaurant.

Strategies for fixing out-of-control tipping practices revealed in new article

In a new article, Rob Waiser, assistant professor of marketing, examines how tipping — a social process once confined to hospitality — is now appearing in unexpected places and becoming more expensive. But when designed thoughtfully, it can reinforce customer centricity rather than undermine it.
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Law, Politics and Society

America’s Cold War strategy examined in new handbook of military history

In a new book chapter, Adrian Lewis, the David Pittaway Professor in Military History at the University of Kansas, focuses on the evolution of American strategy, both of containing communism and managing conflict, during the Cold War.

Supreme Court ruling allowing race-based immigration stops hampering relief from government misconduct, legal scholar argues

Sharon Brett, associate professor of law at the University of Kansas, has published a new case study arguing the Supreme Court decision in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo — and Justice Brett Kavanaugh's concurring opinion — miss the mark legally and factually and continue to make seeking relief from government misconduct exceedingly difficult.
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A spokesperson presents evidence to reporters at a press conference. Stock image

Study examines effectiveness of politicians’ public denials amid corruption accusations

In a new article, Sofia Vera, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Kansas, investigates how public denials by politicians accused of corruption influence electoral accountability and why positive and negative partisanship shapes voter reactions.
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