MIT researchers find the biggest factor in the dramatic cost decline for lithium-ion batteries in recent decades was research and development, particularly in chemistry and materials science. This outweighed gains achieved through economies of scale, which was the second-largest category of reductions.

A rapid increase in the number of private schools in lower-income parts of the world is having very little effect – and possibly no real impact at all – on learning, research finds. The study examined data from more than 560,000 children in India, Pakistan, Kenya and Uganda. On average, at least half of the learning gains that privately-educated pupils make over state school-educated pupils reflect their more advantaged backgrounds, rather than the quality of their education. The number of private schools internationally – especially in the global South – has risen steeply in the past 20 years, but this research suggests the “private school advantage” in many countries could be minimal, if it exists at all. Researchers suggest that this raises question about the value of these schools to society.

The Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources (SuMMeR CDT) aims to deliver the next generation of researchers, solution providers and practitioners who will sustainably manage our marine resources.

Weill Cornell Medicine has received a $1.27 million grant from the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to develop treatment for a rare but devastating eye condition largely affecting military personnel who suffer traumatic eye injuries in combat.

Since 2010, more than 100 rural U.S. hospitals have closed or stopped providing inpatient care. Despite the increasing risk of closure, a Michigan Medicine-led study found that patients treated at rural emergency departments have similar outcomes to those receiving care at urban ERs for several important emergency conditions. Researchers say it demonstrates the critical importance of rural ERs.