Picture this: a self-driving car smoothly navigating treacherous mountain roads with consecutive hairpin turns – a scenario that would challenge even the most experienced human drivers. This vision is now closer to reality, thanks to groundbreaking research that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to tackle one of autonomous driving's most formidable challenges.

In a pioneering study that explores the intricate relationship between industrial output, coal consumption, and life expectancy, researchers are shedding light on the environmental and health dynamics in ASEAN nations. The study, titled "Coal Consumption as a Moderator in the Link Between Industrial Output and Life Expectancy in ASEAN Nations," is led by Prof. Abdul Rahim Ridzuan from the Institute for Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (IBDAAI) at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, and the Centre for Economic Development and Policy (CEDP) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. This research offers valuable insights into how coal consumption influences both economic growth and public health in the region.

Based at the University of Glasgow, the Centre will run a national pilot with educators, schools, and local authorities to develop spatial learning in schools across Scotland, with the aim of reaching 40% of Scottish classrooms by 2028. The pilot, led by University of Glasgow researchers, is funded by the Turner Kirk Trust and the Scottish Government.

Spatial reasoning skills enable people to work with complex structured information, and are strongly correlated with maths ability. Initial studies deployed in primary schools have shown that learning maths while exercising spatial reasoning increases performance in the subject by 20% and can reduce attainment gaps.

The launch of the Turner Kirk Centre for Spatial Reasoning comes against a background of intense efforts to enhance maths education and numeracy outcomes in Scotland from the Government and Education Scotland.

Global warming poses a growing threat to human health and work performance. Currently, about 3.6 billion people worldwide live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. From 2000 to 2019, more than 480,000 heat-related deaths occurred globally each year. Extreme heat also impairs focus and productivity and worsens mood by elevating stress hormones and disrupting sleep. In response to the increasing frequency of heat waves, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) scholars are developing next-generation personal cooling solutions that push the limits of conventional clothing and promote sustainability.