Latest news with #PhD
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
The Bull Market for Economists Is Over. It's an Ominous Sign for the Economy.
The moment it dawned on Thomas Fullagar that his job search was not going well came in April, about six months into the process, when he applied for a position in Manhattan, Kan. The job, at a technology company called CivicPlus, involved relatively straightforward data analysis that he wouldn't strain to do. In fact, he had done much more complicated work while completing his Ph.D. in economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Further improving his odds, he had grown up in Manhattan, the home of Kansas State University, and his mother knew someone at the company, who helped fast-track his application. Yet despite his connections and credentials, he did not get the job. He didn't even get a second interview. 'It was in Manhattan, Kansas — who the heck is applying for this?' Dr. Fullagar, 33, wondered. 'That one was really baffling.' For decades, earning a Ph.D. in economics has been a nearly foolproof path to a lucrative career. Even as bearers of advanced degrees in history, English or anthropology struggled to find gainful employment, the popularity of economics as an undergraduate major created plenty of tenure-track teaching positions, while government agencies snatched up Ph.D. economists in bulk. Those looking for even larger paychecks could turn to tech companies, Wall Street and consulting firms, which bid up the price of economists as if they were a bespoke cryptocurrency. Last year, the average base salary for newly hired economics professors at major research universities was more than $150,000, according to the American Economic Association, and their compensation swelled to about $200,000 once bonuses and summer teaching were included. As recently as the 2023-24 academic year, the employment rate for Ph.D. economists within a few months of graduation was 100 percent, said John Cawley, the chair of the association's Committee on the Job Market, citing the group's surveys. Job satisfaction topped 85 percent. Those glory days seem to be ending. Universities and nonprofits have scaled back hiring amid declining state budgets and federal funding cuts. At the same time, the Trump administration has laid off government economists and frozen hiring for new ones. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Every Step Counts, But Do You Really Need 10,000?
Good news for the sole: Contrary to popular wisdom, people can get the same health benefits from walking 7000 steps a day as they do from walking 10,000 paces, according to a comprehensive review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Public Health . 'For all outcomes, health benefits continued to accrue until around 7000 steps,' said Katherine Owen, PhD, biostatistician at the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, who led the review. 'After 7000 steps, benefits either plateaued or there were very small additional benefits.' Owen and her colleagues reviewed 57 studies and conducted a meta-analysis on 31 of them, examining the relationship between health and physical activity based on daily steps. The researchers looked at nine different health outcomes: all-cause mortality, the incidence of and deaths from cardiovascular disease, dementia, cancer incidence and mortality, the incidence of type 2 diabetes, depressive symptoms, and falls. Every outcome showed improvement as the amount of daily activity increases, but for most people the benefits tapered off at around 5000-7000 steps per day. Compared with taking just 2000 steps per day, walking approximately 7000 steps per day reduced all-cause mortality by 47% and decreased the incidence of cardiovascular disease by 25%, of cancer by 6%, of type 2 diabetes by 14%, of dementia by 38%, of depression by 22%, and of falls by 28%. The study also highlighted that even modest step counts of around 4000 per day were beneficial compared with lower activity of just 2000 steps. 'Every step counts,' Owen said. 'All physical activity is beneficial, but increasing daily steps to around 7000 steps is optimal to improve all health outcomes.' The conventional wisdom that 10,000 steps per day was the optimal amount has no real basis in fact, said I-Min Lee, MD, epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School, Boston, who was the first to show that the health benefits of daily exercise leveled off after 7500 steps. 'There are quite a bit of data now showing that fewer than 10,000 steps per day brings health benefits,' she said. Lee said that most studies to date have focused on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular health. The new study expands the evidence to other health outcomes, although the data for some conditions, such as diabetes, are relatively sparse. Current guidelines for physical activity, such as those from the US Department of Health and Human Services, recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. However, due to lack of evidence at the time of publication, these guidelines do not include daily step targets. As step tracking technologies have become more common, and data on step-based activity have improved, Lee wants future guidelines to incorporate step targets. 'I don't believe they should replace time targets, since not everybody wants to track their steps,' she said. 'But they should be included.' Owen and Lee declared having no competing interests.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Powerful tool captures unbelievable activity of critical species in Australia: 'Without attaching sensors or disturbing [them] in any way'
Researchers have unveiled a powerful new tool that could revolutionize the study of insects and their place in the world's ecosystems. The technology allows scientists to measure heartbeats and other data using videos taken on smartphones and posted online, according to a study published in the Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. The new methods allow researchers to observe insect behavior and physiology without resorting to the usual invasive methods. This is better for the insects and allows for more accurate data collection. "Insects are vital to our ecosystems, and understanding their physiological responses to environmental change is essential," said Danyi Wang, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of South Australia and one of the study's two co-authors, per Technology Networks. "Existing methods to measure insects' vital signs are invasive, however. Our method preserves natural behavior while providing accurate insights into their heart activity." The advancements also have the potential to open up a treasure trove of new data in the form of millions of videos posted to social media. With the technology able to analyze video taken from everyday smartphones, researchers could tap into networks of thousands, if not millions, of citizen scientists to aid in data collection. "With more refinement, this could become a cost effective and valuable tool in the ecological research toolkit," said Wang, according to Technology Networks. "It gives us the ability to listen to the hearts of the smallest creatures without harming them." Insects play a vital role in maintaining food supplies and economies around the world. Insects pollinate crops, make soil better for plants, and filter water supplies, according to World Wildlife Magazine. Contrary to popular belief, of the more than one million identified insect species, only 0.5% damage crops. In fact, insect species like ground beetles actually increase crop yields by eating pests and weeds. Insects also keep populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes in check, with some dragonflies consuming over 100 mosquitoes per day, per World Wildlife Magazine. Despite the vital role insects play in maintaining life on Earth, some experts have projected that, if current trends continue, as many as 40% of insect species will go extinct by the end of this century. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Technological breakthroughs — like the one announced by Ph.D. candidate Wang and her supervisor and co-author Javaan Chahl — will allow researchers to better understand how insects are responding to environmental stressors like habitat loss and the changing climate. It will also allow experts to better formulate strategies to help maintain key insect populations, all without harming the insects or altering their natural behavior. "What's exciting is that this was all achieved without attaching sensors or disturbing the insects in any way," said Chahl, the study's lead author, according to Technology Networks. While the potential for citizen scientists to pitch in on data collection by simply using their smartphones is exciting, there are already plenty of things that can be done to help pollinators and other insects right in your own backyard. For example, planting a native garden or rewilding your yard can lower your water bill while also providing vital food and shelter for local insects, small mammals, and birds. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Chinese man works at coalface with father aged 12, goes on to earn mining engineering PhD
A man in China who worked at the coalface with his father as a boy has gone on to earn a PhD in mining engineering, inspiring many people online. The 30-something man, who is known online as 'Coal Miner No 3', recently shared the acknowledgements from his PhD thesis on social media. He also recalled his childhood in a poor area and being sent to learn martial arts. At the age of 12, he joined his father down the coal mines while his mother ran the household. The man known as 'Coal Miner No 3' is pictured after a tough shift underground. Photo: Douyin Driven to escape poverty, he studied hard and worked part-time as a construction worker, a waiter, a cook and a miner during secondary school.
The Herald
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
‘A humbling moment': Mmusi Maimane credits parents for PhD
Build One SA leader Mmusi Maimane has expressed gratitude after receiving a PhD in public management and governance from the University of Johannesburg, describing it as a 'humbling moment'. 'Thank you for all the kind words, South Africa,' he said on X. The university conferred the Doctor of philosophy degree to Maimane on Monday in a graduation ceremony where former MP Malusi Gigaba was also awarded a PhD. Maimane's study focused on local government challenges between 2014 and 2019 in four metropolitan municipalities: Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshwane and Johannesburg. He has two master's degrees, in public administration and theology, and is an ordained pastor who has preached on local and international platforms. Growing up in Soweto, Maimane credited his parents for laying the foundation for his success, citing the sacrifices they made to invest in his education. 'My mother wasn't able to finish school due to the impact of apartheid. My father worked in a factory,' he said in a UJ podcast. 'I don't come from a family of academics in that sense, yet my parents are much smarter than I am, and to have been able to grow up and complete the journey at UJ is an incredible achievement. 'That sense of accomplishment, not only for my own family, is huge because my parents sacrificed a lot. You don't get a PhD because someone invested in your primary and high school education. My parents sacrificed a lot to give me the right foundations. Otherwise, there's no way I'd be sitting here today with a PhD. It means a lot to them.' Congratulatory messages from politicians have been flowing for Maimane and Gigaba:
