The A﹠P Professor Science & Education Updates - Issue #210

Life Science

Summary: For the first time, researchers have captured in near-atomic detail the structure of a key part of the inner ear responsible for hearing. The results could pave the way for developing new treatments for those with hearing impairments.

Playfulness and tickling aren’t always considered “serious” subjects, but a new study shows how they can address key questions about the brain.

Women and people who can become pregnant have a number of effective birth control methods available, including oral pills, patches, injections, implants, vaginal rings, IUDs and sterilization. But for men and people who produce sperm, options have been limited.

Cellular version of computer game challenges assumptions about intelligence.

A national survey conducted in the United States suggests public honesty and compliance were lacking in the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emily Jacobs studies how the brain changes throughout women’s reproductive years, plus what it all means for health.

A virologist discusses the bevy of new forms of Omicron that are jockeying with each other to become the next dominant strain.

Teaching & Learning

Despite claiming “people are our greatest asset,” too many executives still expect employees to leave their personal lives at the door when they come to work.

Yet Gallup data shows that having a best friend at work is strongly linked to business outcomes, including improvements in profitability, safety, inventory control, and employee retention. And Gallup’s latest findings show that since the start of the pandemic, having a best friend at work has an even greater impact on important outcomes — like workers’ likelihood to recommend their workplace, intent to leave, and overall satisfaction.

With the unavoidable increase in remote and hybrid work, best friends at work have become lifelines who provide crucial social connection, collaboration, and support for each other during times of change. The author offers four ways managers can create and maintain a friendship-friendly workplace that delivers measurable results.

Office hours are one of the most common support mechanisms found in STEM courses. Despite their prevalence, little work has examined student motivations and barriers toward attending office hours. ...

TAPP News & Notes

Krista Rompolski chats with host Kevin Patton about student & instructor preference for a combined or split anatomy & physiology sequence.