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Examining the impact of consecutive losses on gambling: When do we decide to quit?

Kim et al. | Apr 28, 2026

Examining the impact of consecutive losses on gambling: When do we decide to quit?
Image credit: Kim, Cragun, and Kim

This article explored the question of when do people decide to stop gambling and further tries to extrapolate why people stop gambling at that point. Their study showed that people tend to quit gambling after 4 consecutive losses, significantly more than 1-3 consecutive losses or a win previous to quitting. They also found that participants commonly quit at a point value approximately 5 points greater than or less than their starting balance. The authors concluded that these results may be important in understanding how to cut down on excessive gambling or in creating policies that make it easier for people to disengage from gambling.

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The effect of lead oxide concentrations on the bioluminescence intensity of Panellus stipticus

Park et al. | Mar 02, 2026

The effect of lead oxide concentrations on the bioluminescence intensity of <i>Panellus stipticus</i>

Here the authors investigate the potential of the bioluminescent fungus Panellus stipticus to serve as a sustainable bioindicator for environmental lead contamination. Their findings demonstrate that higher lead concentrations cause a measurable decrease in fungal bioluminescence intensity over time suggesting that the fungus could be an effective tool for detecting lead in an environment.

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Determining viability of image processing models for forensic analysis of hair for related individuals

Wang et al. | Feb 04, 2025

Determining viability of image processing models for forensic analysis of hair for related individuals
Image credit: Taylor Smith

Here, the authors used machine learning to analyze microscopic images of hair, quantifying various features to distinguish individuals, even within families where traditional DNA analysis is limited. The Discriminant Analysis (DA) model achieved the highest accuracy (88.89%) in identifying individuals, demonstrating its potential to improve the reliability of hair evidence in forensic investigations.

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Utilizing sorbitol to improve properties of cellulose-based biodegradable hydrogels

Adler et al. | Jan 06, 2025

Utilizing sorbitol to improve properties of cellulose-based biodegradable hydrogels

Hydrogels are commonly used in medicine, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. Hydrogels absorb water by swelling and re-release this water by diffusion. This study sought to synthesize a biodegradable, cellulose-based hydrogel that is more effective at absorbing and re-releasing water than those produced by current methods. We tested the compressive strength of both the dry and swollen gels and the tensile strength of the swollen gels to elucidate the gel structure.

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