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Education

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 29-Apr-2026 23:17 ET (30-Apr-2026 03:17 GMT/UTC)

AI-powered companionship: PolyU interfaculty scholar harnesses music and empathetic speech in robots to combat loneliness

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Loneliness has a critical impact on the mental health of citizens, particularly among the elderly. Robots capable of perceiving and responding to human emotions can serve as heart-warming companions to help lift the spirits. A research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has discovered that the combined power of music and empathetic speech in robots with artificial intelligence (AI) could foster a stronger bond between humans and machines. These findings underscore the importance of a multimodal approach in designing empathetic robots, offering significant implications for their application in health support, elder care, education and beyond.

Journal: ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction

Generative AI has seven distinct roles in combating misinformation

Uppsala University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Generative AI, which can create and analyse text, images and other content on the basis of instructions, can be used to combat misinformation. However, it can also exacerbate the problem by producing convincing manipulations that are difficult to detect and can quickly be copied and disseminated on a wide scale. In a new study, researchers have defined seven distinct roles that AI can play in the information environment and analysed each role in terms of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks. For the seven roles, see fact box.

Journal: Behavioral Science & Policy

Epicurrents – an open-source web browser application for clinical neurophysiology education and scientific research

University of Eastern Finland
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Developed at the University of Eastern Finland, a new an open‑source JavaScript library, Epicurrents, enables users to view several types of clinical neurophysiology recordings directly in a web browser.

Journal: Clinical Neurophysiology Practice

College students who spend hours on social media are more likely to be lonely – national US study

Taylor & Francis Group
Peer-Reviewed Publication

More than half of college students are lonely – and those who use social media the most are particularly likely to feel isolated, a study of tens of thousands of 18 to 24-year-olds in the US shows.

Journal: Journal of American College Health

Teaching the human skills AI can’t replace

Edith Cowan University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New Edith Cowan University (ECU) research suggests emotional literacy may be one of the most important skills students can learn, not just for relationships, but for their education and future careers.

Journal: International Review of Psychiatry

HKU Libraries Special Collections and Open-view Conservation Laboratory officially open

The University of Hong Kong
Business Announcement

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Libraries announces the official reopening of its revitalised Special Collections and the launch of the new Open-View Conservation Laboratory in February 2026, following a six-month renovation. These enhanced facilities underscore HKU’s enduring commitment to preserving cultural heritage and advancing academic research in Hong Kong and beyond.

HKU Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality to host Hong Kong Climate Week 2026

The University of Hong Kong
Meeting Announcement

The Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality (ICCN) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will host Hong Kong Climate Week (HKCW) 2026 from 26 March to 1 April 2026, bringing together policymakers, business leaders, and innovators to drive the transition from climate commitments to tangible solutions. The event will open with a keynote address by Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, reinforcing Hong Kong’s sustained leadership in advancing the global climate agenda.

Parents’ alcohol and drug use influences their children’s consumption, research shows

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Combining acceptance and monitoring in the education of young people reduces the risk of repeating consumption patterns, even in families where parents also use these substances, including cigarettes, vapes, and marijuana.

Journal: Addictive Behaviors
Funder: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

White paper connecting rural broadband gaps to organizational wellness and workforce stability published by the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix
Reports and Proceedings

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies today announced the publication of a new research white paper, “The Rural Digital Divide and Organizational Wellness,” by Stella Smith, Ed.D. The paper analyzes how persistent disparities in digital access affect employee well-being, career development and organizational resilience in rural communities, and explores opportunities presented by the integration of AI technologies into rural economies.

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