An Arizona State University researcher is using artificial intelligence to transform data collected from satellites and other earth observation instruments into information, which could help decision makers become better stewards of the planet.

Hannah Kerner, assistant professor of computer science at Arizona State University, noted AI has become a hot-button issue, especially in the areas of consumer products and social media. But Kerner said there are few discussions about how AI can be applied to help combat big adversaries from climate change to poverty and food insecurity.

"AI really does have a huge potential to help us address these challenges that society is facing," Kerner contended. "We really need to focus our research and efforts in AI towards tackling those challenges."

Kerner and her colleagues have developed a more effective way of collecting what is known as "labeled data," which then can be used to train AI models to better complete tasks. She acknowledged there are associated risks but encouraged people to learn about other uses of AI which could have, as she puts it, "transformative benefits."

While AI technology is advanced and has led to some distinguished accomplishments, Kerner pointed out most people would be surprised by how poorly some AI models perform in "real-world" applications. She added algorithms can struggle to complete some tasks most folks would consider trivial, like interpreting visual data on satellite images.

"Even if you haven't ever seen agriculture -- in, say, China -- in a satellite image, you would still be able to recognize that it is agriculture," Kerner explained. "Current models fail miserably at what we call 'geographic generalization,' or transferring knowledge across different parts of the world."

Kerner stressed the models need to become more effective, especially as the global climate is changing, often rapidly.

With Donald Trump in the White House, Illinois and the nation face new challenges about who "belongs" in the United States.

Nationality has become a flashpoint, and studies show folks tend to have an implicit bias about who fits the bill for being "American." Experts say many associate the term "American" with white people who speak English - even if they initially say otherwise.

University of Chicago psychology professor Katherine Kinzler said people don't always consciously exclude individuals from being American, and can be vocal about how ridiculous the notion of being white to be American sounds.

"And yet," she said, "those same people, when given a more subtle task - of 'what they think of when they think of what it means to be American' - they might just be a little bit faster to identify somebody who's white and who speaks English as being American, versus somebody else."

She said humans categorize others using cognitive shortcuts, which can cause prejudice and stereotypes, and lead to real-world consequences such as determining hiring decisions and ultimately making individuals feel like they don't belong.

Studying the development of social attitudes in kids, Kinzler said she found young children initially perceive English speakers as "more American." As they grow older, they then associate both English speakers and white faces with American identity. Kinzler said children often pick up on the statistical realities of their world, which can also color their beliefs.

"So they might be noticing, 'Who are the people I come in contact with? Who are the people that my parent talks to, who come over for dinner? Who are the people in my school? What access to resources do they have?' And so forth," she said. "And so, kids are paying attention to the social realities of their world and kind of adding it up."

While it's impossible to control everything children are exposed to, Kinzler suggested parents try to broaden their early experiences by exposing them to diverse ideas, languages, people and places, especially from a young age. She said formed biases are more often a result of social and cultural attitudes rather than political messages.

The slime, gunk, and goo in and around your home could help mitigate climate change.

Researchers at Colorado State University are asking Coloradans to join the search for micro-organisms known as extremophiles that survive in extreme environments, such as cold air conditioners, hot water heaters, and dishwashers that alternate between dry and wet.

Sarah Newman - the director of operations for CitSci.org at CSU's Natural Resource Ecology Lab - said said microbes are nature's alchemists.

They can take almost any chemical or compound, and turn it into something else to survive.

"For climate change, we are interested in organisms that can take CO2 out of the air," said Newman, "and that might be able to help us with carbon capture in new and novel ways at scale."

Scientists found one microbe with an appetite for carbon living in volcanic vents under the Aegean Sea.

The bacteria nicknamed Chonkus converts CO2 into food through photosynthesis, like plants do, but at much higher rates.

Newman encouraged anyone interested to send photos of weird things growing in and around the home through the Extremophile Campaign's website. CitSci.org

Newman noted that efforts to find and harness new microbial carbon sinks shouldn't be seen as a stand-in for other actions, including ending the use of fossil fuels driving climate change.

But she said she believes biology has a role to play.

"If there are ways that we can help facilitate the removal of carbon at a faster rate with some of these new ideas, then that is an additional piece that we can add to the puzzle."

The campaign was officially launched last October, and Newman said the idea of joining a crowd-sourced science project to help address climate change has struck a chord.

"And since then, the response has been really incredible from people from all over the U.S." said Newman. "We've had 136 people sign up to be a part of the project, and have sent in over 103 samples."

A drumming program at Ohio State University-Lima is helping people dealing with Parkinson's disease improve coordination, memory, and overall wellness. Music faculty said it is offering both students and patients a new rhythm for healing.

The "Drumming for Wellness" program connects Ohio State-Lima music students with local Parkinson's patients, referred by Mercy Health St. Rita's Hospital.

Austin Thomas, a member of the university's music faculty, said each week, participants take part in live drumming sessions designed to support motor function, speech, and multitasking.

"We're not necessarily curing any of those diseases," Thomas acknowledged. "We're hoping to kind of delay their symptoms for the hour that we get to see them each week-or for the six or seven weeks that the entire program goes on."

Parkinson's disease affects nearly 1 million Americans, with no known cure. Studies show music and rhythm therapy can ease symptoms such as tremors, speech loss and gait instability.

Thomas noted each session involves multiple exercises designed to challenge the brain and body simultaneously. Participants drum while reciting word sequences, tap feet to rhythm or mimic complex patterns to help regain focus and movement.

"Maybe half of the participants need to work on multitasking, a couple need to work on arm mobility, a couple need to work on their walking gait," Thomas outlined. "We try to address any obstacles that are in the room every single week."

Thomas added the experience has been rewarding for everyone involved and he hopes more Ohio communities can use creative therapies to support neurodegenerative disease patients.