Tara DiMaio

Reporter, Technology and Mind & Behavior

Tara DiMaio is based in Los Angeles, CA, and covers Technology and Mind & Behavior for The Academic Times. Prior to that, Tara worked on the communications team at The Good Food Institute and was a news and lifestyle reporter for PETA. She published a series on alternative protein that now promotes a research program with over $8 million awarded in grants. Tara has a degree in environmental studies and marketing from The George Washington University.

This new automotive display projects holographic images directly into a driver's eyes

By Tara DiMaio

Scientists have introduced the very first augmented reality display that uses point cloud data to project holograms into a driver's field of view, allowing them to see an overlay of information on their windshield without taking their eyes off the road.

Trauma and PTSD linked to unhealthy eating habits, accelerated aging

By Tara DiMaio

New research suggests that military veterans living with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder who suppress their emotions may spark a pattern of unhealthy eating, indicating that close attention to diet quality could potentially provide a framework for more effective therapies.

This algorithm may help predict and prevent alcohol misuse by adults in homeless shelters

By Tara DiMaio

Researchers have created an algorithm that correctly predicts drinking and sobriety among individuals experiencing homelessness four out of five times, using it to develop a smartphone app that delivers personalized intervention messages to people at risk of alcohol misuse.

Machine learning could yield protein-based coatings that curb food waste

By Tara DiMaio

A new computational model combines artificial intelligence with biology to design and fold proteins in a method that could yield specialized proteins for different applications, such as an edible coating for crops that reduces food waste.

Scientists propose new metrics for treating teens with anxiety, depression

By Tara DiMaio

Most teenagers with anxiety or depression do not show meaningful change across the categories of symptoms, daily function and goals after treatment, according to new research from University College London and the Wellcome Trust.

Your breakfast could be making you take more risks

By Tara DiMaio

New evidence shows that changing the amounts of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in breakfast impacts serotonin levels in the brain and the riskiness of people's behavior.

Octopus-inspired soft robot can grasp rockets in space

By Tara DiMaio

Researchers have invented a new soft robotic device with eight tentacle arms that allows astronauts to grasp and service objects in space at a low cost and low risk.

Daily marijuana use could increase psychotic experiences in people at risk for schizophrenia

By Tara DiMaio

People who use marijuana daily could be more likely to see hallucinations and have other psychotic experiences earlier in life, according to new research that strengthens our understanding of genetic vulnerabilities, environmental factors and the risk of schizophrenia among cannabis consumers.

Your posture could impact your memory

By Tara DiMaio

People who cross their hands behind their back when learning new sentences are less likely to remember action verbs, nouns and sentences, but their memory of visual verbs is not influenced, according to new research from scientists in Spain, France and Italy.

Getting preschool kids to eat more vegetables may be easier than you think

By Tara DiMaio

Persuading kids to eat more vegetables may be surprisingly simple yet somewhat counterintuitive, according to new research from The Pennsylvania State University: Doubling the portion sizes of broccoli and corn led preschool children to eat 68% more vegetables, but adding butter and salt did not change the amount consumed.

Why do some TED Talks go viral? It's all about the speaker

By Tara DiMaio

New research on thousands of TED Talks shows that people who speak with more "I" statements, positive emotion words like "love" and social words like "mate" get higher view counts and are seen as more popular and authentic.

This new sensor detects E. coli bacteria with sugar and gold

By Tara DiMaio

A reusable sensor built with tiny gold particles and a common sugar can identify a wide range of concentrations of the bacterium Escherichia coli at low cost, which could potentially protect millions of people from bacteria in food or sewage water.