Humans are hardwired to dismiss facts that don't fit their worldview
Feb 03, 2020 12:30 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life
Something is rotten in the state of American political life. The U.S. (among other nations) is increasingly characterized by highly polarized, informationally insulated ideological communities occupying their own factual...

Our image of dinosaurs was shaped by Victorian popularity contests
Feb 03, 2020 12:26 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life
Our understanding of dinosaurs is undergoing a revolution. Thanks to new research, animals that were until recently depicted with a sleek coat of scales now sport feathers, quills, spines and fluff. But not everyone has...

A world of heroes and villains: why we should challenge children's simplistic moral beliefs
Feb 03, 2020 12:24 pm UTC| Life
The protagonist of the decorum-defying but wildly entertaining new film, Jojo Rabbit, sees the world in black and white. The film is set in Nazi Germany and ten-year-old Jojo is a fiercely committed member of the Hitler...
Jan 30, 2020 23:48 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life
Ever said something like, Ive never gotten a speeding ticket and then quickly, for luck, rapped your knuckles on a wooden table or doorframe? Americans accompany this action by saying, Knock on wood. In Great Britain,...
Is workplace rudeness on the rise?
Jan 29, 2020 07:17 am UTC| Insights & Views Life
You dont have to look hard to see uncivil behavior these days, whether in political discourse, in college classrooms or on airplanes. One study found that rudeness is even contagious, like the common cold. The...

Hate cancel culture? Blame algorithms
Jan 29, 2020 07:07 am UTC| Insights & Views Life
Cancel culture has become so pervasive that even former President Barack Obama has weighed in on the phenomenon, describing it as an overly judgmental approach to activism that does little to bring about change. For the...
'Technoference': why we should be worried about parents' screen time
Jan 29, 2020 06:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology Life
Many young people spend significantly more time using screens than is recommended by health professionals. Excessive screen time has been blamed for several ills, including obesity and poor mental health. To mitigate these...