Bridging the gap between research and real life
Fake news is more widespread today than ever before.
Political activists who want to unfairly influence voters create false news stories. Unscrupulous media companies publish falsehoods as clickbait. Political regimes spread false propaganda to support their policies. And the blurring line between entertainment and news leads to writing that doesn’t comply with journalistic standards. [Read more…]
Put away the silverware. Fold the towels. Feed the dog. Bring in the mail.
There is a myriad of ways in which kids – starting as early as age 2 – can help out around the house. While some of this “helping” isn’t actually that helpful, there is strong evidence that you should require your kids to do chores anyway. [Read more…]
You’ve probably been out in public and heard a parent shouting, swearing, or calling a child names. Or maybe you’ve found yourself in the position of losing your temper with your own children.
Harsh parenting is defined as regularly engaging in negative coercive behaviors; it can include yelling, name-calling, hitting, criticizing, shaming, and isolating children. A large body of research demonstrates that harsh parenting is bad for kids. [Read more…]
Researchers have known for several decades that a robust social support network improves overall well-being for people of all ages.
Those with stronger support networks tend to experience a positive mood more often, recover more quickly from health issues, and even live longer. And there is evidence that loneliness and isolation are linked to many health issues: sleep problems, inflammation, pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, addiction, suicide, and self-harm and dementia. [Read more…]
A sense of purpose—a feeling that your life has direction and your actions are meaningful—is fundamental to human well-being.
Now, researchers are learning that finding a sense of purpose is a crucial stage in adolescence, and they are evaluating programs designed to help teens cultivate purpose. [Read more…]
As wildfires have ripped through Los Angeles in recent weeks, thousands of people have been displaced and more than two dozen are reported dead.
The consequences have been devastating, and research suggests that the dangers will continue for weeks to come. In particular, a significant body of research demonstrates that exposure to wildfire smoke has negative effects on the brain. [Read more…]
If you live near a body of water in the northern latitudes, you likely have heard of your local polar bear club — usually made up of a group of hearty swimmers who take part in cold water swimming. [Read more…]
Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning, like thinking, remembering, and reasoning, at levels that interfere with a person’s daily life and activities. Dementia affects the health and well-being of millions of older adults; with baby boomers reaching their senior years, that number is expected to grow substantially. [Read more…]
Americans are shopping online in record numbers this holiday season, according to an analysis by Adobe Analytics. Online shopping certainly comes with added convenience: No traffic, no long lines, and a larger selection of available items—not to mention you can shop while wearing pajamas from the comfort of your sofa. But it can also be tricky to figure out exactly what you’re getting: How will that sweater fit? What do those sheets actually feel like? And do those sneakers really run small? [Read more…]
Millions of people will gather with family and friends this week to celebrate what may be one of the most quintessential American holidays, Thanksgiving. For most people, the holiday revolves around turkey, football, and the start of the holiday shopping season. More Americans are also focusing on gratitude – the “thanks” part of Thanksgiving – which is demonstrated to promote physical, mental, and social well-being.
But there’s another aspect of Thanksgiving that is worth focusing on: gathering. [Read more…]
Artificial intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous in modern society. While it may seem like a brand-new technology to many, computer scientists have been building and testing AI models—albeit simple ones initially—since the 1950s. You likely have been using AI in your daily life for much longer than you realize—it’s used in chatbots on websites, robotic vacuums that learn floorplans, digital assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa, and much more. [Read more…]
While the number of smokers is at a historical low, data demonstrates that smoking still affects public health. Smoking increases the risk of heart and lung disease, affects bone health, and increases the risk of birth defects. A growing body of research demonstrates that smoking also affects neurological health, specifically cognitive decline. [Read more…]
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