Our neural circuits lead us to find comfort in those like us and unease with those who differ, resulting in a battle between reward and distrust. But these brain connections aren’t the end of the story.
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Science + Tech – Articles, Analysis, Opinion
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Information on social media can be misleading because of biases in three places – the brain, society and algorithms. Scholars are developing ways to identify and display the effects of these biases.
Childhood adversity is linked to social and mental health problems later in life. New research suggests brains that aren’t as good at recognizing rewards and responding to change may be to blame.
A reflection of its own time, the iconic arcade game planted the seeds of today’s video game culture.
35 years ago Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. But rather than focus on her own extraordinary achievements, her passion became boosting the number of girls pursuing STEM. Another pioneering astronaut remembers her friend and colleague.
The tilt of Earth’s axis as it orbits the sun results in the seasonal changes.
The concept of three-parent babies defies what we learned in health class. But how and when is the third parent involved? At what stage? Jennifer Barfield gives us an update on the birds and the bees.
It’s becoming harder and harder for animals to find human-free spaces on the planet. New research suggests that to try to avoid people, mammals are shifting activity from the day to the nighttime.
Privacy rules enacted in Europe are affecting companies – and their customers and users – all around the world.
A flavor of diplomacy that focuses on science cuts through political differences and finds new ways for nations to work together.
Experiencing and witnessing violence in their communities can lead to emotional, social and cognitive problems for kids. A new study shows it affects how their developing brains grow, as well.
It could seem attractive to try to teach computers to detect harassment, threats and abusive language. But it’s much more difficult than it might appear.
Missing a meal can certainly push you toward a bad mood. But new research identifies in what kind of situations hunger is most likely to tip toward hanger.
Can artificial intelligence accurately simulate people’s religious tendencies in the face of disaster and tragedy?
The first time computer-generated characters interacted with humans on a movie screen was 25 years ago, in ‘Jurassic Park.’ Since then, technology has improved, giving directors more choices.
New research has uncovered a previously unknown weakness in smart city systems: devices that trust each other. That could lead to some pretty terrible traffic, among other problems.
When you see a bolt of lightning, do you immediately start counting to see how far off a storm is? An atmospheric scientist parses the practice.
Researchers analyze social media data to gain useful insights into modern society and culture. But it’s important to protect users’ privacy. How can both ends meet?
If you’re committed to a belief, it’s hard to let go. Psychology and philosophy provide different ways to think about how skeptics respond to counterevidence.
Money always seems tight for university scientists. A sociologist conducted hundreds of interviews to see how they think about funding sources and profit motives for basic and applied research.
Linguistic clues show how people around the world first developed mathematical thought.
Cuando los líderes de las democracias débiles usan las redes sociales para conectarse con sus electores, las personas se sienten escuchadas. Pero Twitter no les dará a los ciudadanos lo que necesitan.
Geospatial data offers a powerful new way to see the world. But these high-tech images can be misleading or incomplete.
Social media sites aren’t the only online systems that can secretly influence people’s votes. Search engines can too and may be even more successful – and undetectable.
Your blood is red;
it’s never blue.
Because of hemoglobin;
and the view through tissue.