Artificial Intelligence
AI’s Victories in Go Inspire Better Human Game Playing
Famed AI wins in Go let human players rethink their moves in a whole new way
Stories by Emily Willingham
Language
The Linguistics of Swearing Explain Why We Substitute Darn for Damn
Languages from Hindi to Korean tone down swear words by inserting gentler consonants into speech. Here’s how “Let’s go Brandon” got started
Politics
How to Inoculate against Midterm Misinformation Campaigns
A New York University professor advocates “prebunking”—sounding the alarm before a conspiracy theory spreads too widely
Mental Health
How Hurricanes Batter Mental Health
Hurricanes and other disasters exact a mental health toll that can persist without strong communities and support networks
Public Health
Everything You Need to Know about Polio in the U.S.
People fully vaccinated against polio have little to fear
Animals
How Facebook Is Saving Snakes
Snake-identification groups on social media are turning serpent haters into appreciators
Diet
Some Sugar Substitutes Affect Blood Glucose and Gut Bacteria
In a new study, participants who consumed sugar substitutes showed an altered microbiome and spikes in blood glucose
Psychology
When Students Acquire Spatial Skills, Their Verbal Abilities Get a Boost
Learning to visualize objects might improve thinking in words, a finding that could enhance teaching methods
Behavior
Forensic Experts Are Surprisingly Good at Telling whether Two Writing Samples Match
A study to counter the lack of evidence for handwriting analysis shows it is effective if an examiner has the right training
Policy
Sending Health Care Workers instead of Cops Can Reduce Crime
A study shows that first responders who are not police can be more effective for low-level incidents
Inequality
People Think Minority Groups Are Bigger Than They Really Are
Overestimating minority populations can lead to reduced support for diversity and inclusion programs
Inequality
U.S. Records Reveal Bias against Muslim and Black Citizenship Applicants
The likelihood of attending a naturalization ceremony is lower for Black people, men and people from Muslim-majority countries
Artificial Intelligence
Humans Find AI-Generated Faces More Trustworthy Than the Real Thing
Viewers struggle to distinguish images of sophisticated machine-generated faces from actual humans
Sexuality
People Have Been Having Less Sex—whether They’re Teenagers or 40-Somethings
Among the young, social media, gaming and “rough sex” may contribute to this trend
Behavior
This Protein Could Boost Brain Function without Exercise
An exercise pill might one day produce health gains without the exertional pain
Evolution
Physical Activity Could Be an Evolutionary Adaptation for Grandparenting
It may force energy shifts to repair and maintenance, which could slow aging and make us more available to care for younger generations
Neuroscience
Cannabis Use in Pregnancy Is Linked to Child Anxiety, Hyperactivity
Changes in the activity of immune system genes in the placenta could explain the association, researchers speculate
Vaccines
COVID Vaccines Show No Signs of Harming Fertility or Sexual Function
The novel coronavirus, in contrast, can disrupt both things in unvaccinated men and women
Epidemiology
Masks Are a Must-Have to Go Back to School during the Delta Variant Surge
Face coverings are essential to protecting children, keeping schools open and slowing the highly contagious coronavirus variant, experts say
Public Health
‘Breakthrough’ Infections Do Not Mean COVID Vaccines Are Failing
Getting flu again postinoculation is more common than a return case after a COVID shot
