EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Democracy Of Bees Key Takeaway: Honey bees, originally tropical insects, evolved complex nest-choosing patterns 600,000 years ago to survive cold climates. However, research into honey bee pressures and behavior rarely takes into account these nest preferences. Researchers have found that tree nests lose less heat than conventional hives and that features of man-made hives inserted for convenience increase […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE Food On Mars? Key Takeaway: NASA plans to set up colonies on Mars in the next few decades, but these missions require astronauts to produce their own food. To do this, they need to establish self-perpetuating systems that require minimal Earth input. Aquaponics, a food production system that pairs aquaculture with hydroponics, has been tested to supply food […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SOCIOLOGY TECHNOLOGY How A.I. Affects Our Information Diet Key Takeaway: Google’s AI Overviews feature, which generates personalized, on-demand answers based on its training data, has been criticized for removing users’ judgment, agency, and opportunity to learn. While AI Overviews can be useful for general searches, they may not be reliable for factual questions or ideas. For instance, Google’s AI Overviews may give incorrect […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
ART & DESIGN EDITOR'S PICK TECHNOLOGY The Science Fiction Feedback Loop Key Takeaway: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sparked controversy by referencing the 2013 movie “Her” to highlight the novelty of ChatGPT’s latest iteration. Actor Scarlett Johansson accused the company of improperly using her voice after she spurned their offer to make her the voice of ChatGPT’s new virtual assistant. This highlights the “sci-fi feedback loop,” which […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
ART & DESIGN EDITOR'S PICK POLITICS The Problem With Fashion Key Takeaway: The fashion industry relies on storytelling to create fashionable garments and spread positive messages about issues. However, it can also drive overconsumption and perpetuate unrealistic beauty expectations. The industry’s global reach allows for easy sharing of visual cues and messaging, especially during times of social and political unease. The UN’s report urges storytellers, […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
ART & DESIGN CULTURE EDITOR'S PICK The Secret Recipe Of Disney Films Key Takeaway: Disney has a rich musical legacy, with landmark films featuring musical numbers that remain household favourites today. The studio’s first sound film, Steamboat Willie, (1928), established Disney as the leading animation studio. The silent era of cinema (1923-1928) saw films without soundtracks but often accompanied by local organists or pianists. The Alice Comedies […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
ART & DESIGN CULTURE EDITOR'S PICK Is Taylor Swift The New Shakespeare? Key Takeaway: The podcast “Studies in Taylor Swift” began in 2021, aiming to invent and catch up on the academic discipline of Taylor Swift studies. The podcast featured guest speakers with experience teaching Swift or thinking academically about her lyrics. In 2023, a summer school course on Taylor Swift and Literature was designed, and a […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
ART & DESIGN CULTURE EDITOR'S PICK How To Tell If Luxury Goods Are Worth It Key Takeaway: Designer fashion has seen significant growth since the pandemic, with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Burberry experiencing 86% higher sales growth. The rise of athleisure and designer collaborations like Manolo Blahnik for Birkenstock, Gucci x Adidas, and Burberry x Supreme have made luxury more accessible. However, high prices can affect the longevity […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR'S PICK STRATEGY The Real Magic Of Disney Is Its Business Acumen Key Takeaway: Disney’s greatest legacy is not its animated stories or characters, but the business acumen of its founders. The Walt Disney Company was founded in 1923 by brothers Walt and Roy Disney, who initially focused on animation. They adopted merchandising and technologies like Technicolor and sound to cut costs and promote their products. After […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
CULTURE EDITOR'S PICK PSYCHOLOGY SOCIOLOGY The Price Of Love: Hidden Costs Of Modern Dating Key Takeaway: The average American spends $120,000 on romantic activities, leading to a significant amount of “dating debt” among millennials and Gen Z. This debt accumulation is attributed to the desire to signal status and the persuasive retail marketing of luxury as synonymous with love. Luxury brands like Gucci and Tiffany use strategic marketing tactics […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
ENTREPRENEURSHIP The Balance of Nature This is the way a new universe is supposed to work, or at least, how the universe has to work, if it is supposed to. If all the things in the universe (like every single cell, tree, galaxy, star, planet, etc.) can only be understood if you accept that they were created in some very […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Discovery Of A Mysterious Radio Signal In Space Key Takeaway: Astronomers have discovered a unique radio transient with a cycle almost an hour long, the longest ever seen. The transient, known as ASKAP J1935+2148, is likely a very unusual neutron star, but other possibilities have been explored. The signal is made up of circularly polarised radio waves, which can cause the signal to […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK TECHNOLOGY What We Can Learn From The Recent Global I.T. Outage Key Takeaway: The global IT outage caused by an automatic update to CrowdStrike Falcon, a cybersecurity tool, impacted Microsoft Windows computers worldwide. The incident highlights the interconnected nature of modern IT systems and how a single point of failure can spread across sectors. Microsoft was initially blamed for the outage, but later confirmed it was […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK PHILOSOPHY The Philosophy Of Tantra Key Takeaway: Tantra, a concept associated with sex life, has a rich history and can be viewed with suspicion by practitioners from both sides. Neotantrikas, who practice neotantric sex practices, are accused of neglecting the deep spiritual truths of the original Tantric movement, replacing it with a Western-influenced sex obsession. Scholars like Hugh Urban and […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Neuroscience Of Golf Key Takeaway: A study published in the Journal of Frontiers in Psychology found that successful golf putts show distinct patterns of brain activity. The research involved 28 expert-but-amateur golfers, who made 140 putts while wearing an EEG head system. The study found that successful putts showed a more pronounced decrease in beta activity during preparation […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK TECHNOLOGY A Digital Afterlife Key Takeaway: The digital afterlife industry is rapidly evolving, with companies creating virtual reconstructions of deceased individuals based on their digital footprints. This technology offers comfort and disruption, blurring the lines between past and present, memory and reality. However, it raises ethical and emotional challenges, such as consent, privacy, and the psychological impact on the […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK STRATEGY The Real Art Of War Key Takeaway: The Art of War, an ancient Chinese war manual from the 5th century BCE, is often cited as a cliché by teen edgelords and management gurus. However, the book is actually a work of clear-sighted and sometimes ruthless realism, influenced by philosophy and strategy. The book, which is attributed to Chinese general and […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Democracy Of Bees Key Takeaway: Honey bees, originally tropical insects, evolved complex nest-choosing patterns 600,000 years ago to survive cold climates. However, research into honey bee pressures and behavior rarely takes into account these nest preferences. Researchers have found that tree nests lose less heat than conventional hives and that features of man-made hives inserted for convenience increase […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
ART & DESIGN EDITOR'S PICK The Essence Of Surrealism Key Takeaway: André Breton’s “Manifesto of Surrealism” in 1928 sparked an art movement known for creating bizarre hybrids of words and images, often generated through chance. This approach was believed to stimulate the unconscious mind to cultivate new insights. Surrealist artists like Max Ernst used techniques like decalcomania and the “exquisite corpse” to create unique […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SCIENCE The Secrets Of Cat Communication Key Takeaway: Cats have evolved to live with humans, forming closer bonds with humans. They initially lived alone, hunting and interacting with their mothers and kittens. Over time, cats became more adaptable and tame, forming closer bonds with humans. This adaptation can be seen in Russian farmed fox experiments, where silver foxes became more tame […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR'S PICK Boeing: Are Businesses Too Big To Fail? Key Takeaway: Alaska Airlines flight 1282 nearly fell out of the sky after losing a door plug, following two similar 737 Max plane crashes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing was charged with conspiracy to defraud regulators in 2021, but the US government agreed not to prosecute the company if it promised to pay a criminal […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Real Art Of War Key Takeaway: The Art of War, an ancient Chinese war manual from the 5th century BCE, is often cited as a cliché by teen edgelords and management gurus. However, the book is actually a work of clear-sighted and sometimes ruthless realism, influenced by philosophy and strategy. The book, which is attributed to Chinese general and […] Written by Jamie Roberts July 18, 2024July 18, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Democracy Of Bees Key Takeaway: Honey bees, originally tropical insects, evolved complex nest-choosing patterns 600,000 years ago to survive cold climates. However, research into honey bee pressures and behavior rarely takes into account these nest preferences. Researchers have found that tree nests lose less heat than conventional hives and that features of man-made hives inserted for convenience increase […] Written by Derek Mitchell July 17, 2024July 17, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Is Fusion Power Our Future? Key Takeaway: Nuclear fusion could be a promising solution to climate change and energy security issues, as it offers a clean, abundant, and safe energy source. However, the technology’s realisation may come into tension with the issues it aims to solve. The technology’s appeal may mask deeper ethical questions, such as environmental sustainability and the […] Written by Sophie Cogan July 11, 2024July 11, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
How People Can Influence Our Memories Key Takeaway: A study has found that our memory helps us learn from experiences and develop new knowledge by integrating and updating information. Memory can forge inferred connections beyond direct experiences, which can sometimes lead to false inferences. The study found that people may prioritize information from liked sources more than those from disliked ones, […] Written by Ines Bramao July 10, 2024July 10, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
How Does Space Change Astronaut Biology? Key Takeaway: Astronauts are experiencing a new era of human spaceflight, with longer missions ranging from minutes to months. As humanity looks to return to the Moon over the coming decade, space exploration missions will be longer, with more space travelers and tourists. Researchers in space health are seeking to better understand the human health […] Written by Susan Bailey July 9, 2024July 12, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Who Really Was Mona Lisa? Key Takeaway: The Mona Lisa, a Renaissance icon, has been a subject of debate for over half a millennium. The painting has been traditionally associated with Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. However, another theory suggests Isabella of Aragon, a princess deeply entwined in the political and cultural fabric of […] Written by Darius von Guttner Sporzynski July 5, 2024July 5, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Science Fiction Feedback Loop Key Takeaway: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sparked controversy by referencing the 2013 movie “Her” to highlight the novelty of ChatGPT’s latest iteration. Actor Scarlett Johansson accused the company of improperly using her voice after she spurned their offer to make her the voice of ChatGPT’s new virtual assistant. This highlights the “sci-fi feedback loop,” which […] Written by Rizwan Virk July 4, 2024July 4, 2024 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Rethinking Education Key Takeaways: The Industrial model of education that fueled the modern era and its dizzying reach did its job incredibly well. In his writing, Flynn illustrates study after study, spanning nations and decades, in which modern educational gift of abstraction — a transcendent sign of intelligence, as we saw in Raven’s Matrices — has been […] Written by Anthony Fieldman March 2, 2022October 19, 2022 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
How China Is Transforming Its Economy Through Learning I highly recommend reading the McKinsey Global Institute’s new report, “Reskilling China: Transforming The World’s Largest Workforce Into Lifelong Learners”, which focuses on the country’s biggest employment challenge, re-training its workforce and the adoption of practices such as lifelong learning to address the growing digital transformation of its productive fabric. How to transform the country […] Written by Enrique Dans February 1, 2021February 1, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Why You’re Not Seeing Success With Influencer Marketing With the new year around the corner, now is a good time to re-evaluate your past marketing strategies and gear up for the year ahead. For some businesses, influencer marketing has simply not seemed to live up to its lofty promises of genuine engagement, credibility, and transparency. Some have claimed that it has been failing […] Written by Michael Tan January 14, 2021January 15, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
A New Philosophy of Business I’m about to ask you to take a mental leap. For the next 8 minutes, suspend your notions of what a business is, and I’ll propose a new lens for you to look through. There are a lot of questions asked around what “community” means for business. “Where should community fit in my organization?” and […] Written by Empirics Asia September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked