Psychologist explains why spite could destroy liberal democracy
As communism imploded in 1989, the American political scientist Francis Fukuyama asked if liberal democracy was "the end of history," being the form all societies were destined to take. The past decades have suggested not. Illiberal democracies and h.....»»
The Apple psychology that explains why the M3 MacBook Pro exists
The M3 MacBook Pro is bewildering, but there's a reason for its existence that runs deep in Mac strategy and marketing......»»
Why the Fallout TV series cast kept the games (and Todd Howard) at arm’s length
The cast of Amazon's Fallout series explains how it brought the postapocalyptic game series to life, along with Todd Howard's involvement in the show......»»
New dark matter theory explains two puzzles in astrophysics
Thought to make up 85% of matter in the universe, dark matter is nonluminous and its nature is not well understood. While normal matter absorbs, reflects, and emits light, dark matter cannot be seen directly, making it harder to detect. A theory call.....»»
A forestry scientist explains how to choose the most sustainable Christmas tree, no matter what it"s made of
Every year, Americans buy somewhere between 35 million and 50 million Christmas trees, and many more pull an artificial tree out of storage for the season. In all, about three-quarters of U.S. households typically have some kind of Christmas tree, su.....»»
Physicist explains X-rays that shouldn"t exist in "cold" plasma
For about 20 years, Caltech Professor of Applied Physics Paul Bellan and his group have been creating magnetically accelerated jets of plasma, an electrically conducting gas composed of ions and electrons, in a vacuum chamber big enough to hold a per.....»»
Study explains the rapid deterioration of one of painter Juan Miró"s favorite colors
A photo from 1978 shows famous Catalan surrealist painter Juan Miró in his Taller Sert, surrounded by his paintings. In the background, the bright, intense yellow of Femme dans le rue (1973), stands out. Fifty years later, that cadmium-based yellow.....»»
Wind of (climate) change: Himalayan glaciers react, blow cold winds down their slopes
Himalayan Glaciers fight back to preserve themselves, but for how long? An international team of researchers, co-led by Professor Francesca Pellicciotti of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), explains a stunning phenomenon: rising.....»»
Research explains why we lie when returning that unwanted holiday gift
It's an iconic episode of "Seinfeld"—Jerry tries to return a jacket and when asked why, he replies, "spite." In fact, he goes on to explain, he didn't care for the person who sold it to him......»»
New theory explains how magnetic switchbacks form in the solar wind
A new study develops a theory of how magnetic switchbacks are formed around the sun. This quantitative model can be used to predict magnetic field variations and potentially explain the heating and acceleration of the solar wind......»»
Q&A: Where do accents come from? Linguist explains why we talk the way we talk
When it comes to how we talk, accents are often the thing people focus on first. We love to do impressions, and certain accents even have an impact on what we buy. But what exactly is an accent, and how does one develop?.....»»
Dutch youth found to have little knowledge about democracy
Dutch youth are less informed about democracy than peers in similar countries. This is evident from the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS), an international survey conducted in 24 countries on citizenship among second-year hig.....»»
"Covid and criminals ruined my Airbnb for cars idea"
A UK entrepreneur explains why his idea to build a car-sharing network like Airbnb didn't work out......»»
From Prequelists to Reylos, these are the 9 definitive types of Star Wars fans
With over 40 years of history, the Star Wars fandom is a large one. Digital Trends identifies the 9 main types of Star Wars fans and explains who they are......»»
The Ethical Slut has been called "the bible" of non-monogamy—but its sexual utopia is oversimplified
In 2022, University of Melbourne evolutionary psychologist Dr. Khandis Blake estimated that among young people, "around 4-5 percent of people might be involved in a polyamorous relationship, and about 20 percent have probably tried one.".....»»
Researchers: Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy—here"s how we can fight back
Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarize the public, reduce health-protective behaviors such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not by accide.....»»
Elon Musk"s X sues Media Matters over antisemitism analysis
The lawsuit says Media Matters "manipulated" data in an attempt to "destroy" the social media site......»»
A scientist explains an approaching milestone marking the arrival of quantum computers
Quantum advantage is the milestone the field of quantum computing is fervently working toward, where a quantum computer can solve problems that are beyond the reach of the most powerful non-quantum, or classical, computers......»»
Q&A: Professor discusses new approaches for the implementation of the quantum internet
Researchers around the world are working on a network which could connect quantum computers with one another over long distances. Andreas Reiserer, Professor of Quantum Networks at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), explains the challenges whi.....»»
Q&A: Is a volcano about to erupt in Iceland? Expert explains the telltale signs that an eruption might occur
Residents of Grindavik, a fishing town in southwestern Iceland, have evacuated and a state of emergency has been declared, as local authorities say a volcanic eruption may be imminent......»»
Climate change is altering animal brains and behavior—a neuroscientist explains how
Human-driven climate change is increasingly shaping the Earth's living environments. Rising temperatures, rapid shifts in rainfall and seasonality, and ocean acidification are presenting altered environments to many animal species. How do animals adj.....»»