Robotic dogs and laughter therapy: Combating loneliness and isolation while social distancing
Robotic dogs, laughter therapy and mindfulness are some of the ways that might help people -- particularly the elderly -- cope with loneliness and social isolation while social distancing, say researchers......»»
Deleting your Facebook may increase your well-being but reduce your political knowledge
Amid widely shared concerns that social media makes people unhappy, spreads misinformation, and polarizes societies, researchers paid randomly selected participants to deactivate their Facebook accounts during an election, then compared them to a ran.....»»
Using ChatGPT to make fake social media posts backfires on bad actors
OpenAI claims cyber threats are easier to detect when attackers use ChatGPT. Using ChatGPT to research cyber threats has backfired on bad actors, OpenAI revealed in a report analy.....»»
Animal social interactions could speed up evolution
Scientists typically predict how species evolve by looking at their genes and the environment they live in, but new research from the University of Aberdeen has highlighted a key factor that's often overlooked: social interactions, where the genes of.....»»
Rage clicks: Study shows how political outrage fuels social media engagement
A Tulane University study explains why politically-charged content gets more engagement from those who disagree. Researchers found a "confrontation effect," where people are more likely to interact with content that challenges their views than those.....»»
How the "social cost of carbon" measurement can hide economic inequalities and mask climate suffering
The social cost of carbon (SCC) is an essential tool for climate decision-making around the world. SCC is essentially a large cost-benefit calculation that helps policymakers compare the benefits of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the soci.....»»
Team uncovers the complex social life of rats, with potential implications for human psychiatry
The social behaviors of the Rattus norvegicus, commonly known as the Norway rat, are far more complex than previously thought, according to a team of researchers from ELTE Eötvös Loránd University......»»
NASA announces a new class of space missions: Probe explorers
NASA has sent a whole host of spacecraft across the solar system and even beyond. They range from crewed ships to orbit and to the moon to robotic explorers. Among them are a range of mission classes from Flagships to Discovery Class programs. Now a.....»»
How foreign influence campaigns manipulate your social media feeds
Russians, Chinese, Iranians, and Israelis are trying to change your beliefs. Foreign influence campaigns, or information operations, have been widespread in the run-up to the 2024.....»»
Brazilian court unblocks X after company pays fines and complies with orders
We reported in August that the social network X was banned in Brazil following a dispute between Elon Musk and the Brazilian Supreme Court. More than a month later, the Musk-owned company has backtracked and decided to comply with the Brazilian court.....»»
Alien: Isolation 2: everything we know so far
Pull out your motion tracker because there's something in the vents. Alien: Isolation 2 is real and we have all the information you need for this encounter......»»
The political, social and psychological toll of family deaths in war
The hardship of war does not end when the shooting stops, as every wartime death leaves behind family members whose struggle will go on for decades, if not generations. Millions of these bereaved survivors have lost their kin, including parents, chil.....»»
Social media users opt for new privacy haven, study finds
Does it feel as if social media is becoming less social? The increasing number of brand ads and paid placement by influencers, as well as polarized public posts on various issues, is forcing more users to opt for private chats and groups, according t.....»»
How a witch-hunting manual and social networks helped ignite Europe"s witch craze
The sudden emergence of witch trials in early modern Europe may have been fueled by one of humanity's most significant intellectual milestones: the invention of the printing press in 1450......»»
Home Depot quietly begins rolling out Apple Pay support
Just a few hours ago, I wrote about H-E-B finally caving to the pressure and rolling out Apple Pay to all of its locations. As it turns out, H-E-B isn’t alone in this change. According to multiple 9to5Mac readers and reports across social media, Ho.....»»
Q&A: How artificial lights are dimming firefly survival rates
While light bulbs make our nights brighter, they are dimming the social lives, and survival rates, of some of nature's natural light-makers: fireflies......»»
Physicists and psychologists track social phases in human movement
Observations of preschool children in classrooms and playgrounds have uncovered new social phases in human movement. Employing ultra-wideband radio frequency identification (UWB-RFID) technology allows for the precise tracking of children's movements.....»»
Alien: Isolation sequel bursts into existence, 10 years after original
Developer "heard your distress calls" and will bring back the claustrophobia. The Alien franchise is about uncaring monsters, unfeeling corporations, and horrific, claustrophobic.....»»
iPhone 16 Pro Max beats all the competition in intensive robotic battery life test
The continues to make headlines, with Apple firmly having the best performance and longest battery life smartphone this year. In PhoneBuff’s test, the 16 Pro Max went head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in a test involving a variety.....»»
‘Croissant’ for iOS enables seamless cross-posting across your favorite social networks
In an age of more social networks than ever, managing your content across all of them can be pretty time-consuming. That’s where the incredibly cleverly named “Croissant” app enters the equation. Developed by Ben McCarthy and Aaron Vegh, Croi.....»»
Survey experiment reveals celebrities and politicians could be the "missing link" to mitigate climate change
Psychologists from Cardiff University have uncovered new insights into the role of celebrities and politicians in influencing public opinion on low-carbon lifestyles. The paper is published in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.....»»