From Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot” to Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” to H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Dunwich Horror”, whip-poor-wills have often been a dark omen that haunted classic American #horror fiction. But as the birds’ populations have declined by a horrifying 70%, they’re also seeing a near-extinction in books and movies:
The Conversation
The whip-poor-will has been an omen of death for centuries − what happened to this iconic bird of American horror?
A new film adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot’ swaps in an owl for the book’s haunting whip-poor-wills, showing how species loss i...
 #wildlife #fiction #books
People with normal color vision are more likely to be resistant to trying new foods than those with colorblindness. Maybe seeing the world with a restricted color palate tones down an emotion-based resistance to new foods.
The Conversation
How we discovered that people who are colorblind are less likely to be picky eaters
Seeing the world with a restricted color palate seems to tone down an emotion-based resistance to new foods.
 #food #science #psychology #emotion
The popularity of "Black Myth: Wukong" continues a nearly 1000-year-old tradition of retelling the story of Sun Wukong, China’s mischievous monkey king.
The Conversation
A video game based on the Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West’ is the most recent example of innovative retelling of this popular story
The game allows players to free Sun Wukong, the monkey protagonist from the popular 16th century novel ‘Journey to the West,’ and introduces pl...
 #mythology #gaming
There’s an enduring expectation for #men to suppress their vulnerability, and it brings tragic mental health consequences.
The Conversation
Men are carrying the brunt of the ‘loneliness epidemic’ amid potent societal pressures
There is an epidemic of isolation gripping the United States, health experts say, with the resulting loneliness disproportionately impacting men an...
 #mentalhealth
New research suggests gut microbe imbalances in infants could predict autism, ADHD and speech disorders years before symptoms appear. A study of thousands of Swedish children found differences in bacterial composition as early as birth. There’s a long way to go before such screening becomes a standard part of pediatric care, but the findings reaffirm the growing body of evidence that the early gut microbiome plays a key role in shaping neurodevelopment.
The Conversation
Gut microbe imbalances could predict a child’s risk for autism, ADHD and speech disorders years before symptoms appear
Imbalances in different species of bacteria in a baby’s gut may provide insights into their neurodevelopment.
 #health #autism #ADHD
Leadership turmoil at OpenAI has led to departures of key safety advocates. Former executives warn that product launches are being rushed at the expense of safeguards. Here’s the latest in OpenAI’s potential shift from nonprofit to for-profit:
The Conversation
As OpenAI attracts billions in new investment, its goal of balancing profit with purpose is getting more challenging to pull off
Unlike other big tech companies, OpenAI is the for-profit subsidiary of a nonprofit overseen by the nonprofit’s board of directors. Many media ou...
 #AI #Regulation #ArtificialIntelligence
Thanks to newly approved at-home rapid tests, you can simultaneously determine whether your symptoms are #COVID-19 or the #flu. They're called multiplex tests because they can analyze for multiple viruses with just one swab up your nose. A quick explainer from researchers who test the tests:
The Conversation
Is it COVID-19? Flu? At-home rapid tests could help you and your doctor decide on a treatment plan
A fever and a nasty cough can be symptoms of a range of respiratory illnesses. An antigen test that narrows down the culprits can speed up diagnosi...
 #health
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Trump now calls for the U.S. to be a #Bitcoin superpower, while the Biden-Harris administration has imposed regulatory restrictions and vetoed industry-favored legislation. A researcher of information systems and #AI examines both candidates’ records on #technology regulation –and calls out the important differences:
The Conversation
AI, cryptocurrencies and data privacy: Comparing the Trump and Harris records on technology regulation
Big tech and its high-tech products and services play an outsized role in the economy and society. The Trump and Biden-Harris records point to how ...
 #cryptocurrency
New research on kids and attachment: There’s been a long-standing notion held by many psychologists that early attachment behaviors are mainly determined by a child’s temperament. No: Even children with characteristics of a difficult temperament can benefit from the advantages that come from multiple secure attachments.
The Conversation
‘Difficult’ children are only slightly more likely to have insecure attachments with parents
The quality of a child’s attachments to caregivers influences healthy development. And most kids with difficult temperaments do form secure attac...
 #parenting #psychology #research