While people the world over enjoy a good laugh, remarkably little is known about this instinctive behaviour. By Ali Jones Before babies can talk or walk, they can laugh. An infant’s first giggle at around four months enchants and reinvigorates even the most weary parent and, from then on, it’s a lifelong tool for communicating … Read more
Life patterns help humans and other animals stay in sync with nature and in good form. By Gareth Willmer For several days after each November full moon, a wondrous spectacle occurs on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia: corals release into the water billions of eggs and sperm that unite to form free-floating larvae. These … Read more
Scientists are refining their understanding of neural networks and sharpening diagnoses. By Vittoria D’Alessio For two years, Dr Islem Rekik ran an EU-funded study to establish what the neural networks in a healthy brain looked like so that dysfunctional ones could become easier to spot. Rekik and her team took a large amount of data … Read more
While inspiring creativity and fostering online communities, apps like TikTok raise concerns about potential harm to users’ health. By ANDREW DUNNE Since Jinnet Paola Pedraza (Pao_la_Periodista) first downloaded TikTok in 2019, she has become one of the social media site’s biggest advocates and more popular users. Her short video reels about 2021 mass protests in Colombia … Read more
European researchers are developing online tools to help small and medium-sized enterprises improve the mental health of employees. By Andrew Dunne Ask a person working in a small business how things are going and the question might prompt a mix of responses. On the one hand, work in a small organisation can be enjoyable, exciting … Read more
Reducing everyday offences may depend on harnessing the power of virtual reality, conscious design and community spirit. By Alex Whiting Picture a young offender with a headset immersed in a virtual room, coming face to face with an avatar of his or her future self. The person tells the avatar about his or her lifestyle, … Read more