Author Archives: Emily Willingham
AI’s Victories in Go Inspire Better Human Game Playing
Famed AI wins in Go let human players rethink their moves in a whole new way Continue reading
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The Linguistics of Swearing Explain Why We Substitute Darn for Damn
Languages from Hindi to Korean tone down swear words by inserting gentler consonants into speech. Here’s how “Let’s go Brandon” got started Continue reading
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How to Inoculate against Midterm Misinformation Campaigns
A New York University professor advocates “prebunking”—sounding the alarm before a conspiracy theory spreads too widely Continue reading
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How Facebook Is Saving Snakes
Snake-identification groups on social media are turning serpent haters into appreciators Continue reading
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Some Sugar Substitutes Affect Blood Glucose and Gut Bacteria
In a new study, participants who consumed sugar substitutes showed an altered microbiome and spikes in blood glucose Continue reading
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When Students Acquire Spatial Skills, Their Verbal Abilities Get a Boost
Learning to visualize objects might improve thinking in words, a finding that could enhance teaching methods Continue reading
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Forensic Experts Are Surprisingly Good at Telling whether Two Writing Samples Match
A study to counter the lack of evidence for handwriting analysis shows it is effective if an examiner has the right training Continue reading
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Sending Health Care Workers instead of Cops Can Reduce Crime
A study shows that first responders who are not police can be more effective for low-level incidents
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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People Think Minority Groups Are Bigger Than They Really Are
Overestimating minority populations can lead to reduced support for diversity and inclusion programs
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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U.S. Records Reveal Bias against Muslim and Black Citizenship Applicants
The likelihood of attending a naturalization ceremony is lower for Black people, men and people from Muslim-majority countries
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Humans Find AI-Generated Faces More Trustworthy Than the Real Thing
Viewers struggle to distinguish images of sophisticated machine-generated faces from actual humans
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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People Have Been Having Less Sex–whether They’re Teenagers or 40-Somethings
Among the young, social media, gaming and “rough sex” may contribute to this trend
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Physical Activity Could Be an Evolutionary Adaptation for Grandparenting
It may force energy shifts to repair and maintenance, which could slow aging and make us more available to care for younger generations
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Cannabis Use in Pregnancy Is Linked to Child Anxiety, Hyperactivity
Changes in the activity of immune system genes in the placenta could explain the association, researchers speculate
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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COVID Vaccines Show No Signs of Harming Fertility or Sexual Function
The novel coronavirus, in contrast, can disrupt both things in unvaccinated men and women
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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COVID Vaccines Show No Signs of Harming Fertility or Sexual Function
The novel coronavirus, in contrast, can disrupt both things in unvaccinated men and women
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Masks Are a Must-Have to Go Back to School during the Delta Variant Surge
Face coverings are essential to protecting children, keeping schools open and slowing the highly contagious coronavirus variant, experts say
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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‘Breakthrough’ Infections Do Not Mean COVID Vaccines Are Failing
Getting flu again postinoculation is more common than a return case after a COVID shot
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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New Brain Implant Transmits Full Words from Neural Signals
No spelling out of letters is needed for a paralyzed person to use the first-of-a-kind neuroprosthesis
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Why Scientists Tweak Lab Viruses to Make Them More Contagious
Some “gain of function” studies explore how a dangerous pathogen might cross species barriers to start an outbreak. They are not without controversy.
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Cells Solve an English Hedge Maze with the Same Skills They Use to Traverse the Body
A study reveals the Pac-Man-like strategies adopted by different cell types when making long journeys through an organism
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Elite Athletes’ Gut Bacteria Give Rodent Runners a Boost
The chemical these bacteria produce appears to enhance athleticism
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Lowly Moss-Like Plant Seems to Copy Cannabis
Meet the new weed on the block, perhaps one better suited to medical rather than recreational use
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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After Years of Paralysis, A Man Walks the Length of a Football Field
An electrical stimulation device combined with intensive rehabilitation restores walking ability to a spinal cord injury patient
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Growth Cocktail Helps Restore Spinal Connections in the Most Severe Injuries
Repairing damaged nerves in a rodent study marks a crucial first step toward bringing back lost movement
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Growth Cocktail Helps Restore Spinal Connections in the Most Severe Injuries
Repairing damaged nerves in a rodent study marks a crucial first step toward bringing back lost movement
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Posted in STEM News
Parkinson’s Drugs Aimed at Rare Gene Mutation Show Promise for Other Sufferers, Too
Shutting down an overactive enzyme could become a general treatment, rather than one solely intended for the few who inherit a mutated Parkinson’s gene
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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A Gut–and Liver–Check to Get a Bead on Alzheimer’s
Areas outside the brain may play a role in a chain reaction related to dementia, but the path from gut to head remains elusive
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Analysis of a Million-Plus Genomes Points to Blurring Lines among Brain Disorders
Schizophrenia shares some genetic variants with several psychiatric conditions—and similar overlaps are seen for personality traits and migraines in a massive study
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Mercury and Autism: Enough Already!
The science shows that they have nothing to do with each other and never have
— Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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