SvedOliver/Shutterstock Language has traditionally been considered a complex skill which mobilises brain networks specifically dedicated to linguistic processing. But in recent years, neuroscience research has returned to this idea and offered new insights. Notably, studies have suggested that areas of the brain which control certain language functions, such as processingContinue Reading
Probably not… Tithi Luadthong/Shutterstock It has been over a year since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. And perhaps the most important lesson is that we were completely unprepared to face the debilitating virus. This raises some scary thoughts. What if the threat wasn’t COVID-19, but aContinue Reading
Artem Oleshko/Shutterstock Facebook has announced that it will stop using its facial recognition system – the artificial intelligence software which recognises people in photos and videos and generates suggestions about who to “tag” in them. Facial recognition systems, like Facebook’s, identify people by matching faces to digital representations of facesContinue Reading
Sid Balachandran / Unsplash, CC BY-SA In contrast to the many flamboyant species of birds, most of the 5,000 species of mammals are drab browns or greys. But there are a small number of well known and intriguing exceptions, most notably zebras, skunks, and orcas. Perhaps the most famous ofContinue Reading
Led Gapline/Shutterstock In the wake of Facebook rebranding as Meta, reflecting its focus on the “metaverse”, Microsoft has now announced it, too, will launch into this space. Meta has proposed that the metaverse will eventually allow us to engage across education, work and social contexts, while Microsoft looks to beContinue Reading
Done deal? Markus Spiske / Pexels, CC BY-SA Whether we are consciously aware of it or not, we negotiate in every aspect of our daily lives – whether it be persuading a child to eat its vegetables, haggling over a property price, or discussing the terms of a job offer.Continue Reading
Flouride is created by Wolf–Rayet stars, here seen in the Milky Way by the Hubble Space Telescope. Nasa/Judy Schmidt, CC BY-SA Look at the ingredients on a tube of toothpaste and you will probably read something like “contains sodium fluoride”. Fluoride, as you probably know, is important for healthy teeth.Continue Reading
Pixabay, CC BY-SA Fireworks can be a spectacular addition to many of our annual celebrations. But sadly they can cause serious distress to our pets. Many animals show an instinctive fear response to sudden and unexpected loud noises. The bangs, crackling and whistling sounds made by fireworks can be particularlyContinue Reading
Nataliya Vaitkevich / Pexels It’s Halloween time, and the prospect of “trick-or-treating” and dressing up can be exciting for kids and adults alike. But for our dogs Halloween might be much less fun, and can actually be an extremely upsetting time. Just like us, all dogs are different and willContinue Reading
Many young people feel like their future is in peril. To make progress on climate change we must move past doomsday scenarios.Continue Reading
