Tag Archives: Opinion

Beowulf Is Back!

The daring exploits of a legendary hero have captured human imagination for centuries. Read about why Beowulf stays with us.

‘The Latest Shopping Trend? Not Shopping

Influencers sometimes push a lifestyle of constantly buying new clothing, high-tech gadgets, or the hottest new cosmetic products. But a growing number of people are becoming disillusioned with what they perceive as pressure to constantly purchase new things. Their solution? Buying less.

When Did Girls Start Wearing Pink?

Blue is for boys and pink is for girls. Or are they? Read about how the colors associated with gender have changed over time.

‘Sephora kids’ and the booming business of beauty products for children

There is currently a surging trend in young preteen girls buying expensive make-up and other beauty products. Some older shoppers are complaining that they are rude and messy while doing it. Others think kids that young should not be be so obsessed with beauty products to begin with. Regardless, it shows a changing trend in who the consumers for these products are. Talk in your class about the trend and politely debate why this is a good or bad thing.

People Are Increasingly Worried A.I. Will Make Daily Life Worse

Like it or not, artificial intelligence is here to stay–and it is making its way into every part of our lives. With self-driving cars using A.I. to make split-second steering decisions, A.I. helping to sort job and college applications, and companies using A.I, to sway customer behavior, a lot of people are growing fearful of the technology. People used to fear monsters in the darkness, but in modern times, some of our scariest monsters are lines of code in a machine.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect, or ‘why incompetent people think they’re amazing’

How good are you at basketball? What about playing an instrument? Psychological research suggests we’re not actually very good at evaluating our own abilities accurately. In fact, we frequently overestimate our own abilities thanks to something known as the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

Redshirt the Boys

Gender, age, and socioeconomic status play a part in how well someone performs in school. Read about the complicated and layered issue “redshirting” could help solve.

I’m an engineer, not a cheerleader. Let’s abandon silly rules about gender roles.

In this article, 17-year-old science student Sara Sakowitz shares her experience being a girl who loves science.

5 Ways Consumers Can Be More Socially Conscious in Shopping

The tragic consequences of the collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh makes us question the ethics of low-cost goods. Should we be more mindful of our buying choices? Experts in ethical shopping share five ways to be more socially conscious when shopping.

Why we’ll always be obsessed with – and afraid of – monsters

Read one author’s take on our “age of fear” and the rise of the zombie.

What Is Your Dog Thinking? A Psychological Guide

Do dogs love each other? Do they feel guilty about the rotten things they sometimes do? Read Stanley Coren’s article to find the answers, and, while you’re at it, discover how to laugh like a dog, interpret a dog’s barks, and tell what a wagging tail really means.

A Conversation with Sir Patrick Stewart

In 2010, a modern version of The Tragedy of Macbeth appeared on PBS’s Great Performances. The star of that groundbreaking production, Sir Patrick Stewart, discusses the choices he and director Rupert Goold made to bring Shakespeare’s work to life on the small screen.

Are you ready to heal?’: Nonbinary activist Alok Vaid-Menon deconstructs gender

Read about Alok Vaid-Menon’s thoughts about gender and gender deconstruction.

What Part of Legal Immigration Don’t You Understand?

This graphic novel-inspired illustration takes an honest yet humorous look at the process of legal immigration. Click on the image to enlarge it and view details.

Banks Warned That Crypto Could Replace Dollar Within Five Years

Is cryptocurrency a fad or here to stay? Read about recent survey results that say it’s not only here to stay, but dollars may become a thing of the past.

Teens around the world are lonelier than a decade ago. The reason may be smartphones.

Read about how smart phones and social media impact the social lives of teens.

Killer robots? Get real. It’ll be easier for AI to just erase our minds and steal our bodies

Have you ever stopped to think that the robot uprising could potentially be more terrifying than certain death? Read this op-ed to learn more about this writer’s thoughts about the future.