Beowulf Is Back!
Source: The Atlantic
The daring exploits of a legendary hero have captured human imagination for centuries. Read about why Beowulf stays with us.
Opinion
‘The Latest Shopping Trend? Not Shopping
Source: CNN
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?
Source: Smithsonian
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
Source: BBC
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
Source: Wired
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’
Source: TED Education
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
Source: The Atlantic
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.
Source: The Washington Post
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
Source: Global News
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
Source: The Conversation
Read one author’s take on our “age of fear” and the rise of the zombie.