Running the risk: why experience matters when making decisions
Source: The Conversation
Psychologist Ben Newell explains how previous experience affects risky decisions.
People
What’s in a Name?
Source: The New York Times
What historically male names have increasingly been given to female babies? What names have managed to remain gender neutral? Read about the back-and-forth of some popular names in the United States.
Victims Confront Offenders, Face To Face
Source: NPR
Victims of crimes sometimes have a say in the cases’ outcomes in a process called restorative justice. Listen to this radio interview to hear more about how it works.
Debunking The Millennials’ Work Ethic “Problem”
Source: Harvard Business Review
In this article, activist Erica Williams considers some possible reasons for the widely held belief that members of the “millennial” generation have poor work ethic.
Eureka!
Source: Smithsonian
“One sometimes finds what one is not looking for,” said Alexander Fleming, whose chance observation of a contaminated experiment led to the the world’s first antibiotic. This Smithsonian article discusses inventions and discoveries that centered on a flash of insight in a mind prepared to see what it wasn’t looking for.
Agreeing to Disagree
Source: Psychology Today
It may be easier to have a conversation with someone who already agrees with you, but it’s better for your brain to talk with—and listen to—someone who disagrees with you. In this article, Art Markman, Ph.D., a cognitive scientist at the University of Texas, discusses the practical applications of psychological research on disagreement.
Expect crocs and killers when paddling down the Congo River in a canoe
Source: The National (UAE)
A few years ago a British adventurer completed the first solo canoe trip down the full length of Africa’s Congo River. Read about the challenges he faced.
How the Stress of Disaster Brings People Together
Source: Scientific American
Stress can put people’s nerves on edge, but it can also cause them to be kinder and more compassionate toward others.
How Teenagers Spend Money
Source: The Atlantic
Where does your money typically go? Compare your spending habits with the national breakdowns featured in this report.
Pursuing the Impossible, and Coming Out on Top
Source: The New York Times
Free climbers Kevin Jorgesen and Tommy Caldwell reached the summit of El Capitan’s Dawn Wall in Yosemite after over 18 days of hard work. Many consider it the toughest, most challenging rock climb in the world. Read about it here.