science-and-society7.79 min read
The Physical and Emotional Journey of Finding Common Ground
1 year ago•Source: NPR
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11.615 min•1 year ago
Evolving Trust in Scientists: A Post-Pandemic Perspective
A Pew Research Center survey of 9,593 U.S. adults reveals that public trust in scientists has slightly increased since last year, with 76% expressing confidence in scientists to act in the public's best interests. However, trust remains lower than pre-pandemic levels. The survey highlights partisan differences, with Democrats showing more confidence in scientists than Republicans, though trust among Republicans has risen slightly. Americans are divided on scientists' roles in policymaking, with 51% supporting active involvement. Communication is seen as a weakness for scientists, and public opinion is split on whether scientists make better policy decisions than others.
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Declining Trust in Science: Americans' Views on Scientists Plummet
Pew Research Center•2 years ago
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"Combatting Ultraprocessed Foods: Effective Strategies for a Healthier Diet"
Knowable Magazine is a publication from Annual Reviews, a nonprofit publisher focused on synthesizing and integrating knowledge for the advancement of science and societal benefit.
"Interracial Contact Enhances Race-Neutral Brain Responses in Emotion Perception"
A study published in NeuroImage suggests that individuals who have more interracial interactions exhibit decreased racial bias in perceiving others' mental states for social interactions compared to those with limited interracial contact. The research, conducted on White American participants, found that regular interaction with people from diverse racial backgrounds can lead to more race-neutral brain responses when gauging emotions from the eyes. However, the study's scope was limited, and the findings may not be universally applicable across all races or ethnicities. The differences in brain activity may indicate a difference in neural engagement rather than a deeper understanding of emotions.
Unveiling the Mystery of Aging in the Past
The perception that people in the past looked older may be influenced by changes in rates of aging over time, improvements in healthcare, lifestyle factors, and biases associated with old fashions. A study found that biological aging has decreased in recent generations compared to previous ones, with improvements more noticeable in males and older adults. Factors such as smoking, medication use, early-life conditions, and reductions in infectious diseases contribute to these changes. However, biases in how we view older fashions and selection bias also play a role in perceiving people from the past as looking older.
The Decline of Trust in Science Among Americans.
Public confidence in scientists has plummeted in recent years, culminating in widespread pushback against public health measures and vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic. Just 29% of Americans say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists to act in the best interests of the public, according to Pew Research. Christopher Reddy, a chemist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has written a book, Science Communication in a Crisis: An Insider’s Guide, challenging scientists to learn how to explain what they know to the public, particularly around environmental disasters and medical emergencies at a time when the spread of misinformation is turbocharged. Reddy argues that scientists are part of the problem and need to engage with the press, the public and other players in ways that illuminate the science rather than obscure it.
Lab-grown mammoth meat used to create giant meatball in startup's triumph.
An Australian cultured meat company, Vow, has created an oversize meatball using cultivated flesh in a lab, partly made from the DNA of an extinct woolly mammoth, to educate people on alternatives that are more sustainable than real meat. Meanwhile, a tornado in Mississippi killed at least 26 people, and President Joe Biden toured the ravaged area on March 31. In Nashville, three students and three adults were killed by a shooter at a private Christian school. On a lighter note, the MLB's Opening Day saw the Yankees crush the San Francisco Giants 5-0, with rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe making his major league debut.