Science & Society

  1. Health & Medicine

    The power of ‘like’

    A single “like” on a social-media post can make it much more popular, which can influence how teens behave.

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  2. Health & Medicine

    Social media: What’s not to like?

    Social media can help teens connect with friends and family. Sometimes, however, it may leave them feeling depressed or isolated.

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  3. Tech

    Social networks can learn about you through your friends

    Social networks can gather information from users that let them create “shadow profiles” of others — even people not on the network.

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  4. Environment

    Air pollution takes a toll on solar energy

    Air pollution can rob the light needed for solar panels to make electricity. In India and China, the percent solar energy losses can reach double digits.

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  5. Brain

    Understanding body clocks brings three a Nobel Prize

    Three American men will share this year’s Nobel prize for physiology or medicine. The award recognizes their contributions to understanding the workings of the body’s biological clock.

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  6. Science & Society

    Explainer: The Nobel Prize

    Every year, Nobel Prize winners are front page news for their discoveries. But what is a Nobel Prize and why does it matter? We explain.

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  7. Archaeology

    Clay reveals secrets of China’s mysterious terra-cotta army

    Production of the famous terra-cotta troops found in ancient Chinese emperor’s tomb was made possible by a specialized system of clay manufacturing.

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  8. Computing

    Video games level up life skills

    A new study shows that playing video games can sharpen important life skills, including communication, adaptability and resourcefulness.

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  9. Science & Society

    In an era of fake news, students must act like journalists

    In an era when the library may be about the last place students go to do research, news literacy — knowing how to vet sources and check facts — is becoming more important for kids than ever.

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  10. Science & Society

    Fake news: How not to fall for it

    Schools don’t always teach kids how to tell fact from fiction on the internet. But news literacy is more important now than ever.

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  11. Science & Society

    Fact checking: How to think like a journalist

    In an era when much research can be done online, knowing how to assess what ‘facts’ to trust is essential. Unfortunately, it’s also becoming harder than ever.

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  12. Psychology

    Warnings may help flag fake news, but they also backfire

    Warning that a news story may be false can help people avoid being duped by hoaxes — but not as much as you might think, according to a new study.

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