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Who’s funnier, AI or humans? A new study found that we find ChatGPT-generated comedy funnier than, or as funny as, comedy written by humans, including professional writers. The findings suggest that AI is no laughing matter for the entertainment industry. · Writing comedy is hard. Humor is often subjective, so what you find funny, others may not. And comedy writers need to remember to include critical ingredients: timing, delivery, originality,…

The Trump trials have been in the headlines for months, and for good reason. As CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, no Trump supporter, put it, “I doubt the New York indictment would have been brought against a defendant whose name was not Donald Trump.” · Yet, no matter whether you love or hate Trump, what makes the Trump case so disturbing is that it is not exceptional. Trump is far from the only victim of lawfare. In fact, many people have been targeted…

If you are a parent or a teacher, you most probably read stories to young children. Together, you laugh and point at the pictures. You engage them with a few simple questions. And they respond. · So what happens to children when they participate in shared reading? Does it make a difference to their learning? If so, what aspects of their learning are affected? · British researcher Don Holdaway was the first to point out the benefits of shared…

Cyber experts have urgently warned people to update their passwords after a hacker uploaded billions of login details. · The leak, called RockYou2024, was posted on July 4th containing a staggering 10 billion passwords from a compilation of old and new data breaches. · Researchers who revealed the leak said the information could allow hackers to target any system that isn’t protected by strict security software including online and offline…

Do your politics determine—or at least predict—your mental health? Recent research indicates that the answer is “yes.” · A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology found a correlation between agreement with social justice mantras (colloquially referred to as “wokeness”) and depression, anxiety, and lack of happiness. · As reported by the New York Post, researchers in Finland sent out an assessment to participants that measured…

If we fail to inspire this next generation to pursue that which is True, Good, and Beautiful, I shudder to think at the consequences. Groupthink will destroy all that we hold dear. We want our students to polish their reason and to prepare to guide and navigate their chariots along the track of life. · It is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks. · —Tacitus · It’s very important for…

Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is the first cohort to grow up as digital natives. With the pervasive adoption of smartphones, there is heightened concern over digital addiction and its impact on mental well-being, especially on those aged 18 to 24. · According to data from the Global Mind Project, which hosts the world’s largest database of comprehensive mental health profiles, there is a concerning correlation between the age at…

A decade after declaring its caliphate in Iraq and Syria, ISIS has lost its territory but continues to exert influence and poses a growing threat in Africa. · ISIS’s appearance in Africa has complicated the security terrain in countries such as Somalia. : Major Joe Legros, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, via Wikimedia Commons Public domain ISIS’s appearance in Africa has complicated the security terrain in countries such as…

The name suggests something not so appealing, but transglutaminase, or meat glue, is used commonly in many processed foods. Questions remain about how safe it is. · The phrase “meat glue” is likely to elicit a few scrunched noses or raised eyebrows, and the image of “gluing meat” together seems entirely unappealing. But transglutaminase (TG), or meat glue as it’s commonly called, is used in many processed foods today. However, it’s a…

You take a holiday day, but get distracted by the thought of your work inbox filling up. Or you sit down to watch a movie and immediately feel guilty about all the tasks still on your to-do list. Or perhaps you splurge on a massage, but barely enjoy it because your thoughts are racing the entire time. · If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone. Relaxing may sound like the easiest thing in the world, but for many people it’s anything…