-
New research on horse eyesight could improve racecourse safety
The way horses see the world is almost entirely differently to that of humans -- from the distances they can see, to the colors they can process. New research carried out by the University of Exeter not only provides a better understanding of equine vision, but also demonstrates how the information can be used to improve racecourse safety. Crossbars and take-off boards for fences and hurdles have long been painted orange, based on what humans can see.
-
Americans Can’t Escape Long-Disproven Body Stereotypes
Imagine preparing for a job interview or a promising first date. You probably consider your outfit and general grooming—a fresh shower, plus hair products and makeup, if you use them. Glasses or contacts? Hair up or down? Various decisions signal different levels of erudition or sexual appeal, and people spend considerable time and money trying to use them to their advantage in high-stakes situations. New research suggests, though, that elements of your appearance that are far more difficult to control also have a substantial impact on those all-important first impressions.
-
How to Be a More Patient Person
My jaw clenches when Hulu videos buffer. I huff and puff when stuck in a sluggish line at a coffee shop. Slow cars in the fast lane send me into a curse-filled tizzy. I’m ashamed how quickly I lose my cool over these minor things. I’ve often wished I could be a more patient person, but it’s overwhelming to know where to start. Patience, the ability to keep calm in the face of disappointment, distress or suffering, is worth cultivating. The virtue is associated with a variety of positive health outcomes, such as reducing depression and other negative emotions.
-
The ‘Unschooling’ Movement: Letting Children Lead Their Learning
Is a child who spends the day watching videos or playing in the backyard actually learning? Yes, say advocates of the "unschooling" movement. Guests Maleka Diggs, founder of Eclectic Learning Network, a secular, black and brown-centered home-education network. She unschools her 11- and 13-year-old daughters. Peter Gray, psychology professor at Boston College. Co-founder and president of the nonprofit Alliance for Self-Directed Education.
-
Wharton psychologist Adam Grant says men should learn to listen like they’re wrong
For the past seven years, Adam Grant, age 37, has been rated the top professor at The Wharton School. With a PhD in organization psychology, Grant focuses his research on mentorship, emotional labor, and gender equality, and has written extensively on these subjects. He’s the author of three books, including Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, which he recently co-wrote with Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg. I introduced myself to Grant in 2016 at a conference where I, at age 22, was among the least important people in the room.
-
The Best Way to Build a Culture of Evidence-Based Government
Here's one of the toughest nuts to crack for any results-focused public leader: How do you strengthen and sustain a culture of evidence-based decision-making? How, in other words, do you reject the status quo in much of government, where decisions are too often made based on hunches, intuition and inertia ("That's how we've always done it") and instead use data and research to inform what works? Useful insights into that question come from agencies and jurisdictions we've seen firsthand that have taken important steps toward building a culture of evidence-based decision-making.
