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Smartphone App Calms the Nerves
Science Magazine: Cellphones and other mobile devices have gotten a lot of bad press recently for keeping people tethered to stressful workplaces. But a new study suggests that mobile technology might also help tense people chill out. Playing a smartphone gaming app for 45 minutes can reduce anxiety levels in tense individuals, researchers reported online this month in Clinical Psychological Science. Read the whole story: Science Magazine
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The Future of Brain Implants
The Wall Street Journal: What would you give for a retinal chip that let you see in the dark or for a next-generation cochlear implant that let you hear any conversation in a noisy restaurant, no matter how loud? Or for a memory chip, wired directly into your brain's hippocampus, that gave you perfect recall of everything you read? Or for an implanted interface with the Internet that automatically translated a clearly articulated silent thought ("the French sun king") into an online search that digested the relevant Wikipedia page and projected a summary directly into your brain? Science fiction? Perhaps not for very much longer.
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A Study Seeks to Determine What Makes Prekindergarten Successful
The New York Times: The teacher held up a card with a number on it, then looked at the 4-year-olds waving their hands eagerly in front of her. “Anderson,” she said, calling on a small boy in a blue button-up shirt and a sweater vest. “Five,” Anderson said, correctly. “Good boy, Anderson,” the teacher said. Then she turned to the rest of the class. “Are you ready?” she said, and then, “Go!” At that, the children jumped up and down five times as they counted: “One! Two! Three! Four! Five!” This exercise, which held a prekindergarten class in Brooklyn riveted one morning last week, was not an effort to introduce high-impact aerobics into preschool.
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Your Personality Might Not be Suitable for Telework
The ferocious US winter of 2014 has undoubtedly demonstrated the economic viability of telework. In many parts of the country, home broadband connections, VPNs, and cloud-based applications allowed numerous workers to continue working when heavy snows prevented them from getting to the office. In fact, telework is becoming not only an option on snow days, but a common practice among employers across the globe. In the United States alone, telework arrangements have grown by more than 63% since 2006, according to market research company Global Workplace Analytics.
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Good Results Are Worth the Wait. Self-Control Will Get You There.
Entrepreneur: The ability to manage our emotions and exert self-control is considered one of the cornerstones of emotional intelligence and a key predictor of personal and professional success. Yet, it doesn’t take a marshmallow test to figure out that most of us are not that great at behavioral self-control. Plans such as saving for retirement, losing weight or studying for exams often fail due to our inability to delay gratification when a new “toy,” a delicious cupcake or a night out with friends are also options on the table. We’re often quite aware that taking a long-term view would far better serve our interests and eventually provide the bigger rewards. ...
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How A Tiny Bit Of Procrastination Can Help You Make Better Decisions
Forbes: Waiting. We’ve all done it, and pretty much all of us hate it. Can science help us do it better? Sadly, when it comes to waiting in line at Disney Land, McDonalds, or the DMV, you’re at the mercy of the machine. All you can really do is think of sunny, sandy beaches and steer clear of anothing potentially antagonizing. But when it comes to another ubiquitous form of waiting, anticipating uncertain news or outcomes, Kate Sweeny has you covered. Waiting on information regarding your health, relationships, professional prospects, or academic outcomes can be torturous. Sweeny wants to alleviate the agony.
