Author: wildgreenquest@gmail.com
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Why are zippers on different sides of male and female jackets? — Agrima, age 13, Delhi, India Imagine you’re at a clothing store that stocks items for the whole family. You pick up a white buttoned shirt to try on. The style is pretty plain. Was it designed to be worn by a woman or man? There may be a clue: Many women’s shirts have buttons on the left side, while men’s shirts usually button…
When you have situational depression, AI can potentially be of assistance, though not a cure-all.gettyIn today’s column, I examine the use of generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to overcome situational depression. Situational depression is a form of depression that has as its onset a specific event or circumstance that triggers the bout of depression.What can be done when you are embroiled in situational depression? The obvious and straightforward consideration would be to seek out therapy. Find a human therapist who can assist you in working through the circumstances at hand. Another angle is to consider using AI as…
There is a growing body of evidence that AI is redefining white-collar work. It’s not just the endless rounds of layoffs at tech companies that herald this transformation. Entry-level jobs are disappearing in sectors like software engineering, leaving new college graduates scrambling to figure out their next move. Recent entrants to the workforce are faced with a uniquely challenging job market, one they say they are unprepared to navigate. Plenty of others are also vulnerable as AI rapidly changes the nature of white-collar work. Secretaries and assistants are high on the list of jobs that are prone to being disrupted…
Scenic desert landscape against starry night skygettyThe simple ritual of “dusking” — quietly watching the transition from day to night — is spreading beyond its cultural home in the Netherlands as travelers search for slower, more grounding ways to reconnect with the natural world.What Is ‘Dusking?’At first glance, dusking sounds similar to the classic “sundowner” popularised on African safaris and in beach resorts. While both revolve around sunset in some way, they represent very different experiences. A sundowner is golden-hour drinks, while dusking is more of a back-to-nature trend (often called “mindfulness” and “wellness” by marketing graduates). According to the…
Focus Features wants to make people obsessed with its newest horror movie—and it seems to be working. Obsession, written and directed by Curry Barker, follows Bear (played by Michael Johnston) as he uses a mysterious, supernatural One Wish Willow toy to make his crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), fall in love with him. However, he soon discovers it comes with shockingly sinister and scary results. The movie was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last fall and was acquired by Focus Features shortly after in a deal reportedly worth more than $14 million. It also screened at South by…
Elizabeth River harbor and Nassco Shipyard platform by the riverside in Virginia.gettyThe Maritime Administration is exploring how nuclear energy in small modular reactors can revolutionize the U.S. marine transportation system.U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently announced the SMR initiative in an information request to private industry and developers. “To secure this future for America’s shipbuilding industry, we need to innovate. By partnering with industry experts and outside-the-box thinkers to develop a strong SMR model, we will deliver a state-of-the-art energy source that cuts costs and bolsters national security,” Duffy noted.These SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors able to generate up to…
Scientists have been sounding the alarm on just how bad AI and data centers are for the environment. And now, researchers have proof that data centers are also making nearby neighborhoods 4 degrees warmer, according to a new study from Arizona State University. The findings, which were published on Monday in the Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities, looked at how much heat two Arizona data centers were giving off in the Phoenix area—a hot spot for data center growth in the U.S. Researchers looked at a 36-megawatt facility in Mesa and a larger 169-megawatt data center campus in…
Answers for today’s NYT Mini Crossword are just ahead.The New York TimesLooking for yesterday’s NYT Mini answers? You can find them right here:ForbesNYT Mini Answers Today: Saturday, May 23 Crossword HintsBy Kris HoltWondering what the cookie in cookies ‘n cream is? Not sure what a mild, pleasant intoxication might be? Don’t worry, because I’m here to help you with hints and the answers for today’s NYT Mini crossword.The NYT Mini is a quick version of the newspaper’s larger, long-running crossword. Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five Mini grid, but…
Generative AI arrived in education everywhere all at once. Today’s students are surrounded by tools that promise help, answers, and efficiency at every turn. But learning has never been about convenience alone. As AI reshapes how students engage with academic material, the questions are whether it is being built to support how humans actually learn and ultimately improve outcomes. New research on millions of actual higher education student interactions in digital course materials suggests that the answer lies in a deceptively simple idea: active reading (and in AI designed to support it, not replace it). Active reading is a well‑established…
How to solve today’s Wordle.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesHappy lazy Sunday, Wordlers! It’s Memorial Day Weekend and I hope you’re all having a lovely time. Take a quick break from your shenanigans (or party prep) and let’s solve today’s Wordle which, by the way, is Wordle #1800. We’ve been playing this game for one thousand and eight hundred days. Crazy.Looking for Saturday’s Wordle? Check out our guide right here.Today’s Bonus Custom WordleNow that we can create our own custom Wordles, I’m including a bonus Wordle with each daily Wordle guide. These can be 4 to 7 letters long. Hopefully this…