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- Written by: Mike Leary
- Category: Lifestyle
More than 70 percent of teenagers in the United States have spoken with an AI chatbot at least once. Many use it weekly. Some use it daily. Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Character.AI and Replika are now part of everyday life for young people. They assist with homework, writing and conversation. They also create new risks that experts and families are still trying to understand, similar to concerns raised in discussions about the impact of social media on student mental health.
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- Written by: Mike Leary
- Category: Lifestyle
A California state court is weighing whether major social media companies can be held responsible for the way their products are designed. The case centers on claims that popular platforms were engineered to keep young users engaged for extended periods, despite internal awareness of potential risks.
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- Written by: Mike Leary
- Category: Lifestyle
The first night spent in an unfamiliar environment is often marked by light sleep and repeated awakenings. This reaction affects people during travel, holidays, or work-related stays. Scientific research based on neurobiology and sleep physiology explains why this happens and identifies a specific brain mechanism responsible for increased nighttime vigilance. Sleep is a biological process essential for brain regeneration, memory consolidation, and stable cognitive performance. Humans spend about 33 percent of their lives asleep. During this time, the body alternates between clearly defined sleep phases that regulate physical and mental recovery, similar to processes described in studies on brain metabolism and neural health.
Read more: Why the first night in a new place disrupts sleep
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- Written by: Mike Leary
- Category: Lifestyle
When emotions strike, they leave a lasting trace in the brain, reaching far beyond the moment itself. A new study led by Chenyang (Leo) Lin from Boston University reveals that emotional or rewarding experiences can enhance memories of ordinary events that occur just before or after them. The research, published on September 24 in Science Advances, provides evidence that emotions can shape memory retention in specific and measurable ways.
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- Written by: Mike Leary
- Category: Lifestyle
The period between late autumn and the start of the new year is associated with measurable changes in emotional functioning. Reduced daylight, limited social activity, and cultural emphasis on closeness shape how many people experience this time. For individuals who are single, these factors often interact with dating dynamics, family encounters, and self-perception, leading to a temporary increase in emotional sensitivity. Similar seasonal patterns of emotional processing have been described in broader psychological research, more here.
Read more: Winter Transition and Emotional Vulnerability Among Singles