Not long ago, the predominant worry when it came to humanity’s headcount was overpopulation. But now, the panic over population is the opposite: falling birth rates in many Western countries. But maybe both of those ways of thinking have it slightly wrong. In this episode, @katty.b.kay talks with demographer Jennifer Sciubba about how the most important thing might not be whether a country’s population is going up or down – but how governments and societies adapt when their population begins to change. Watch the full episode of The New Normal on BBC.com or by going to the link in our bio. #bbc #population
It’s not just what you eat, but how you think about it that matters. Research points to the idea that to maintain a healthier weight, we shouldn’t only focus on what we eat – but our mindset around food. Health correspondent @melissa_hogenboom explains.
Read the full article by visiting the link in our bio.
#bbc #weightloss #health
How easy is it to change your accent?
As it turns out, there’s a lot of hidden, complex work all of us do when hearing and voicing accents – even without being professional mimics.
According to an associate professor in voice, speech and dialects at the University of Connecticut, there are some tricks people can use to master the skill.
Tap the link in bio to read how German-born journalist Sophie Hardach’s used these tips to mimic an office worker who lives in Cincinnati.
📸 Serenity Strull/ BBC/ Getty Images
#BBC #BBCFuture #Science #Language #Speech
One third of US teens use AI companions for social interaction and relationships. A third of teens also say they find AI conversations to be satisfying or more satisfying than conversations they have with humans. That’s according to the non-profit Common Sense Media.
@katty.b.kay talks with New York Times technology columnist @kevinroose about why AI companions are becoming so popular, what people are getting out of them, and whether we all ought to be worried by their growing popularity.
Watch the full episode of The New Normal on BBC.com or by going to the link in our bio.
#bbc #ai #technology #teens
Discover handpicked features, videos, and can’t-miss news from our editors every Tuesday and Friday. Sign up to The Essential List newsletter on BBC.com or by going to the link in our bio. 📩
Weight-loss drugs are not the quick fix solution that many people believe, especially if you hope to keep the pounds off in the long-term.
So what should anyone planning to use weight-loss medication consider before they start?
Tap the link in bio to learn more.
#BBC #BBCFuture #science #health #weightloss
The origins of a lifelong fascination can sometimes be traced to a single moment.
For Sir David Attenborough, it came in the form of a fossil: an ancient ammonite uncovered as a boy exploring the English countryside. That encounter would help shape a career dedicated to revealing the story of life on Earth. Read the full story on BBC.com or by going to the link in our bio.
How Big AI is paying influencers to shape your opinion 🤔
Sourced from an article in Wired, we deep dive into WHO and WHY Big AI is paying influencers.
Find out more on #TheInterface podcast 👇
Watch on YouTube 🔗(link in bio), listen on BBC.com, or if you’re in the UK listen on @BBCSounds
A @BBCStudios Production.
“You have all this messaging, which is telling you to make yourself into a certain person in order to be acceptable to society.”
The Other Bennet Sister is a new TV show that imagines of the life of Pride and Prejudice character Mary Bennet. In an interview with the BBC, the show’s cast discusses why this Austen character is so relatable today.
Tap the link in bio for the full article.
#BBC #TheOtherBennetSister #Books #TV #JaneAusten
This month marks Merton College Library’s 750th anniversary. The Oxford library’s extraordinary lifespan has been recognised since the Victoria era, when it was routinely described as the oldest library in England. But the real story is more complex.
Tap the link in bio for the full article.
📸 Courtesy of the Warden and Fellows of Merton College Oxford, Alamy, Getty
#BBC #Culture #History #Books #UK
Over the last 200 years, humanity’s average lifespan has skyrocketed, but this focus on “lifespan” may be ignoring a trickier reality – living longer lives doesn’t automatically mean we’re healthier in old age.
@katty.b.kay talks with cardiologist and longevity expert @erictopol1 who believes people ought to focus less on extending their lifespans and more on improving their “healthspans” - the amount of time in their lives where they’re healthy.
Watch the full episode of The New Normal on BBC.com or by going to the link in our bio.
#bbc #lifespan
