3 Questions. 3 Hints. 3 Answers. Every Tuesday.
1. It used to be we guiltily propped our babies in front of the TV to watch Baby Mozart while we tackled the dishes in the sink. Now parents are using this to divert the young…
Hint:
Answer: against the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants as young as six months, having barely learned to sit up on their own, are using smartphones, tablets and other handheld devices. By age one, approximately 14% of toddlers are entertaining themselves with mobile technology for at least an hour a day, claims a recent study. Not surprisingly, time spent on smartphones and the like, increases with age. So much for “story time.” Read the details here.
2. If science is to gain greater acceptance and trust, what do we need more of?
Hint:
Answer: why is there growing disagreement over “basic scientific facts, including human evolution, the safety of vaccines and whether or not human-caused climate change is real”? Experts point to strongly-held views and opinions as one of the main reasons for people’s refusal to accept scientific facts. However, acceptance sometimes just comes down to a number, namely, how many scientists agree on a particular state of affairs. If there is “expert consensus” or even perceived scientific consensus, deeply held views are subject to being neutralized and science becomes more readily accepted. Read more about the power of consensus here.
3. Attention pothead drivers! What device threatens to uncover your state of mind?
Hint:
Answer: with the legalization of marijuana in several states, comes the fear that the number of stoned drivers on the road will increase. To alleviate the concern, two biomedical engineering students recently developed the pot version of the breathalyzer test (that uses saliva instead of breath) and are calling it the “Cannibuster.” Read more here.