Is banning TikTok pointless?

Despite calls growing in intensity across the U.S. to restrict access to TikTok, Rae Hodge explains why banning the popular social media app from personal devices is politically and technologically impossible.

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"Banning" TikTok is pointless political theater — and it's impossible anyway

U.S. is racing toward a looming "hunger cliff," experts warn

With record inflation leaving many Americans struggling, Ashlie D. Stevens discusses the plight of millions facing food poverty as the pandemic-era emergency SNAP benefits expire.

U.S. is racing toward a looming "hunger cliff," food insecurity experts warn

Could a human colony on Mars survive? Although we've long viewed the Red Planet as our plan B, Troy Farah examines recent scientific research demonstrating how life on Mars would strain our physical limits.

How living on Mars would warp the human body

Higher levels of optimism are linked with better health, including reducing your risk of stroke. Judith Graham meets with several senior citizens and self-proclaimed optimists to discover how their positive attitudes have improved their lives.

Are you an optimist? Could you learn to be? Your health may depend on it

50% of the land used to grow coffee could turn unproductive by 2050.

A world without coffee could have devastating health and economic effects, and it's more of a real possibility than most people imagine. Luckily, botanists say we can still save this crop - Troy Farah explains how.

Will wild coffee go extinct from climate change?

Listen to this expert's advice on defusing tension during family dinners.

Mary Elizabeth Williams used to be the kind of person that would avoid conflict over family dinners. But through her studies and experiences, she's realised that conflict sometimes is not something you avoid but rather something you have to tackle. So here, she breaks down helpful ways you can do it, not only this holiday season but in any similar situation.

I've studied conflict resolution - here's what it's taught me about surviving the holidays

Stocks rose after news of Iger's return.

The Disney board ousted CEO Bob Chapek in favour of predecessor Robert Iger amid disappointing earnings. Alison Stine reflects on how this suggests that more challenging economic times mean similar corporate casualties in the near future.

A tale of two Bobs: Bob Chapek out, Robert Iger in at Disney

'My year of living archaically gave me back more than I lost.'

Is smartphone addiction ruining your life? For Randyn Charles Bartholomew, the answer was yes. This is why he traded his in for a Kyocera flip phone and severed himself from all the bad habits he'd accumulated.

Don't fear the flip phone

The longstanding pop culture theory has been proven right once again. 

Although economists can't yet decide whether we're heading for a recession, consider the wave of vampire shows on our TV screens the omen we're looking for. With True Blood and Twilight at peak popularity in the thick of the Great Recession, Melanie McFarland examines the loose link between austerity and a fear of fangs.

Beware the rise of vampire shows - it could mean a recession is looming

The next breakdown will likely be global.       

       The Cahokia Mounds stand by the Mississippi as a warning from a fallen culture. But do we still have time to heed it? Examining this prehistoric nation, Chris Hedges reflects on how history has revealed that civilisations die in familiar patterns, and our current times suggest a similar fate is ahead of us.

We won't be the first civilization to collapse — but we may well be the last

Why this suddenly influential philosophy is so toxic.

Whatever we may "owe the future," it isn't longtermism, a bizarre and dangerous ideology fueled by eugenics and capitalism. Émile P. Torres examines the rise in the hugely influential line of thought embraced by the tech sector and billionaires and is rapidly seeping into the US and international politics.

Understanding "longtermism"

No one's safe from the trap of social media.

Though academics may disapprove of influencer culture, social media promotion is now a necessary evil. Brooke Erin Duffy explores why so many career fields-journalism, health, and even academics are driven by the features of social media culture we associate with influencers.

Influencer culture is everywhere — even in academia

Can depriving the body of sustenance connect us to God?

Fasting is prominent in several major world religions, including Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. For many, it's considered a test of self-restraint and a pathway to greater wisdom; however, fasting can also become uniquely pleasurable for those who've ever attempted it. Mary Elizabeth Williams explores the intriguing effects of fasting on the brain. Of course, you can't starve yourself to nirvana; however, as she discovers, recent research affirms that regular restriction can improve cognition and even stave off some of the effects of ageing. 

Why fasting can make you feel "high"

Here’s what I’m glad I kept

Jillian Pretzel held onto hundred of mementoes from her childhood, convinced her future child would treasure them too. Here, she reveals, why after giving birth, she decided it was time for a clearout. 

        ‘There was a lot I was glad I kept. But I was surprised to find that a good portion of my stored treasures was, indeed, just junk. I didn't even remember owning some of it. Maybe there was some important memory attached to an old pair of Mary Janes, but I couldn't remember it.’

I was a hoarder until I became a parent

Every type of grief is unique, just as every person lost was.  
 
Grief is a well-known but frequently underestimated element of life. However, external pressures to be productive and not make others uncomfortable have led to damaging expectations that we can and should revert to "normalcy" after a few days to mourn. With several ongoing disasters causing widespread suffering and after over a decade of debate, Mary Elizabeth Williams explores how the 2022 addition of "prolonged grief disorder" to the DSMM could change our mindsets by recognising that loss can cause clinically significant distress or impairment. 

Is grieving too long a disorder?

Many LGBTQ+ children will struggle without context for their feelings.

In the 90s, mannish clothes and short hair were hallmarks of lesbianism, and romance was synonymous with a straight male/female dynamic. On the surface, it might not seem that harmful; however, these beliefs led to many young people battling against their feelings in a society where straight was the only normal.

It's only human to want to be normal. Now that the 2022 "Don't Say Gay" bill has passed, Elizabeth Morton speaks out to describe through reflections on her catholic childhood how harmful LGBTQ+ denial is and explains why we must provide children with the language, stories, and role models to feel like they belong.

What my gay childhood in a "Don't Say Gay" landscape was really like

Silicon Valley wants to 'disrupt' the mental health industry.

But are they devaluing it in the process? An estimated 42% of Americans seek out therapy, making it an appealing space for tech entrepreneurs looking to make significant financial gains. Services like Talkspace and BetterHelp are leading the way in breaching the gap between technology and therapy. Still, many experts remain sceptical about how much value this format loses compared to in-real-life sessions. Nicole Karlis explores furhter.

The gig economy comes for therapists

Prolonged wakefulness isn't just unhealthy; it's downright unscientific.

Many of us have heard that successful people work while the lazy are sleeping. However, most don't understand just how harmful this mindset is. Evidence indicates that the relationship between sleep and your health should be as crucial as a good diet. Matthew Rozsa uses the latest research to examine the long and short-term risks of sleep deprivation and discusses the small changes you can make to improve yours.

Americans can't seem to get enough sleep — and it's wreaking havoc on our brains

They are taken seriously by psychologists and psychoanalysts alike.

Attachment style is the new pop psychology fad for determining compatibility, like love languages and zodiac signs. But whether they can be applied to the average couple is up in the air. Nicole Karlis explores the science behind this theory to discover whether it can help people find more meaningful relationships.

Do "attachment styles" really matter in relationships?

Hype or hope?

For as long as marijuana has been consumed recreationally, its users have exaggerated its medicinal properties. But two recent studies from a prestigious universe and publication have stated that marijuana could help treat COVID-19. But is there any truth behind this?

Matthew Rosze examines the findings that suggest, alongside vaccination, the plan could be used as a supplement against coronavirus. But only time and research will tell.