New Atlas

Games Audio available

VR comes to Nintendo Switch with new Labo kits

Michael Irving March 6, 2019

Almost 25 years after the ill-fated Virtual Boy, Nintendo has finally jumped back into the VR game with a new Labo Kit for the Switch console. The fourth of these DIY cardboard construction kits is built around a pair of VR goggles that slide into different contraptions to play a range of games.

Nintendo's newest Labo Kit adds VR to the versatile Switch console

Health & Wellbeing

Machine learning used to improve outcome for arthritic kids

Ben Coxworth February 26, 2019

It's a sad fact that children can develop arthritis, and while some end up going into remission, the disease becomes worse in others. A new machine-learning technique is reportedly able to predict which kids will fall into which category, allowing for their treatment to be tailored accordingly.

Machine learning algorithms sorted arthritic children into several groups, depending on the location of their joint ...

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Sleep study finds pros and cons to afternoon nap for teenage brain health

Rich Haridy February 24, 2019

New research has revealed that a short night sleep with an afternoon nap is better for a teenager's mood and cognition than a longer, continuous night’s sleep. On the other hand, the split sleep students reported higher glucose levels, a marker that points to increased diabetes risk.

The study found 5 hours sleep plus a 90 minute afternoon nap was better for a ...

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Teen marijuana use linked to depression later in life, but what does this mean?

Rich Haridy February 13, 2019

A meta-study has examined the correlation between depression in young adulthood and marijuana usage in adolescence. The research concludes a significant association between teen marijuana use and depression in later life, but experts suggest caution in determining if the relationship is causal.

Despite a new meta-study finding a strong association between adolescent marijuana use and later-life depression, experts ...

Medical Audio available

How wearable movement sensors can detect anxiety and depression in young children

Rich Haridy January 16, 2019

A study has demonstrated a technique that can identify children with anxiety or depression by analyzing their movements. Using a machine learning algorithm that examines movement tracked by a wearable sensor, the system can identify children with disorders better than many current methods.

A new algorithm was ultimately able to identify children with anxiety or depression with an accuracy ...

Science Audio available

Oxford study finds digital screen time has little effect on teen mental health

Rich Haridy January 14, 2019

A study has tracked data from 350,000 subjects finding digital technology use accounts for less than half a percent of a young person’s mental health. The research suggests everything from wearing glasses to not getting enough sleep, have bigger negative effects on adolescent well-being.

A new study found that wearing glasses has a greater negative impact on a teenager's well-being ...

Architecture

Kindergarten makes more space for play with rooftop terrace

Adam Williams January 3, 2019

Polish firm Biuro Toprojekt's aptly-named Kindergarten makes good use of an awkward plot. Bringing to mind Vo Trong Nghia's Farming Kindergarten, the building offers additional space for the kids to run around outside with a play area on its roof.

Kindergarten was recently nominated, alongside 382 other projects, for the EU Mies van der Rohe Award ...

Science Audio available

Soft, safe sensor made to measure toddlers' grasp

Ben Coxworth December 27, 2018

When a baby is born premature, it's not uncommon for them to subsequently develop neuromotor and cognitive disabilities. A new Harvard-designed sensor, however, could help doctors catch such problems earlier than ever.

The new sensor incorporates a highly-conductive non-toxic liquid silicone

Good Thinking Audio available

International "Santa survey" uncovers the average age children stop believing

Rich Haridy December 23, 2018

A large international study, dubbed the “Santa survey,” is investigating how, and at what age, children begin to change their minds about the existence of Santa Claus. The research also examines whether a child’s trust in adults is threatened by the discovery that Santa isn’t real.

Eight is the average age a child stops believing in Santa Claus, according to a new ...

Children

Robots, drones and AR: The best tech toys of 2018

Michael Irving December 13, 2018

Toys today include robots, drones and AR, and if you’re lucky you can trick the kids into learning some useful skills along the way. New Atlas rounds up the best tech toys of 2018, which could make for some great last-minute gift ideas for the young’un in your life.

New Atlas rounds up the best tech toys of 2018