New Atlas

Science Audio available

Oxford anthropologists identify seven universal rules of morality

Rich Haridy February 13, 2019

In the largest cross-cultural survey ever conducted, a team of anthropologists has determined 7 moral rules they suggest are universal. Surveying ethnographic accounts from 60 different cultures the research concludes every single culture analyzed seems to be ruled by the same moral precepts.

A study of 60 different cultures has confirmed seven universal moral rules based on social cooperation

Science Audio available

Ancient civilizations may have been more connected than previously thought

Anthony Wood September 19, 2018

Ancient civilizations could have benefited, and at times suffered from belonging to an interconnected global economy, according to evidence presented in a newly-published study.

Energy consumption was used to measure the extent of globalization for early civilizations

Health & Wellbeing

Bad sleep increases feelings of loneliness - and it may be contagious

Rich Haridy August 15, 2018

A new study from UC Berkeley investigated the relationship between poor sleep and loneliness finding people tend to withdraw and avoid social interaction after even a single night’s disrupted sleep, and what's more, those feelings could be contagious.

The study found sleep-deprived people were less attractive to others and made normal subjects feel more ...

Biology

Researchers home in on a possible genetic basis for loneliness

Rich Haridy July 3, 2018

An intriguing new study has homed in on several specific genomic regions that seem to be associated with greater traits of social isolation and loneliness. The results suggest genetic traits associated with loneliness cross over with a susceptibility for bad cardiovascular health and depression.

Are loneliness and social isolation genetic traits?

Health & Wellbeing

Loneliness looms as bigger risk for premature death than obesity

Nick Lavars August 7, 2017

Is loneliness a silent killer? Things like obesity and smoking are well established and clear contributors to the risk of premature mortality, but according to a new study, the impacts of chronic social isolation may pose a similar threat.

Researchers warn that many nations around the world are facing an impending loneliness epidemic

Good Thinking Feature

Robot taxes and universal basic income: How do we manage our automated future?

Rich Haridy February 20, 2017

As more jobs are becoming automated, there are calls for everything from a robot tax to universal basic income to deal with the dramatic shift in the underlying structures of labor economies over the next 20 to 50 years. But what do these proposals truly mean and can any be properly implemented?

Automation and artificial intelligence are set to replace humans in a wider array of jobs than ...

Science

CLASH theory blames violence in hot climates on "fast life strategy"

Eric Mack June 28, 2016

A new model attempts to explain the higher violent crime rates seen in parts of the world near the equator with hotter climates.

Countries with warmer climates are said to have higher rates of violent crime – but why?

Telecommunications

Opinion: Pitchforks @Dawn – the case for keeping Twitter trivial

James Holloway February 24, 2015

People diss Twitter for its triviality, but give me lunch tweets and lighthearted nonsense over pitchforks, death threats and endless opinions any day, says Gizmag's James Holloway.

"If tweeting sometimes feels like screaming into an abyss, that's probably because it is" (Image: Gizmag)

Drones

Colorado town considers drone hunting licenses

James Holloway July 18, 2013

Deer Trail, Colorado (population 600 or so) is to vote on a local ordinance that would allow drone hunting licenses and bounties for shooting down UAVs, according to ABC affiliate KMGH-TV.

US Government drones may not be welcome in Deer Trail, Colorado come Aug. 6

Automotive Feature

Dual-mode transport - the trend accelerates

Mike Hanlon April 30, 2012

The ongoing development of vehicles offering two modes of transport was a key trend evident at Auto China last week. Personal transportation needs are changing and Geely and BMW are the latest to demonstrate cars with inclusive last-mile transport.

As car ownership grows, congestion grows and parking in city centers becomes more expensive, and a ...