How “blue” and “green” appeared in a language that didn’t have words for them
People of a remote Amazonian society who learned Spanish as a second language began to interpret colors in a new way, an MIT study has found.
Analyzing pathways to persuasion
When it comes to shaping political beliefs, MIT postdoc Chloe Wittenberg PhD ’23 finds video captivates, but might not beat text.
Practicing mindfulness with an app may improve children’s mental health
New research suggests daily mindfulness training at home helped reduce kids’ stress levels and negative emotions.
How a single neuron’s parallel outputs can coordinate many aspects of behavior
Study finds that in worms, the HSN neuron uses multiple chemicals and connections to orchestrate egg-laying and locomotion over the course of several minutes.
Finding solidarity in the teachers’ lounge
MIT PhD candidate Elizabeth Parker-Magyar finds close workplace networks among educators drive their activism even outside of democracies.
Is AI in the eye of the beholder?
Study shows users can be primed to believe certain things about an AI chatbot’s motives, which influences their interactions with the chatbot.
Cracking the code that relates brain and behavior in a simple animal
MIT researchers model and create an atlas for how neurons of the worm C. elegans encode its behaviors, make findings available on their “WormWideWeb.”
When rumors take flight
Professor Adam Berinsky’s new book examines the political misinformation that threatens the US system of government.
Using social media to raise awareness of women’s resources
An experiment in Egypt suggests ways to spread information for women facing domestic violence.
Q&A: Alexey Makarin on why social media harms youth mental health
MIT professor discusses the US surgeon general’s recent advisory and why scrolling social media can lead to depression and anxiety.
Why big changes early in life can help later on
Study shows moving can help foster a more robust social network, by strengthening “long ties” with others.
MIT engineering students take on the heat of Miami
A collaboration between MIT and Miami-Dade County has students working with city planning officials to understand why people wait patiently for a bus — and why they bail.
Study: Microtargeting works, just not the way people think
In politics, tailored ads make sense, but with real limits to the tailoring.
Why social movements must innovate
On-the-ground study of Sudan shows how protestors have kept their tactics evolving in the face of oppressive rulers.
Computational model mimics humans’ ability to predict emotions
Using insights into how people intuit others’ emotions, researchers have designed a model that approximates this aspect of human social intelligence.