Surprising Science — June 22, 2010

Addicted to Technology

"When does a passion for gadgets turn into an addiction with symptoms that include headaches and back pain?" asks the Independent. Scientists now study this very modern affliction.

bigthinkeditor

“When does a passion for gadgets turn into an addiction with symptoms that include headaches and back pain?” asks the Independent. Scientists now study this very modern affliction. “Teenagers, necessarily, are a high-risk group, as are those who’ve had a bereavement, separation or redundancy. But no one is free from its impact. Technology experts talk anecdotally of the Texan 13-year-old who developed repetitive strain disorder from texting, or the Korean couple who were building a ‘cyber-baby’ on the internet but neglected to look after their real-life offspring.”

A woman, embodying the archetype of a wounded healer, is sitting on a couch engrossed in reading a book.

Neuropsych

The Chiron effect: Are “wounded healers” better healers?

Sometimes you just want to hear, "I know what it's like."

Two hands making a pinky promise with a notification icon showing one like against a blue background.

Neuropsych

“Tend and befriend”: The simple relationship hack for burnout resilience

You really can get by with a little help from your friends — if you also look beyond your personal to-do list.

Ancient bust of a bearded man, believed to depict one of history's generous leaders, with detailed facial features, set against a plain turquoise background.

Business

Aristotle plus generosity: How to soften the hard-boiled leader

Tough and cutthroat leaders are celebrated in a results-driven culture — but there is another path to C-suite success.

Starts With A Bang

The unsurprising non-detection of intelligent aliens

Life arose on Earth very early on. After a few billion years, here we are: intelligent and technologically advanced. Where's everyone else?

A person in a dark robe wielding a glowing red lightsaber on a desert dune under a night sky with a large crescent moon and a visible planet.

High Culture

Does science fiction shape the future?

Six visionary science fiction authors on the social impact of their work.

Up Next

Guest Thinkers

Drilling Ban Hastens Peak Oil

"By prompting President Obama to suspend deep-water drilling in US offshore waters, the Gulf oil spill is pushing up the date at which the world's conventional oil production peaks," says the CSM.