Surprising Science — April 16, 2014

Study: Trauma Passed Down Through Sperm

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience found that trauma can be passed down through sperm. This builds on the study released last year which found that the children and grandchildren of people who survived traumas, like abuse or war, inherited painful memories, which could negatively impact their mental health. For more on this latest study, watch this video from DNews:

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Illustration of human evolution with silhouettes of ape to human walking against an abstract background with swirling red and white patterns.

The Past

A new spin on the “Stoned Ape Hypothesis”

The controversial theory about magic mushrooms and human evolution gets a much-needed update.

Collage with a smiling woman, a couple, a person lying down, another couple, and a decorative key with a flower on a textured background.

Neuropsych

Holocaust survivor on freeing yourself from the prison of your mind

“I am free. It’s a lot of effort to be free from the prison that is in your mind, and the key is in your pocket.” – Edith Eva Eger

A human hand reaches toward a robotic hand, which includes a speech bubble with mathematical code. A pixelated pink background completes the scene.

The Future

AI chatbots may ease the world’s loneliness (if they don’t make it worse)

Man seeking meaningful relationship at the intersection of on-demand empathy and Rule 34.

A man with long hair, a beard, glasses, and a bandana on his head, reminiscent of David Foster Wallace, poses for a portrait against a plain background.

High Culture

How suicide warped David Foster Wallace’s legacy

The writer’s tragic death at age 46 has led many to view him as a tortured artist. Here’s why this label is reductive.

Young child sitting on a couch, illuminated by the screen of a tablet they are holding in a dimly lit room.

The Present

Beyond screen time: Rethinking kids’ tech use with the “Goldilocks hypothesis”

The digital world will always entail risks for teens, but that doesn’t mean parents aren’t without recourse.

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