Learning another language should be compulsory in every school

Being bilingual has cultural, social, and cognitive benefits — so why are schools dropping language courses?

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In the 1960s, in our public schools in California along the border with Mexico, Spanish language-learning was a requirement, beginning in sixth grade. I couldn't wait to get to sixth grade to start learning Spanish.

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Mind & Brain

Depression begins in the gut. More importantly, possible treatment emerges.

5-HTP could help both constipation and depression, but dosage matters.

Photo credit: Hailey Kean on Unsplash
  • New research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center points to a potential treatment for depression.
  • One-third of all sufferers of depression suffer from constipation, strengthening the connection between the mind-gut problem.
  • Slow release 5-HTP was shown to alleviate both constipation and depression in mice.
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Surprising Science

Neurotic people have noisier, more chaotic minds, say researchers

Study finds that neurotic people deal with more "mental noise" than others.

Photo credit: Alex Iby on Unsplash
  • Neuroticism is characterized by emotional instability and lack of resilience.
  • People who score high on neuroticism are at an increased risk for mental health problems and relationship woes.
  • New research suggests that neurotic people deal with more mental noise.
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Mind & Brain

Use these phrases when talking about climate change

Phrases like "Global warming" and "climate change" don't carry any weight.

Pexels
  • A neurological study shows that there are better ways to get someone to care about the threat of a climate in crisis.
  • Catastrophe and more visceral words are more likely to make someone take action.
  • Framing the problem in a different way can make naysayers come over to the cause.
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Culture & Religion

Eating nuts may boost fetal brain development

A new study finds such kids excel in all cognitive areas.

Image source: New Africa/Shutterstock
  • A Spanish study finds that nuts consumed early in pregnancy boost babies' cognitive strength.
  • Eating walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pine nuts and/or hazelnuts early in pregnancy can make a big difference.
  • For those without allergies, nuts are good food.
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Surprising Science