Monthly Archives: November 2025

‘Digital colonialism’: how AI companies are following the playbook of empire

‘Digital colonialism’: how AI companies are following the playbook of empire

In the eyes of big AI companies such as OpenAI, the troves of data on the internet are highly valuable. They scrape photos, videos, books, blog posts, albums, painting, photographs and much more to train their products such as ChatGPT – usually without any compensation to or consent from the creators. In fact, OpenAI and […] … learn more→

How to use teenagers' 'media diet' to develop critical thinking

How to use teenagers’ ‘media diet’ to develop critical thinking

For today’s children and teenagers, the boundary between formal learning and media consumption has blurred: platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are not mere pastimes, but primary spaces for socialization, identity building, and access to information . This “youth media diet,” composed of viral videos, memes, trends , and fragmented news, is the primary cultural matrix for new generations. […] … learn more→

Simply knowing about open science is not enough to prevent unethical research behavior

Simply knowing about open science is not enough to prevent unethical research behavior

Open science awareness alone is not enough to create an ethical research climate, especially without the support of an adequate research ecosystem. Publication pressures and quantitative incentives often lead to unethical research practices. A change in research culture based on quality and transparency is needed to create a healthy research ecosystem. Awareness of open science does not […] … learn more→

How multilingualism can protect against brain ageing

How multilingualism can protect against brain ageing

People are living longer than ever around the world. Longer lives bring new opportunities, but they also introduce challenges, especially the risk of age-related decline. Alongside physical changes such as reduced strength or slower movement, many older adults struggle with memory, attention and everyday tasks. Researchers have spent years trying to understand why some people […] … learn more→

Creativity is key to capturing attention amidst the avalanche of digital stimuli we receive

Creativity is key to capturing attention amidst the avalanche of digital stimuli we receive

Continuous notifications, urgent headlines, chained short videos, streaming series , personalized ads, after-hours work emails… Today, our brain is no longer a serene and orderly space, but a constant battlefield where hundreds of actors fiercely compete to win our attention. The economist and Nobel laureate Herbert Simon already warned in the 1970s of a paradox that is central today: […] … learn more→

Librarians versus the world

Librarians versus the world

We love librarians. They are smart, dedicated people who want to help you with your research. They are often keen on making the world a better place, too. They don’t get enough recognition for all that they do. They are also, in our experience, unfailingly polite. So, it came as a bit of a shock […] … learn more→

AI chatbots are encouraging conspiracy theories – new research

AI chatbots are encouraging conspiracy theories – new research

Since early chatbots were first conceived more than 50 years go, they have become increasingly sophisticated – in large part, thanks to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. They also seem to be everywhere: on desktops, mobile apps and embedded into everyday programs, meaning you can interact with them at any time. Now, new research I coauthored with […] … learn more→

More than half of new articles on the internet are being written by AI – is human writing headed for extinction?

More than half of new articles on the internet are being written by AI – is human writing headed for extinction?

The line between human and machine authorship is blurring, particularly as it’s become increasingly difficult to tell whether something was written by a person or AI. Now, in what may seem like a tipping point, the digital marketing firm Graphite recently published a study showing that more than 50% of articles on the web are being generated by artificial […] … learn more→

The key academic skill you’ve probably never heard of – and 4 ways to encourage it

The key academic skill you’ve probably never heard of – and 4 ways to encourage it

When parents think about their child’s education, they probably focus on basic skills and exam results, the amount a child is trying and their wellbeing. But there is another significant factor influencing their success at school. This is metacognition. What is it? Why is it important? And how can you help your child develop this […] … learn more→

College students are now slightly less likely to experience severe depression, research shows – but the mental health crisis is far from over

College students are now slightly less likely to experience severe depression, research shows – but the mental health crisis is far from over

Many high school seniors across the country are in the throes of college applications – often a high-stakes, anxiety-ridden process. But the stress doesn’t necessarily stop once students are admitted. Emotional stress, mental health and tuition cost are the top three reasons that college students drop out, according to a 2023 Gallup poll of 14,032 students. By […] … learn more→