Oct 30, 2025

Summary:

 In an article by Jacqueline Mitchell of the Harvard Gazette, a study by gastroenterologist Dr. Trisha Pasricha links smartphone use on the toilet to a 46% increased risk of hemorrhoids. Phone users are five times more likely to sit for over five minutes, a habit driven by the phone's distraction rather...

Oct 28, 2025

Ashley Shew’s “A Gateway Hearing Aid” explores how Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 have transformed from simple earbuds into affordable, over-the-counter hearing aids. Following FDA approval, users can now self-test and adjust their hearing through an app—bypassing clinics and high costs. While limited to mild...

Oct 23, 2025

Research by Shravan Murlidaran and Miguel P. Eckstein challenges the idea that our eyes are drawn to the brightest objects. It suggests our brains actively seek to understand a scene's narrative. This "free viewing" state prioritizes objects critical for "scene understanding" (SU relevance) over simple visual saliency

Oct 21, 2025

In a Harvard Gazette article by Alvin Powell from September 23, a study by Ryan McBain tested how AI chatbots handle suicide-related questions. While they refused direct requests for self-harm instructions, the bots sometimes provided information about suicide methods that could enable harmful actions. The speakers...

Oct 16, 2025

In a September 30 Harvard Gazette article by Liz Mineo, insights from clinical psychologist Rachel Zawa distinguish normal stress from an anxiety disorder. While moderate anxiety can boost performance, a disorder persistently interferes with daily life, trapping individuals in an "anxiety avoidance cycle"....