📱 Facebook and Instagram algorithms affect user behavior but not their political views
The study found no noticeable effect on political polarization among users. Users' knowledge about the election was not affected by the change in feed algorithm. Self-reported voter turnout remained unchanged despite significant differences in user experience.
📊 The use of generative AI is growing faster than computers and the internet
Generative AI is used by 39 percent of Americans aged 18-64, just two years after its introduction. This is a significantly faster growth compared to personal computers and the internet in their early years.
🍛 Indian households' food expenses have decreased significantly
Indian households' food expenses have fallen to less than half of total expenditures for the first time since 1947. The proportion of households' total expenses going to food has decreased considerably across the country.
💊 Overdoses from opioids are finally beginning to decrease in the US
The number of deaths from overdoses in the USA has decreased since fall 2023. This applies to both overdoses in general and overdoses related to opioids, including fentanyl.
💉 New method can reduce diabetes medication dosing to once a month
French researchers have developed a system that can reduce the dosing of diabetes medication to once a month. The drug is particularly effective in managing type 2 diabetes and is available in both injectable and oral forms.
🎗️ Skin cancer decrease among younger people in Sweden, the first country in Europe
The risk of malignant melanoma is decreasing for people under 50 in Sweden since 2015. Improved awareness of sun protection and reduced access to tanning beds contribute to the decrease. Mortality from skin cancer has also decreased for age groups up to 59 years.
🚰 Energy consumption for desalinating water has decreased by 85 percent
Energy consumption for desalination has decreased from 20 kWh per cubic meter in the 1970s to 2.5-3.5 kWh today. Producing enough drinking water for one person - about 3 liters per day - through desalination would cost only $2.30 for an entire year.
🚗 Waymo self-driving vehicles are significantly safer than human drivers
Waymo's self-driving cars have been involved in fewer than one accident with injuries per million miles driven. They estimate that their vehicles have 70 percent fewer accidents with injuries than human drivers.
🐦 Endangered grasshopper sparrow on the road to recovery
The number of grasshopper sparrows in Florida has increased from 80 to 200 individuals in five years. The 1000th captive-bred sparrow was recently released into the wild. Over 15 percent of the released birds survive and reproduce successfully.