Phys.org, Author at Spotlight Magazine

The algorithmic feed on X could be shifting political views toward conservatism

Turning on the “For You” algorithm on X (formerly Twitter) may shift users’ political opinions toward more conservative views, suggests research involving nearly 5,000 X users. These effects are shown to persist even after users […]

Language barriers slow down the international diffusion of knowledge, study finds

Rapid technological and scientific advances have fueled a huge wave of innovation over the past decades. The speed of global innovation is known to be dependent on the exchange of knowledge and skills between different […]

Quantum materials could enable the solar-powered production of hydrogen from water

Hydrogen fuel is a promising alternative to fossil fuels that only emits water vapor when used and could thus help to lower greenhouse gas emissions on Earth. In the future, it could potentially be used […]

Last nuclear weapons limits expired—pushing world toward new arms race

For the first time in more than half a century, there are no binding restraints on the buildup of the largest nuclear forces on Earth. The New START treaty expired on Feb. 5, 2026, ending […]

Carefree bachelor or incel: Men are judged for being single, too

Reports of widespread “dating burnout” and a cultural shift toward heteropessimism—a feeling of disappointment or despair at the state of relations between men and women—have caused panic in the media and dating apps.This post was […]

Is teasing playful or harmful? It depends on a number of factors

Picture this: A group of girls are sitting at a table in the lunchroom when a boy walks by. One girl turns to another girl and laughingly says, “Oh, isn’t that your boyfriend? You should […]

Social media can be addictive even for adults, but there are ways to cut back

Social media addiction has been compared to casinos, opioids and cigarettes.This post was originally published on this site

Cosmologists collaborate to sharpen measurements of the Hubble constant

Drawing together leading experts from across the field, an international collaboration of cosmologists has created a unified approach for measuring the value of the Hubble constant. Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, the milestone could bring […]

How eyes affect our perception of a humanoid robot’s mind

Eyes are said to be the mirror of the soul. Eyes and gaze direction guide attention, evoke emotions and activate the brain’s social perception mechanisms. Researchers at Tampere University and the University of Bremen conducted […]

For thousands of years, solar eclipses have been associated with the fate of rulers

The moon crossed the sun’s path on February 17, causing what is known as an annular solar eclipse. The sun was not covered completely, but the moon blocked enough of its light to leave a […]