Extra Credit: Our pick of stories from around the web that bridge the gap between news and scholarship. Brought to you each Tuesday from the editors of JSTOR Daily.
Taking a walk can change your brain (the New York Times)
by Gretchen Reynolds
There’s plenty of evidence that walking in nature helps reduce anxiety and depression. Now, researchers have found clues to how this happens, looking at physical changes that occurred ino people’s brains when they went for a walk in a green space.
What we still don’t know about climate change (The New Yorker)
by Elizabeth Kolbert
A new paper modeling climate-change related melting in the Antarctic presents an even scarier scenario than previous research. It also suggests just how little we really know about the tipping point for a catastrophic rise in sea levels.
Mental illness and juvenile detention (Pacific Standard)
Sixty-three percent of hospital visits by teens in juvenile detention are for mental disorders, compared with 20 percent of visits for typical teenagers, according to a new study. Research also suggests these kids’ health problems and criminal behavior are often both tied to traumatic pasts, which could point to a prescription for early intervention.
Should you take that vacation? (The Psychologist)
by Jessica de Bloom
This story offers a comprehensive run-down of research on vacation. Turns out, a break can boost creativity when you get back to work, but you might feel more stressed before you go and a bit sick on your first couple of days off.
Acid trips and mental health (Vox)
by German Lopez
A number of small studies have found that psychedelic drugs can be therapeutic for people with addiction, anxiety disorders, and other mental health problems. Could LSD and magic mushrooms help basically healthy people be more open and less scared of death?
Have you seen a story online that does a good job of bridging the gap between the news and scholarship? Or something that seems particularly well-researched? Let us know and we may include it in next week’s roundup. Email us at jstordaily_submissions (at) jstor (dot) org.
