The mysterious rise in youth suicide (The Washington Post)
by William Wan
Suicides among teenagers and young adults have risen sharply over the past decade. Some blame social media, but that connection isn’t particularly clear. The truth is, no one really knows what’s going on.
The colonial backstory of Middle Eastern sectarianism (Aeon)
by Ussama Makdisi
After World War II, England, France, and the U.S. pioneered a new kind of colonialism, partitioning the Ottoman Empire in the name of self-determination and minority rights. In the process, they disrupted a gradual political change that had been moving the region in a democratic, cosmopolitan direction for decades.
Who can thrive on 5 hours of sleep? (Wired)
by Sara Harrison
Why can some people sleep far less than eight hours a night without ending up forgetful and irritable the next day? New research points to a particular gene mutation.
What does science say about ASMR? (NPR)
by Emily Kwong
ASMR videos—in which YouTubers whisper, tap, or make other precise sounds that trigger pleasant sensations in some people’s brains—are hugely popular. But scientists have just begun to explore what ASMR really is.
Weird pregnancy theories of the 19th century (Nursing Clio)
by Karen Weingarten
One pregnancy manual written by a nineteenth-century doctor warned American women that being frightened by a man with a missing hand might cause their child to be born handless. This kind of linkage between women’s experiences and the outcomes of their pregnancies was common for decades in the U.S.
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