Today in Science: How susceptible are you to fake news?

Science meets inbox July 6, 2023: Where life might arise in the galaxy, who is susceptible to misinformation and more obesity medicines are on the way. Read it all below! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor TOP STORIES This One's Just Right Scientists have identified more than 5,500 exoplanets, with thousands remaining to be confirmed. Those most likely to host life orbit in a narrow range of distance from their star so that they aren't too hot or too cold. But even if a planet is in this so-called habitable zone, "there is no guarantee it will be, well, habitable," writes astronomer Phil Plait. A lot more must be determined, including whether it has an atmosphere and more. Why this matters: Where we look for life depends on the parameters of the search–the habitable zone is just the start, and may need adjustment. Rogue planets or planetary moons may be perfectly good places for life to arise, and they don't even orbit a star! What the experts say: "Clearly, the concept of a habitable zone is woefully incomplete to determine where life might exist," Plait writes. "It's not a device for measuring habitable worlds so much as a way to bookmark them for future observations." The Virus of Misinformation Younger American adults could be more susceptible to online misinformation than older adults, according to a survey of thousands of individuals. Adults under 45, but especially between the ages of 18 and 29 were less able to distinguish fake news headlines from real ones compared with adults over 45. And people who spend more time online (three or more hours a day) had more difficulty distinguishing between real and fake news.  Why this matters: Misinformation can spread like a virus, especially on social media where algorithms emphasize extreme content. Young people, who spend a lot of time on social media are exposed to a firehose of information, both real and fake, with little context to help distinguish the two. What the experts say: Purveyors of misinformation can exploit our illusory truth bias. "That's the idea that just hearing something repeatedly—even if you know that it is wrong—makes it seem more true," says Sander van der Linden, a social psychologist at the University of Cambridge. We can inoculate ourselves from misinformation by training people how to spot it and be on the lookout for it. TODAY'S NEWS • Two new anti-obesity drugs in develop mimic hormones and could be cheaper and more effective than current treatments. | 4 min read • Lab-grown meat, made from real animal cells, will soon be available in restaurants in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. | 5 min read • Over the past four decades, clear-air turbulence (when there's not a cloud in the sky) has increased by up to 55 percent in various regions around the world, caused by a warming atmosphere. | 4 min read • Senior editor Kate Wong spotted two Least Terns in a courtship ritual on a beach in Maine. She captured a play-by-play of their love story. | 4 min read Credit: Kate Wong More News EXPERT PERSPECTIVES • Race-based affirmative action improves lives, as abundant scientific research shows, but the U.S. Supreme Court once again ignored evidence and decided to put an end to the use of the policy in college admissions, write the editors of Scientific American. This decision will harm science, the pursuit of knowledge, and the health of American citizens. | 5 min read More Opinion The science of how information spreads and why we believe what we do is a hot area of research. If you want to feel enlightened (and a bit horrified?) by studies on the proliferation of fake news, deep fakes and extremism, check out our special collector's edition called Truth Vs. Lies. Reach out anytime with suggestions and thoughts: newsletters@sciam.com. See you tomorrow! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters here. Scientific American One New York Plaza, New York, NY, 10004   Support our mission, subscribe to Scientific American here   Unsubscribe Email Preferences