February 14, 2024: The perks of a psychologically rich life, environmental protection does not kill jobs, and get to know the monogamous creatures of the savanna. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | | Achieving happiness is a good goal to have in life. But an even better one might be to experience a psychologically rich life. Psychological richness involves varied and intense emotions, diverse and novel experiences, and complex mental engagement with living. Studies correlate psychological richness with curiosity and openness to experience. Feeling happy all the time not only evades many people, adding to feelings of frustration, but it may just lead to a more…boring way to live. Good from bad: Researchers have found that negative emotions can result in positive outcomes. Sadness prompts people to think in a more analytical, clear-eyed way. Anger can boost performance on tasks. Boredom can prompt people to make a change in their life circumstances.
What the experts say: "Negative emotions, even though they feel bad to experience, can motivate and prepare people for failure, challenges, threats and exploration," writes Heather Lench, professor of psychological and brain sciences at Texas A&M University. | | | Some anti-environmental politicians and representatives of industries that pollute claim that in rejecting environmental protections and legislations, they are protecting something more valuable: jobs. This reveals a false dichotomy, writes science historian Naomi Oreskes, in the February issue of Scientific American. Such ploys, that falsely present situations as either/or, are intended to force people to choose the thing they want more, at the expense of the other.
The details: A recent review of the peer-reviewed literature concluded that environmental regulations have had very little effect on employment in the regulated industry. Plus, many environmentally destructive projects are short-lived, and so are the jobs they provide. For example, the so-called fracking boom of the early 2000s did not result in as many jobs as the industry claimed it would, and the boom has already gone bust.
What the experts say: Environmental restoration jobs are more sustainable and have stronger local impact. And environmental regulations protect human health, which encourages economic growth and productivity. "So next time that you hear someone assert that it's either the economy or the environment, don't believe it," says Oreskes. | | | • The strong El Niño atmospheric pattern that contributed to soaring temps in 2023 is starting to weaken. Here's how it could impact 2024 weather. | 4 min read | | | • Many animals on the African savanna are monogamous--from Von der Decken's Hornbill birds, to jackals and bat-eared foxes. | 4 min read | | | A male and female bat-eared fox pair in the wild habitat of Masai Mara, Kenya. Credit: GP232/Getty Images | | | • The Centers for Disease Control is implementing important programs and changes to improve how it responds to health emergencies. But these new efforts need to be amplified by government funding and a change in culture at the organization, write Jill Taylor, Ewa King and Scott Becker, all senior members of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. "The agency must move quickly to restore its position as the nation's preeminent public health laboratory in time to address rapidly evolving public health needs," they say. | 5 min read | | | • Animal shelters are full of older pets that struggle to find new owners. These are some of the lovely people who adopt unwanted animals. | The Guardian | | | Americans in particular seem to fixate on finding happiness in life (it's written in the Declaration of Independence!). I'm reminded of a fascinating article from Vox in 2016 that compared American ideals with those of Brits. Happiness in America "outranks professional achievement and social success, family, friendship, and even love," wrote author and journalist Ruth Whippman. This is not to say we should forego joy or gladly accept hardship. But this relentless pursuit of happiness is not making us happy or healthy, it turns out. Perhaps it's time to reorient our expectations of what a human life can be? |
If you're enjoying Today in Science, consider recommending it to a friend! They can subscribe here. See you tomorrow. | —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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