August 13, 2024: What's the best age to give kids a smartphone? Plus, why we might live in a multiverse and how meteorologists predict hurricanes. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | | Might there be other universes besides our own? Several branches of physics, including quantum theory and cosmology, suggest that we live in a multiverse–our universe may be one of many, though we cannot access those other realities.
Two ideas: The quantum version of the multiverse is called the many worlds interpretation: At every moment, different possibilities of what might occur split off into different universes. In the cosmological version, in the first moments after the big bang, matter expanded so quickly that multiple universes formed like bubbles when you blow into your drink through a straw.
What the experts say: As of now, the idea of a multiverse is untestable using traditional scientific methods like experimentation or observation. "Sometimes there are theoretical models—such as general relativity—that seem so compelling that there's some degree of acceptance without observation, and only later does science produce experimental results," says physicist Paul Halpern of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. | | | When should kids get smartphones? It's a hotly debated topic, and some studies show a link between smartphone usage and negative well-being, while others don't. Each child is different, so parents are the best judge of when their kid is ready for a device, writes Jacqueline Nesi, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Brown University.
The best approach: The best device for your child might actually be the simplest one that meets your needs–perhaps start with a "dumb" flip phone or a kid-friendly smartwatch. Nesi recommends introducing technology slowly, perhaps sharing a family iPad before transitioning to a smart phone with strict parental controls. Aligning with other families, schools or groups that share your family policies on technology makes it easier to stick to what you've decided.
What the experts say: The ways children respond to technologies are highly individualized to both the child and the specifics of the technology they're using, says Nesi. For example, if a child displays impulsive behavior or is struggling to fit in socially, smartphones may amplify these things. Above all else, she says, talk with kids early and often about the responsibilities–and risks–of smartphones. | | | On August 12, 2024, forecasters were watching for signs that Potential Tropical Cyclone Five would develop into a hurricane. Later that day, it became Tropical Storm Ernesto and was forecast to become a hurricane later in the week. NOAA/NESDIS/STAR - GOES-East | | | • Which tropical storms will become hurricanes? This is how meteorologists make their predictions. | 3 min read | | | • Wind and solar generated more power than coal through the first seven months of this year, federal data show. It's a first for renewable resources. | 3 min read | | | • Wearable smart rings can track body temperature as part of the menstrual cycle. Young people are relying on them as a form of birth control. | 6 min read | | | • Legislations now moving through Congress would change designations for some minerals and ease restrictions on mining companies in order to meet demands for "critical" minerals. But the laws are being co-opted by special mining interests, who hope to designate copper, potash and phosphates as critical minerals—despite the fact that all of these are currently mined in North America and relatively abundant, writes Ashley C. Nunes, a public lands policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. While the mining industry seeks to profit, "communities and the environment will ultimately pay," she says. | 4 min read | | | In a fascinating 2019 study, researchers told a group of 300 teenagers that food company executives use unhealthy ingredients in their products and that they target young adolescents in their marketing and advertisements. The teens were outraged, and began choosing less processed junk foods (more so than their peers who had only been told to avoid junk food). To me this says that young people have agency to make the best choices for themselves, whether it's healthy eating, time management or the benefits and risks of smartphones. Studies have found that teens are motivated by their desire for respect and status. Nothing confers respect like transparent information. | Reach out any time and let me know how you're liking this newsletter: newsletters@sciam.com. I'll be back tomorrow. | —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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