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Cognition
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- 1Measles outbreak threatens Bangladesh's youngest generation●Measles outbreak threatens development of Bangladesh’s youngest generation
A measles outbreak in Bangladesh is putting the health and development of young children at risk, according to reporting by Arab News. The disease, which can cause severe complications including impaired growth and cognitive development, is spreading among the country's youngest population. Health concerns centre on vaccination gaps and the long-term impact on a generation of children if the outbreak is not contained quickly.
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A New York Times opinion piece argues that relying on artificial intelligence for everyday mental tasks is eroding people's ability to think deeply and independently. The author contends that A.I. shortcuts, from automated writing to instant answers, encourage passive consumption of machine output instead of genuine reasoning. The piece has sparked discussion about cognitive offloading and the long-term effects of A.I. dependence on education, work and critical thinking.
- 3New book criticised for outdated story on sex differences in minds▼How has evolution shaped men's and women's minds? A new book tells an outdated story
A newly published book claims evolution shaped men's and women's minds in distinct ways, and critics are pushing back. A detailed review argues the book relies on an outdated account of evolutionary psychology, overstating settled differences between male and female cognition while ignoring more recent research emphasising variation and plasticity. The exchange has reignited a long-running scientific debate over how much of the mental gap between the sexes is biologically hardwired versus shaped by culture and individual experience.
- 4Cognition hits $1 billion annualized revenue as Devin adoption doubles▼Cognition tops $1 billion in annualized revenue as Devin adoption doubles
AI startup Cognition has surpassed $1 billion in annualized revenue, with adoption of its Devin coding agent doubling, according to Fortune. The figures underscore rapid enterprise demand for autonomous software engineering tools and mark a major milestone for one of the most closely watched companies in the AI agent space.
- 5The End of Upward Mobility: AI Comes for the Meritocracy●The End Of Upward Mobility – AI is coming for the meritocracy
An essay in Noema Magazine argues that artificial intelligence threatens to dismantle the meritocratic ladder that has long driven upward mobility. It contends that as AI takes over skilled cognitive work, the traditional path of talent and education leading to advancement is narrowing. Readers are debating whether meritocracy can survive when machines outperform the educated professionals it was built to elevate.
- 6Sex Differences in Attention Are Present at Birth, Study Finds●Sex differences in attention are present at birth
Researchers at the University of Cambridge report that sex differences in attention can be detected in newborns, suggesting the differences emerge far earlier in development than previously thought. The finding is drawing discussion among readers, with debate likely over what it means for the roles of biology versus environment in shaping cognitive sex differences.
- 7Dog brains split speech into consonants and vowels like ours●Dogs don't just hear our words; their brains split sound into consonants and vowels just like ours, revealing a deep evo
New research suggests dogs process human speech in a way far closer to humans than previously thought: their brains segment sounds into consonants and vowels rather than hearing words as uniform noise. The neural evidence points to an evolutionary kinship in speech processing, suggesting the capacity to break language into its smallest sound units is far older and more widespread among mammals than scientists assumed.
- 8AORTIC congratulates Dr Gevorg Tamamyan on WHO candidacy●“Remarkable committment to global health, equity and stronger health systems” - AORTIC congratulates Dr Gevorg Tamamyan on recent recognition as WHO Director-General candidate
Dr Gevorg Tamamyan has been recognised as a candidate for WHO Director-General, drawing congratulations from AORTIC, the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer. The organisation praised his commitment to global health, equity and stronger health systems, highlighting his standing in the international oncology and global health community.
- 9Slime Molds Ignite Debate Over What Counts as Intelligence●Slime Molds and the Growing Controversy Around “Intelligence”
Slime molds — single-celled organisms with no brain — can solve mazes, optimize networks and make decisions, reigniting scientific debate over whether 'intelligence' applies without neurons. The discussion touches on how biology should define cognition, with critics arguing the term is being stretched too far and others seeing slime molds as evidence that problem-solving exists well beyond animals.