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Commentary: What do we need after Nov. 3? Political imagination.
If we're going to have governments that respond to our problems, we have to abandon the idea that the only answers are in the free market.
Dr. André Carrington on audiofuturism: the Black history of science fiction radio drama, Oct. 16
“Audiofuturism: Science Fiction Radio Drama and the Black Fantastic Imagination” chronicles the largely understudied history of audio science fiction made for Black creators for Black audiences.
Today's NYT Strands Hints (and Answer) for Saturday, October 3, 2026
If you’re looking for hints and answers for Saturday, October 3, 2026 with the theme “A figment of your imagination,” read on.
In brief: '9 to 5' headed back to theaters and more
Pour yourself a cup of ambition and head out to your local movie theater. 9 to 5 is headed back to movie theaters for a special, weeklong run starting on Oct. 9. This will be a newly restored version of the classic satirical workplace comedy starring the late Dolly Parton. Additionally, Disney is set to donate net proceeds from each ticket purchased for the rerelease in the U.S. to the Dollywood Foundation in support of its flagship program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Disney is the parent company of ABC News ...Off Campus star Ella Bright has found her next gig. The actress confirmed she will star opposite Mason Thames in the movie Narcs in a post shared to her Instagram Story. This marks Bright's first major studio feature role. The upcoming coming-of-age comedy will be made for Sony Pictures. While the movie's plot is being kept under wraps, it will serve as the directorial debut of John Phillips, the writer of No Hard Feelings, Good Boys and Dirty Grandpa ... TNCMS.AdManager.render({region: 'fixed-big-ad-top-asset', slot: 1, fold: "above"}); Did you miss Evil Dead Burn in theaters? Not to worry. The film is set to make its global streaming debut on HBO Max on Oct. 2. Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand and Maude Davey star in the film that was directed by Sébastien Vaniček ...Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Thank you for reading kmaland.comAt KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.
Harford County businesses celebrate Dolly Day, raising money for Imagination Library
Businesses celebrated Dolly Day by participating in fundraising efforts to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Harford County.
Using imagination to 3D print with the Orlando Science Center
The Science of It: Where imagination becomes reality
This Alexandria small business sells frights, thrills and imagination
The Long Dark House on King Street looks like an ordinary storefront, but inside it is filled with horror ... and horror books.
Testing the Creativity of Randomness
The evolutionary part of this paper relies on wishful thinking. What “could” or “might” happen occurs only in their evolutionary imaginations.
Vrancken has captured imagination of Hearts fans
There was a sense of inevitability about Hearts' late winner against Dundee on Sunday. Much of the credit for Hearts' recent form must go to Wouter Vrancken. The Belgian's style of play has captured the imagination of the Hearts support and, just as importantly, the players have fully embraced his football philosophy.
Europeans struggle to imagine 'credible' future, study finds
New research identifies an 'imagination gap' as where political choices can still matter
Europeans struggle to imagine 'credible' future, finds study
New research identifies an 'imagination gap' as where political choices can still matter
WATCH | Mobile speech therapy business ‘Speech on the Spot’ helps meet families needs
Stepping inside Speech on the Spot, a mobile therapy business, visitors are greeted by bus walls decorated with stickers of sunshine, clouds and the phrase "Imagination Blooms."
New James Bond feature film to première at GoldenEye
A new feature documentary exploring the life, imagination and enduring legacy of James Bond creator Ian Fleming – titled Ian Fleming and the Curse of James Bond – will première at GoldenEye, Fleming’s former Jamaican home, during the 80th anniversary year of the villa’s construction. Directed by Adam Low, the film examines Ian Fleming’s life, imagination and legacy beyond the legend of 007, considering the contradictions, pressures and fascinations that shaped both the man and the charged literary world he created.
Burning up with imagination at the Orlando Science Center
The Science of It: Meteorologist Victoria Wisniewski tests her skills to save herself from a fire-breathing dragon during fantasy month
Dreaming Is a Political Act: How Imagination Shapes What Becomes Possible | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
A look at why the social impact sector must invest in the imagination, dreams, and worldbuilding practices of young girls and young feminists.
Black River Entertainment To Host Imagination Library Benefit Event
Black River Entertainment is opening its Sound Stage Studios on Sept. 19 for the inaugural Studios [...]
Imagination Library sees enrollment boost after Parton's death
In the week since country music artist Dolly Parton's death, her namesake children's literacy program has seen an influx of support in her memory.
Last-minute doomsday scenarios for the 2026 election
Imaginations run wild at what President Donald Trump and his allies might yet do to interfere in the coming midterm election. He’s already done quite a bit.
Highlights from the entertainment career of Dolly Parton
The irrepressible country music singer, songwriter and actress whose charisma, heartfelt lyrics and business acumen captured the public's imagination for nearly six decades, died on Tuesday aged 80, her family said in a statement.
Huge Pixel Watch 5 leak leaves little to the imagination
A fresh leak includes marketing materials and a spec sheet for the new Pixel Watch 5, about a week ahead of Google's official reveal.
Mega Pixel 11 series leak leaves nothing to the imagination
A new Pixel 11 series leak has given away detailed specs and pricing for the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
After Hobbes vs Rousseau: Politics must move beyond human nature
Since the great debate between Hobbes and Rousseau, our political theory has been organised around a single question: is human nature essentially good or essentially corrupt? Graham Harman, the philosopher behind object-oriented ontology, argues that this is simply the wrong question to be asking. The real forces governing our collective fate - climate change, artificial intelligence, geography, and pandemics - are non-human; therefore, questions about human nature are not the central ones. Instead, Harman proposes a politics reorganised around our relationship to non-human objects and environments, in which quasi-government institutions incentivise and deter actions with the aim of extending the survival of the human race. “It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” This has become one of the most popular phrases among twenty-first-century intellectuals. Often misattributed to Fredric Jameson, it has been warmly embraced by such influential authors as Slavoj Žižek and the tragically departed Mark Fisher, and has fueled the notion that the major problem with the political Left is that it simply needs to become more speculative and creative. Naturally, this is never a bad idea in any human pursuit. But what if the political distinction between Left, Right, and Center itself results from a failure of imagination? SUGGESTED READING Hobbes vs Rousseau: are we inherently evil? By Robin Douglass This particular division has been with us only since the summer of 1789. During the simmering prelude to the French Revolution, it referred originally to the physical position in the National Assembly of radical figures on one side and loyal monarchists on the other. These positions are linked with two entirely different camps of modern political theory. On the Left we find a series of authors ranging from the moderate (Locke) to the supercharged (Rousseau) to the truly radical (Marx), all of them contending that exploitation of the many by the few justifies revolutionary overthrow of the existing order. On the Right they are countered by the likes of Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Schmitt, a group of thinkers convinced that corrupt human nature can be tamed only by force. In the words of the Nazi supporter Schmitt: “One could test all theories of nature and state and political ideas according to their anthropology and classify these as to whether they consciously or unconsciously presuppose [humans] to be by nature evil or by nature good.” This is the division we continue to face today, even in the daily retail politics of Western democracies.___Our species has regularly proven itself capable of both the noblest gestures and the most scathing cruelties, making it hard to define us as essentially either emancipatory or brutal in our aims.___The most refreshing feature of David Graeber and David Wengrow’s 2021 book The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity was their awareness that the forced choice between Rousseau and Hobbes (as they put it) is no longer sufficient. Our species has regularly proven itself capable of both the noblest gestures and the most scathing cruelties, making it hard to define us as essentially either emancipatory or brutal in our aims. Far from being stationed “beyond good and evil,” we seem to be fully entangled with both. We are not naturally good or evil, Graeber and Wengrow contend, but naturally experimental and imaginative. They rest their case on the archaeological record, which seems to bear witness to numerous episodes of seasonally shifting governments and festivals, which vacillate in the same society (even in the same year) between the egalitarian and the dictatorial. Such praise of political experiment makes a good fit with the generally anarchist position defended by these authors. Yet it is also what I find most disappointing in their position. Although they are right that the forced choice between Hobbes and Rousseau falls short of what our new situation requires, the authors simply replace it with praise for the human being as a political tinkerer and performer. In other words, they give us just another theory of human nature, one that would not have been out of place in the sixteenth or seventeenth century. What other options might we have?___The time is ripe for a retheorization of politics on the basis of something other than human nature… We are not just alienated and limited by objects, but also empowered and unleashed by them___One fresh approach would be to treat politics within a broader framework than human nature, given that the polis does not exist in a vacuum filled exclusively with people. When Bruno Latour went to observe the baboons of Kenya with the San Diego anthropologist Shirley Strum, they jointly concluded that these primates were more socially interdependent than our own species. Each baboon is so reliant on the dynamics of the group that they find themselves locked into constant surveillance of their potentially dangerous peers. The group structure turns out to be inherently volatile. Humans, by contrast, are able to stabilize their societies to a large degree through the mediation of inanimate objects. Although one’s position in society may seem to fluctuate over time, considerable stability is produced through such items as apartment keys, wedding rings, and identification cards, all of them serving to secure us a place distinct from that of our fellows. The Italian philosopher Maurizio Ferraris has written at length about the crucial role of documents in establishing social relations, making him a hero among notaries in his country. Proper names and license plates cement our position amidst other humans, as do symbolic achievements such as graduation from a top university or distinguished wartime service with its various medals and ribbons. None of this is found among baboons, despite their closeness to us on the evolutionary tree: after all, we did share a common ancestor just 25 to 30 million years ago. SUGGESTED VIEWING The goodness paradox With Richard Wrangham The time is ripe for a retheorization of politics on the basis of something other than human nature, whether understood in the manner of the Left or of the Right. We are not just alienated and limited by objects, but also empowered and unleashed by them. But initially, it is true, we face non-human things primarily in the form of constraints. It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to form a human civilization underwater, deep underground, atop Mount Everest, or in outer space. Human dependence on the non-social background takes on subtler form in discussions of political geography, especially unloved on the more idealistic Left. Consider the luckless position of Poland during World War II, sandwiched between Hitler on one side and Stalin on the other. By contrast, note the good fortune of the United States in not having a military peer positioned on any land border. Anglo-American geopolitics, since the writings of the American naval commander Alfred Thayer Mahan and the British geographer Sir Halford Mackinder, has been wedded to the notion that one or more liberal offshore naval powers should prevent any authoritarian “heartland” regime from gaining effective control of Eurasia. That remains the case whether the opponent is the impatient Napoleon, the swashbuckling German Kaiser, the villainous Hitler, the murderous Stalin, or the industrial juggernaut Chinese. In their current Foreign Affairs article “Heartland vs. Rimland,” Michael Beckley and Hal Brands analyze the current and coming state of the world on the basis of these same rather durable principles. In recent years a similar outlook has been embraced, in inverted form, by the Putin-loving Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, an icon of the Rightist intellectual underworld. For Dugin, the Anglo-Saxons are an evil force bent on destroying the spiritually superior people of the land: much like Athens in its failed war with Sparta, or Carthage in its eventual collapse against Rome. But the shared notion on both sides is that any strategy that fails to take geography into account is likely to end up as a defeated form of excessive optimism.___When dealing with environmental degradation, then, we are doing business with forces that promise dire effects on our species as a whole.___More striking for us today than geography is the non-human object called climate, which threatens rimland and heartland equally. Even if we contend that humans are one hundred percent responsible for triggering the climate crisis, it remains non-human in the sense of being an independent force beyond our effective control. In a major work published just before his death in 2002, The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, the American paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould noted the tendency of evolutionary theorists to focus too closely on the fate of individuals in view of their successful or failed adaptation to circumstances. With climate change, however, we confront a force that goes well beyond the scope of any individual life. Whereas Richard Dawkins extended evolutionary questions downward from individuals to the sub-individual gene, Gould pushed it upward, speaking of entire species or clades as impacted by environmental change. The asteroid that struck the Yucatán 66 million years ago is only the most famous example of this sort. In the wake of that catastrophe, large animals needing abundant supplies of food were at a fatal disadvantage by contrast with the smaller birds and mammals of the planet. When dealing with environmental degradation, then, we are doing business with forces that promise dire effects on our species as a whole. The effect is to shift our attention away from individual beings towards the survival of the group.In the United States in particular, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked considerable backlash among those who asserted a nearly absolute degree of individual freedom. In California I encountered those who demanded that their businesses be allowed to reopen, that it was enough to cover their mouths but not their noses, or that they should have the right to enter any public area despite refusing vaccination. Yet public health is probably the clearest argument against libertarianism, which often merely asserts the autonomy of individuals against any claims of the commons. In normal times the individual is worth defending; under conditions that threaten the survival of part or all of our species, compulsion may be our only resort, as with perfectly reasonable blackouts and rations in wartime. To rebuild human society under the constraints of climate change will be one of the great challenges of the century to come, as will our improvised grappling with artificial intelligence. Such phenomena pose existential risks for humanity, and leave far less room for tolerance of individual brattiness. Cases are mounting of devastating wildfires caused by arson. Recently it was reported that there is even a website where one can bet on the location of coming wildfires, raising the specter of deliberate blazes set to collect on wagers. The death penalty has steadily lost support in a world where many stress the infinite value of human life. But if we focus instead on entire ecosystems, those who purposely burn the forests may begin to look worse than serial murderers.___The politics of the future may be splintered by disagreement over such topics as how to manage our environing background and how to permit or restrict the entry of new objects into the political sphere.___So far I have spoken of force, authority, and punishment: measures sure to have greater appeal to those who identify with what we know as the Right. But other implications of the post-anthropocentric world are likely to have different backers. If non-human objects are seen as structuring political space, it stands to reason that they can no longer be introduced solely by the pace of technical breakthrough. Fields ranging from cybernetics to energy will demand increased politicization once they are reconceived not just as products of individual human investment, but as renovations of collective political geography. This need not involve world government, with its inherent risk of tyranny, but may involve quasi-governmental enforcers of prestige along the lines of a less corrupt FIFA or International Olympic Committee, punishing deviant states not with violence but with less tangible incentives.Politics will never lose its historic links with conflict and faction. But rather than factions aligned by differing theories of human nature, the politics of the future may be splintered by disagreement over such topics as how to manage our environing background and how to permit or restrict the entry of new objects into the political sphere. This will prove just as incommensurable with the modern Left/Right spectrum as a globe is with a two-dimensional map.
Handled with care, AI can be miraculous
Although it has huge potential for harm, artificial intelligence is accelerating breakthroughs in science and medicine — but it can’t replace human imagination
T. rex fossil sells for a monster price tag at NYC auction
One of the most complete fossils of the dinosaur that has captured humanity's imagination sold for millions during Sotheby's Natural History auction.
Wizard Camp blends sports, creativity and fantasy
Wizard ball, wand painting and a whole lot of imagination — that’s what’s happening this week inside the Fairgrounds YMCA.
13 Actors Who Made the 1970s the Golden Age of Movies
Few eras in Hollywood history feel as iconic and packed with talent as the ’70s, when a group of boundary-pushing stars captured the imagination of movie lovers with unforgettable performances. From b...
Decatur Square businesses thrive during 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup and WatchFest: "...beyond our wildest imagination"
Local restaurants and bars in Decatur Square are reporting record crowds and sales as soccer fans flock to the area for World Cup matches and WatchFest events.
The Rockefeller University » Campus book club examines the intersection of science and imagination
Avid readers at Rockefeller University have launched a book club that gathers every month to discuss a work of sci-fi.
NASCAR using its imagination with street races
Due to the success of Chicago and now the Naval Base Coronado street races, NASCAR is on a mission to find more locations that could shock the world.
Sculpture will be a key feature of Madison’s new Imagination Center
“The Passage of Being” by artist Nate Page will sit just outside the Imagination Center in Reindahl Park on Madison’s north side.
Scientists Break Major Barrier: Are We Closer Than Ever to Real Invisibility? - Futura-Sciences
From H. G. Wells to Stealth Mode Invisibility has long been a topic that fires up our imagination. From the colorful camouflage suits designed to outsmart surveillance cameras, to military-grade technology meant to dodge radar, humanity’s efforts to disappear are almost as old as fiction itself. While we’re still far...
How to Heal People with Science Fiction
How to Heal People with Science Fiction: A new healthpunk movement aims to teach physicians to use their imaginations
Tim Cook Delivers Farewell Remarks at His Last Apple Keynote as CEO
Tim Cook closed out what is expected to be his last keynote as Apple's chief executive officer today with some emotive final remarks. Wrapping up a pre-recorded video message, Cook reflected on his tenure at the company. "Some of the highlights of my time as CEO have been events like this, sharing powerful new tools with all of you," he said, adding that what developers create with Apple's platforms has been "a constant reminder that imagination has no limits".
Brian Flores Won an Award Out of Nowhere
It is not award season in the NFL by any stretch of the imagination, but that didn’t stop Minnesota Vikings […]
A bonobo’s make-believe tea party has scientists rethinking whether imagination belongs only to humans
Kanzi the bonobo's responses in a pretend tea-party experiment have scientists reconsidering how uniquely human imagination really is.
Leaked foldable iPhone Ultra cases leave nothing to the imagination
Accessory manufacturers might be getting specifications for the foldable iPhone Ultra from Apple already.
Why Is Space So Fascinating?
We all tuned in when the Artemis II crew splashed down off the San Diego coast. Planetary scientist and academic leader Meenakshi Wadhwa shares her thoughts on why space captures our imaginations so well.
Uncertainty makes science powerful — and incredibly vulnerable
Related Content Science fiction and the authoritarian imagination Thinking outside Schrödinger’s cat box: Reality as quantum Chatbots aren’t conscious, but it’s important to understand the science and philosophy of why In Silicon Valley, creationists and atheist post-libertarians have a lot in common Why thinking about aliens can help us better understand philosophy of science What […]
How Business Leaders Can Turn Cultural Chaos Into Possibilities and Solutions
In chaotic periods, the knee-jerk reaction is to go narrower and defensive. But what is needed is wider, proactive imagination.
Imagination blooms at the Oatland Island Fairy and Gnome Festival
Families dressed as fairies and gnomes explored nature, mined gems, built fairy villages, and let imagination run wild at Oatland Island.
The Vikings Have a Couple of ‘Sleepers’ on the Roster
The Minnesota Vikings’ offense was not a juggernaut — by any stretch of the imagination — in 2025, so fantasy […]
An Enchanted Weekend Of Fantasy, Food, And Entertainment For The Whole Family
LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Huzzah, y’all! The Lord Mayor of the medieval Town of Leonard invites you to step into a world of fantasy and imagination at RenFest Southern Maryland. The event returns Memorial Day weekend with an energetic two-day celebration of live entertainment, medieval merriment and magical moments. The residents of the local town stand […]
Massive Motorola Razr 2026 leak leaves nothing to the imagination
All the specs of the standard Moto Razr 2026 have leaked ahead of its April 29 launch.
Two-sun planets keep disappearing: Here’s why scientists point to Einstein
Science News: The idea of a planet orbiting two suns has long captured both scientific curiosity and public imagination. Popularised by science fiction, such worlds.
Swalwell’s Fall Punctuates Woes of Democrats in California, of All Places
Democrats have struggled to find a candidate for governor who can capture the imagination of voters in one of their most important strongholds.
Spark! Imagination and Science Center hosts Earth Fest for families
Spark hosts a Spark! Sunday event each month to encourage fun while exploring the basics of STEM concepts.
Entertainment this week: Art Walk, Poi Rogers and more
Friday, April 3 A Poetry Workshop: Imagination and Resistance – Truckee Library, 10031 Levon Ave, Truckee, CA. Friday, April 3, 2026, 10:30am – 12pm. Including social or historical elements along with your personal experience in...
Trunk show: Elephants roam the human imagination in EcoTarium exhibit
Elephants are a study of grace, beauty and strength, but they face threats, mainly from humans. An exhibit at the EcoTarium their world, and ours.
Winners of Science Playwriting Competition Showcased April 15 at Simons Center
The Stony Brook University Science Playwriting Competition brings the sciences and humanities closer together, providing an outlet for scientists and playwrights to venture beyond their normal modes of thinking, spark their imaginations and create new experiences. Rooted in artistic expression, the best science plays can be exceptional works of art that convey scientific concepts aesthetically, potentially
The Monday Outlook: Project Hail Mary and the Science Behind Blockbuster Sci-Fi
Project Hail Mary is the latest sci-fi blockbuster to stretch the bounds of audience imagination and stir the curiosity of real scientists. But the science driving films like Project Hail Mary, Interstellar and The Martian isn’t all fictional: at UChicago, researchers exploring the cosmos and decoding the origins of life are making discoveries that would feel right at home on the big screen. This week's Monday Outlook features scientists from UChicago and Argonne National Laborat
Mental health solutions for the digital age
Ask the digital natives of Gen Z about the source of their biggest mental health challenges, and most will say social media and AI.Several of the nearly 400 guests at the third annual Gen Z Wellness Summit, presented by the Friends of Semel Teen Advisory Council at UCLA on March 8, explicitly named the endless stream of content on their phones as serious stressors. “Everybody is addicted to (Tik Tok) as if they were addicted to substances,” said Jantin Asmar, 17, a senior at Virtual Academy in Antelope Valley. “We’re always chasing that dopamine. We’re expecting that dopamine rush and it’s really decaying our interactions with others.” High school student Jantin Asmar was among nearly 400 people who attended the third annual Gen Z Wellness Summit. (Photo by Sandy Cohen) Even young teens feel pressure to be on social media constantly, both to consume content and collect “likes,” said 13-year-olds Chloe and Sophia, both students at Brentwood School. “Everyone’s always on, and you miss stuff if you’re not on it,” Chloe said, adding that social media’s emphasis on appearances is leading to eating disorders: “That’s a big thing for our generation.”The incessant influx of images and updates creates expectations that “weigh teenagers down,” said Linda Kou, 16, a junior at San Gabriel High School.Even though digital spaces allow people to connect with others beyond their immediate surroundings, it doesn’t always translate to real-life community, said Kelah Morgan, 17, a senior at Animo South Los Angeles Charter High School. High school students Kelah Morgan, left, and Linda Kou, shared about the challenges presented by social media. (Photo by Sandy Cohen) “Even if you see people saying that they relate to you online, it might be hard to find people in your personal life who you see every day who you feel comfortable enough to say, ‘You see me online, but this is me in real life and what I’m actually going through,’” she said.Solutions for our digital timesThe Gen Z Wellness Summit was intentionally designed as a free, in-person gathering where young people interested in mental health from across the southland could meet in person. “Peer support is the most important element of maintaining our mental health in community,” said Helena Hansen, MD, PhD, director of UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.Keynote speakers at the summit addressed AI, social connection and self-empowerment, while breakout sessions included discussions about eating disorders, dating, substance use, phone detox and breathwork. Here are some of the day’s top takeaways:Beware of FOPO: Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, a psychology professor at Columbia University, said that rather than FOMO, or fear of missing out, we ought to be more aware of FOPO: fear of people’s opinions. “Just think about how much your FOPO might be holding you back in your life,” Dr. Kaufman said. “And just that inner contemplation should be enough for you to change your life, because there’s so many things we don’t go after because we have debilitating FOPO.”We don’t need to feel like we’re the best – or what he called “narcissistic self-esteem” – but it’s helpful to acknowledge our own worth, recognize our good qualities and develop self-belief in the skills and talents we’ve cultivated. When we have that – dignity and self-respect, without needing everyone to like us – FOPO is less of a concern.Self-reflection is most effective in community: “When we try to self-reflect alone, we sometimes ruminate,” said Ira Bedzow, PhD, executive director of the Emory University Purpose Project. “But when we self-reflect with people that we trust … (it) allows us to hold ourselves accountable to different ways of seeing and different ways of hearing and different ways of being.”Opening up about our experiences and listening to others are skills we can develop, Dr. Bedzow said.He invited students to participate in what he called a “fishbowl exercise,” where four students sat in a small circle, surrounded by a dozen or so students forming a larger circle. Those in the inner circle answered such questions as: “What stops you from being you today?” and “What helps you feel most like you?”Within minutes, the group in the small circle (the fishbowl), were sharing intimately about their life challenges as those in the outer circle nodded in understanding.After the exercise, one participant said, “I felt like I wasn’t alone, that it wasn’t just me who feels that way.”Another remarked on how “personal” it felt to share face-to-face with others, even strangers.Don’t let AI crush your creativity: Theoretical neuroscientist Vivienne Ming, PhD, has been studying artificial intelligence for more than 20 years. And while she said “it’s reasonable to be concerned” about the fast-growing technology, it can also help humans become better problem-solvers when used strategically.“The smartest thing on the planet today are humans and machines working together creatively,” Dr. Ming said. “What gets more valuable in humans as machines get smarter? Our ability to explore the unknown.“Your unique voice is literally your value to the world … but most of us for most of our lives have been taught to not be unique,” she continued. “Be your own person. Celebrate being different. It is genuinely, measurably, truly valuable.”In a breakout session called “Phone Detox? IYKYK: Living Your Story IRL” led by Don Grant, PhD, students shared their frustrations with AI compromising academic work, art and creativity.“Art is a translation of human experience,” one participant said. “When people use AI, they diminish their own human experience.”Dr. Grant urged them, as “the last generation to remember a world before AI,” to remember the power of imagination and creativity – and to act on it.Remember that social media distorts perceptions: Stuart B. Murray, PhD, PsyD, who directs the Eating Disorders Program and Translational Research in Eating Disorders Program at UCLA, asked the students in his breakout session to take a spontaneous selfie and edit it to conform with society’s beauty standards. All 20 girls in the room immediately got to work, thickening their hair, slimming their faces, plumping their lips.“The pressure to look like what we present on social media can be crippling,” Dr. Murray said. “We now know that social media use is part of a causal pathway into an eating disorder.”Adolescents and young adults are most at risk of developing an eating disorder, he said, with one in three students on college campuses exhibiting clinically meaningful eating-disorder symptoms. More than 4 million people in California will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.Even for those who don’t develop anorexia or bulimia, the ubiquity of modified images online distorts what we consider normal, making us feel worse about ourselves. Remembering that, he and other speakers said, might inspire us to log off occasionally and spend time in the real world with people who love us as we are.
Why scientists played make-believe with an ape : Short Wave
Picture this: You’re at a pretend tea party, but instead of sitting across from toddlers in tiaras, you’re clinking cups with Kanzi—an ape with the incredible ability to communicate with humans. NPR science correspondent Nate Rott talked to some scientists who did exactly that. But these scientists weren’t just having pretend tea parties with Kanzi for fun, they were trying to test the limits of his imagination – because humans’ ability to play out “pretend” scenarios in our heads and guess at the potential consequences of our actions is key to how we live our lives. And we might not be the only animals to do it!For more of Nate’s reporting, plus videos of Kanzi, check out the full story on NPR here. Chris Krupenye’s study can be found here.If you liked this episode, you might also like our episode on bonobos and the evolution of niceness, and what insights monkeys offer us for the evolution of human speech. Interested in more science about our brains and their abilities? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
The Tartan: Where Science Meets Imagination
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is featured in the Winter 2026 edition of The Tartan magazine. Read more from The Tartan at alma.edu/tartan. In the spirit of iGEM, Alma students unite
This Bonobo Just Did Something Scientists Thought Only Humans Could Do
A bonobo demonstrated the ability to track imaginary objects in controlled tests, challenging the belief that imagination is uniquely human and hinting at deep evolutionary roots. In a set of carefully designed experiments modeled on children’s tea parties, researchers at Johns Hopkins University
A bonobo’s pretend tea party is rewriting what we know about imagination
A bonobo named Kanzi surprised scientists by successfully playing along in pretend tea party experiments, tracking imaginary juice and grapes as if they were real. He consistently pointed to the correct locations of pretend items, while still choosing real food when given the option. The results suggest that imagination may not be exclusive to humans after all.
Haveli To Acquire Budge Studios, Leading Mobile Developer of Digital Interactive Entertainment for Children
AUSTIN, Texas, February 09, 2026--Haveli Investments, L.P. ("Haveli" or "Haveli Investments"), a technology and gaming-focused private equity firm, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Budge Studios, a leader in digital interactive entertainment for children, from General Atlantic, a leading global investor. Creating positive and meaningful experiences to inspire kids’ imaginations, Budge Studios is entrusted by, and collaborates with, the world’s most recognized bran
Can apes play pretend? Scientists use an imaginary tea party to find out
For the first time, an experiment hints that an ape in captivity can have an imagination.
Joby Aviation becomes newest partner of Sharks Sports & Entertainment
Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE) announced today a partnership that makes Joby Aviation a proud partner of the San Jose Sharks and naming partner on the new Reimagination Studio. As part of the collaboration, Sharks Sports & Entertainment will work exclusively with Joby Aviation to explore vertiport development in the
Joby Aviation becomes newest partner of Sharks Sports & Entertainment
Sharks Sports & Entertainment (SSE) announced today a partnership that makes Joby Aviation a proud partner of the San Jose Sharks and naming partner on the new Reimagination Studio. As part of the collaboration, Sharks Sports & Entertainment will work exclusively with Joby Aviation to explore vertiport development in the
At a Bonobo’s ‘Tea Party,’ Scientists Find Hints of Imagination
By playing pretend with an ape, scientists found a human hallmark in our closest living relative: the capacity for make-believe.
Books that shaped a universe: Reiff reflects on science, curiosity and imagination
For more than five decades, Patricia Reiff has explored the forces that shape Earth’s place in space. But when the Rice professor of physics and astronomy took the stage Jan. 15 for Friends of Fondren Library’s Books That Shaped My World series, her focus shifted from spacecraft and data to the books and people that have influenced how she thinks, teaches and lives.
Reports of ad-supported Xbox game streams show Microsoft's lack of imagination
Xbox maker needs some fresher ideas for expanding access to cloud gaming.
Lego introduces ‘smart bricks’ with sound and light effects to new Star Wars sets
But some argue new ‘Smart Play’ technology undermines the Danish construction toy’s gift for harnessing a child’s own imagination
Teen’s video a ‘Breakthrough’ in science communication
Seventeen-year-old Grace Lee from Chula Vista is gaining national attention as a finalist in the global Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an annual competition that invites students to create original videos explaining complex scientific ideas in creative and engaging ways. Founded in 2015, the contest encourages young people to break down advanced scientific theories using imagination and storytelling— “Steven Spielberg meets Albert Einstein,” as organizers describe it. Lee’s submission centers on the principle of least time in physics, a concept that explains why light always travels the path that takes the least amount of time. To bring the idea to life, she used intricate origami characters and stop-motion animation, along with simple at-home experiments, she said. “The fact that light always travels via the path that takes the least amount of time sounds simple at first, but nature is full of surprises,” she said. “This principle is actually very profound and underlies many different fields in physics that seem completely unrelated, from optics to Newton’s laws to Einstein’s theory of relativity.” Also, origami has long been one of her passions and integrating it into her project felt natural. She often makes origami gifts for friends and teaches origami in her school clubs. “A single 10-second scene would take hours to craft,” she said, noting the mixture of stop-motion and post-production editing required to animate expressions and movement. To ensure the science remained accurate and accessible, she spent time reading books and online resources, writing a script, creating a storyboard, and filming and editing repeatedly until the visuals worked.The experiments were among the biggest challenges. To demonstrate water waves, she used everyday household items — “a spatula and an electric toothbrush to vibrate the waves, glass in a baking pan for different depths, and an iPhone flashlight so the waves would be visible.” She also put careful thought into explaining the principle through analogies, including a gingerbread man and a fox. “Analogies and visuals are incredibly important,” she said. “Visual demonstrations allow viewers to see how the science actually works.” Beyond the competition, Lee is deeply involved in science leadership and advocacy. She serves as International President of miRcore, the world’s largest student computational biology organization, with 136 chapters across five countries. She leads a 20-member executive board, organizes outreach connecting schools worldwide, and has helped run workshops at locations including Scripps Research Institute and the University of Michigan. “I used to be intimidated,” she said, but she gradually grew her skills and confidence. “Now I am no longer afraid to use my voice and enthusiasm to bring out the best in others.” Her research experience includes two peer-reviewed papers on asthma and vaping. Misconceptions around vaping, she said, show why clear science communication matters. “Our research shows that there is long-term harm to your lungs on the cellular level that isn’t obvious unless you come down with an illness like the flu,” she said. Lee also founded Full Hearts at Eastlake High School, transforming the small club into one of the school’s largest, with hands-on service projects in partnership with local nonprofits. She continues mentoring younger students to sustain the mission. If she wins the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, Grace hopes the $100,000 science lab prize for her school will expand opportunities for students who have limited access to equipment and hands-on science outside the classroom.
Scientific American’s Best Fiction and Nonfiction Picks for Science-Minded Readers
Scientific American unveils its first-ever best fiction and nonfiction books of the year, spotlighting stories that blend science, imagination and unforgettable voices.
The Science Of Magic: Find Out More In Issue 41 Of CURIOUS
Does imagination decline as we age? Are there plants that can photosynthesize by moonlight? All this and more exclusively in the latest issue of our e-magazine.