July 6, 2018: Friday News Roundup
It’s the first news roundup of July, and we are feeling the heat! We’ve got a long read about the inventor of the internet, a tennis champ’s relaxation secret, and a few words about imprecise words. Plus, happy Aphelion Day!
“I Was Devastated”: Tim Berners-lee, The Man Who Created The World Wide Web, Has Some Regrets
The father of the internet, who hasn’t even profited off his invention, is a bit alarmed to see what’s become of his creation. He certainly recognized that it “could, in the wrong hands, become a destroyer of worlds.” Now he’s working on new software to try to undo some of the damage.
A Tip From Serena Williams Can Help You Win In Everyday Life
We could all learn a lot from Serena Williams, one of the best tennis players of all time who’s now making a professional return after her daughter’s medically complicated birth. With all the drama on and off the court, Serena applies a relaxation technique called “quiet eye.” Give it a try the next time you’re feeling stressed or out of control.
If You Say Something Is “Likely,” How Likely Do People Think It Is?
Words matter! If your audience receives a different message than the one you intended, your words probably lack precision. We’re all guilty of this sometimes. So, pay heed to this research into the vague ways people describe probability; is a “serious possibility” going to happen or not? Imprecise language has consequences too.
Open-Plan Offices Have A Surprising Effect On Workplace Communication
Spoiler alert: the effect is not a positive one. A couple of recent studies found open floor plans reduce productivity and face-to-face conversation while increasing email and chat activity. Apparently, this “social withdrawal” is the natural response to a challenging environment where we feel on display all the time.
Aphelion Day 2018: Earth Is Farthest from the Sun Today
The summer solstice gets all the attention, but today has cosmic significance too: the Earth is farthest from the sun than at any other time of year. Can you feel it?