Why is it so difficult to stop using our phones? Trevor Haynes explains that social media has mastered the art of hijacking our brains to create the sense of being rewarded. In ‘normal’ life, we feel rewarded after positive social interactions thanks to the chemical dopamine. To keep us checking our social media apps, these companies employ various tactics to keep us in a constant stream of validation (and thus, dopamine); for example, Instagram will sometimes withhold “likes” on your photos to deliver them in larger bursts when you check the app later. Read full article here
Technology
The First Solar-Powered Car Comes at a Hot Price
The Lightyear O is a revolutionary electric car powered by the sun. Developed by a Dutch startup, the four-door sedan has over 50 square feet of solar panels on its roof and hood, generating up to 43 miles of energy a day. With production now underway in Finland, the car does come with a hefty price tag at $262,000, but the company hopes to introduce a more affordable version, the Lightyear 2, by 2025. Read full article here
Merv
January 27, 2023
