Taking paracetamol for COVID-19 symptoms could make you more likely to spread the virus. In a series of experiments, researchers have found that paracetamol reduces perceived risk and leads to more risk-taking behavior. The experiment had participants inflate digital balloons for imaginary money — each pump gave money, but a popped balloon meant they forfeit their winnings. Participants who were given paracetamol consistently inflated (and popped) their balloons more than the control group. Read full article here
Societal Issues
AI Predicts Crime A Week In Advance With 90 Per Cent Accuracy
An artificial intelligence model built by Ishanu Chattopadhyay and his colleagues analysed crime data in Chicago from 2014 to 2016 and managed to predict future levels of crime down to the nearest 300 metres, a week before they actually happened. While extremely useful, this artificial intelligence has been shown to expose racial prejudice in law enforcement. Hopefully, as the study’s data and methodology have been made available for others to evaluate, these prejudices can be avoided in the next iteration. Read full article here
Merv
August 15, 2022
