How music bolsters mental well-being and social connections
Music is often viewed as an enjoyable form of entertainment, but a growing body of scientific and sociological research is proving how music enhances the strength of our brain’s neural pathways and helps us foster deep social bonds. One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no...
Current in Offbeat
NASA announces new ‘UFO Research Director’ following hearing
NASA is formalising and accelerating efforts to better understand Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) after a public hearing. With a new Research Director hired, will this be a boon for those chasing infallible evidence of otherworldly visitors? While once terms like UAP and UFO were uttered mostly by foil-hat wearing conspiracists...
New research suggests ‘beer goggles’ aren’t real
The longstanding belief that drinking alcohol makes other people appear more attractive is a myth, says a new report published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but if you’ve ever woken up next to someone you were certain...
Is TikTok’s burnt toast theory a solution to rising anxiety among Gen Z?
The viral concept postulates that minor inconveniences could be the universe’s way of averting a more severe catastrophe. Can this perspective alter how we perceive daily mishaps and alleviate stress? When you’ve endured a global pandemic, continue to witness the worsening effects of climate change, and are struggling to navigate...
British Museum worker sacked over missing items
Reports that a museum employee was sacked over missing items has triggered jibes on social media, as netizens compare the theft with imperialist history of the artefacts themselves. A senior curator at the British Museum has been sacked over missing items. Peter Higgs worked on the museum’s Greek collections,...
A congressional hearing on UFOs just took place in Washington
A former intelligence officer claimed under oath that the US government is covering up its knowledge of UFOs and recovered ‘nonhuman’ biological matter. Public hearings on the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrials are actually taking place. No, this isn’t the plot of an upcoming M. Night Shyamalan movie. Conspiracists have long...
How racism sparked the myth that MSG is unhealthy
Many people still believe that the umami-rich seasoning monosodium glutamate (MSG) is bad for their health. This longstanding myth was born out of anti-Asian racism and has since been disproven by science. Let’s investigate its story. Salt, salt, salt… who doesn’t love it? It brings to life the natural flavours of otherwise humble ingredients and satisfies our taste buds in a way that only its opposite – sugar – can compete...
How Pear’s social experiment is combatting dating app fatigue
A new startup called Pear wants to eliminate our reliance on tech to foster romance. Its small green ring encourages singles across the globe to make organic connections. Earlier this year, we asked whether dating apps have taken the fun out of falling in love on the back of revelations that an estimated 56 per cent of people using them feel inherently negative about...
PETA’s founder to leave behind grisly bodily gifts upon her death
PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk has announced her desire to leave behind a grisly set of assets upon her death. This includes a luxury handbag made from her skin, her lips to be delivered to the US president, and parts of her bowel gifted to Salt Bae. As Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara famously showed in his last moments, the ultimate statement of defiance can sometimes be made in death. This belief is...
Why are we all so obsessed with astrology?
Astrology is booming. Driven by younger generations, countless websites and platforms now cater to the astrologically inclined. We examine why this concept has taken over the zeitgeist again – and how it might be causing problems. While it may be a laughable concept to many, astrology now permeates almost every social media platform. Across TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter especially, it’s sparked an entire plethora of memes and subcultures. Terms like...
