Stories by David Adam

Digital distractions can undermine our focus, but research suggests that our inherent capacity to pay attention hasn’t diminished

AI chatbot companions may not be real, but the feelings users form for them are. Some scientists worry about long-term dependency

Communication and misinformation researchers reveal the value of fact-checking, where perceived biases come from and what Meta’s decision could mean

Lethal autonomous weapons might reduce civilian casualties—or make catastrophic mistakes

Researchers are studying how to maximize creativity and connection in remote and hybrid work settings

Traits in psychopaths may be present to some extent in all of us. New research is reframing this often maligned set of attributes and finding some positive twists

A United Nations model predicts a slower rate of population growth than was previously estimated

Powerful waves ringing through the atmosphere after the eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai are unlike anything seen before

Key questions remain about how quickly B.1.617 variants can spread, their potential to evade immunity and how they might affect the course of the pandemic

Anaesthetist John Carlisle has spotted problems in hundreds of research papers—and spurred a leading medical journal to change its practice

Nick Sireau’s quest to give his sons weed killer could help thousands struggling with rare genetic conditions