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CAN BOREDOM BE A GOOD THING?

Monday, July 29, 2024

In today’s newsletter, we explore new grizzly-polar bear hybrids, discover an upside to boredom, find the explosive start of fire tornadoes … and ask: Why is Siri a woman?

A child stands outside near a driveway.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LAUREN LANCASTER, THE NEW YORK TIMES/ REDUX

Boredom is awful. Scientists, only beginning to explore it, are coming up with a surprise. That dragging, exasperating feeling is actually something good.

We know, counterintuitive. How, exactly? Here’s what we know.

BENEFITS OF BOREDOM

Related: The science of why you have great ideas in the shower

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

A bear with white fur over most of its body looks upward with eyes close you can see darker fur on its face

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVEN J. KAZLOWSKI / ALAMY

Pizzlies (pictured above), grolars, and narlugas: Why we may soon see more Arctic hybrids

Fire clouds and fire tornadoes: How wildfires spawn extreme weather

When deadly storms arrive, here’s why we run toward danger

This mini-detective is helping track down pollution

The ancient cities that sunk to the ocean floor. Here’s how they were rediscovered.

The Olympics chose Tahiti for its famous waves—but some surfers aren’t happy about it

Earth just had its hottest day on record. One day it’s going to feel like Venus.

Some antibiotics are no longer as effective. That’s as concerning as it sounds.

What are ‘cocaine sharks’?

Celine Dion is not the only person with stiff person syndrome

Did a humpback whale really capsize a boat? Here’s what happened.

The best carry-on luggage to make your next plane trip a breeze

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

PHOTOGRAPH BY VADYM TERELYUK, GETTY IMAGES

Why is Siri a woman? Sure, you can change your phone settings to a more masculine voice, but why do the voices of smart devices always default to a woman’s? From Siri to Alexa and Cortana, does tech promote gender bias? Or merely reflect it?

THE SCIENCE BEHIND SIRI

WATCH THE TRAILER

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

An airplane landing beneath a curtain of dark clouds; the plane is crooked in its approach due to the high winds

PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIAN STRATENSCHULTE, PICTURE ALLIANCE/GETTY IMAGES

Planning on escaping unbearably hot temperatures? Think again. Jet travel isn’t just responsible for an estimated 3.5 percent of human-caused climate change: It’s increasingly becoming a victim of climate change itself. Experts explain surprising ways why air travel is becoming more perilous as the planet warms.

Today’s soundtrack: Paradise, Norah Jones

Today’s newsletter was curated and edited by Nishita Naga, Nancy San Martín, and David Beard. Let us know if you have any suggestions for us.

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