A new study has found that people who are obsessed with celebrities are less intelligent than those who aren’t. In news that may not surprise everyone, Hungarian academics concluded that “there is a clear correlation between celebrity worship and poorer performance on cognitive tests” involving reading and numeracy. However, they were unable to determine whether celebrity worship is a cause or effect of lower intelligence.
Cockroach pulled from his ear
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Queenagers and Silvfluencers could rule this year
The year ahead could see older people confound stereotypes, as new words set to become popular in 2022 include Queenager (an older woman who is busy and enjoys having fun) and Silvfluencer (a ‘silver influencer’, or an older person who is an influencer). Language-learning platform Babbel also believes that FOGO (meaning fear of going out) could become a widespread term as people struggle with anxiety around socialising after lockdowns.
-
Elizabeth Gilbert chooses books about women overcoming difficultyThe Week Recommends The bestselling author shares works by Tove Jansson, Lauren Groff and Rayya Elias
-
Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals – a ‘thrilling’ exhibitionThe Week Recommends Celebration of two of the UK’s ‘greatest landscape painters’ at Tate Britain is a truly ‘absorbing’ experience
-
Political cartoons for December 5Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include DOJ censorship, bombing the New York Times, and more
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
