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We’ve all had to suffer someone droning on about their high IQ score. But how reliable a measure of cognitive ability are these tests? And, crucially, what do they miss? After all, many great leaps in human invention were driven by creativity, teamwork, self-discipline, intuition or curiosity rather than just one person’s IQ.
Interestingly, a lack of these other qualities can actually hinder our ability to think well. Yet they aren’t measured on an IQ test. And high IQ doesn’t necessarily protect against bias or error – people with higher IQ may in fact be particularly vulnerable to confirmation bias, for example.
In other news, it turns out that slouching isn’t as bad for us as we may imagine – as long as we keep moving. And the latest article in our microbiome series takes a look at the gut health superhero Lactobacillus
acidophilus.
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SpeedKingz/Shutterstock
Lawrence Whalley, University of Aberdeen
The majority of children who do not take or pass IQ-style entrance exams to private- or grammar schools, will have many qualities not measured on an IQ test. They may also just be late developers.
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Slouching has long been considered a bodily representation of negativity.
Mike_shots/ Shutterstock
Dr Chris McCarthy, Manchester Metropolitan University
The most important thing when it comes to spine health is movement.
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Eating yoghurt is one way of getting more Lactobacillus acidophilus into your diet.
Josep Suria/ Shutterstock
Samuel J. White, Nottingham Trent University; Philippe B. Wilson, Nottingham Trent University
Fermented foods, such as yoghurt and kefir, are great sources of this immune-boosting microbe.
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Politics + Society
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Paul Whiteley, University of Essex
Research shows that US campaign spending in elections tends to mobilise people to vote rather than to switch support.
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Ross Carroll, Dublin City University
When parliament blocked a radical MP from taking his seat in parliament, Burke warned that ignoring the people’s democratic will could have disastrous consequences.
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Ostap Kushnir, University of Portsmouth
The Russian president still insists that Ukraine has been taken over by hostile pro-western elites over the past decade.
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Hannah Bows, Durham University
Restrictions on media coverage and the use of sexual history in court would be more effective changes.
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Arts + Culture
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Anna Walas, University of Nottingham
There are some incredible rare finds on show at this exhibition but it fails to depict a more diverse life in and around Rome’s armies.
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Caroline Spence, De Montfort University
The 90s are back and the Body Shop’s values align with Gen Z in so many ways. It could be a perfect match
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Hyunseon Lee, SOAS, University of London
Wim Wenders’ latest film invites viewers to reflect on their ageing bodies.
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Business + Economy
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Sam Halvorsen, Queen Mary University of London; Sebastián Mauro, Universidad de Buenos Aires
Argentina is already feeling the sting of its new president’s policies – but Javier Milei is pressing ahead with ever-more radical plans to overhaul the economy.
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Environment
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Fionagh Thomson, Durham University
We know particles from spacecrafts are in the stratosphere. But what this means for the ozone layer or the climate is still unknown.
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Tom Nederstigt, Leiden University; Martina G. Vijver, Leiden University
Nano-enabled pesticides could pose huge risks and they aren’t being regulated effectively enough yet.
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Science + Technology
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Pin Lean Lau, Brunel University London
Medical devices have a legal definition, but the lines might become blurred in future.
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