Around the world, many people who do not identify with any religion nevertheless hold a variety of spiritual and religious beliefs, including the belief that there is life after death, according to a Pew Research Center study of religiously unaffiliated adults in 22 countries. (Evans, Lesage & Corichi, Pew Research)
Read MoreThe growth of K-pop is all the more extraordinary when you consider the continued struggles facing the Western music industry. With demand for physical media declining – vinyl sales fell 33 per cent in the US last year – the industry’s only sure-fire way to make money is to charge ever-more scandalous ticket prices. (Power, The Telegraph)
Read MoreSuch heavy use exposes teens to a cascade of risks, with mental health impacts topping the list. A 2025 longitudinal study… found that increased social media use among preteens predicted rising depressive symptoms. Other research ties heavy use to increased anxiety, low self-esteem, self-harm behaviors, disordered eating and even suicidality. (Austin, USA Today)
Read MoreChurchgoers between the ages of 18 and 28 attend church more frequently than their older siblings, parents, or grandparents. A new study, part of the State of the Church research initiative from Barna Group and Gloo, found a post-pandemic surge among Gen Z churchgoers over the age of 18. (Silliman, Christianity Today)
Read MoreRussian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were captured privately talking about living to at least 150 years old on the sidelines of China's massive Victory Day parade in Beijing. According to audio picked up on CCTV, the two were overheard musing about the possibility of immortality through organ transplants and advanced medical procedures. (Giordano et al., Politico)
Read MoreThe operator of Pornhub will pay a $5 million fine to settle charges that it failed to stop child sexual abuse videos from being published on its websites, the Federal Trade Commission and the state of Utah announced Wednesday. (Dou, The Washington Post)
Read More