The online dictionary announced on Oct. 29 that its Word of the Year is "6-7" (also "six-seven" and "67"), a slang phrase popularly used by Gen Alpha. While some interpret the phrase to mean "so-so" or "maybe this, maybe that," it is also used as an exclamation, according to a Dictionary.com news release. (Cross, USA Today)
Read MoreTeens who start using cannabis before age 15 are more likely to use the drug often later in their lives. They are also more likely to develop mental and physical health problems in young adulthood compared to their peers who did not use the drug in adolescence. (Chaterjee, NPR)
Read MoreDespite polling heralded as revealing a “quiet revival”, the Church of England is — by almost every measure and in almost every diocese — smaller than it was in 2018, this year’s Statistics for Mission show. (Davies, Church Times)
Read MoreMany U.S. homes may decorate with ghosts and witches for Halloween, but most U.S. adults are doubtful they actually exist. Surveys from Gallup and Pew find broad skepticism for psychics, ghosts, astrology and witches. (Earls, Baptist Press)
Read MoreWorldwide, the number of children born to the average family has dropped by more than half since the 1970s, according to the latest United Nations data. Economists say having fewer children is the norm for many families, especially in relatively prosperous countries like the U.S. (Mann & McCammon, NPR)
Read MoreIn his memoir, Surprised by Joy, Lewis’s description of his childhood suggests the empty room in which the wardrobe stands, and links it also to his reading. (Jones, The Times)
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