Search, and You Shall Find What You Believe
Our biases are confirmed by the search terms we enter, new experiments reveal
Welcome back to your weekly dose of wisdom and wellness. I’m Wise & Well’s editor, Robert Roy Britt. Below you’ll find several informative and actionable stories by our team of journalists, topical experts and practicing professionals. First, this little tidbit:
Search “why is science wrong so often” and you’re apt to see links to stories that explain the worst aspects of science, outlier cases when research went awry. Search “how does science work” and you’ll see a totally different mix of stories that explain that science is often wrong, sure, and that’s part of the process of eventually getting it right.
The differing results of those varied search queries illustrate how the way we use search engines (including AI-based engines) can confirm our biases and misconceptions. To a degree, the search engine will help you find what you hope to find, not what is true. A new study involving 21 experiments and nearly 10,000 participants revealed “even unbiased search engines can lead users into digital echo chambers — simply because of how people phrase their search queries.”
“When people look up information online — whether on Google, ChatGPT or new AI-powered search engines — they often pick search terms that reflect what they already believe (sometimes without even realizing it),” said the study’s lead author, Eugina Leung, an assistant professor of business at Tulane University. “Because today’s search algorithms are designed to give you ‘the most relevant’ answers for whatever term you type, those answers can then reinforce what you thought in the first place. This makes it harder for people to discover broader perspectives.”
The findings are detailed this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In case you wondered, we all have biases. It’s why we’re often so clueless and judgy, and why half of us can never agree with the other half. The lesson: Be careful what you search for—you’re apt to find it.
Now let’s check out this week’s feature stories:
Arthritis isn’t Just ‘Wear and Tear’ on Aging Joints
You might’ve heard running is bad for knees, causes arthritis. That’s just one of the old saws about joint pain that have been, and are being, overturned by newer research. And now scientists have discovered that a medication that’s been used for decades to treat diabetes alleviates osteoarthritis (OA) pain. That says something profound about how to prevent OA, and you can get started now, no matter how old you are. By Jennifer Brown, MD
Is Your Heart Older Than You?
We count age by birthdays, but it’s not rocket science to realize, at a glance, that some people age faster than others. The same variations in the aging process happen inside us, too. And now scientists have figured out a way to gauge how young or old your ticker is, compared to your chronological age. Some hearts, it turns out, are decades older than they should be, and such information can guide important treatment options. By Annie Foley
What the Hell Should We Know About Biden or Trump’s Health?
Woodrow Wilson and FDR both hid their ailments from the public. Now with controversies over whether Biden and Trump have done the same, the writer, a psychiatrist, asks whether they’ve knowingly done so, if they have an obligation to be more forthcoming, and to what degree it matters. The answers are a lot more nuanced than the arguments we typically hear. By
John Kruse MD, PhD
Why I Chose ‘Pretirement’ over Retirement
Should you retire early? Retire at 65? Stay at your job as long as you can? Forced to make a decision, I found a different path, and I’d like to explain the science of why it’s good for me (and might be good for you, too). By Robert Roy Britt
Finally this week, on a sober note, I wrote about the elephant in the halls of science, because it’s waaaaaaay too big to ignore:
American Innovation was Great While it Lasted
President Trump’s purge of science, coupled with a fear campaign that makes scientists afraid to speak up, will cripple medical, technological, scientific, military and economic advancements for decades, analysts say. This isn’t just about science. It’s about the economy, and the nation’s ability to compete globally, and to maintain public health as well as peace at home and abroad.
Every week, Wise & Well offers helpful, actionable advice to help you make tomorrow a little better than today.
Cheers,
Rob