Americans' belief in God hits an all-time low | Top 10

+ take our news quiz! US Edition - Today's top story: Imagination makes us human – this unique ability to envision what doesn't exist has a long evolutionary history [View in browser]( US Edition | 5 March 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Happy Sunday. Welcome to the best of The Conversation. Just published: - [Eli Lilly is cutting insulin prices and capping copays at $35 – 5 questions answered]( - [The retention problem: Women are going into tech but are also being driven out]( I’ve had a lot of conversations recently about generative AI like ChatGPT and DALL-E. It seemed like everyone I know was talking about the chatbot who declared her love for a New York Times columnist. I’ve also had somewhat fraught conversations with colleagues about the ethics of using machine-generated art, the lack of transparency in AI-generated search results and how these new technologies could lead to the loss of (even more) journalism jobs. Juan Noguera, who teaches industrial design at the Rochester Institute of Technology, offers [a different perspective on this new technology](. His piece stands out because he explains step by step how he uses programs like DALL-E 2 to jump-start and deepen his own creative process. Reading it may deepen your own conversations about what this new tech can do. Later this week we’ll bring you stories about how Ukrainians want to rebuild their country, fungal toxins and ‘The Last of Us,’ and the economics of rock music. Emily Costello Managing Editor Readers' picks Your brain can imagine things that haven’t happened or that don’t even exist. agsandrew/iStock via Getty Images Plus [Imagination makes us human – this unique ability to envision what doesn’t exist has a long evolutionary history]( Andrey Vyshedskiy, Boston University By learning what parts of the brain are crucial for imagination to work, neuroscientists can look back over hundreds of millions of years of evolution to figure out when it first emerged. - [All presidents avoid reporters, but Biden may achieve a record in his press avoidance]( David E. Clementson, University of Georgia President Joe Biden may be nicer to reporters than his predecessor, but he’s not actually responsive to the press. He has held fewer press conferences than any president in recent memory. - [How to help teen girls’ mental health struggles – 6 research-based strategies for parents, teachers and friends]( Elizabeth Englander, Bridgewater State University; Meghan K. McCoy, Bridgewater State University The mental health of teenagers has grown far worse over the last decade. But a new report shows that, compared with boys, teen girls are disproportionately experiencing sadness and hopelessness. - [What is spillover? Bird flu outbreak underscores need for early detection to prevent the next big pandemic]( Treana Mayer, Colorado State University A biologist who studies how viruses spread from animals to people explains the process of spillover and the risks posed by the new bird flu that has spread across the globe. - [3 big numbers that tell the story of secularization in America]( Phil Zuckerman, Pitzer College Secularization has fascinated sociologists for 200 years – but that doesn’t mean they always agree on what it is, or how much it’s happening. Editors' picks Bipartisan committee with Beijing in its sights. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite [A more hawkish China policy? 5 takeaways from House committee’s inaugural hearing on confronting Beijing]( Michael Beckley, Tufts University US lawmakers heard testimony that suggests the era of engagement with China is over. Rather, policy may be hardening. - [How Jimmy Carter integrated his evangelical Christian faith into his political work, despite mockery and misunderstanding]( Lori Amber Roessner, University of Tennessee A media scholar who studied Carter and interviewed him explains how he attempted to translate Jesus’ teachings into action through his life of public service. - [I’ve spent 5 years researching the heroic life of Black musician Graham Jackson, but teaching his story could be illegal under laws in Florida and North Dakota]( David Cason, University of North Dakota Jackson used his musical talents to overcome racial barriers in the United States. But telling Jackson’s story may not be legal under proposed laws restricting how race is taught. - [A little bit of narcissism is normal and healthy – here’s how to tell when it becomes pathological]( April Nisan Ilkmen, Adler University Narcissistic abuse in relationships can take the form of extreme emotional abuse. Yet both the victim and the abuser may have difficulty recognizing it. - [DALL-E 2 and Midjourney can be a boon for industrial designers]( Juan Noguera, Rochester Institute of Technology During the brainstorming stage of the design process, AI-powered image generation programs can open creative doors that may have otherwise never been accessed. News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Test your reading with a weekly quiz drawn from some of our favorite stories. Questions this week on Gen-Z, Congress, a musical centennial and the Loch Ness Monster. Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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