How to listen to your hunger

+ year of climate disasters; artificial light and bird migration US Edition - Today's top story: Do you eat with your eyes, your gut or your brain? A neuroscientist explains how to listen to your hunger during the holidays [View in browser]( US Edition | 20 December 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( It’s fitting that this last dispatch of the year includes stories on some of the biggest themes in science and technology of 2023 – space exploration, weight control and health, extreme weather and artificial intelligence. Just in time for the holidays and indulgent eating, Alex Johnson of Michigan State University describes the multiple ways our [body drives decisions about what we eat](, including using visual and other sensory cues as well as nerves in our digestive tract. He recommends tuning in to internal signals, particularly from one’s gut, and to aim for what he calls “intuitive eating.” Another story with a seasonal flavor comes from psychologists Michael Varnum from Arizona State University and Ian Hohm from the University of British Columbia, who explain the emerging science showing how winter [brings profound changes in how people think, feel and behave](. They write that people should expect to see a number of changes, including the winter blues, weight gain, higher sex drive, generosity and even sharper thinking. As we close out the year, the expectations around large language models and other forms of generative AI remain high, even if the direct impacts remain hazy. The Conversation’s technology editor, Eric Smalley, summarizes a number of stories we published over the past year to [correct some of the misperceptions around AI](. Given all the hype, it’s worth understanding what today’s AI systems are not capable of as much as what they can do. Also in this week’s science news: - [Feral ‘super pigs’ may migrate to U.S. from Canada]( - [Why some black holes are bigger than others]( - [The physics of lighting a fire with friction]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin LaMonica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters The particular stressors of the holiday season can make it difficult to listen to your body. InspirationGP/iStock via Getty Images [Do you eat with your eyes, your gut or your brain? A neuroscientist explains how to listen to your hunger during the holidays]( Alex Johnson, Michigan State University You likely know that the sight and smell of food can trigger cravings. But internal cues from your gut and your brain play just as important a role in the decisions you make around food. Short winter days can influence your brain chemistry. Schon/Moment via Getty Images [Winter brings more than just ugly sweaters – here’s how the season can affect your mind and behavior]( Michael Varnum, Arizona State University; Ian Hohm, University of British Columbia Some of winter’s effects have been tied to cultural norms and practices, while others likely reflect our bodies’ innate biological responses to shorter days and colder weather. ChatGPT captivated the public imagination. Lionel Bonaventure via Getty Images [ChatGPT and its AI chatbot cousins ruled 2023: 4 essential reads that puncture the hype]( Eric Smalley, The Conversation Common misperceptions about AI chatbots are that they know something about the world, can make decisions, are a replacement for search engines and operate independent of humans. [2023’s extreme storms, heat and wildfires broke records – a scientist explains how global warming fuels climate disasters]( Shuang-Ye Wu, University of Dayton The US saw a record number of billion-dollar disasters in 2023, even when accounting for inflation. The number of long-running heat waves like the Southwest experienced is also rising. [Artificial light lures migrating birds into cities, where they face a gauntlet of threats]( Carolyn S. Burt, Colorado State University; Kyle Horton, Colorado State University Migrating birds need stopover locations en route where they can rest and feed. A new study shows that artificial light draws them away from sites they would normally use and into risky zones. [Shipwrecks teem with underwater life, from microbes to sharks]( Avery Paxton, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration When ships sink, they add artificial structures to the seafloor that can quickly become diverse, ecologically important underwater communities. [Volcanic eruption lights up Iceland after weeks of earthquake warnings − a geologist explains what’s happening]( Jaime Toro, West Virginia University Iceland is known as ‘the land of fire and ice’ for a reason. - [For many who are suffering with prolonged grief, the holidays can be a time to reflect and find meaning in loss]( Mandy Doria, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus A trauma-informed therapist discusses how grief affects the brain and highlights the role of a sixth stage of grief – finding meaning – in the healing process. - [Why the COP28 climate summit mattered, and what to watch for in 2024]( Rachel Kyte, University of Oxford The UN climate conference brought some progress. A former UN official who has been involved in international climate policy for years explains what has to happen now for that progress to pay off. - [When authoritative sources hold onto bad data: A legal scholar explains the need for government databases to retract information]( Janet Freilich, Fordham University Theranos was dissolved years ago, and its CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, is in prison, but the company’s patents based on bad science live on – a stark example of the persistence of faulty information. - [Drinking during holidays and special occasions could affect how you parent your kids]( Bridget Freisthler, The Ohio State University Even parents who don’t drink much throughout the year may have a few extra eggnogs at a Christmas party or beers while watching the Super Bowl. And that has implications for how they treat their kids. - [Paying people to replant tropical forests − and letting them harvest the timber − can pay off for climate, justice and environment]( - [Wild ‘super pigs’ from Canada could become a new front in the war on feral hogs]( - [Scientists have been researching superconductors for over a century, but they have yet to find one that works at room temperature − 3 essential reads]( - [Why are some black holes bigger than others? An astronomer explains how these celestial vacuums grow]( - [Why do some men commit domestic violence? Trauma and social isolation may play a role]( - [Lighting a fire using friction requires an understanding of some physics principles − but there are ways to make the process easier]( - Like this newsletter? 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