Why it's OK to be anxious, sad or bored sometimes

+ key Atlantic Ocean current heads toward tipping point US Edition - Today's top story: Anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety – emotions that feel bad can be useful [View in browser]( US Edition | 14 February 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( The “pursuit of happiness” may be baked into the U.S.’s national character, but a story by Texas A&M researcher Heather Lench reveals the positive role of “bad” emotions, such as anxiety, anger and boredom. A professor of psychological and brain sciences who runs an emotion science lab, Lench explains that these types of emotions benefit people in different ways, such as sadness helping you recover after a failure or boredom getting you started on something new. It’s a different way of looking at psychological well-being, recognizing that a mix of positive and negative emotions is [not just normal but even desirable](. Like millions of other people, I get captivated watching wildlife photography and video on social media. But social media, particularly of wild animals pictured with people, can [contribute to harmful human encounters with wildlife]( and to the exotic pet trade, writes primatologist Andrea DiGiorgio. Based on her research, she recommends conservation and wildlife scientists not share photos of themselves with animals on social media. She also explains how close-up encounters between animals and nonprofessionals can transmit disease and alter animal behavior negatively. One of the most-read science stories in the past week covered a study showing that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is heading in a perilous direction. The story explains how [global warming is disrupting this key ocean current]( and describes the tipping point scientists are keeping an eye on. Also in this week’s science news: - [The many health damages from particulate air pollution]( - [How to recognize a person having a seizure]( - [Neuralink brain implant raises medical ethics questions]( 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 A bad feeling can trigger behavior that leads to something better. Rawpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus [Anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety – emotions that feel bad can be useful]( Heather Lench, Texas A&M University Lots of people will do a lot to avoid feeling negative emotions. But researchers are figuring out how these unpleasant feelings actually have benefits. The right way to photograph wildlife: from a distance, in the animal’s natural habitat. Jim Peaco, Yellowstone National Park/Flickr [Wildlife selfies harm animals − even when scientists share images with warnings in the captions]( Andrea l. DiGiorgio, Princeton University The caption may say that only scientists and trained professionals should handle wild animals, but viewers remember the image, not the words. Too much fresh water from Greenland’s ice sheet can slow the Atlantic Ocean’s circulation. Paul Souders/Stone via Getty Images [Atlantic Ocean is headed for a tipping point − once melting glaciers shut down the Gulf Stream, we would see extreme climate change within decades, study shows]( René van Westen, Utrecht University; Henk A. Dijkstra, Utrecht University; Michael Kliphuis, Utrecht University Scientists now have a better understanding of the risks ahead and a new early warning signal to watch for. [Breastfeeding benefits mothers as much as babies, but public health messaging often only tells half of the story]( Tisha Felder, University of South Carolina; Joynelle Jackson, University of South Carolina Some states, especially in the Southeastern US, have large disparities in breastfeeding among racial groups, making clear the need to lower barriers for breastfeeding in the workplace and elsewhere. [Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff and turn a profit]( Jazmin Locke-Rodriguez, Florida International University; Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, Florida International University Phosphorus and nitrogen contribute to water pollution and cause harmful algal blooms. New research shows how mats of floating flower beds can take advantage of these nutrients while cleaning the water. [Family caregivers face financial burdens, isolation and limited resources − a social worker explains how to improve quality of life for this growing population]( Kathy L. Lee, University of Texas at Arlington Family caregivers who have stronger support networks and positive communication with loved ones tend to be more resilient. [El Niño is starting to lose strength after fueling a hot, stormy year, but it’s still powerful − an atmospheric scientist explains what’s ahead for 2024]( Paul Roundy, University at Albany, State University of New York The strong El Niño that started in 2023 will still have big impacts at least through March. Here’s what to watch for next. - [We designed wormlike, limbless robots that navigate obstacle courses − they could be used for search and rescue one day]( Tianyu Wang, Georgia Institute of Technology; Christopher Pierce, Georgia Institute of Technology Robots often have a hard time navigating through debris, but robots designed based on worms and snakes could move around obstacles faster, thanks to an idea called mechanical intelligence. - [DOJ funding pipeline subsidizes questionable big data surveillance technologies]( Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, American University Predictive policing has been a bust. The Department of Justice nurtured the technology from researchers’ minds to corporate production lines and into the hands of police departments. - [AI ‘companions’ promise to combat loneliness, but history shows the dangers of one-way relationships]( Anna Mae Duane, University of Connecticut Tech companies are offering AI companions as a convenient cure for the loneliness epidemic, but there have been other forms of faux relationships, and they tend to have more to do with ego than heart. - [Our robot harvests cotton by reaching out and plucking it, like a lizard’s tongue snatching flies]( Hussein Gharakhani, Mississippi State University Cotton is one of the world’s largest crops and is harvested with large, heavy machines. Robotic harvesting could yield higher-quality cotton with less damage to plants and soil. - [Global health research suffers from a power imbalance − decolonizing mentorship can help level the playing field]( - [Heart attacks, cancer, dementia, premature deaths: 4 essential reads on the health effects driving EPA’s new fine particle air pollution standard]( - [Recognizing when someone is having a seizure – and how you can help during those first critical moments]( - [Several companies are testing brain implants – why is there so much attention swirling around Neuralink? Two professors unpack the ethical issues]( - Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Economy & Business]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. 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