Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brian Wilson, visionary creative spirit for the Beach Boys, dies aged 82

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Jun 11

Good night sweet Boy! Brian Wilson dead at 82. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

Musician, who suffered from mental health problems, wrote and produced the 1966 album Pet Sounds – seen by many as the greatest album of all time

Sly Stone, Maestro of a Multifaceted, Hitmaking Band, Dies at 82

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Jun 9

Dance to the music! #sly #slyandthefamilystone #dancetothemusic
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/09/a...

Bill Atkinson, Who Made Computers Easier to Use, Is Dead at 74

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Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Jun 9

The passing of #BillAtkinson triggers fond memories of the early days of the #Apple #Macintosh - I still miss #Hypercard - these were days of discovery - right on your desk www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/t...

Aldebaran, liquidation d’une icône de la Frenchtech, que valent encore ses actifs ?

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Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Jun 3

It is game over for Aldebaran, maker of social robots. After a period of being insolvent, a French court yesterday closed the doors of the struggling company. My lab, like dozens of others, depends on Nao and Pepper for research. #socialrobots #aldebaran #robotics
www.frenchweb.fr/aldebaran-li...

Symbole de la robotique française, la société a été placée en liquidation judiciaire le 2 juin. Les actifs, largement dépréciés, témoignent d’un

www.frenchweb.fr

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 27

Go out and catch some live music!
theconversation.com/6-ways-live-...

6 ways live music could help combat the loneliness epidemic

A new research review shows live music isn’t just entertainment — it’s a proven way to boost feelings of belonging and community.

theconversation.com

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 27

Is reading over? Are professors' worries expressing a romantic desire for an outmoded activity?

The Reading Struggle Meets AI

The crisis has worsened, many professors say. Is it time to think differently?

www.chronicle.com

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 27

I just received word that Ellen Berscheid passed away last Thursday. Her work, with Elaine Hatfield, greatly impacted how we understand love today. RIP

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_S...

Ellen S. Berscheid - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 26

Hot off the press: Laban, G., Morrison, V., Kappas, A. et al. Coping with Emotional Distress via Self-Disclosure to Robots: An Intervention with Caregivers. Int J of Soc Robotics (2025). doi.org/10.1007/s123...

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Coping with Emotional Distress via Self-Disclosure to Robots: An Intervention with Caregivers - International Journal of Social Robotics

People often engage in self-disclosure and social sharing when trying to cope with emotional distress. This study introduces a novel long-term intervention designed to help informal caregivers cope wi...

link.springer.com

Understanding (and counteracting) the appeal of transgressive leaders | Gerben van Kleef

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 22

No wonder we can use Bad as a synonym for impressive Gerben van Kleef argues that transgressive acts by leaders find support not despite the norm violation but because of it. #socialpsychology #toxicleaders #500poundgorilla www.linkedin.com/posts/gerben...

Transgressive leaders appear to enjoy growing popularity across the globe. Why is this so? Synthesizing recent evidence, I propose that (i) such leaders are appealing not despite their transgressive b...

www.linkedin.com

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 21

And the #hallucinations do not go away #AI #chatbots #Tech
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/t...

A.I. Is Getting More Powerful, but Its Hallucinations Are Getting Worse

Opinion | Europe Built Trains. America Built Highways and Regret.

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 20

Europe and the US a story of two approaches to trains www.nytimes.com/2025/05/18/o...

Perspectives on Child Development: Social Learning and Interaction. Call for Posters – Kognitywistyka w Polsce

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 20

Perhaps of interest to you. Posters still being accepted.

kognitywistyka.org.pl/2025/05/03/p...

kognitywistyka.org.pl

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 17

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc... the world is not black and white.

The Mother Who Never Stopped Believing Her Son Was Still There

For decades, Eve Baer remained convinced that her son, unresponsive after a severe brain injury, was still conscious. Science eventually proved her right.

www.theatlantic.com

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 16

Bruce Springsteen's Trump Takedown Is Going Super Viral

www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/bruce...

Bruce Springsteen's Message To Donald Trump Is Going Mega Viral

Yeah, he's not a fan.

www.buzzfeed.com

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 16

www.podbean.com/ep/pb-4wckm-...

Why Do Emotions Hijack Our Decisions? The Neuroscience of Impulsivity

Why do some people struggle to control their actions when emotions run high? What happens in the brain when impulsive decisions take over? Why do some brains lose control under high arousal, while oth...

www.podbean.com

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · May 3

Our paper was the top downloaded article in the International Journal of Social Robotics in 2024. Building Long-Term Human–Robot Relationships: Examining Disclosure, Perception and Well-Being Across Time.
Guy Laban, Arvid Kappas, Val Morrison & Emily S. Cross

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Clem Burke, Blondie’s drummer and ‘heartbeat’, dies aged 70

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Apr 7

*sigh* www.theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, founding members of the new wave hitmakers, pay tribute to their late bandmate

French scientist denied US entry after phone messages critical of Trump found

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Mar 20

I guess there will be more conferences elsewhere then. Another brick in the wall.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

France’s research minister said the scientist was traveling to Houston for a conference when his phone was searched

‘It’s beautiful, don’t you think?’ The urban miners unearthing treasure in Belgium’s homes and garages

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Mar 19

Leuven in Belgium demonstrates urban #sustainability. Fantastic. Guardian article #circulareconomy

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

As the historic town of Leuven strives to become carbon neutral, it is transforming how its building are made – and demolished. Are there lessons for the rest of the world?

The Cost of the Government’s Attack on Columbia

Sam Wang @samwang.bsky.social · Mar 19

Today I'm filled with admiration for my university's president, Chris Eisgruber. He's standing up for Columbia and for universities as a home for freedom of ideas, debate, and thought - free of government attack. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

American universities have given the country prosperity and security. The Trump administration’s attack on academic freedom endangers all of that.

www.theatlantic.com

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Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Mar 16

What kind of people do we want to be? What kind of world do you want to live in?

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Opinion | Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isn’t True. (Gift Article)

A journey through the front lines of global poverty shows that when the world’s richest men slash aid for the world’s poorest children, the result is sickness, starvation and death.

Ted Lasso to return for Season 4: ‘Ted’s coaching a women’s team’

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Mar 14

From @theathletic.bsky.social: Ted Lasso, the comedy series following an American soccer coach at a fictional English Premier League club, will return for a fourth season. “Ted’s coaching a women’s team.” nyti.ms/4iSspnq

Apple TV+ has confirmed Jason Sudeikis will reprise his role as Coach Lasso in the Emmy award-winning show.

nyti.ms

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Association for Psychological Science @psychscience.bsky.social · Mar 14

Many psychological scientists are now calling for a “heterogeneity revolution,” focused on uncovering individual and contextual differences in experimental outcomes.

When One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Many psychological scientists are now calling for a “heterogeneity revolution,” focused on uncovering individual and contextual differences in experimental outcomes.

www.psychologicalscience.org

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Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Mar 14

I just learned about the insolvency of Aldebaran Robotics, producers of Pepper and Nao - the backbone of social robotics research. This is terrible news for the colleagues at #aldebaranrobotics and for #socialrobotics at large. Will smart and affordable social robots go the way of the flying car?

No more Nao and Pepper robots? Aldebaran Robotics insolvent

The manufacturer of the humanoid robots Nao and Pepper, Aldebaran Robotics, has slipped into insolvency. Whether and how it will continue is largely unclear.

www.heise.de

Arvid Kappas @arvidkappas.bsky.social · Mar 7

Apparently, democracy not only dies in the dark, but in broad daylight www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/u...

‘People Are Going Silent’: Fearing Retribution, Trump Critics Muzzle Themselves (Gift Article)

People say they are intimidated by online attacks from the president, concerned about harm to their businesses or worried about the safety of their families.