The mental health AI chatbot made for real life | Alison Darcy (Kelly Corrigan takeover)
Health News

The mental health AI chatbot made for real life | Alison Darcy (Kelly Corrigan takeover)

VANCOUVER, CANADA – In a thought-provoking session at TED2025, psychologist and founder of Woebot Health, Alison Darcy, engaged in a crucial conversation with author and podcaster Kelly Corrigan about the role of AI in mental health. Their discussion, part of Corrigan's "TED Talks Daily" takeover, delved into the vision behind Woebot – a mental health chatbot designed to offer support in real-life, often vulnerable moments, particularly when human help isn't readily available. The core of Darcy's work with Woebot is to provide accessible mental health support, especially for those experiencing distress during "off-hours," such as late-night panic attacks. As Darcy highlighted during the talk, an estimated 75-80% of Woebot's conversations occur outside of traditional clinic hours, with the longest interactions often taking place between 2 AM and 5 AM. This underscores the chatbot's utility as a...
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Exposure to microplastic makes animals want to eat it more
Health News

Exposure to microplastic makes animals want to eat it more

The insidious spread of microplastics throughout the environment has emerged as one of the most pressing ecological crises of our time. These tiny fragments, less than 5 millimeters in size, are found everywhere – from the deepest ocean trenches to remote mountain peaks, and alarmingly, within the bodies of countless living organisms. While the immediate physical harm caused by larger plastic debris (like entanglement or gut blockage) is well-documented, a more subtle and disturbing consequence of microplastic pollution is coming to light: evidence suggests that exposure to microplastics may actually make animals want to eat them more. This counterintuitive phenomenon, which researchers are actively investigating, points to complex biological and behavioral alterations in affected species. It raises profound concerns about the long-term impact on ecosystems, food chains, and ultimately, human health. The Ubiquitous Threat: How Microplastics Enter...
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Breaking News

At least 3 dead in New Jersey after strong thunderstorms sweep through the Northeast

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Months worth of heavy rain fell in a matter of hours on Texas Hill Country, leaving 24 people dead and many more unaccounted for Friday, including more than 20 girls attending a summer camp, as search teams conducted boat and helicopter rescues in fast-moving floodwaters. Desperate pleas peppered social media as loved ones sought any information about people caught in the flood zone. At least 10 inches (25 centimetres) of rain poured down overnight in central Kerr County, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River. Onlookers survey damage along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Onlookers survey damage along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP...
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Breaking News

India’s leader promises trade and investment in a visit to Trinidad and Tobago

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – In a significant diplomatic gesture reaffirming deep historical and cultural bonds, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a landmark two-day official visit to Trinidad and Tobago from July 3rd to July 4th, 2025. This was the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to the twin-island Caribbean nation in 26 years, underscoring India's renewed commitment to strengthening ties with the Global South and, particularly, the Caribbean region. The visit, extended at the invitation of Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, was imbued with profound significance, coinciding with the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian immigrants to Trinidad and Tobago in 1845. The warm reception and the conferment of the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country's highest national honour, upon Prime Minister Modi, highlighted the...
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