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Is the Internet bad for you? Huge study reveals surprise effect on well-being

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A woman and a man sit in bed in a dark bedroom, distracted by a laptop computer and a smartphone respectively.

People who had access to the Internet scored higher on measures of life satisfaction in a global survey.Credit: Ute Grabowsky/Photothek via Getty

A global, 16-year study1 of 2.4 million people has found that Internet use might boost measures of well-being, such as life satisfaction and sense of purpose — challenging the commonly held idea that Internet use has negative effects on people’s welfare.

“It’s an important piece of the puzzle on digital-media use and mental health,” says psychologist Markus Appel at the University of Würzburg in Germany. “If social media and Internet and mobile-phone use is really such a devastating force in our society, we should see it on this bird’s-eye view [study] — but we don’t.” Such concerns are typically related to behaviours linked to social-media use, such as cyberbullying, social-media addiction and body-image issues. But the best studies have so far shown small negative effects, if any2,3, of Internet use on well-being, says Appel.

The authors of the latest study, published on 13 May in Technology, Mind and Behaviour, sought to capture a more global picture of the Internet’s effects than did previous research. “While the Internet is global, the study of it is not,” said Andrew Przybylski, a researcher at the University of Oxford, UK, who studies how technology affects well-being, in a press briefing on 9 May. “More than 90% of data sets come from a handful of English-speaking countries” that are mostly in the global north, he said. Previous studies have also focused on young people, he added.

To address this research gap, Pryzbylski and his colleagues analysed data on how Internet access was related to eight measures of well-being from the Gallup World Poll, conducted by analytics company Gallup, based in Washington DC. The data were collected annually from 2006 to 2021 from 1,000 people, aged 15 and above, in 168 countries, through phone or in-person interviews. The researchers controlled for factors that might affect Internet use and welfare, including income level, employment status, education level and health problems.

Like a walk in nature

The team found that, on average, people who had access to the Internet scored 8% higher on measures of life satisfaction, positive experiences and contentment with their social life, compared with people who lacked web access. Online activities can help people to learn new things and make friends, and this could contribute to the beneficial effects, suggests Appel.

The positive effect is similar to the well-being benefit associated with taking a walk in nature, says Przybylski.

However, women aged 15–24 who reported having used the Internet in the past week were, on average, less happy with the place they live, compared with people who didn’t use the web. This could be because people who do not feel welcome in their community spend more time online, said Przybylski. Further studies are needed to determine whether links between Internet use and well-being are causal or merely associations, he added.

The study comes at a time of discussion around the regulation of Internet and social-media use, especially among young people. “The study cannot contribute to the recent debate on whether or not social-media use is harmful, or whether or not smartphones should be banned at schools,” because the study was not designed to answer these questions, says Tobias Dienlin, who studies how social media affects well-being at the University of Vienna. “Different channels and uses of the Internet have vastly different effects on well-being outcomes,” he says.

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Argentina’s pioneering nuclear research threatened by huge budget cuts

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A drone view shows the Argentine Modular Elements Power Plant (CAREM), which is the small modular reactor (SMR) project at the most advanced stage of construction worldwide in Argentina, in 2023.

Construction of the small modular reactor CAREM, shown here in 2023 on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, in Argentina, has been paused owing to funding constraints.Credit: CNEA/Reuters

Owing to massive budget cuts and lay-offs of government employees, Argentina’s nuclear sector — which includes power plants and research facilities — is at risk, scientists say. The country was the first in Latin America to adopt nuclear energy, has three operating plants that provide about 5–10% of the nation’s electrical energy and runs numerous reactors used for research.

But because Argentina’s current administration, led by far-right president Javier Milei, has held the federal budget flat compared with that in 2023, the sector is facing a financial crisis. Inflation reached more than 200% last year — meaning that, in real terms, a stagnant budget is equivalent to a funding drop of at least a 50%. Milei, who took office in December after pledging to diminish the role of government in Argentina and bring the country’s debts under control, has also laid off 15,000 federal employees in the past five months.

With its current budget, the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) will be able to carry out its activities only “until May or June”, according to a statement published in March and signed by the agency’s leaders. The CNEA has been operating since 1950; it sets the country’s nuclear policy and carries out research to improve “the quality of life for society”, among other responsibilities.

“All these [activities] could be in danger,” Adriana Serquis, former head of the CNEA, tells Nature. On Friday, the Milei administration at last accepted Serquis’s resignation, which she had submitted before the president took office in December.

Portrait of Adriana Serquis at her desk, taking notes in front of a computer.

Adriana Serquis was replaced as head of Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission last week.Credit: Karl Mancini

“We cannot operate with this budget,” she says. The agency has taken out loans with private firms in the past few months to keep working, she adds. CNEA authorities stressed to the Milei administration that the agency would need a 2024 budget of US$270 million to operate at a minimal level. The government guaranteed the CNEA only $100 million.

Milei has made moves towards at least partially privatizing Argentina’s nuclear sector. Yesterday, he appointed Germán Guido Lavalle, founder of candoit, an engineering and technology consulting firm based in Buenos Aires, to lead the CNEA — a move that aligns with that push.

The agency has had to pause construction on two projects that could have brought even more renown to Argentina’s nuclear sector: one is a ‘small modular reactor’ prototype that is among the first in the world to be built for electricity generation, and the other is a research reactor that might have produced enough of the radioisotope molybdenum-99, commonly used in medical diagnostic imaging, to meet 20% of global demand.

If this continues, Serquis says, “Argentina will lose its place in the ‘nuclear club’” — referring to the country’s prowess in nuclear research, a global status it has maintained among wealthy nations.

Projects stagnate

One of the stalled nuclear projects is the small modular reactor CAREM, intended to supply low-carbon electricity to rural areas where large power plants can’t be built. Nuclear scientists have been working for decades to create this type of reactor, and countries, including Argentina, have been in a race to get theirs fired up quickly. CAREM, a prototype, would use uranium fission to supply around 30 megawatts of electrical power. If successful, it could be scaled up to larger, commercial versions supplying 300 megawatts of electric power. More than $600 million has been invested into CAREM since construction began in 2014, but another $200 million to $300 million is needed to finish it.

“It has less electrical production capacity than a nuclear power plant, but it’s also cheaper and safer,” says Tomás Avallone, a chemist and nuclear-reactors operator at the CNEA. It could be installed anywhere, be used for high-energy-consumption activities such as water desalinization and bring power to 300,000 people, he says.

Another stagnating project is RA-10, a 30-megawatt reactor that would use neutron beams to produce medical radioisotopes. Scientists could also use RA-10 to conduct materials research. “It is a multipurpose reactor,” says Rodolfo Kempf, nuclear-waste manager at the CNEA. The main construction on RA-10 has been completed, Kempf says, but its instruments haven’t been installed.

Argentina has so far invested more than $400 million in building the reactor, and another $80 million is needed. The commercial sale of the reactor design should provide a significant return on investment, say researchers who spoke to Nature.

Privatization push

The Milei administration has been advocating for the privatization of science and education in Argentina. In April, it sent a bill to Congress that includes a list of state companies to be fully or partially privatized. Nucleoeléctrica Argentina, a state-run firm based in Buenos Aires that oversees the country’s three nuclear plants, is on the list to be partially privatized. If this comes to pass, the government would maintain the majority of Nucleoeléctrica shares, and its vote would be needed for actions including expanding the capacity of a power plant, building a new one or adding shareholders to the company.

Alfredo Caro, a nuclear physicist and former director of the CNEA’s Bariloche Atomic Centre, estimates that a 30% stake in Nucleoeléctrica would be worth between $700 million and $1 billion. If that stake were sold, it might allow the government to finalize the construction of CAREM and RA-10, as well as to complete a planned upgrade of the Atucha I power plant, located about 120 kilometres northwest of Buenos Aires, to extend its lifetime, he says. “A partial privatization could help the sector carry on,” Caro says, “but only if the funds that are raised remain in the sector and are not spent on other areas of the state” — a big ‘if’, given the financial crisis in Argentina. The country’s gross domestic product is expected to drop 3.3% this year, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Officials at Argentina’s Secretariat of Energy and Nucleoeléctrica didn’t respond to questions from Nature about their plans for the nuclear sector. Meanwhile, the bill to privatize state companies has been approved by the lower chamber of Argentina’s Congress, and will now be considered by the Senate.

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Huge Nikon camera sale drops Z8, Z5, Z7 II, and more to record-low prices

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Several retailers have launched a massive sale on the latest Nikon mirrorless cameras and lenses – bringing many of our favorites here at TechRadar down to record low prices.

Notable mentions include a massive $500 discount on the excellent Nikon Z8 flagship, which is sitting at $3,496 at Adorama and B&H Photo today, and the Nikon Z7 II for $1,996.95 (was $3,996).

Those looking for more wallet-friendly options will find the Nikon Z6 II for $1,496.95 (was $1,996) and the superbly priced Nikon Z5 entry-level body for $996.95 (was $1,396). There are all record-low prices respectively for some of the best Nikon cameras on the market.

In addition to superb discounts on bodies, today’s massive sale at Adorama, B&H Photo and the official Nikon retailer also includes great options for both kits and lenses. I’ve rounded up a full list of today’s Black Friday-level deals below, including both prime and zoom lenses, as well as Nikon’s awesome range of APS-C crop sensor cameras.

Today’s best Nikon camera deals

More Nikon camera and lens deals

Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lens on a wooden table attached to Nikon Z6 II

(Image credit: Future)

Cameras

Prime lenses

Zoom lenses

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Huge Google Pixel 8a leak includes all the predicted specs – and a price

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The Google Pixel 8a could be with us as early as May 14, when Google I/O 2024 gets underway, and a fresh leak potentially gives us all the specs of the device – as well as pricing for the mid-range phone in Europe.

This comes from @MysteryLupin (via Android Police), and while some of this information has been leaked before, we haven’t previously seen such a comprehensive list of every spec the Pixel 8a is going to bring along with it.



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Huge weekend sale at Amazon – 17 best deals I recommend

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We’re approaching Memorial Day sales season, and while the event isn’t scheduled to start for another couple of weeks, the deals are already ramping up. In fact, there are dozens of offers live right now on Amazon so I’ve looked through and picked out 17 of the best deals you can shop this weekend.

See all the best deals at Amazon

Even though we’re a few months away from Amazon Prime Day, record-low prices are available on some popular Amazon devices. Highlights include the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $39.99 (was $59.99) and the handy Echo Pop for $19.99 (was $39.99).

There are also lots of good laptop deals, including the highly-rated MacBook Air M2 for $849 (was $1,099) and this super-affordable Asus Vivobook 15 for $259.99 (was $329.99).

Check out more of the best deals I’ve hand-picked below, including TVs, tablets, headphones, and appliances – many of which match or beat the lowest prices we’ve seen in recent months.

Amazon Weekend Sale – 17 best deals

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Fab Grab Fest in back with huge discounts on Samsung products in India

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Back in March, Samsung held the Fab Grab Fest in India, which offered many benefits on a wide range of products from the company. Well, the Fab Grab Fest is back in the country, and just like the last time, the South Korean tech giant is offering amazing discounts on a plethora of products during this sale. The latest Fab Grab Fest is live on Samsung’s official website, Samsung Shop App, and Samsung Exclusive Stores. However, the company hasn’t announced how long it will go on. Let’s take a look at the discounts.

Samsung Fab Grab Fest India May 2024 offers

Samsung is offering up to 64% off on smartphones, 77% off on tablets, wearables, and accessories, 24% off on laptops, 43% off on TVs, 61% off on monitors, 48% off on refrigerators, 50% off on washing machines and microwave ovens, and 46% off on air conditioners. Apart from this, you can get up to 22.5% cashback on many products if you make the payment using credit and debit cards from HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. You can take a detailed look at all the offers in the image below.

Samsung Fab Grab Fest May 2024 India Offers List

Commenting on the matter, Vice President of D2C Business, Samsung India, Sumit Walia, said “We are happy to bring back the most awaited summer sale on Samsung.com and Samsung Exclusive Stores. Through the Fab Grab Fest, we wish to bring the best deals and offers to our customers. We are witnessing an encouraging adoption of Buy More Save More, so in this Fab Grab Fest, we will extend flexibility to our customers to not only make bundles with the entire Samsung range but also enjoy an extra 5% off on the bundle. Adding to customer delight, we will also offer same-day delivery on select models.

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Huge Bose sale at Amazon – record-low prices for top-rated headphones and earbuds

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Bose makes some of the best headphones and earbuds you can buy today. We’ve tested several models by the manufacturer here at TechRadar and highly recommend them, including the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. Well, good news, both of these and much more Bose audio tech is on sale right now at Amazon

Shop the full Bose sale at Amazon

The two best offers are record-low prices for the headphones and earbuds we’ve picked out above. The first is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for $379 (was $429) and the second is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for $249 (was $299). They’re still quite pricey, but these are two of the best pairs of premium Bose headphones or earbuds available today.

If you want to save even more money, you could also go for the standard Bose QuietComfort Headphones for $249 (was $349) instead. I’ve been using these for some time now and think they are one of the best purchasing decisions I’ve made. They offer fantastic audio quality, top-tier noise-cancellation and a lengthy battery life that means I can use them for days while working or commuting without needing a recharge.

If you’re after some new premium gear then these three Bose deals at Amazon are not to be missed.

Today’s best Bose deals at Amazon

In our very positive Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review, we said they were simply the best at delivering top sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort, only dropping marks when it came to battery life. As for our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review, we settled on four stars, praising the impressive immersive audio and industry-leading noise-canceling tech in the wireless buds.

So, whether you’re a fan of over-ear or prefer some discreet earbuds, these are two top options that you should strongly consider while they’re down to a record-low price.

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A huge Meta AI update finally arrives on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses… for some

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After months of waiting the moment is here: Meta AI features have arrived on the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses for everyone – well, everyone in the US and Canada, for now.

The exclusivity to those regions is not the only caveat unfortunately. Another big one is that while the Meta AI tools are no longer locked behind an exclusive beta, Meta notes in its blog post announcement that they are still beta features – suggesting that you’ll likely run into several problems with regard to reliability and accuracy.

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Ransomware attack hits top chipmaker Nexperia, huge hoard of data set to be leaked

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Top chipmaker Nexperia suffered a ransomware attack last month which saw threat actors get away with a terabyte of sensitive corporate data. 

“Nexperia has become aware that an unauthorized third party accessed certain Nexperia IT servers in March 2024,” the company said in a statement shared with BleepingComputer. “We promptly took action and disconnected the affected systems from the internet to contain the incident and implemented extensive mitigation.”

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Huge weekend sale at Best Buy – shop the 13 best deals I recommend

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It feels like the last one just ended but Best Buy is back with another three-day sale featuring TVs, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, headphones, and much more. I’ve scanned through the offers and uncovered 13 of the best deals available this weekend that get a nod of approval from me and TechRadar’s team of experts.

Browse the full weekend sale at Best Buy

It’s a great time if you’re looking to buy some Apple tech as the retailer has record-low prices aplenty. You can get the top-rated MacBook Air 13-inch M2 for $849.99 (was $1,099.99), while the previous generation but excellent value iPad 10.2 is down to $249.99 ($329.99). Both are some of the best items in their categories that are well-reviewed here at TechRadar.

As for some other highlights, there’s the LG C3 48-inch OLED TV for $999.99, a versatile and affordable Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook for $389.99, and this PlayStation 5 – Spider-Man 2 Bundle for $449.99.

On top of this weekend’s deals, My Best Buy members get access to further discounts on select products, so be sure to use your membership or sign up for My Best Buy to secure those extra savings where available. You can also check out the latest Best Buy discount codes for some additional ways to save.

13 top deals at Best Buy this weekend

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