Should we all be doing improv?

Plus, the human toll behind Qatar's stadiums.

View this email online December 4, 2022 This week, we look at the core tenets of improv — and the mental health benefits they might have for everyday life. Plus, a startling archaeological discovery in Italy. Scott’s weekly weigh-in A good weekend to you. I have spent the week at Future Trends Forum in Madrid to discuss quantum computing and AI, and have heard about a lot of amazing advances that gave me both hope and concerns.   Quantum computing uses subatomic particles to convey information. This vastly increases the speed and volume of what can be searched. It is expected to help revolutionize — not a word lightly used — security, work, finance and conflict. A few impressions: Quantum machinery works at -382 degrees Fahrenheit. So it needs a lot of energy — just at a time when we’re trying to reduce energy use. We often say intelligence and knowledge interchangeably. But they are not the same. Will building AI help us understand the true value of wisdom? Militaries often adopt new technologies first because they know that if they don’t, someone else will. AI already helps brain research. But will a technology that “reads” our brain waves to help our bodies work also be used to read our minds? AI and quantum computing may extend lives by decades. But how will we support so many billions for so long on our planet? There are few jobs (including lawyers, doctors, factory workers, truck drivers — and radio hosts) that can’t be done by intelligent machines. Are we ready for societies where work may disappear? AI has already made it possible for robots to dance. I asked, “But will we enjoy the Ballet Russes if they’re robots?” “Ballet Russes, I don’t know,” one thinker said. “But football should be played by robots. They’ll be better and won’t get hurt.”  The great Sarah McCammon sat in for me this week, and interviewed Lily Brooks-Dalton on her novel where a Florida of the near-future is abandoned and uninhabitable because of climate change. Scott Simon Scott Simon is one of NPR's most renowned news anchors. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and one of the hosts of the morning news podcast Up First. Be sure to listen to him every Saturday on your local NPR station, and follow him on Twitter. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Stories you might have missed   Annelise Capossela for NPR The art of improv might just be a boon to our mental health. One study found that doing just 20 minutes of improv a day can increase creativity, decrease social anxiety and increase our ability to tolerate uncertainty. Even if you don't practice it officially, you can still apply the tenets to your everyday life — and reap some of the benefits. Here's how. Twitter’s former safety chief has a warning about Elon Musk. Yoel Roth told NPR that Musk’s rapid changes risk the safety of the platform’s most vulnerable users, including human rights activists, free speech advocates and marginalized people in autocratic countries. He offered some stark advice for users. An archaeological find in Italy may rewrite Etruscan and Roman history. Archaeologists are hailing the discovery of two dozen bronze statues as the “most exceptional” in the last 50 years. The figurines were perfectly preserved in a sacred Tuscan thermal spring. Here's what historians are saying. Editor's pick   Lauren Frayer/NPR Qatar’s World Cup soccer stadiums hold a dark truth. Migrant workers, many from South Asia, bore the burden of building the tiny Gulf nation’s infrastructure — many bringing home stories about grisly working conditions and broken promises. And thousands died, according to human rights investigators. Vinod Kumar was one of them. Before you go...   Michael Hardy/Express/Getty Images A rare recording of a show Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim wrote and performed in college was discovered hidden on a bookshelf. Having trouble finding kids’ fever reducers? You can thank COVID, RSV and the flu. Don’t fret — you have other options. Against his lawyers’ wishes, Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced FTX founder, is on a press blitz. Here’s a recap of his remarks. Unwanted gifts, rude family and a usurped holiday break: A therapist shares advice for common holiday conundrums. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy