All posts tagged: young

Apprenticeships aren’t designed for young people any more

Apprenticeships aren’t designed for young people any more

The number of people in England choosing to enrol in an apprenticeship has declined markedly over the past decade. Apprenticeship participation has fallen overall from 908,700 in 2016-17 to 736,500 in 2023-24. Particularly notable has been a shift away from apprenticeships providing introductory skills for young people towards them becoming higher level qualifications for older adults. In 2023-24, 55,660 under-19s were taking part in an intermediate apprenticeship, down from 75,500 in 2019-20. On the other hand, 185,810 over-25s were participating in a higher level apprenticeship in 2023-24 – up from 109,770 in 2019-20. “Apprenticeship starts for the under-25s fell by 38% in the period 2015-16 to 2022-23,” education secretary Bridget Phillipson told the House of Commons in September 2024. “It will fall to this Labour government to turn that around.” Continued messaging from successive governments has emphasised that apprenticeships are for young people. “To every young person I meet my message is that no matter who you are, or where you’re from, or whatever career you want to do, an apprenticeship will open doors for …

New neuroscience research shows COVID-19 leaves mark on young adult brains

New neuroscience research shows COVID-19 leaves mark on young adult brains

A new study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity has found that young adults who have recovered from COVID-19 show distinct patterns of brain activity during cognitive tasks, even if they perform normally on those tasks. These brain activity changes are similar to those seen in much older adults and are particularly pronounced in individuals reporting “brain fog.” The research suggests that COVID-19 may have subtle, yet significant, effects on brain function that are not always captured by standard cognitive tests. Scientists have been increasingly concerned about the long-term effects of COVID-19, especially on cognitive function. Since the emergence of the virus in late 2019, it has spread globally, infecting hundreds of millions of people. While older adults and individuals with pre-existing conditions are known to be more vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19, young adults have been disproportionately affected by infection rates, partly due to the role of university campuses as potential hubs for virus transmission. Adding to these concerns, a significant number of individuals who recover from COVID-19 report experiencing ongoing cognitive problems, …

Relationships Across Generations Can Help the Old and Young Flourish

Relationships Across Generations Can Help the Old and Young Flourish

Meaningful intergenerational relationships — relationships between young and old — are a powerful, prevalent, but overlooked resource in the United States. Purposeful interactions across generations can enrich the lives of youth and adults and be a win for all ages. Whether the age difference is large or small, the benefits of healthy intergenerational relationships are powerful and can help young people develop a stronger self-concept, meaning, and well-being — and also improve the quality of life for older adults (Stanford Center on Longevity, 2016; Waldinger, 2022). Over 75 years ago, the ground-breaking Harvard Longitudinal Study of Adult Development began studying more than 700 men and the research continues to the present time. Remarkably, evidence continues to show that adults who engage in meaningful relationships with younger generations are more likely to feel happier, less stressed, and more optimistic than others without these relationships (Newberry, 2023; Waldinger, 2022). Noted psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner, Ph.D., a founder of the Head Start preschool program, is quoted as saying “Every child needs at least one adult who is irrationally crazy …

The Young, Inexperienced Engineers Aiding Elon Musk’s Government Takeover

The Young, Inexperienced Engineers Aiding Elon Musk’s Government Takeover

Both Bobba and Coristine are listed in internal OPM records reviewed by WIRED as “experts” at OPM, reporting directly to Amanda Scales, its new chief of staff. Scales previously worked on talent for xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company, and as part of Uber’s talent acquisition team, per LinkedIn. Employees at GSA tell WIRED that Coristine has appeared on calls where workers were made to go over code they had written and justify their jobs. WIRED previously reported that Coristine was added to a call with GSA staff members using a nongovernment Gmail address. Employees were not given an explanation as to who he was or why he was on the calls. Farritor, who per sources has a working GSA email address, is a former intern at SpaceX, Musk’s space company, and currently a Thiel Fellow after, according to his LinkedIn, dropping out of the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. While in school, he was part of an award-winning team that deciphered portions of an ancient Greek scroll. Kliger, whose LinkedIn lists him as a special adviser to …

Young women’s mixed feelings about sex stem from conflicting social norms

Young women’s mixed feelings about sex stem from conflicting social norms

A set of interviews with young women in the United States revealed that their mixed feelings toward sex stem from conflicting social norms. Participating women expressed a desire to have sex with their partners, guided by social norms that valorized such encounters, but they were also influenced by coexisting norms that stigmatized sexual activity. The paper was published in Sexualities. Gender norms are socially constructed beliefs that dictate how individuals should behave based on their gender. These norms typically reinforce traditional expectations, such as the idea that men should be sexually assertive while women should be more reserved. In many cultures, deviating from these expectations can lead to social stigma or judgment, influencing individuals’ choices and behaviors. These norms also shape perceptions of sexuality. In most cultures, men are encouraged to prioritize pleasure, while women are expected to focus on emotional connection. However, evolving social attitudes and movements are challenging traditional norms, advocating for more inclusive and liberal perspectives on sexuality. Gender norms tend to be particularly powerful in regulating the sexual behavior of young …

New research identifies key predictors of science success in young students

New research identifies key predictors of science success in young students

A recent study published in Learning and Individual Differences has shed light on how motivation impacts science achievement and career aspirations among students aged 11 to 14. Researchers found that the most successful and ambitious students tended to have a motivational profile marked by high expectations of success, a genuine interest in science, and a belief in its importance and utility. Additionally, these students perceived the “cost” of studying science—such as the effort involved—as low. The researchers behind the new study aimed to address a critical issue: the declining interest in science during adolescence and its implications for educational and career choices. With a growing demand for workers skilled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, understanding what drives students to pursue science is essential. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of motivation, but few have considered how multiple facets of motivation—such as the expectation of success, interest in science, and perceived costs—interact to influence achievement and aspirations. “This is partly as I have an interest in the psychology of learning and what makes some young …

Neil Young confirmed as Glastonbury headliner – days after saying he was pulling out | Ents & Arts News

Neil Young confirmed as Glastonbury headliner – days after saying he was pulling out | Ents & Arts News

Neil Young has been confirmed as a headliner at this year’s Glastonbury – despite saying he was dropping out due to the BBC’s involvement in the festival. The 79-year-old musician wrote on his website earlier this week that both he and his band, The Chrome Hearts, were pulling out because the BBC’s involvement was a “corporate turn-off”. He has now said in a statement that this decision was down to “an error in the information I received”. Emily Eavis, the organiser of the Glastonbury Festival, posted on Instagram on Friday: “Neil Young is an artist who’s very close to our hearts at Glastonbury. “He does things his own way and that’s why we love him. “We can’t wait to welcome him back here to headline the Pyramid in June.” Glastonbury, which takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset in summer, has worked closely with the BBC – its exclusive broadcast partner – since 1997. Posting on Neil Young Archives, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer wrote in his initial statement: “The Chrome Hearts and …

Read J. R. R. Tolkien’s “Letter From Father Christmas” To His Young Children (1925)

Read J. R. R. Tolkien’s “Letter From Father Christmas” To His Young Children (1925)

J.R.R. Tolkien is best known for the sweep­ing fan­ta­sy land­scapes of Lord of The Rings and The Hob­bit. Apart from being a cel­e­brat­ed author, the Oxford Uni­ver­si­ty pro­fes­sor of Anglo-Sax­on was also a devot­ed father who dot­ed on his chil­dren. In 1920, a few short years after Tolkien returned from World War I, he began an endear­ing fam­i­ly Christ­mas tra­di­tion that would con­tin­ue for the next 23 years. After the birth of his first­born son, John, Tolkien began to write his four chil­dren let­ters from Father Christ­mas. These North Pole tales chiefly con­cern Father Christ­mas’ strug­gles against the north’s bat-rid­ing gob­lins, as well as the mis­chie­vous hijinks of his helper, North Polar Bear. An adept illus­tra­tor whose orig­i­nal draw­ings accom­pa­nied many of his writ­ings (see his book cov­er designs for Lord of the Rings), Tolkien includ­ed with many of his Christ­mas let­ters a set of charm­ing pic­tures. The many let­ters were even­tu­al­ly col­lect­ed in a beau­ti­ful vol­ume called Let­ters From Father Christ­mas. Thanks to the good work of Let­ters of Note, we bring to you a sam­ple …

Mexico Is Getting So Hot That Even Young People Are Dropping Dead

Mexico Is Getting So Hot That Even Young People Are Dropping Dead

This doesn’t bode well. Killer Heat Scientists have found that it’s not just older adults succumbing to dangerous temperatures driven by climate change — even younger people may be more susceptible to extreme heat as well. As detailed in a new study published in the journal Science Advances, researchers found that three-fourths of heat-related deaths in Mexico between 1998 and 2019 were people under the age of 35. It’s a fascinating — and perhaps foreboding — new finding that suggests it’s not just the elderly who are at the highest risk of dying from heat. “These age groups are also quite vulnerable to heat in ways that we don’t expect even at temperatures that we don’t think of as particularly warm,” first author and Stanford University environmental social scientist Andrew Wilson told the New York Times. Wet Bulb Blues Since getting an accurate picture of how many people die due to heat exhaustion is difficult — death certificates often don’t list heat as a cause — the team turned to data relating to changes in …

LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Kara Young Star in ‘Purpose’ on Broadway

LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Kara Young Star in ‘Purpose’ on Broadway

LaTanya Richardson Jackson will return to Broadway in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s new play Purpose. Jackson, who has previously appeared on Broadway in the 2018 production of To Kill A Mockingbird and the 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun, will star alongside Kara Young, who won a Tony Award last season for her role in Purlie Victorious, Harry Lennix (The Blacklist), Jon Michael Hill (Pass Over), Glenn Davis (King James) and Alana Arenas (The Bluest Eye). Phylicia Rashad directs the new play from Jacobs-Jenkins, who wrote last season’s Tony Award-winning revival Appropriate.  The play follows the Jasper family, which has created a powerful dynasty in Black American politics. However, when the family’s youngest son, Nazareth, comes home with an uninvited friend, the family must contend with faith, their own legacy and the cracks beneath the surface.  Purpose is scheduled to play a limited 19-week run at the Helen Hayes Theater, with previews starting Feb. 25 and an opening night scheduled for March 17.  Arenas, Davis, Hill and Lennix all appeared in the world premiere of …