The first month of the new year is almost over. And here are some interesting articles that I came across last week…

He may have found the key to the origins of life. So why have so few heard of him? – Over the past year or so, I have come across a few stories of relatively unknown scientists who are only now, belatedly, getting recognition for their work. This article is of one such scientist – Hungarian biologist Tibor Ganti.

The Advice Epidemic – Giving others ‘advice’ is a ‘noble’ gesture, right? Well, this article argues that it is not. Read on to find out why.

How the pandemic could redefine our productivity obsession – “Accelerated changes to work-life routines are leading some people to radically rethink their approach to productivity – and even change the quality of their lives.“

The car, reinvented. From scratch – The car is one of those inventions that’s barely changed in design in over a century. However, that is fast changing with the increasing popularity of electric (and soon, autonomous) cars. This article, by an ex-Tesla engineer, lists some of the key changes that we are seeing.

10 mid-century modern destinations around the world – Travel might still be some way off for many of us. But we can always dream about and plan our next trip! This article has suggestions for people who might be interested in mid 20th-century design.

Articles across a few topics that I have a keen interest in:

5 consumer truths to get your marketing ready for 2021 – Kicking things off this week is a marketing insights article from Google. ‘To get ready for 2021 and beyond, marketers will need to embrace agility over certainty, make data and analytics part of their business process and provide customers with a more personal and seamless experience — all while reassuring and reminding people that businesses are getting the basics right.‘

Why do humans embrace rituals? – A fascinating look at how rituals might have evolved. ‘Now, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, humans are again adopting new behaviors in response to a threat, although it’s too early to tell whether any of these behaviors will become truly ritualized.‘

Why we stop discovering new music at age 30 – I came across this article via a LinkedIn post where the poster asked the question of how many of us are still listening to music that we grew up listening to, or are we actively seeking out and enjoying contemporary music. I used to be one of those listening to ‘good, old music’, but of late, I have started listening to music from contemporary artists, and enjoying it. This article explains why it is so difficult for many of us to ‘unlearn and relearn’ when it comes to music.

A New Population of Blue Whales Was Discovered Hiding in the Indian Ocean – It might seem strange to talk about the largest mammal to have ever lived on Earth to go into ‘hiding’. But Blue Whales are very difficult to study as they usually spend their times far away from human settlements. Interestingly, this new population was discovered through their ‘song’.

The Great Grift – Another thought-provoking hard-hitting article from Professor Scott Galloway wraps up this week’s set. Happy reading!