Plus: Fewer new moms dying of overdoses; mutual aid in Minneapolis
| | | | Top headlines Lead story Trying to learn a new language tends to elicit a lot of advice from people. Some might suggest moving to another country to immerse yourself in the language, claiming that within a few months, you'll be fluent. Others might caution that it's nearly impossible to pick up a new language as an adult, even if you practice Duolingo every day. But learning a language at earlier or later stages of life confers different advantages, writes Karen Stollznow, a linguistics fellow at the University of Colorado Boulder. Young children tend to more easily acquire native accents, and they "use the language smoothly, without having to think about the rules," Stollznow explains. But adults have other advantages, like grammar knowledge of their own language, problem-solving skills – and, in some cases, a strong motivation to learn. "So is it better to learn a second language as a child or as an adult? Research suggests the more useful question is which aspects of language learning, such as pronunciation, fluency or long-term mastery, matter most," Stollznow writes. "Ultimately, some people pick up languages quickly while others struggle, regardless of how old they are. " Learning a language isn't a race against the clock – it's a journey that everyone can undertake, at their own pace. [ Miss us on Sundays? Get a selection of our best and most popular stories (or try our other weekly emails). ] |  | Amy Lieberman Education Editor | |  Adult language learners have an understanding of grammar that can help them learn a new language. But they are also likely to feel more self-conscious as they do so. Bulat Silvia/iStock/Getty Images Plus Karen Stollznow, Griffith University; University of Colorado Boulder While a young language learner can more easily acquire a native accent, adults retain the ability to learn new languages well into later life. | Politics + Society | -
Shelley Inglis, Rutgers University As President Trump and other Republicans cast doubt on the legitimacy of the US electoral system, other democracies offer lessons in protecting the integrity of voting systems. | | Ethics + Religion | -
Daniel Cueto-Villalobos, University of Minnesota Minnesotans from all walks of life, including suburban moms, veterans and protest novices, have bucked their 'nice' stereotype to speak out. -
Christy Cobb, University of Denver 'Apocrypha' means 'hidden' in Greek, but it is often used to describe texts that are outside the official biblical canon. | | Environment + Energy | -
Promise Longe, University of Kansas Hydrogen demand around the world is projected to grow significantly by 2050. Some of that supply could come from nature itself. | | Health + Medicine | -
Kaylin Klie, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus The opioid reversal drug is distributed directly to new moms at many of Colorado's birthing hospitals. | | Science + Technology | -
R. Alexander Bentley, University of Tennessee An anthropologist's new book lays out the formula for human innovation, from stone tools to supercomputers. Depending on developments in the next few years, AI could hit the gas or the brakes. | | International | -
James Trapani, Western Sydney University The Soviets came to Cuba's aid in the 1960s. It remains to be seen whether Russia can do the same now. | | | | Video 📽️ |
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