Poland's recent election results and the potential impact on Europe. Challenges and gaps in organ donation in America. The benefits of writing on paper for memory. The importance of maintaining handwriting skills in a digital age.
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Quick takeaways
The recent nationwide election in Poland saw the ruling right-wing populist Law and Justice Party (PiS) lose its majority, potentially bringing a liberal government to power and changing the political landscape in Europe.
Research shows that writing by hand improves memory recall and conceptual understanding, leading to policymakers incorporating more handwriting instruction and limiting device use in classrooms.
Deep dives
Poland's Election Results: A Significant Political Shift
In the recent nationwide election in Poland, the ruling right-wing populist Law and Justice Party (PiS) faced strong opposition from a coalition of centrist, center-right, left, and liberal-oriented parties led by Donald Tusk. While PiS received the most votes, it is unlikely to form a coalition government as no other party wants to partner with them. The coalition led by Tusk's Civic Coalition Alliance looks to have won a solid victory, potentially bringing a liberal government to power and changing the political landscape in Europe.
The Challenge of Organ Donation in America
Although over 36,000 organs were transplanted from the deceased in America last year, there is still a significant gap between the number of organs donated and the number of people on the waiting list. The opt-in system for organ donation in America, as opposed to opt-out systems used in many European countries, poses a challenge in convincing people and families to consent to donation. Additionally, the variability in the performance of organ procurement organizations (OPOs) contributes to the problem. Efforts are being made to improve the system, such as decertifying poor-performing OPOs and increasing the utilization of potentially usable organs.
The Benefits of Handwriting in Education
Research shows that handwriting on paper has numerous benefits compared to typing on devices. Writing by hand improves memory recall and conceptual understanding, as the process of writing engages motor, sensory, and visual memory systems. In education, students who take handwritten notes outperform those who take typed notes, as the slower speed of handwriting promotes the compression and digestion of ideas. As a result, policymakers in several countries, including the US, Sweden, and England, are incorporating more handwriting instruction and limiting device use in classrooms.
After two terms in power, Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s nationalist party looks to have lost its majority. For Donald Tusk’s pro-Europe centrists, it’s bargaining time. Thousands of Americans are waiting for transplants, so why are so many organs going to waste instead (12:01)? And why writing might be better for your memory than typing (18:52).
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