IQ scores rose about three points per decade through the 20th century, and researchers still debate why

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IQ scores rose about three points per decade through the 20th century, and researchers still debate why

the gist

Across much of the world, average scores on IQ tests rose steadily through the 20th century, at roughly three points per decade. Tests are re-standardised regularly so that the average is always set to 100, which means people taking older tests score well above 100 on them. British children's scores on Raven's Progressive Matrices rose by 14 points between 1942 and 2008. The gains showed up in Western Europe, Japan and South Korea, and in memory tests as well. Explanations include better schooling, more abstract thinking in daily life, and improved nutrition and health, while some researchers argue that the gains may be slowing or reversing in some developed countries.

how it works

IQ tests are standardised on a sample so that the average score is 100 and the standard deviation is 15 points. When new versions are normed on more recent test-takers, the older population scores above average on the newer test. Repeated across decades, these small shifts add up to a steady rise.

so what

The effect shows that IQ scores measure something shaped by environment, not a fixed quantity. It also means that comparisons across generations require careful adjustment, and that claims about inherited intelligence must account for these large shifts.

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗