Summer picks: Where did our attention spans go, and can we get them back?

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 938 Ratings

🗓️ 29 July 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 2024, the Oxford English Dictionary announced its word of the year was ‘brain rot’. The term relates to the supposedly negative effects of consuming social media content, but it struck a chord more widely with many who feel they don’t have the mental capacity they once had. Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, has been studying our waning attention spans for 20 years. In this episode from January 2025, she tells Madeleine Finlay why she believes our powers of concentration are not beyond rescue, and reveals her top tips for finding focus. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:02.0	From its buzzing cosmopolitan capital Kuala Lumpur to the pristine tropical beaches of Lankawi,
0:17.0	awe-inspiring cultural sites such as the Batu caves and unforgettable rainforest adventures into Managara.
0:23.7	Whatever you're looking for in a holiday, Malaysia is just a ticket.
0:27.5	With British Airways direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, there's never been a better time to explore this diverse and beautiful country.
0:34.3	To find out more, head to b.com forward slash Malaysia.
0:39.6	This message was paid for by British Airways.
0:50.0	Does your dream holiday include hiking, lounging, whitewater rafting, then explore northern Spain with Brittany ferries.
0:56.0	Catch a cable car up the Picos de Europa, wonder the golden sands of La Concha Beach,
0:59.6	or get your heart racing on the Rio Gajegos Rapids.
1:02.9	Learn how you can save up to 30% on your sailing with a Brittany Ferries holiday
1:04.7	and visit the Guardian.com forward slash uncommon holidays.
1:09.3	This message was paid for by Brittany Ferries.
1:16.8	Hi, Madeline here. We're on our summer break at Science Weekly. So for the next four episodes,
1:23.7	we're going to be bringing you some of our favourites from the year so far.
1:28.3	We're starting with this episode from January, when our resolutions to put down our phones
1:33.9	and finish a book led to a question. What has happened to our attention spans?
1:40.3	So we tracked down a scientist who's been looking at this question for the past two decades
1:45.1	and tapped her up for some expert tips.
1:48.7	I hope you enjoy the episode.
1:54.1	20 years ago, Gloria Mark had just taken on a new role, Professor.
2:00.1	I had so many different deadlines and people that I was interacting with,
	...

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