The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2026

Discover the effects of social media, artificial intelligence, climate change, stress, and more on our brains and behavior that are unique to the 21st century. Over the past 25 years, we have encountered powerful influences, both positive and negative, on brain function and even structure. Let's look at the changes that have already occurred in our ways of communicating. In the second half of the twentieth century, images replaced words as the common language of communication. On the evening news, we've become accustomed to seeing images from video cameras used by law enforcement, and thanks to the increasing prevalence of cell phones, we see them every day. However, AI is turning the traditional dynamic that values ​​images over words (“seeing is believing”) on its head, because we are now forced to question the credibility of images. We find ourselves having to adapt to a world in which what we see does not always reflect the reality of what is happening. Next, let's look at the effects of our changing environment on our brains and behavior. There is reason to believe there is a link between global warming and suicide. Wildfires, which are becoming more common as a result of climate change, affect air quality, an effect that is often imperceptible to the average person until they reach toxic levels. Studies have shown that wildfire smoke affects our brains and may cause diseases. Perhaps the most prominent factor affecting brain function in the twenty-first century is stress. Given the many factors the book addresses, we are likely to witness levels of psychological and emotional instability that can only be fully understood by focusing on the changes that occur in the human brain as a result of these unprecedented levels of stress. The brain is constantly evolving, and “The Twenty-First Century Brain” will address these unique influences on the brain and behavior in this century, in addition to the preventive measures available to mitigate some of these factors. This book is an essential study of how our brains are uniquely changing in the 21st century, and a guide to individual and collective measures that can be taken to eliminate these factors or reduce their impact.