Latest & Signals

A dated feed of new evidence, news, and ideas — the living layer that keeps this work current. Showing April 2026.

April 30, 2026

Gallup: young men going back to church — historic numbers

42% of young men now say religion is ‘very important’ — the highest in a quarter century, and now above young women. Hallels (reporting Gallup) →

April 24, 2026

Worship attendance is up for the first time in decades

A Hartford Institute report finds in-person attendance rising, more people volunteering, and renewed optimism among clergy — the first sustained uptick in twenty years. Religion News Service →

April 19, 2026

A humanoid robot beats the human half-marathon world record

Honor's humanoid finished a Beijing half-marathon in 50:26 — faster than any human — just a year after the first such race took nearly three hours. Embodied AI is improving at a startling pace. NPR →

April 16, 2026

Snap cuts ~16% of staff, citing AI

Snap cut about 1,000 roles with its CEO naming AI as a key driver — one of a string of 2026 cuts (Oracle, Microsoft, IBM among them) where AI was cited. TechCrunch →

April 2026

The revival that wasn't — and the one that may be

A credible, sober take on the Gen Z resurgence — including a retracted UK report — that lets us cite the trend without overclaiming. Christianity Today →

April 2026

Study: AI companions can ease loneliness — at least in the moment

An honest counter-signal: this study found AI companions relieve loneliness about as well as talking to a person, short-term. The comfort is real — the open question is what it does to us over time. Journal of Consumer Research →

April 2, 2026

U.S. employers cut 60,000 jobs in a month — AI largely to blame

AI was the leading reason employers gave in a 60,000-job month, cited in about a quarter of announcements — the disruption showing up in the hard numbers. Forbes →

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