Interpersonal trust - a shared display of confidence and vulnerability toward other individuals - can be seen as instrumental in the development of human societies. Safra, Chevallier, Gr\`ezes, and Baumard (2020) studied the historical progression of interpersonal trust by training a machine learning (ML) algorithm to generate trustworthiness ratings of historical portraits, based on facial features. They reported that trustworthiness ratings of portraits dated between 1500--2000CE increased with time, claiming that this evidenced a broader increase in interpersonal trust coinciding with several metrics of societal progress. We argue that these claims are confounded by several methodological and analytical issues and highlight troubling parallels between Safra et al.'s algorithm and the pseudoscience of physiognomy. We discuss the implications and potential real-world consequences of these issues in further detail.

Buckfast honey bees fly near a beehive in Illinois, U.S. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg Beewise, a agtech startup, has created the first fully autonomous beehive called Beehome that comes complete with a beekeeping robot that acts as both medic and guardian to complement the natural intelligence of bees. Beehome utilizes artificial intelligence, (AI) machine learning and precision robotics to rescue and protect the hives bees. The modular commercial AI-powered robotic apiary also has 24/7 monitoring and smart technology that increases pollination capacity and honey production. Saar Safra, CEO of Beewise says that Beehome is poised to protect the global food supply chain, stem the impacts of climate change and increase sustainability. "If the bees are protected, entire ecosystems are too."

What do cucumbers, avocados and coffee all have in common? Aside from being absolute necessities (yes, avocados too), they're all crops pollinated by bees. And if things keep heading in the direction they're at, we're screwed. Considered by many to be annoying little pests buzzing precariously near our ears, bees are extremely important. About one third of all plants and plant products consumed by humans are dependent on bee pollination.