The Glass Limbo, 60th of the Dog Days, 526 M.E. (Castor): In the 1980s, New Zealand researcher James R. Flynn identified a consistent rise in IQ scores across the world throughout the 20th century. This became known as the Flynn Effect, and was initially interpreted as evidence of humanity getting smarter - perhaps thanks to better nutrition, education, and healthcare.

But by the 1990s, the trend reversed. Because of its compulsory military service, Norway had a massive database of cognitive testing, covering more than 730,000 men from 1962 to today. The data revealed that IQ scores peaked among those born around 1975 and have been declining since. The average drop is about 7 points per generation.

Similar trends have been identified in the UK, where teenagers in the 2000s tested lower than their 1980s counterparts, and researchers elsewhere around the world have observed the same pattern in developed countries.

The leading theory is that the decline isn’t genetic but environmental, a reflection of how modern life is reshaping our brains. Today’s children grow up immersed in a world of screens, scrolling, and superficial content. Quick dopamine hits from social media and 30-second videos have replaced deep reading and problem-solving. Studies suggest that merely checking your phone or email can temporarily reduce IQ by up to 10 points. Educational systems, pressured to meet standardized benchmarks, often "teach to the test" rather than nurture independent thinking.

As a society, we’ve lost the traditional checks on intellectual quality. Before social media, books and journalism underwent rigorous editing. Now, content floods our feeds without any such gatekeeping. As a result, many people are absorbing the thoughts not of experts or educators but of influencers, bloggers, and pseudo-celebrities, many of whom probably couldn’t pass a high-school exam.

Kind of explains how some 73 million Americans could vote for the Stable Genius, doesn't it?