The Know Daily - Wednesday 15 April 2026

_{Read in 4m 14s ∙ Listening to James Johnston ∙}

The video of Christina Koch being reunited with her pooch after her stint in space is probably the most heart-warming thing we’ve seen all week!

👩‍💻 Critical ignoring

In an internet filled with content – especially AI-generated material – it’s becoming more important to develop the skill of knowing what to ignore.

What’s the idea?
Critical ignoring is the concept that, instead of engaging with everything we see online, we are more intentional about what we choose to pay attention to. As outlined by The Week, it’s about filtering out low-quality or misleading content before it takes up your time. Psychologists describe it as a form of “deliberate ignorance” – a conscious decision to ignore information even when it’s easy to access. Rather than trying to fact-check everything, the aim is to quickly recognise when something isn’t worth engaging with and move on.

What else is changing?
The rise of generative AI has made this approach more relevant. Tools can now produce large volumes of content quickly – from articles to images – often designed to prioritise capturing attention rather than inform. This has led to what’s sometimes called “AI slop”, where feeds become more crowded and harder to navigate. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, critical ignoring is increasingly being seen as a practical way to manage this, shifting the focus from analysing everything to being more selective with attention.

What’s driving this?
A big factor is the sheer amount of information people encounter each day. Research highlighted by Psychology Today suggests that when we feel overloaded, it becomes harder to judge accuracy and we’re more likely to engage with content uncritically. At the same time, online platforms tend to prioritise material that is engaging or eye-catching, which can make it harder to focus on what’s genuinely useful. Together, this creates an environment where being selective about what you engage with can be helpful.

Is there a downside?
Potentially. Ignoring too much could mean missing important or meaningful information, and experts emphasise that the “critical” part is key. It’s not about disengaging completely, but about making quick, thoughtful decisions about what deserves attention. 

Will this change how we behave online?
In some ways, it already is. Instead of starting with “is this true?”, people are increasingly asking “is this worth my attention?”. That shift can help reduce overwhelm and make time online feel more intentional. A few simple ways you can practise critical ignoring:

• Pause before engaging: Strong reactions (surprise, anger, urgency) are often designed to hook attention.

• Scan, don’t dive in: Check the source, tone and format – skip if it feels low-quality or sensational.

• Stick to trusted sources: Focus on outlets or creators you rely on.

• Curate your feed: Mute or unfollow accounts that add noise.

• Set limits: Accept that you don’t need to consume everything, even if it’s trending.

• Test your instincts: Try a quick quiz on spotting real vs AI-generated content to see how convincing it can be.

🎖️ The first woman to lead the Australian Army has been appointed, marking a 125-year milestone for the country’s defence forces.

• The bigger story: Susan Coyle will take up the role in July, bringing more than 30 years of experience, including deployments to Timor-Leste and Afghanistan. Her appointment has been described by Australia’s defence minister as “a deeply historic moment” and is seen as a step forward for representation, as women make up a growing share of the armed forces. It also forms part of a wider push to modernise the military – the country’s current target is for women to make up 25% of personnel by 2030.

🗞️ A British daily newspaper is set to be taken over by the German media group Axel Springer after the UK government gave the deal a green light.

☀️ UK households could get free electricity from their energy company by running appliances during periods of excess supply, like sunny weekends.

🖼️ It’s World Art Day – to celebrate, check out nine exhibitions you can head to across the UK this month (psst: they all accept the National Art Pass!).

🥱 Small talk can be an important part of human connection (even if you find it a teensy bit dull), researchers have found. 

👩🏻‍🎤 A record number of British musicians will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year.

🍷 The best wine destinations and regions of 2026 have been revealed by this year’s Wine Travel Awards. 

⭐ Get clicking - this tells our partners that readers are interested in The Know. Let’s get started with this one!

⭐ Add us to your contacts or primary inbox - this makes sure we reach your inbox (and everyone else’s) each morning.

The Know is on a mission to help everyone start their day feeling informed and hopeful. We only recommend things we genuinely love but sometimes we make money from the links and content we share. This directly supports keeping our journalism free for all.

Trivia answer: C) The hero (called Magawa) sniffed out 100 undetonated explosives across the country during his lifetime.

How did you find today’s email?
😍 Loved it! | 😕 Could be better…

Need fewer emails? Click here to hear from us once a week.