NPR podcast host Manoush Zomorodi has released a new book examining how constant technology use harms physical health. Body Electric continues her work on the effects of screens on humans, following her 2017 book Bored and Brilliant, which analyzed mental health impacts.

The book stems from her podcasting career, including stints at WNYC’s Note To Self and NPR’s TED Radio Hour. Through these platforms, Zomorodi has interviewed experts and conducted research on digital behavior for over a decade. Body Electric expands that focus to include how phones, computers and other devices reshape posture, sleep patterns and overall well-being.

Collaborative research effort

Zomorodi’s new book is a collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center. The project combines her journalistic insights with medical research to provide a comprehensive look at tech’s physical toll. The partnership grew from her 2017 book, which explored how digital distractions erode creativity and focus.

Columbia researchers contributed data on sleep disruption, eye strain and repetitive motion injuries linked to device use. Zomorodi integrated those findings with real-world anecdotes from listeners and tech users. The result is a blend of science and storytelling meant to help readers understand their own habits.

Practical advice for tech users

Zomorodi does not call for abandoning technology but instead offers actionable steps to reduce harm. She recommends setting screen time limits, adjusting device placement to improve posture and taking regular breaks to stretch. The book includes exercises designed to counteract the effects of prolonged sitting and staring at screens.

Her advice targets common issues like neck pain, blurred vision and disrupted sleep cycles. Zomorodi argues that small changes can significantly improve long-term health outcomes. She also addresses workplace policies, encouraging employers to adopt ergonomic standards and flexible tech use guidelines.

Broader implications for society

The book arrives as screen time among adults and children reaches record highs. Studies show the average American spends over seven hours daily on screens, raising concerns about long-term health effects. Zomorodi’s work contributes to a growing conversation about digital wellness and corporate responsibility.

Tech companies have faced increasing scrutiny over product design choices that encourage overuse. Zomorodi’s book adds to that debate by highlighting the human cost behind metrics like engagement and screen time. The conversation extends beyond individual habits to include public health policy and corporate ethics.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: The Verge
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 15:00 UTC
  • Category: Technology
  • Topics: #theverge · #gadgets · #reviews · #health · #mental-health · #manoush-zomorodi

Read the Full Story

This is a curated summary. For the complete article, original data, quotes and full analysis:

Read the full story on The Verge →

All reporting rights belong to the respective author(s) at The Verge. GlobalBR News summarizes publicly available content to help readers discover the most relevant global news.

Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O celular na palma da mão virou extensão do corpo, mas a que custo? Em seu novo livro, a apresentadora da NPR Manoush Zomorodi mergulha em um alerta pouco discutido: o uso excessivo de tecnologia não afeta apenas a saúde mental, mas também o corpo de formas surpreendentes e muitas vezes ignoradas.

A obra chega em um momento crucial para o Brasil, onde o tempo médio diário de tela já ultrapassa as sete horas entre adultos e chega a mais de nove entre adolescentes, segundo dados recentes. Zomorodi não se limita a repetir discursos sobre vício em redes sociais; ela detalha como a má postura diante de smartphones e computadores pode causar dores crônicas, problemas de vista e até distúrbios do sono, temas que ganham relevância em um país onde o home office e a educação à distância se tornaram realidade para milhões. Além disso, a discussão ressoa em uma sociedade cada vez mais conectada, mas ainda carente de políticas públicas que eduquem sobre os limites entre vida digital e saúde física.

Diante desse cenário, a pergunta que fica é: até quando ignoraremos os sinais de que nossos corpos já não aguentam tanto scroll e tanto clique?

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

La tecnología, omnipresente en nuestra rutina, está reconfigurando silenciosamente los límites de nuestro cuerpo, según advierte la periodista Manoush Zomorodi en su último libro, donde desglosa los efectos físicos de una vida hiperconectada.

Zomorodi, conocida por su podcast Note to Self, profundiza en cómo el abuso de pantallas, desde el insomnio hasta la fatiga visual, está erosionando nuestra salud sin que muchos sean conscientes de ello. Con un enfoque accesible, la autora no solo diagnostica el problema, sino que propone rutinas realistas —como el “día sin pantallas”— para recuperar el equilibrio, algo especialmente valioso en una región donde el uso de dispositivos móviles supera la media global.