Science
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The smell, the smell
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1 min read
The smell went right into the brain, bypassing all the cartilage and hitting straight to the neuronal wires. The eyes and ears no way could imagine the deep interconnectedness of a waft that struck memory with such venom. Certain smells melt into wavelengths to a world we once knew, pinning the once visible and invisible…
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More than a job
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1 min read
The photographer’s job is to capture. They get a pass on intrusion despite a face of expressive flesh. So too does the scientist who uses their more elusive hands to dabble in a dangerous experiment. The maker needs no excuse to have skin in the game, as they should feel free to explore via an…
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Information is the sum of parts
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1 min read
The brain is just a collection of tangled wires with neuron connectivity levels. We call its output ‘information’ because we need some way of describing chemical synchronicity. The computer works the same way. On the inside, it’s a collection of chips and wires with various voltage levels. What we see on screen is what we…
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Evolution is all chance variation and luck
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1 min read
Without chance variation and experimentation, evolution does not exist. It is through struggle and adaptation we evolve. Survival shocks us out of our complacency. “Evolution depends on the existence of high-fidelity copying but not perfect copying, since mutations (copying errors) are the ultimate source of all novelty,” writes Daniel Dennett in his book From Bacteria to Bach: The…
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Dancing with the algorithms
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2 min read
We dance with the algorithms, yielding time-saving results. How else are we to discover all these gems in a sea of content? How are we to land on the right words in a swamp of choice? From Spotify to Gmail’s suggestive text, we accept the computer’s recommendations to curate and write for us. We allow…
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We can redesign our brain
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2 min read
“Who you are depends on what your neurons are up to, moment by moment,” writes David Eagleman in his book The Brain: The Story of You. The classical textbook tells us that our brains are immutable after a certain age, that in fact, our neurocognitive code is set in place right after our teens. But…
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What your thoughts look like
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1 min read
To be in your own thoughts — language, like headphones, delivers a sense of privacy. Of course, no thinking is linear. Neurons are always crashing into each other, trying to connect and build new avenues of ideas. The whole of brain waves is greater than the sum of its parts. Neurons that fire together, wire…
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Clear now, confused tomorrow
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1 min read
We have to think and talk our way through things in order to get a grip on past expressions. Unless we can pin down our thoughts to exactitude, we have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and confused. And that’s ok. Forced familiarity breeds forgetfulness — the attrition of synaptic connections is a function of…
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The flashes of the arts
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1 min read
If at first we emulate, then we originate. Thankfully, our bad memories serve a grand purpose in helping us forget most of what we learn. But then the urge of discovery restarts, leaving us compelled to relearn our sense of wonder. Life is not a rote study course. We’ll all be remembered not for what…
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Eureka moments are a myth 💡
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2 min read
In 1726, an Apple dropped from a tree and hit the elder physicist Isaac Newton on the head. It was then he discovered insight into gravity. Or so the story goes. In reality, he had already done a lot of his thinking while staring at the surrounding apple trees. Newton’s friend and biographer William Stukeley…
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Tips for boosting your memory and brain power
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2 min read
If you’re looking to boost your memory and brain power, this video contains some excellent tips and reminders. In summary: Exercise. Physical exercise helps form new brain cells and solidifies existing neurons. It also increases the hippocampus brain area which is responsible for memory and learning. Never stop learning. Learning something new builds new brain cells. In…
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‘Grab a leash and take your thoughts for a walk.’
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1 min read
Said Henry David Thoreau, “Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.” Walking boosts creativity. If you ever get stuck in a creative rut, science shows that you should go for a stroll to get your endorphins moving. As learning scientist Marily Oppezzo notes in her TED presentation below,…