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Stop Treating Your Pet Like a Toy: It Could Harm Their Health.

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New Scientist. Our website and magazine provide science news and in-depth articles by expert journalists focusing on advancements in science, technology, health, and the environment.

Once commonplace pets in our yards have transitioned, for better or worse, into pampered “fur babies.” The American Veterinary Medical Association recently noted that pet owners are anticipated to spend nearly $1 billion on pet costumes this year. While many consider this harmless entertainment, the increasing trend of treating pets like surrogate children can pose significant risks to the health and well-being of the animals involved.

The ancestors of today’s fur babies belonged to a group of small, domesticated carnivores within the Canis and Felis genera, distributed worldwide. Even though these pets often have a shorter lifespan, they provide immense joy, companionship, and health benefits to their human companions, teaching children respect for animals and their basic needs.

Additionally, pets offer educational advantages, such as helping individuals experience and process non-human death, preparing them for the loss of human loved ones. Most pets receive basic necessities like food, water, shelter, and vaccinations, along with names that represent their traits or characteristics (e.g., Fido, Sooty, Rover). Crucially, many are assured a relatively peaceful end before the wear of old age diminishes their quality of life.

The shift from pets to fur babies can be attributed to various factors, including an overemphasis on the human-animal bond, rising affluence, lack of understanding of animals’ biological requirements, rampant consumerism, and reckless (though well-intentioned) anthropomorphism. The principal causes and effects of fur baby culture are intensifying and spreading globally. This is evident not only in the availability of costumes for special occasions but also in items like strollers, jewelry, perfumes, diapers, nail polish, hair dye, elaborate birthday cakes, and designer shoes, all coupled with access to “gold standard” veterinary care.

Research indicates that fur babyism negatively impacts both physical and psychological health. For example, while strollers may assist injured or arthritic pets, excessive use for otherwise healthy dogs can result in muscle atrophy, joint issues, and obesity. Limiting a fur baby’s mobility curtails their instinct to explore, mark territory, and interact with their environment, which can lead to anxiety and fear.

Given these potential risks, one might expect the veterinary community to collectively oppose the fur baby trend. Surprisingly, this isn’t always the case. There’s a shift from outright condemnation to capitalizing on it, which is concerning. Encouraging excessive treatments, like radiotherapy for older animals, can further jeopardize animal welfare without necessarily enhancing health.

A pet owner’s affection is commendable as long as it prioritizes the animal’s well-being, ensuring they are free from pain and suffering. However, veterinarians who exploit an owner’s misplaced affection for profit through unnecessary, invasive, and costly tests and procedures lack ethical justification.

All caregivers should contemplate the distress caused by misclassifying an animal’s needs—treating them as a human child rather than as a pet. Veterinarians who cater to the fur baby trend ought to know better.

Eddie Crutchin I am a co-author of Veterinary Controversies and Ethical Dilemmas (Routledge)

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Source: www.newscientist.com

I Can’t Stop Playing This Addictive Game of Tumbling Down the Mountain

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I
For the last week, I’ve been experiencing a bizarre hiking adventure instead of engaging in normal life activities, all thanks to a frustrating character known as Nate. In
Baby Steps, you control this hapless individual who has spent 35 years doing nothing but lounging in his parents’ basement and binge-watching anime. When he decides to put on an adult costume, he finds himself at the foot of a surreal mountain adorned with suggestive imagery. Your task is to guide him to the summit by manipulating his legs independently, using the controller’s triggers to lift and the analog sticks to place them.

The challenge level is off the charts. Occasionally, Nate moves down gentle slopes, but more often than not, he navigates narrow planks, ascends dunes in tiny steps, and clings to rocky ledges with his toes. He repeatedly stumbles and falls, whimpering as he slides down muddy slopes and sandy shores, while his onesie gets increasingly filthy. I keep getting up and attempting again, occasionally interrupted by an Australian man with wild eyes or a pants-less donkey character who mocks me but extends a hand of assistance—only for Nate to angrily decline.




Early in the game, Nate is presented with a pair of shoes. Will he accept them? Absolutely not. (To be fair, they’re a bit oversized.)
Photo: Devolver Digital

The moment you lose focus, Nate loses his as well. After three hours of this outrageous experience, falling off my board into a river, I trudged back to the campsite from where my hike began. All I managed to accomplish was locating a silly propeller hat, which only added to my burdens as I had to stop and retrieve it after each tumble. I rarely feel like crying while gaming, but the sight of that campsite nearly broke me.

Picture enduring these setbacks for hours, only to end up in a dimly lit space filled with a lantern that Nate inexplicably keeps dropping. It’s pitch dark unless you backtrack for it, and navigating the escalator has to be done flawlessly; otherwise, you’re treated to seconds of watching Nate’s backside as he slowly descends. Following that, the exit is a labyrinthine path on a sandy ledge where Nate’s feet continually seem to get lost. I found myself stuck there for so long, grappling with my thoughts, rising frustration, and Nate’s company. Every chapter of Baby Steps takes the sadistic challenge to new levels.

So why persist? Aside from the undeniable fact that I probably need to unpack my issues in therapy, I refuse to let this game defeat me. It’s more than just playful slapstick (watching Nate tumble down a mudslide is sheer comedy). The improvised dialogue and absurd scenarios are genuinely hilarious. The developers voice the characters themselves, and every cutscene offers a delightful break from the chaos. There’s even an optional desert challenge where players scale sandy slopes to collect icy trophies before they melt. As Nate continuously returns to the ice cream vendor in deepening despair, even the developer’s voice starts to waver.

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While it may seem like a cruel game where we laugh at this unfortunate man’s misadventures, there’s a deeper meaning. Even though I often found myself frustrated with Nate and considered quitting to avoid witnessing his constant flailing, I gradually began to empathize with him. He’s the epitome of a societal loser, yet he’s trying. In spite of his intense social anxiety, masculine insecurities, and clear self-hatred, he attempts to put one foot in front of the other in a poignant metaphor for life.

Upon finishing a chapter, you encounter a melancholic 8-bit mini-game summarizing Nate’s past: his disheartened parents, successful sister, and lackluster romantic encounters. As I progressed, I could see how Nate arrived at his current state. Although I wasn’t as personally involved as some players might be, I developed a protective instinct towards him and didn’t want to abandon him, no matter the cost.

This game also elicited my worst tendencies. I cursed at Nate every time my foot slipped from what I thought was a secure situation. But among all the discouraging moments, there were instances where I painfully felt gratitude after finally mustering the patience to push Nate forward in his journey. “Baby Steps” is whimsical yet profound. Having played games for three decades, I can confidently say I’ve never encountered anything quite like this. For a game focused on failure, it prompted surprisingly deep reflection and emotion.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/dpPGGp8CCVw?wmode=opaque&feature=oembed" title="Baby Steps" height="480" width="854" allowfullscreen="




One of my less serious failures

You’ll need a good dose of self-deprecation to fully appreciate all that this game has to offer, but that’s not a high aspiration. After about 10 hours, I was determined to finish it. Along the way, I encountered a vast spiral staircase reaching into the clouds. To the right: a perilous cliffside path, ominously referred to as “Manbreaker” by an Australian guide. “You can’t do it. You’re gonna fail miserably for the next five years… You’ll eventually get so exasperated that you’ll just ascend these damn stairs.”

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“I vow to never ascend these stairs,” Nate replied indignantly.

I gazed at the path ahead, rolling upwards into obscurity. I imagined potential slips and falls even before finding my footing. For the following days, I would hurl myself at this rock wall, envisioning my life progressing incrementally with each ticking hour. I pictured my partner and kids entering the living room, astonished and concerned, finding me once again playing Baby Steps and making no headway whatsoever.

Screw it. I’m climbing those stairs.

Baby Steps is available on PlayStation 5 and PC

Source: www.theguardian.com

Using Profanity in Google Searches Might Make AI Stop Responding – Is It Worth It?

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Using explicit language in your Google searches can help reduce the frequency of unwanted AI-generated summaries. Some applications also provide options to disable artificial intelligence features.

You might consider not utilizing ChatGPT, steering clear of AI-integrated software, or avoiding interactions with chatbots altogether. You can disregard Donald Trump’s deepfake posts, and find alternatives to Tilly the AI actor.

As AI becomes more widespread, so do concerns regarding its associated risks and the resistance to its omnipresence.

Dr. Kobi Raines, a specialist in AI management and governance, emphasizes that healthcare professionals often feel compelled to utilize AI.

She mentioned that she preferred not to use AI transcription software for her child’s appointment, but was informed that the specialist required it due to time constraints and suggested she seek services elsewhere if she disagreed.

“There is individual resistance, but there are also institutional barriers. The industry is advocating for the use of these tools in ways that may not be sensible,” she states.

Where is the AI?

AI is deeply embedded in digital frameworks.

It’s integrated into tools like ChatGPT, Google’s AI repository, and Grok, the controversial chatbot developed by Elon Musk. It informs smartphones, social media platforms, and navigation systems.

Additionally, it’s now part of customer service, finance, and online dating, impacting how resumes, job applications, rental requests, and lawsuits are evaluated.

AI is expected to further integrate into the healthcare sector, easing administrative workloads for physicians and aiding in disease diagnoses.

A University of Melbourne Global Studies report released in April noted that half of Australians engage with AI regularly or semi-regularly, yet only 36% express trust in it.

Professor Paul Salmon, deputy director of the Center for Human Factors and Socio-Technical Systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast, highlights that avoiding AI is becoming increasingly challenging.

“In professional environments, there’s often pressure to adopt it,” he shares.

“You either feel excluded or are informed you will be.”

Should we avoid using AI?

Concerns include privacy violations, biases, misinformation, fraudulent use, loss of human agency, and lack of transparency—just a few risks highlighted in MIT’s AI risk database.

It warns about AIs potentially pursuing objectives conflicting with human goals and values, which could lead to hazardous capabilities.

Greg Sadler, CEO of Good Ancestors charity and co-coordinator of Australians for AI Safety, frequently references the database and advises caution, stating, “Never use AI if you don’t trust its output or are apprehensive about it retaining information.”

Additionally, AI has a sizable energy footprint. Google’s emissions rose by over 51%, partly because of the energy demands of its data centers that facilitate AI operations.

The International Energy Agency predicts that electricity consumption by data centers could double from 2022 levels by 2026. Research indicates that by 2030, data centers may consume 4.5% of the world’s total energy production.

How can I avoid using AI?

AI Overview features a “Profanity Trigger.” If you inquire on Google, “What is AI?” its Gemini AI interface may provide a bland or sometimes inaccurate response, acting as an “answer engine” rather than a “search engine.”

However, posing the question, “What exactly is AI?” will yield more targeted search results along with relevant links.

There are a variety of browser extensions capable of blocking AI-related sites, images, and content.

To bypass certain chatbots, you can attempt to engage a human by repeating words like “urgent” and “emergency” or using the term “blancmange,” a popular dessert across Europe.

James Jin Kang, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at RMIT University, Vietnam, remarked: living without it entails taking a break from much of modern life.

“Why not implement a kill switch?” he questions. The issue, he claims, is that AI is so deeply entrenched in our lives that “it’s no longer something you can easily switch off.”

“As AI continues to seep into every facet of our existence, it’s imperative to ask ourselves: Do we still have the freedom to refuse?”

“The real concern is not whether we can coexist with AI, but whether we possess the right to live without it before it becomes too late to break away.”

What does the future hold for AI?

Globally, including in Australia, governments are grappling with AI, its implications, potential, and governance challenges.

The federal government faces mounting pressure to clarify its regulatory approach as major tech firms seek access to journalism, literature, and other resources necessary for training their AI models.

The discussion includes insights from five experts on the future trajectory of AI.

Notably, three out of five experts believe AI does not present an existential threat.

Among those who express concerns, Aaron J. Snoswell of the Queensland University of Technology opines that the transformative nature of AI is not due to its potential intelligence but rather to “human decisions about how to construct and utilize these tools.”

Sarah Vivian Bentley of CSIRO concurs that the effectiveness of AI is dictated by its operators, while Simon Coghlan of the University of Melbourne argues that despite the worries and hype, evidence remains scant that superintelligent AI capable of global devastation will emerge anytime soon.

Conversely, Nyusha Shafiabadi of Australian Catholic University warns that although current systems possess limited capabilities, they are gradually acquiring features that could facilitate widespread exploitation and present existential risks.

Moreover, Saydari Mirjalili, an AI professor at Torrens University in Australia, expresses greater concern that humans might wield AI destructively—through militarization—rather than AI autonomously taking over.

Raines mentions she employs AI tools judiciously, utilizing them only where they add value.

“I understand the environmental impacts and have a passion for writing. With a PhD, I value the process of writing,” she shares.

“The key is to focus on what is evidence-based and meaningful. Avoid becoming ensnared in the hype or the apocalyptic narratives.

“We believe it’s complex and intelligent enough to accommodate both perspectives, implying these tools can yield both beneficial and detrimental outcomes.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Zelda Williams Responds to AI-Generated Video of Her Late Father: “Stop This” | Robin Williams

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Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late actor and comedian Robin Williams, has voiced her opposition to AI-generated content featuring her father.

“Please, stop sending videos of dad generated by AI,” Zelda posted on my Instagram story on Monday. “Stop assuming that I want to see it or that I’m interested; I don’t, I really don’t. If you’re just trying to annoy me, I encounter something worse, I block it and move on.”

“To reduce the legacy of real individuals to something like, ‘Just this vague appearance and sound, that’s sufficient,’ is disheartening.”

“You’re not creating art; you’re producing grotesque, over-processed versions of human life, derived from art and musical history.”

“And for heaven’s sake, stop referring to it as the ‘future’; AI is merely a mishmash of recycled content that badly reflects the past. It’s integrating superficial human content.”

Robin Williams with Zelda at the premiere of his film RV in 2006. Photo: Mario Anzuni/Reuters

This isn’t the first instance where Zelda Williams, an actor and filmmaker who directed the 2024 horror-comedy Lisa Frankenstein, has addressed the recreation of her father, who passed away at 63 in 2014. The potential for realism is concerning.

“I’ve encountered AI imitating his ‘voice’ and saying what people want to hear. While I find this intrusive personally, the implications extend far beyond my own sentiments.”

“These recreations are inferior imitations of great individuals and, at their worst, resemble horrifying Frankenstein-like constructs formed from the industry’s lowest points.”

Zelda’s recent commentary arrives amidst a surge of celebrity deepfakes on social media, which span various themes, including adult content, political messages, scams, and advertisements.

In January, actress Scarlett Johansson highlighted the “immediate dangers of AI” following her condemnation of Kanye West’s anti-Semitic comments, after deepfake videos surfaced featuring other prominent Jewish celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld, Drake, and Adam Sandler.

A fraudulent advertisement featuring Deepfark in August was falsely attributed to Crowded House frontman Neil Finn, who stated he was incorrectly represented discussing erectile dysfunction, prompting the band to issue a disclaimer.

The deepfakes of Robin Williams are part of a larger trend in AI-generated content, fueled by the rapid proliferation of low-quality material produced by entertainment-free generation AI applications.

The recent TikTok video featuring Robin Williams appears to have been created using Sora 2, OpenAI’s new video generation app, and includes a simulated interaction between the comedian and the late Betty White.

Within days of launch, Sora’s feed was inundated with videos featuring copyrighted characters from series like SpongeBob SquarePants, South Park, Pokémon, and Rick and Morty.

OpenAI informed the Guardian that content owners can report copyright violations through a “copyright dispute form,” although individual artists and studios cannot opt out broadly. Varun Shetty, Head of Media Partnerships at OpenAI, commented:

Source: www.theguardian.com

Efforts to Stop South Australia’s Tesla Project Continue After Council Approval | Elon Musk

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An anonymous collective of activists in Adelaide is persistently opposing Elon Musk’s Tesla from establishing battery factories in residential areas.

Tesla has faced global scrutiny due to Musk’s associations with the Trump administration and staunch protests fueled by beliefs that billionaires often back through his social media channels.

This week, the discontent was palpable in the South Australian capital, a significant distance from Washington, D.C.

Approximately 95% of nearly 1,000 submissions voiced opposition to Tesla’s proposals for recycling showrooms and batteries, as well as repurposing the factory. Many expressed sentiments characterized as “anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk.”

To maintain decorum, the local council revised the language in several submissions to clarify references to Musk and Tesla.

“We shouldn’t profit from support. [redacted] Who is openly [redacted]? It’s a salute [redacted]. Humans.”

The world’s richest individual has declared his departure from his government efficiency role, which has often led to chaotic and detrimental consequences, including job cuts and reduced funding for US government agencies. He is now facing challenges related to his businesses, including Tesla, amid declining sales.

Meanwhile, in Adelaide, the Marion City Council has moved past community disagreements and approved the factory project for further progression, pending state government approval. The council indicated that the project is expected to inject millions of dollars into the local economy.

Nevertheless, the protest group “Tree Not Teslas” remains committed to their cause.

Environmental organizations and others opposed to the Tesla project argue that the trees designated for removal to clear the construction site are irreplaceable. They also hold Musk personally accountable.

“Neon,” a member of Tree Not Teslas, chose to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, partly because the group identifies as a collective.

He noted the group’s traction has been “extraordinary,” and their website has attracted thousands of visits, though he admitted it is hard to gauge their overall impact.

Neon stated that the fight will persist as the state government weighs the council’s proposal to reclassify the site as community land.

“We’re going to push it further. We have to take action regarding the state government,” Neon declared.

“We’ve raised awareness and are encouraging more people to get involved. This issue extends beyond just Congress; it’s a fundamental matter for the state.”

He emphasized that their campaign primarily aims to safeguard the trees on the site. “… Our central focus is on preserving the green space,” he clarified.

“We are indeed advocates for electric vehicles and green energy.

“However, the industry that obliterates green spaces… is ironically labeled as ‘green.’

The council has asserted that the area has been inaccessible to the public since 2016 due to pollution. Neon countered, claiming the trees are vital for restoring the land.

Neon also echoed comments made by Councillor Sarah Lascomb, who opposed the proposal, arguing that the factory’s plans to recycle or reuse Tesla batteries do not cater to the needs of most consumers who use different brands.

The ongoing debate centers around electric vehicle batteries, with the possibility of recycling Powerwall batteries at the site.

Guardian Australia reached out to Tesla for a statement.

Neon mentioned that the council voted 8-3 in favor of seeking state government approval, despite community pushback that made the public consultation process feel like a formality.

Mayor Chris Hannah stated that the project would generate jobs and revenue for the community, asserting that Tesla would establish operations elsewhere if not in Marion. According to Hannah, Tesla has committed to preserving the most significant trees and replanting more than necessary.

Neon argued that replacing established trees with seedlings minimizes their ecological benefits.

Premier Peter Malinauskas indicated that the state welcomes significant industrial development and is reluctant to oppose Musk, emphasizing that it’s “his prerogative.”

A spokesperson for the state government stated that they appreciate investments in South Australia and job creation, and will indeed consider the proposal.

Source: www.theguardian.com

New brain cell discovery may regulate when you should stop eating

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Manipulating neuron types can make snacks more likely to resist

5M3Photos/Getty Images

Neurons in the mouse brain tell them to stop eating when they have enough food. And since people probably have the same cells, they may one day manipulate them to help treat obesity.

“The main question we were trying to answer was how our brains sense and respond to different signals.” Alexander Nectau At Columbia University in New York.

To learn more, he and his colleagues used a kind of molecular profiling to distinguish between different cell types in the mouse brain. In the dorsal trunk nucleus, part of the brainstem associated with functions such as feeding, mood, and sleep, we encountered cells that produce a hormone called cholecystokinin, which helps regulate appetite.

To study what these cells feel to make them work, researchers measured their activity as mice spent the day. “Every time an animal eats a bite, activity has risen and then it has become corrupted,” says Nectow. “These neurons sense and use information such as food smells and sights, food tastes, food sensations in the intestines, and neurohormones released in response to intestinal foods and so on. You can actually finish your meal.

Next, researchers used a technique called optogenetics. This involves engineering neurons so that they can turn them on and off with light. The mice slowed their diet when they used light to activate them. The more intense the activation, the slower and stopped the animal.

Neurons sit in the brainstem and are similar ancestor characteristics across vertebrates, so Nectow probably thinks we have them too. “We didn’t confirm that, but my guess is that humans have these neurons.”

The team also discovered that mouse neurons can be activated by compounds called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. Brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

If these neurons have the same function in people, theoretically, they can either control the feeding habits of obese people or combine this approach with GLP-1-based drugs to increase greater weight loss. They can be adjusted to achieve, says Nectau.

“Understanding the circuits governing meal halts is particularly important in an environment of near-ubiquitous food availability,” he says. Jeff Davis At Swansea University, UK. “The authors used elegant methods to identify these important cell populations.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

“My AI Voice was Cloned and Used by the Far-Right. Can I do anything to stop it?” – Georgina Findlay

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M
My brother put the cell phone to my ear. “You’re going to think this is creepy,” he warned. Ann
instagram reels
The footage, which showed teenage boys attending the rally, included a news broadcast-style narration. “The recent protests by British students have become a powerful symbol of the deepening crisis in Britain's education system,” she said in a soft, female voice with barely a hint of a Manchenian accent. I opened my eyes wide and sat up straight.

As a presenter on a YouTube news channel, I was used to hearing my voice on screen. But this wasn't me – even if that voice said so.
definitely mine.
“They force us to learn about Islam and Muhammad in school,” he continued. “Listen, this is disgusting.” It was horrifying to hear my voice being associated with far-right propaganda, but more than that, I was horrified to hear how this fraud is being perpetrated. As I dug deeper, I learned how far-reaching the effects of false voices can be.

AI voice cloning is an emerging form of audio “deepfake” and the third fastest growing form
Scam of 2024.
Unwitting victims find that their voices have been cleverly duplicated without their consent or even knowledge, a phenomenon that has already led to bank security checks.
bypassed and people
deceived He had a stranger he believed to be a relative send money to him. My brother was sent the clip by a friend who recognized my voice.

After some research, I was able to find a far-right YouTube channel with about 200,000 subscribers. Although this was said to be an American channel, many of the misspellings in the video were typical of misinformation accounts from non-native English speakers. I was shocked to learn that my voice was featured in 8 of the channel's 12 most recent videos. I scrolled back and found one video using my voice from 5 months ago.
10m views.
The voice was almost the same as mine. The voice was AI-generated, except the pace of my speech was a little odd.


This increasing sophistication of AI voice cloning software is a cause for serious concern. In November 2023, an audio deepfake of London Mayor Sadiq Khan allegedly making inflammatory remarks about Armistice Day was widely circulated on social media. The clip almost caused a “serious injury”;
Mr Khan told the BBC..
“If you're looking to sow disharmony and cause trouble, there's no better time.” At a time when confidence in Britain's political system is already at record levels.
lowThe ability to manipulate public rhetoric is more harmful than ever, with 58% of Britons saying they have “little trust” in politicians to tell the truth.

The legal right to own one's voice falls within a vague gray area of ​​poorly legalized AI issues. TV naturalist David Attenborough became the center of an AI voice cloning scandal in November. He said he was “deeply disturbed” to learn that his voice was being used to deliver partisan breaking news in the United States. In May, actor Scarlett Johansson sued OpenAI for using a text-to-speech model in ChatGPT, an OpenAI product, that Johansson described as “eerily similar” to her own voice. There was a collision.

In March 2024, OpenAI postponed the release of a new voice replication tool, deeming it “too risky” to make it publicly available in a year with a record number of global elections. Some AI startups that let users clone their own voices can detect the creation of voice clones that imitate politicians actively involved in election campaigns, including in the US and UK. We have a preventive policy in place.

However, these mitigation measures are not enough. In the United States, concerned senators are proposing legislation to crack down on those who copy audio without consent. In Europe, the European Identity Theft Surveillance System (Aitos) has developed four tools to help police identify deepfakes, with plans to have them ready by the end of this year. But tackling the audio crisis is no easy task. Dr Dominic Rees, an expert on AI in film and television who advises a UK parliamentary committee, told the Guardian: “Our privacy and copyright laws are not prepared for what this new technology will bring.”

If declining trust within organizations is one problem, creeping distrust among communities is another. The ability to trust is central to human cooperation as globalization advances and personal and professional lives become increasingly intertwined, but we have never come to the point of undermining it to this extent. Hany Farid, a professor of digital forensics at the University of California, Berkeley and an expert on deepfake detection, said:
told the Washington Post The consequences of this voice crisis could be as extreme as mass violence or “election theft.”

Is there any benefit to this new ability to easily clone audio? Maybe. AI voice clones could allow people to seek solace by connecting with the dead
loved ones
or help give a voice to people who:
medical condition. American actor
val kilmerhas been undergoing treatment for throat cancer, and returned to “Top Gun: Maverick'' in 2022 with a voice restored by AI. Our ability to innovate may serve those with evil intentions, but it also serves those working for good.

When I became a presenter, I happily shared my voice on screen, but I did not agree to sign on to anyone who wanted to use this essential and precious part of me. As broadcasters, we sometimes worry about how colds and winter viruses will affect our recordings. But my recent experience has given the concept of losing one's voice a different, far more sinister meaning.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why Do We Engage in Self-Destructive Behavior and How to Stop it: Insights from Psychologists

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Self-sabotage (also called “self-handicapping” by psychologists) is intentionally doing something that can harm your chances of success. academic ability testperformance at work, sportsor relationships.

For example, let’s say you intentionally don’t rehearse your work presentation. Or let’s say you have a running race coming up and you decide not to train for it. In a relationship, you might start ignoring your partner’s texts, even if you’re happy with the relationship.

In all these cases, behaving this way may sound strange and self-defeating. However, research suggests that there is a logic to self-destruction. It’s something people often do as a way to protect their self-esteem and reduce their fear of failure or abandonment.

For example, let’s say you deliberately fail to prepare for a presentation at work, and as a result, your presentation goes very poorly. The reason for your failure may be that you didn’t prepare, rather than the presentation saying something fundamental about you as a person or your skills. Similarly, if you come in last in a running race, you can ignore your misfortune and attribute it to not training at all.

If you ignore your partner’s messages, and they decide to break up with you, you can take that rejection not as a sign that they don’t like you anymore, but as a sign that you’ve been ignoring them. You can blame the facts. Or choose to go out with someone else.

In other words, self-sabotage is a way to protect your ego by having the perfect excuse in case of failure or rejection.

People who fear failure or have low self-esteem are more likely to engage in this type of self-sabotage. In the short term, it may make you feel better about yourself, and it’s a way to protect your image in the eyes of others. However, this is not a recommended strategy. Because in the long run, of course, it’s going to be something like this. increase the likelihood of failure or rejection.

How to stop self-sabotage

If you really want to give a good presentation, you better prepare. I should have trained to win the race. And if you really want to be with your partner, you shouldn’t make them angry by ignoring their messages.

If you’re stuck in a habit of self-sabotage, it will take time to break it, but a healthier approach is within reach. One useful strategy is the so-called “Master Mindset”This includes viewing challenges as opportunities to learn and improve, rather than as deep judgments about your unique skills and worth. If you give your best at a work presentation or a running race and it doesn’t go perfectly, think about how you can do it better next time.

Another helpful strategy is to practice. self-pityThis includes treating yourself with the same kindness you would treat a close friend or relative, and recognizing that your worth does not depend on any particular opinion or outcome of a relationship.

If you feel close to a romantic partner, get used to that feeling of vulnerability and know that even if the relationship ends someday, it doesn’t mean you are inherently broken or unlovable. Remind yourself.

read more:

  • Will being too kind hinder your life?
  • Why some people don’t feel shame, according to psychologists
  • The Ultimate Anxiety Guide: The 6 Biggest Questions About Anxiety Answered by Psychologists
  • Why do I always cry when I watch movies on a plane?

Asked by: Samantha Osborne via email

To submit a question, please email questions@sciencefocus.com (remember to include your name and location)

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Reasons to stop making light of having “a touch of OCD”

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We’ve probably all heard people jokingly or proudly describe their habit of meticulously rearranging their bookshelves or taking an incredibly long time to clean their bathroom as “a bit OCD.”

Most people have a rough idea of ​​what OCD is, but it tends to be thought of as a behavioral quirk. In fact, the condition is characterised by intrusive thoughts and compulsions that cannot be stopped, and it is debilitating for the 1-3% of the world’s population that are affected.

In this light, the “kind of OCD” joke risks trivializing illnesses as serious as schizophrenia or depression. This misuse of the phrase may reflect our ignorance about OCD. But as we explore in “New Understanding of OCD Paves the Way for New Treatments,” we are now discovering more about how OCD manifests in the brain, which is influencing how we think about the illness.

It’s true that obsessions and compulsions exist in all of us to some degree — maybe you run back into the house to make sure the front door is locked, or you can’t help but think about an upcoming stressful event. In fact, many of the symptoms of OCD seem to represent distortions of beneficial behavior. But imagine what it would be like if the intrusive thoughts and urges to act were unstoppable. That’s the hallmark of OCD.

It is becoming clear that OCD is a complex condition that involves the immune system.

Thanks to decades of research into the mechanisms underlying this disease, we now know that entire brain networks are affected, causing a significant imbalance in the neurotransmitters that transmit signals around them, and that the disease is more complex than we thought, with the immune system and gut bacteria also playing a role.

These insights into the body and brain causes of OCD are paving the way for much-needed new treatments for people who don’t respond to current first-line therapies. But what’s clear is that OCD is an incredibly distressing condition, and we’re only just beginning to address the problem. It’s time to stop kidding ourselves.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Meta puts a stop to launching advanced AI models in the EU

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Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta announced that it would not release an advanced version of its artificial intelligence model in the EU, citing “unpredictable” behavior of regulators.

The owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp are preparing to make the Llama model available in a multimodal format, meaning it can work with text, video, images and audio, not just one format. Llama is an open-source model, meaning users can freely download and adapt it.

But a Meta spokesperson confirmed that the model would not be available in the EU, a decision that highlights tensions between big tech companies and Brussels amid an increasingly tough regulatory environment.

“We plan to release a multi-modal Llama model in the coming months, but it will not be released in the EU due to the unpredictable regulatory environment there,” the spokesperson said.

Brussels is introducing an EU AI law which comes into force next month, while new regulatory requirements for big tech companies are being introduced in the form of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

However, Meta’s decision regarding its multimodal Llama model has implications on its compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Meta was ordered to stop training its AI models on posts from Facebook and Instagram users in the EU for potential violations of privacy regulations.

The Irish Data Protection Commission, which oversees Meta’s compliance with GDPR, said it was in discussions with the company about training its models.

However, Meta is concerned that other EU data watchdogs could step in to the regulatory process and halt its approval. Although a text-based version of Llama is available in the EU, and a new text-only version is due to be released in the EU soon, these models have not been trained on EU Meta user data.

The move comes after Apple announced last month that it would not roll out some new AI features in the EU due to concerns about compliance with the DMA.

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Meta had planned to use the multimodal Llama model in products such as Ray-Ban smart glasses and smartphones. Llama’s decision was first reported by Axios.

Meta also announced on Wednesday that it had suspended use of its Generative AI tool in Brazil after the Brazilian government raised privacy concerns about the use of user data to train models. The company said it decided to suspend use of the tool while it consults with Brazil’s data authorities.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Adorable Reasons Why Dogs Can’t Stop Staring at You

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If you have ever had a dog as a pet, you are likely familiar with this scenario: you are engaged in a task, and suddenly you look up to see your furry friend gazing at you longingly from across the room.

This common behavior may leave you wondering why it occurs and what goes on in your dog’s mind.

This behavior has been studied for decades by researchers in the field of dog psychology. Understanding why dogs stare at us so intensely was a major focus of early dog cognition research.

“One of the initial findings in dog cognition research was that dogs perceive our eyes and faces in a unique way compared to other animals, which sparked further research,” explained Professor Alexandra Horowitz, who specializes in Canine Cognition at Barnard College, Columbia University in New York.

“While other animals may also exhibit this behavior, many animals use staring as a form of intimidation. For instance, wolves may glare at unfamiliar wolves to avoid conflict.”

Why does my dog ​​stare at me?

The simplest explanation for why your dog stares at you is that they are seeking cues from you on how to behave or what to do.

“Dogs view their owners as the controllers of their world, as they dictate their daily routines and activities,” Horowitz adds.

“We decide when they eat, when they can go outside, where they can relieve themselves, and more. Dogs want to observe these actions in order to understand what they should do.”

This behavior is rooted in a deeper connection. Studies have shown that dogs possess a keen ability to discern human emotions and needs, even through facial expressions. Dogs can differentiate between emotions like anger and happiness, solely based on facial expressions.

This ability may be attributed to the strong bond that humans and dogs have developed over thousands of years of companionship.

“Humans use eye contact as a gesture of intimacy and communication with people they are close to. Dogs may have picked up on this behavior over time, showing their interest and understanding of humans by focusing on their faces,” Horowitz explains.

So, the next time your dog gazes at you, rest assured – it is a natural behavior. They are likely trying to figure out what you are doing and how they can participate. Good pups indeed!

About our experts

Alexandra Horowitz is a professor of canine cognition at Barnard College, Columbia University in New York.

Her research has been featured in journals such as Animal Cognition, Learning and Behavior, and the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience.

In addition to her academic work, she has authored books like “Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know” and “Year of the Puppy.”

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have developed to aid hunter-gatherers in gauging when to stop investing in unproductive pursuits

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Early hunter-gatherers faced with food shortages may have benefited from the impulsivity associated with ADHD

John Civic/Science Photo Library

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have evolved in hunter-gatherer societies because it was an advantage for them, according to the results of a new study. Characteristics commonly associated with the disease, such as impulsivity, cause some foragers to move from areas where resources are depleted to areas with richer harvests faster than areas without the disease. It could have been something like this.

ADHD affects people's behavior, which can result in them acting impulsively and having trouble concentrating. Although its exact cause is not fully understood, the condition tends to run in families.

Its origins are similarly unknown, he says. Arjun Ramakrishnan At the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. “Is it a remnant of the hunter-gatherer world?”

To explore this, Ramakrishnan, david barak Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recruited 506 people in the United States to play an online foraging game. Players were instructed to collect as many berries as possible in 8 minutes by moving their cursor over the bush.

They were given the choice of staying in the bush or trying their luck in another bush that might have more or less fruit. Moving to a new bush also resulted in a short timeout, so players had to balance the chance of getting more berries with the time lost by moving.

Before playing the game, participants completed a questionnaire assessing whether they had symptoms of ADHD, such as difficulty concentrating or restlessness.

People with ADHD symptoms spent about four seconds hovering over a particular bush compared to those without symptoms, and as a result, the former group collected an average of 521 berries. However, I was able to collect 602 berries.

The findings suggest that selective pressures faced by early hunter-gatherer societies, such as lack of food and other resources, may have driven the evolution of ADHD. There may have been some foraging situations in which it was better to stay than move on, but Barak said this tendency to leave could have been an advantage in some scenarios.

“Humans and other apes are very sophisticated foragers, but like almost all other animals, we tend to stay in our plots too long and harvest too much in our fields.” he says. “Therefore, starting action early may be beneficial to reduce over-harvesting, and this may be where the impulsive characteristics of ADHD come in handy.”

Although many people around the world are no longer looking for food, situations still exist where similar decision-making processes occur. If a person is studying for an exam, he may start by looking at one resource. If it doesn't help you understand the topic, Barak says, you may quickly switch to another resource, which may be more efficient and helpful.

“Although it is difficult to determine exactly how ADHD-related behaviors were adaptive in past environments, we find that people with and without ADHD show measurable differences in foraging strategies. In that sense, these results are convincing,” says Dr. Dan Eisenberg at the University of Washington in Seattle.

but Annie Swanepoel North East London NHS Foundation Trust said it did not reflect the scarcity of resources experienced by many of the early hunter-gatherers, as foraging operations produced abundant berry crops.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Why can’t I stop watching TikTok’s 9-month cruise?

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Patrick, I don’t pretend to understand the esoteric machinations behind the TikTok algorithm, but these days you keep giving me video after video of people sailing around the world on nine-month cruises. They’re all on the same cruise, and behind each blank stare is the same quiet desperation. what’s happening?

Michael, what’s happening now is essentially a social experiment being broadcast in real time, and some of us just can’t get enough of it.

Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise is a nine-month cruise on a ship called Serenade of the Seas that aims to visit more than 60 countries on all seven continents and is touted as the world’s longest cruise. I don’t know the official number of passengers, but 1 TikToker reports that there are approximately 1,000 people. Most of them are regular cruise types, but some of them have started documenting on TikTok. It basically just describes the day’s action and shows viewers the cabins, meals, and other passengers. Even though it sounds like the worst reality show premise, you’ve heard it before, it became all the rage.

Two months have passed and we now have a boat full of influencers stuck on the high seas. This place is famous for the fact that people love to go crazy and get hooked on hunting huge and sexy whales. Nothing has actually happened yet, but It’s a perfect recipe for disaster. Terrible maritime affairs guaranteed.

How did this start? And who are the main characters?

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Like most things on TikTok (bama rush, sea shack) … 180,000 followers.

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Most of the content is daily style videos and confessionals, similar to the TikToks created by @sisters.swan color mode … and posts to his 7,000 followers.

Being on a ship for nine months sounds like an old-fashioned punishment. But people are actually paying for this, right?

Yes, it’s not cheap. You can join part of the tour or stay for the entire tour. The cheapest option for 9 months starts at $59,999 per person and the highest costs him $117,999. A couple who call themselves “Cruise Mom and Dad” I started an account @ while on board.spend our children’s money. They gained nearly 90,000 followers.

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But what’s interesting is how… junky it looks. Many university dormitories have common rooms. In fact, after the cruise started blowing up, TikTok influencer Marc Sebastian begged to be put on the ship and ended up getting sponsored by a publisher to go on an 18-night cruise. What’s his review? “I don’t like it here.”

he captioned video I went around my room writing the following: Are you okay. But for 9 months? You can’t do that, baby. ”

He also claimed that the showers were small and unreliable, that trips to see penguins were often canceled and that music was constantly blaring everywhere. nightmare.

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Once again, what’s on board now is a shady mix of old, wealthy cruisers, digital nomads, and influencers, almost exactly like the plot of Triangle of Sorrow. Has there been any real drama so far?

No, but everyone is preparing for it. It’s like we’re in the opening scene of a disaster movie right now. There, everyone is still cheerful and happy, we meet all the characters, and scientists continue to discover strange things that no one has noticed.

But we have a lot of gossip and it can lead to real drama – 1 account They claimed the passengers were infected with the coronavirus and were actually hiding it, which could lead to a new Ruby Princess-type plague ship.

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Another recent video Despite sharing rumors that the cruise may end much earlier than expected due to conflicts in the Middle East, a Royal Caribbean representative confirmed that they plan to continue the trip as scheduled.

Of course, even if nothing major happens, that doesn’t mean the entire ecosystem of gossip, comments, and criticism from stranded TikTok users has stopped. The passengers become characters in a soap opera, and the viewers write the story.

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It feels like being in the middle of a season of Real Housewives when nothing is happening and everyone is talking in sharp whispers as if something is happening. Why are we still investing so much?

I think it’s a combination of factors. There’s something truly intoxicating about watching rich people eat it while being trapped on a big ship – think “Below Deck” and “Triangle of Sorrow” – and the big ship itself, which has been ravaged by COVID-19. Virus cruises and stranded ships took center stage.

On top of that, people are fed up with the way reality shows are planned and produced these days, and there could be some real real chaos on this trip. It’s like putting a box full of bats, spiders, eggs, and fireworks and shaking it up. Something will happen. And we will watch.

Source: www.theguardian.com