Finding the right words to express ourselves can be challenging at times. If you frequently encounter emotions that seem elusive, you might be experiencing symptoms of alexithymia.
Individuals with alexithymia struggle not only to articulate their emotions but may also find it hard to differentiate between feelings and bodily sensations.
For instance, when you see someone you once admired while walking down the street, you might feel your chest tighten and your heart race. These physical responses could signify nervousness or excitement.
Unlike those without alexithymia, who can quickly identify their emotions, those with the condition may need to search their memories or the contextual clues before they can name their feelings.
Since recognizing emotions is crucial for effective emotion regulation, alexithymia can hinder the management of intense feelings, whether negative or positive.
This trait is a personality aspect rather than a specific disorder or syndrome. While the precise cause remains unclear, research has indicated that both genetic and environmental factors may play a role.
Approximately 13 percent of the population may experience some form of alexithymia, with studies suggesting a higher prevalence in men than in women .
Struggling to accurately identify your emotions can lead to issues like anxiety, relationship challenges, and isolation – Photo credit: Getty
A review conducted by psychologists in 2018 highlighted that alexithymia overlaps considerably with autism, with one in two individuals on the autism spectrum potentially facing alexithymia.
While no cure exists for this condition, it has been proposed that improving emotional awareness through practice may be possible.
This involves engaging with exercises that connect physical sensations to specific emotions, as well as expanding our “emotional vocabulary” to better articulate our inner experiences.
This article addresses the question “Am I alexithymic?” as posed by Lochlan Booth from Durham.
If you have any inquiries, please reach out via email at:questions@sciencefocus.com or send us a messagefacebook,×orInstagramPage (don’t forget to include your name and location).
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Is your concentration wavering? Perhaps your brain needs a rinse!
Jenny Evans/Getty Images
It’s well-known that our focus diminishes when we’re short on sleep. But what causes this? It may stem from your brain momentarily losing attention as it attempts to rejuvenate itself.
While we sleep, our brain undergoes a cleansing process where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is cycled in and out of the brain, flushing out daily accumulated metabolic waste. If this does not occur, it could potentially harm brain cells.
Laura Lewis and her team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology hypothesized that the drop in alertness following sleep deprivation could be the brain’s way of trying to recover while awake.
To test this theory, researchers asked 26 participants aged 19 to 40 to sleep adequately to feel refreshed, and two weeks later, they kept the same group awake all night in the lab.
In both circumstances, the team used MRI scans to record the brain activity of participants the following morning as they performed two tasks. These tasks required them to press a button whenever they heard a specific sound or noticed a cross on the screen transforming into a square, which occurred numerous times over 12 minutes.
As predicted, participants struggled to press the button more frequently when they were sleep-deprived compared to when they were well-rested. This indicates that insufficient sleep hampers concentration.
Crucially, analysis of the brain scans revealed that participants lost focus about two seconds prior to the CSF being expelled from the base of the brain, with CSF being reabsorbed roughly one second after attentiveness returned.
“If you envision the brain-cleansing process as akin to a washing machine, you fill it with water, run it around, and then you need to drain it. The lack of focus represents the ‘swishing’ stage during this cleaning process,” explains Lewis.
The findings imply that if the brain cannot cleanse itself during sleep, it resorts to doing so while awake, which compromises concentration, according to Lewis. “If this wave of fluid doesn’t materialize because you’ve been awake all night, your brain begins to sneak it in during the daytime, at the expense of your focus.”
While the exact cause of how this cleaning process leads to diminished attention remains unknown, pinpointing the brain circuits involved could illuminate ways to mitigate the cognitive repercussions of sleep deprivation, Lewis suggests.
Are you having trouble focusing? It might be that your brain needs a wash.
Jenny Evans/Getty Images
We all recognize that lack of sleep hampers our concentration, but what’s the reason behind it? It may be that your brain is temporarily losing focus as it attempts to refresh itself.
During sleep, the brain undergoes a cleansing process where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates into the organs and drains out at the base of the brain. This cycle helps eliminate the metabolic waste that builds up during waking hours. If this doesn’t happen, brain cells could be harmed.
Laura Lewis and her team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology theorized that the drop in alertness often seen after insufficient sleep could stem from the brain trying to make up for lost time while awake.
To test this theory, researchers enlisted 26 participants aged between 19 and 40 to first ensure they were well-rested. Two weeks later, they were kept awake overnight in a lab setting.
In both instances, the researchers recorded participants’ brain activity using MRI scans the next morning while they performed two specific tasks. During these tasks, participants needed to press a button every time they heard a particular sound or saw a cross on the screen transform into a square. This occurred many times over a span of 12 minutes.
As anticipated, participants struggled to hit the button significantly more often when sleep-deprived compared to when they were well-rested. This indicates that lack of sleep diminishes concentration capacity.
Notably, the analysis of the brain scans revealed that participants lost focus approximately two seconds before the CSF was expelled from the base of the brain. Additionally, the CSF was reabsorbed into the brain about one second after attention was regained.
“Think of the brain-cleansing process like a washing machine: you fill it with water, let it agitate, and then drain it. The loss of attention corresponds to the swirling phase,” Lewis explains.
The results imply that if the brain is unable to cleanse itself during sleep, it compensates while you’re awake, thus impairing concentration, according to Lewis. “If this wave of fluid flow doesn’t occur, because you were awake the entire night, your brain starts sneaking in this process during the day, but it comes at the price of your focus.”
While the exact reason for how this cleaning process affects attention remains unclear, pinpointing the specific brain circuits involved may help uncover strategies to mitigate the cognitive impacts of sleep deprivation, Lewis states.
I have been rearranging my home lately and encountered issues common among cyclists: where to store your bike? According to research, around 5.5 million individuals in the UK would cycle more if they had the appropriate space to store their bicycles at home. Specifically, 23% of flat residents and 58% of those living in detached houses struggle with finding accessible storage locations.
Fortunately, there are numerous bike storage options available, ranging from simple floor anchors in small outdoor areas to high-security sheds and designated parking zones offered by local authorities. One innovative entrepreneur even won £100,000 on Dragons’ Den for his “Space Isle” concept. Below are some of the top storage solutions I’ve discovered, suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings.
Top Bicycle Storage Solutions
Outdoor
If your bike needs to be parked outside and security is a concern (as it should be), opt for products with a solid safety rating. This indicates that they have undergone thorough testing to resist theft.
Additionally, if you’re considering a shed, be cautious: metal can become extremely hot in the sun. Avoid letting parts of the bike that may melt (like the handlebars and tires) come into contact with metal during the summer. Either strategically place fabric between the bike and metal or consider insulation.
For those with access to a front or rear garden, Asgard’s sheds offer secure, aesthetically pleasing, and durable options. Prices for a two-bike shed start at £649. I trialed the Mammoth Annex Plus E (with E-Bike charging capabilities) in my front yard. It’s been police approved and certified by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) for security.
The Plus E can accommodate 3-4 bikes (make sure to check your bike size first). It also features optional plug sockets for charging, gear shelves, and hooks. For an additional cost, Asgard offers installation services. Initially hesitant to leave an expensive bike in my front garden, I found the shed to be incredibly secure, thanks to a five-point locking double door with two deadbolts.
The design includes ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and is spacious enough to conceal overflowing bins from neighbors. Weighing 176kg (27st 10lb), it’s quite a challenge to move.
Lifting Lid Shed
£629.99 on Shedstore£629.99 with Buy Sheds Direct
Trimital’s bike sheds are robust and well-constructed but lack fixed design and LPCB rating, requiring individual padlocks to secure them when closed. The dimensions of the 6ft 4in x 2ft 9in (193cm x 88cm) model allow it to house up to three adult bikes, and it boasts a 25-year panel warranty. This model features a spring-assisted lid that lifts both the roof and front of the shed, reducing the need to duck while loading and unloading bikes. However, managing two padlocks can be tricky during rain or when you’re in a hurry; the floors are sold separately (£89.99).
For models like the Fortress shed, special metal anchors can be affixed to solid floors with the bike locked to it.
Simple Wooden Shed
£434 at Powersheds£445 at Wicks
Numerous affordable wooden sheds start at £200-300, but investing in a higher-quality model is advisable. The cycle insurance company Bikmo recommends opting for a tongue-and-groove design, as overlapping wooden styles can warp and become vulnerable to both the weather and thieves. Internal hinges are preferable since they prevent burglars from easily removing the doors.
Positioned in the mid-range sector is Powersheds’ Apex Bike Shed, with the 6 x 2ft (183 x 61cm) model starting at £434. It can store two bikes, but remember to verify your bike sizes prior to purchase. Powersheds’ products come with a 10-year warranty, galvanized metal components, and easily accessible doors. However, the hinge is situated on the outside.
The Bike Shed Company offers high-end wooden sheds that accommodate up to five adult bicycles, along with garden shelving and custom wooden builds. The most affordable model, the Pedalbase 2, fits two bikes (again, be sure to check your bike dimensions). Both the doors and roof open and stay lifted via gas struts, making it effortless to access. There’s even a model designed to fit beside your bay window. This wood is sustainably sourced from FSC-certified forests in the UK.
On-Street Solutions
Photo: Nathaniel Noir/Aramie
While most councils do not provide public bike storage, and waitlists can be lengthy, we luckily share a cycling parking space on the street near our home. These Hemisil Shared Bicycle Huts are available in cities like London, Bristol, and Salford. Places like Brighton, Edinburgh, and Glasgow have efficient setups accommodating six bikes in the space of a single car. These bike storage spots are typically set up by councils and can be borrowed by residents. In London, one such spot averages £57.90 a year in 2022.
Their popularity is evident: Bristol introduced 40 new hangars that were nearly fully booked within 90 minutes. Waltham Forest currently has 4,305 individuals on its waiting list, with 150 new applications each month (the council anticipates offering 300 additional units next year).
You can join a waiting list or coordinate with your neighbors and local councils. If enough people express interest in CycleHoop, they may inform your council of the demand. There’s even a Jumbo Cargo Bike Model catering to non-standard cycles.
Time for Anchors!
For minimalist solutions in tight outdoor spaces like alleys, consider metal floor or wall anchors that can be secured into the ground and allow chains to loop through the bike. Check here for Safe-approved ground anchors currently available. You can also opt for a bike cover to shield your bike from the elements (details below).
Diamond Secure
£63.84 in Halford£56.99 on Amazon
Hiplok’s ANKR is on the pricier side but carries a diamond safety rating, which is the highest security classification for bike protection. For your investment, you’ll receive maximum security steel anchors for both bikes and motorcycles. The rubberized cap ensures no damage to your bicycle’s frame and is backed by a 10-year warranty—ideal if a bike thief has a determined mission or comes equipped with an angle grinder.
Silver Secure
£25 at Argos£19.99 on Amazon
Oxford Locks’ Anchor10 features secure silver-rated wall and floor anchors made from hardened steel. Its design includes bolts shielded by ball bearings, which are concealed when the locks are installed to thwart theft attempts. The manufacturer claims it undergoes a “5-minute attack test.”
Outdoor Bike Cover
Leaving your bike exposed to the elements is less than ideal, but may be necessary at times. Many Dutch cyclists do this year-round. Bike covers come in various styles and price ranges, providing an economical solution to reduce rust and wear. Budget options start under ten pounds, while premium covers for larger cycles can exceed seventy pounds. A mid-range option is often the best compromise.
Stylish Cover
£39.30 at Santa Fixy
The Bikeparka Stash is a chic, fitted cover that wraps around both the front and rear wheels of your bicycle, complete with cinch straps to prevent water accumulation. As a medium-sized bike user, I managed to fit two bikes beneath a single cover. Constructed from ripstop waterproof material, it boasts sealed seams, adjustable toggles, and brass eyelets to keep your bike snug and dry. Just be cautious on windy days—my bike once tipped over due to the cover acting like a sail, causing scratches. Additionally, there’s a cargo bike parka for £85.70 and a long-tail bike model with a seat cover priced at £79.95. For durability, using it primarily in the winter months will extend its lifespan by reducing UV damage. Bikeparka offers a one-year guarantee for sun exposure, and a colleague mentioned theirs has lasted for years outdoors compared to months of cheaper alternatives. To illustrate, think of it like leaving your tent exposed 24/7 while grappling with troublesome metal objects regularly.
Stormskin’s premium cover is robust and will adequately protect your bike; it withstands all weather except the most relentless horizontal rain. Reviewers have praised it as the best protective cover available (though it’s not particularly portable) and it features slits to allow securing directly to the bike lock. The material is up to nine times thicker than competing products and is made from 100% recycled fabric, showcasing a stylish palm print design that’s visually appealing. It does take some effort to fit all bikes under it.
Budget Options
£18.99 at Trets
The Oxford Aquatex cover is an economical choice while still being effective in shielding your bike from the weather. It comes in three sizes and can accommodate up to three bikes. Made from grade 100 polyester with double stitching, it is a straightforward option with a strong base. While spacious enough for larger bikes, this also results in more flapping in the wind. If you face issues with pigeons or similar problems, it could serve as a deterrent.
Indoor
There are plenty of hooks and shelving solutions designed to facilitate indoor bike storage. Treat your bike as a piece of art—it just may be! Many of the following options are also suitable for garages and sturdy wooden sheds.
Tire Hooks
£15 in HalffordHornitt for £15.99
The compact bike hook is simply a small piece of plastic constructed to hold your bike’s tire. The manufacturer suggests that while one wheel remains on the ground, installation is as straightforward as pushing a few screws into place. This clever and popular option permits you to line your bikes up like books on a shelf. Be sure to measure tire widths before purchasing from the five available sizes (ranging from 23-32mm to 70-81mm). Keep the tires inflated or the bike may tip. Another option could be the Clug Pro, which secures the wheel in place using strong, small threads and magnets. Mud pads can also be added to safeguard the wall.
Rubber Hook
£8.42 on Decathlon
For an affordable and versatile option that fully supports the bike, a rubber-covered hook is available at various price points. This option is recommended by this YouTuber. Attaching it to a wooden 2×4 or 2×6 baton, rather than directly onto the wall, enhances stability, longevity, and allows for more bikes within a meter, while also minimizing wall damage caused by the larger screws accompanying эти hooks.
No Drill Options
£149.99 on Cyclestore£179.99 in Halford
Topeak offers several no-drill bike storage solutions. For a compact setup, consider utilizing dual touch wedges stationed between the floor and ceiling, using an adjustable pole with a clever foot pedal clutch. You can fit two bikes stacked vertically, but depending on your bike size and ceiling height, the maximum weight capacity can reach 72kg or 18kg.
The trick is to locate the joists in the ceiling, which can be done by referencing old photographs from before your kitchen ceiling collapsed. I found mine this way. My E-Bike step-through frame was oddly shaped and too bulky, resulting in an unstable hanging position; however, my hybrid and road bikes fit without issue. They also provide a freestanding version with tripod legs, requiring a little more floor space, which gained popularity at Bicycle Expo.
aAt some point, most mobile games will die. Apple’s iOS software updates have removed thousands of App Store games over the years. Old games simply disappear unless developers make them compatible with all new devices and software. (Most games can’t or won’t devote such resources to it.) Also, in the case of live mobile games that encourage users to log in every day, the popularity of the game will inevitably decline and the developer will stop updating it, leaving the game sluggish and unplayable. Sometimes there is no warning. Games exist one day and disappear the next. A truly dark fate.
Mobile gaming has a high mortality rate. 83% of them Research shows that most games fail within the first three years. But maybe there’s another way. In 2017, Nintendo released a mobile version of its best-selling relaxing life simulation game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The service, called Pocket Camp, ran for seven years before Nintendo ended support for it last month. But instead of ending the game, the company released a complete version for £8.99 that packages years of content and allows players to transfer data to keep their memories or start anew. The game lives on.
Pocket Camp is an excellent replica of the console Animal Crossing games, closer to a Happy Home Designer spin-off with a lighter touch than the DS and Switch versions. Your super cute character will be in charge of the campsite and decorate it with furniture and cuteobjects. If your campsite is set up to their liking, the animals will come hang out and talk trash with you. You can gift them anything you find lying around, such as fruit, fish you catch, or, better yet, live insects. Guitar-playing dog KK Slider (who, interestingly, is a caricature of Kazumi Todaka, one of Nintendo’s composers) performs at a campfire concert.
The main difference between Pocket Camp and, say, Animal Crossing on Switch is that there’s no cold in Pocket Camp. Performing insignificant missions, collecting more materials, and crafting more things will always bother you. As is tradition in mobile games, you get some kind of reward every few minutes, and every action in the game is tracked in some kind of progression tree to encourage you to keep playing. Twelve currencies, tasks, locations, and seasonal events are possible at any given time. However, it is nevertheless surprisingly feature-rich. There are thousands of things to make and buy, and hundreds of animal villagers to befriend. It feels luxurious for £8.99.
Ironically, Pocket Camp would be significantly better without the insidious monetization that was used to power it. I’ve dipped in and out of this game over the years, especially when I was waiting for 2020’s New Horizons to come out, and I’ve always loved the ubiquitous countdown timer and the daily (or several) I always shied away from it because of the manufactured urgency of logging in. 1 day) Achieve your goals. Hurry up, it’s time to harvest the fruits! Look, this special event is almost over! Don’t you want limited edition items? Don’t you want to buy some leaf tokens to speed up the creation of all this? This is a standard issue in live mobile games, but even if the game itself has value, it can also be very annoying.
All of these monetization system traps still exist in Pocket Camp Complete. They are built into the game design. However, we now give away all leaf tokens, bells, and items that you previously had to wait for or pay for for free. This changes the pace of the game and allows you to play as many times as you like at once without any restrictions. Now, without warning, I can recommend the affordable Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
More developers should do this. Once you’re done with your live games, simply package everything up and sell it for a single price. This happens in the console world, where the “Game of the Year” edition delivers the old game and all its bonuses and extra content. In this way, those who were there for the first life of the game can somehow preserve it. And such games may find new players even in the afterlife.
what to play
Fashion forward…Infinity Nikki. Photo: Epic Games
dress up fairy tale adventure infinity nikki This game, released this week, is one I’ve had my eye on for a long time because there doesn’t seem to be anything else out there. There’s no combat here, but instead there’s music, fishing, balloon rides, and conversations with cats and frogs. Pink-haired Nikki is very fashion conscious and almost everything she does in her world earns her new components for various amazing outfits. It’s an interesting combination of saccharine sweetness and downright weird, and is actually similar to Animal Crossing.
Please note: This is a free-to-play game, so if you have teenagers who want to play, make sure their settings are locked, as you could actually drop hundreds of pounds on a virtual dress. Please check.
Available: PC, PS5, smartphone Estimated play time: 10 hours or more
what to read
Mobile games in particular have been accused of violating rules regarding the use of loot boxes. Photo: Blizzard Entertainment
The BBC estimates that 43 of the top 45 best-selling mobile games are break the rules Regarding disclosure of randomized information loot box in their advertising. Regulators have been slow to take action on these gambling-related features.
devolver digital has belatedly postponed some games to next year (including Baby Steps, which I’m really looking forward to). I exhaustedly applaud Devolver for the way they presented their presentation through a mock awards ceremony. 15th Annual Devolver Delay Awards 2024.
to celebrate PlayStation 30th anniversarySony has released a set of past PlayStation launch animations, including the PS1’s iconic and incredibly 90s theme. Kotaku has more.
Astro Bot is an upcoming platform game for PlayStation 5 by Team Asobi. Photo: Sony/Team Asobi
Now it’s my turn to ask a question instead of the reader’s. you.
We’re still looking for Pushing Buttons readers to submit their favorite games of 2024. That game will be featured in the final newsletter of the year. From Baldur’s Gate 3 to Astro Bot, send us a few sentences about what they mean to you. You will see results within a few weeks.
Please reply to this email or email pushbuttons@theguardian.com.
When it comes to choosing gifts for teenagers, gift cards are often the go-to option. With new technology constantly emerging, it can be challenging to find products that are both worth buying and will be loved by your teen.
Our list features a variety of fantastic tech gifts for teenagers, from cutting-edge gadgets for amazing selfies to popular items that can transform a regular bedroom into the ultimate teen hideaway. These products cater to every budget and level of tech knowledge – you don’t have to be a tech expert to enjoy these innovative devices.
These tech gifts are truly inspiring.
If you know a teenager who’s into science, don’t miss out on these amazing science gifts for teens.
Best Tech Gifts for Teens
TP-Link Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Multi-Color Light Strip
Adding a color-changing LED light strip can instantly elevate a dull bedroom into a vibrant, multi-colored space. Perfect for adding a touch of excitement to a sleepover, gaming session, or just a relaxing night at home. This LED light strip may be one of the best tech gifts for teenagers.
Philips Hue Series Tapo is a well-known name in smart LED strips, and this version of Tapo is a great budget-friendly choice.
Setting up is easy – simply stick the strips on shelves, screens, or other bedroom furniture. The strips are five meters long and can be cut to any desired size. Use the Tapo app to select preset lighting moods, effects, and timers to automatically control the multicolored LEDs. It works over standard home Wi-Fi and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.
For more gift ideas, check out our guide to the best sci-fi games.
Latest Philips Hue Lightstrip deals:
Tapo Light Strip Latest Deals:
Insta360 X3
At first glance, this small gadget may seem expensive, but its impressive features speak for themselves.
The Insta360 X3 features a 5.7K 360° camera with useful functions like image stabilization, horizon lock, and HDR mode. With the extended selfie stick, the camera intelligently edits your footage to provide a unique third-person perspective, almost like having your personal videographer.
Don’t miss out on the best instant cameras for more photo gift ideas.
While the camera captures the action in 360°, you have the freedom to choose the best angle for your video.
Additional features include:
8K quality 360° time lapse video
Automatically saves 15 or 30 seconds of footage before hitting the shutter button
Convenient automated editing and live 360° streaming allow viewers to see from every angle
Focus on a single person, animal, or moving object and keep it centered in the frame.
Waterproof up to 10m, extendable to 50m with a diving case (sold separately)
Squirrel_13075159
Crosley Voyager Portable Turntable
A portable record player like the Crosley Voyager makes a fun and unique gift for teenagers. Music enthusiasts will appreciate having a stylish turntable in their room.
This turntable’s portability is a standout feature – easily pack it up and take your music with you to parties, vacations, and other gatherings.
Despite its vintage look, the turntable is equipped with modern features: Built-in stereo speakers and Bluetooth for streaming music from your phone, plus a headphone jack for private listening. The turntable also offers three speed settings for playing traditional records.
The Crosley Voyager is an affordable turntable option. If you’re unsure about it, explore our top record players currently available.
While you’re here, check out the best sunrise alarm clocks too.
Mini projector
A portable projector is a must-have for sleepovers or movie nights at home. Whether your teen has a TV in their room or not, this gadget will enhance their viewing experience with a projection size of up to 210 inches.
This is also perfect for PlayStation and Xbox enthusiasts.
While projectors can be pricey, this one offers a balance of affordability and quality. Highly rated by customers, it supports Full HD with 7500 lumens and allows you to choose your preferred projection size from 35 inches to 210 inches, from a distance of 3.7 feet from the wall.
Featuring built-in Hi-Fi speakers, it also has an audio-out port for connecting external speakers or headphones. Once set up, you can connect your phone, tablet, laptop, or gaming console to enjoy TV shows, movies, and photos (some devices may require an HDMI cable).
Explore our guide for the best projectors for your home for more options.
Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
There are few speakers that deliver both style and sound quality, but the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 manages to do just that. With its unique “unicorn” appearance, this speaker stands out from the crowd. It also boasts impressive technical specifications.
The Boom 3 is fully waterproof, allowing you to play music underwater for 30 minutes, and it floats to the surface when released, making pool parties even more enjoyable. Moreover, if your recipient or their friends own other Ultimate Ears speakers, you can link up to 150 of them to synchronize music in one location.
This speaker delivers 360° sound and is made with a highly elastic material used in motorcycle jackets and firefighting gear. Ultimate Ears has conducted over 25 durability tests, ensuring it can withstand even the most energetic users.
The rechargeable battery provides up to 15 hours of playtime on a full charge. Power Up Dock for a seamless charging experience. For speaker options, explore our selection of portable speakers, shower speakers, or noise-canceling headphones.
Auraglow LED USB Wall or Tabletop Word Clock
Looking for a great gift under £25? Consider this unique clock from Auraglow. Instead of traditional numbers, this clock displays the time in 5-minute intervals. LEDs light up the relevant letters on a black panel to indicate the time.
The clock comes with a USB cable for connecting to various power sources, and you can add an adapter for more flexibility. It can be wall-mounted with a hanging slot or propped up on a desk or shelf thanks to its flat base.
If black isn’t your style, the clock is also available in copper. Explore our guides for the best wireless phone chargers, power banks, portable chargers, and charging stations for more useful tech ideas.
Squirrel_13073992
Apexel 10-in-1 Cell Phone Camera Lens Kit
For Instagrammers, photographers, or selfie enthusiasts, a smartphone lens attachment is an ideal choice if you want to enhance your phone’s camera capabilities without investing in a new camera. This set, with 10 different lens attachments stored in a convenient pouch, is compatible with most smartphones and tablets, including iPhone, Samsung, Huawei, and Sony models.
The kit includes macro, wide-angle, and telephoto lenses, along with fun accessories like a fisheye lens, a star filter, a kaleidoscope attachment, and even a polarizing filter to reduce glare and reflections for sunny days.
On Wednesday evening, I found myself seated at my kitchen table staring at my laptop screen with a mix of emotions. Testing out a new demo from a Manhattan-based startup called Hume, claiming to have the world’s first voice AI with emotional intelligence. According to Alan Cohen, CEO and chief scientist at Hume, the technology helps predict emotional patterns based on the tone of voice and text.
With the rise of emotional AI in the industry, companies like Hume are raising significant funding and predicting a booming market. However, there are concerns about how accurately AI can read and respond to human emotions. Will it be able to interpret subtle cues and non-verbal expressions? Professor Andrew McStay suggests that understanding emotions can have a far greater impact beyond monetary value.
My experience testing Hume’s Empathic Voice Interface (EVI) revealed interesting results. While the AI could analyze and display emotional patterns like love, adoration, and romance, there was a sense that voice tone was given more weight than the actual words spoken. Some critics argue that AI is limited in understanding subtle human emotions and behaviors that go beyond overt expressions.
On the ethical front, there are concerns about AI bias and the potential for misuse in areas like surveillance and emotional manipulation. Safeguards like the Hume Initiative aim to set guidelines and restrictions on the use of emotional AI in various sectors. However, the evolving nature of artificial intelligence poses challenges in regulating its applications.
As emotional AI continues to develop, researchers like Lisa Feldman Barrett highlight the complexities of defining and interpreting emotions accurately. Legal frameworks like the European Union AI law aim to curb the negative impacts of emotional recognition technology while allowing for certain applications.
While there are ongoing debates about the effectiveness and ethical implications of emotional AI, researchers like Lennart Hogman from Stockholm University are exploring innovative uses of the technology. By analyzing emotions in interactive settings like psychotherapy, AI tools could potentially enhance therapeutic outcomes and improve collaboration in various fields.
Ultimately, the future of emotional AI depends on how society navigates its potential benefits and risks. As we grapple with the implications of this technology, it’s crucial to prioritize ethical considerations and align user interests with the development of these systems. Embracing emotional AI requires a critical understanding of its capabilities and impact on individuals and society as a whole.
A quoll searches for termites in a fallen log.Poor night vision is also part of the reason they have to forage for food in the heat of the day.
kristin cooper
As Australia's temperatures continue to get hotter, the specialized fur that possums evolved to save energy is now putting them at risk of overheating.
possum (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is an unusual marsupial in that it is active during the day, feeding on termites hidden under tree logs and topsoil. Because these insects are low-calorie foods, possums, which typically weigh about 500 grams, have evolved fur that absorbs heat from the sun, saving calories spent on generating body heat.
As temperatures rise, that evolutionary trait can backfire, causing possums to overheat within minutes of feeding in direct sunlight. kristin cooper at Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
Quolls once roamed southern Australia, but over the past two centuries they have fallen prey to cats and foxes introduced by European settlers. Currently, these endangered animals are concentrated in just two small nature reserves in Western Australia.
To increase their numbers, conservation groups are gradually moving the marsupials to areas protected from their native predators. But global warming is making some of these regions even hotter and drier.
“Environmental change is occurring at an unprecedented rate due to anthropogenic global warming, which means that predicting future species distribution and population patterns, protecting and managing them requires environmental conditions “This means it is important to understand the ecological consequences of changes in philip withers researchers from the University of Western Australia write in a paper.
To learn more, the pair used a thermal imaging camera to film 50 wild animals eating termites at different times of the day from 2020 to 2021.
At each site, portable weather stations were used to record factors such as temperature, wind speed, and humidity. They then incorporated this data into a computer program to model how environmental conditions affected the quolls' internal temperatures.
The researchers found that on days of high heat stress, such as in dry environments with temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius, possums overheat within 10 minutes of exposure to direct sunlight. After that, they need to stop eating and hide from the sun until their body temperature drops.
Shade is helpful, but shade is often scarce, and seeking shade limits the termite-hunting territory of possums, Cooper says. The model also suggests that the combination of high outdoor temperatures and radiant heat from the ground can cause possums to overheat even in the shade.
Feeding at night is not an option for possums, as they have poor night vision and lack the strength to invade termite mounds at night.
To overcome these problems, Cooper recommends conservation groups move quolls to cooler areas of their territory and provide plenty of shade.
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