The problem of consciousness is one of the greatest mysteries in science
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It's been two years since we opened our New York office, and we're excited to share it with you. New Scientist is launching a new live event series in the US. It starts in New York on June 22nd. A one-day masterclass on the science of the brain and human consciousness. To celebrate this, we've unlocked access to his five in-depth features that explore the mysteries of the human heart.
Perhaps there is no greater mystery in human experience than consciousness. In the simplest terms, it's about being aware of our existence. It is our experience of ourselves and the world.
It's less clear how and why this happens, and whether other living things, or indeed machines or forms of artificial intelligence, can experience consciousness in the same way that we do.
For much of human history, the idea that consciousness could somehow be explained or fully understood seemed fanciful and beyond the scope of scientific study. However, in recent decades, we have come closer than ever to identifying the physical structures, mechanisms, and neural networks responsible.
As neuroscientist Christoph Koch had to admit last year, we're not there yet. “When you're young, you have to believe that things are simple,” said Koch, who has been working with philosopher David Chalmers for 25 years to find out exactly which brain cells give rise to life by 2023. He admitted that he lost the bet. into our conscious experience of the world.
Still, Koch doesn't have to think too hard. We're always getting a little closer, from what happens inside our brains when we sleep and dream to how increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence is challenging the meaning of the world. It brings out fresh insights into everything. Be aware – and how can a machine even recognize this if it happens?
One day master class on consciousness
Join us on June 22nd in New York City for an instant expert event on the latest science of consciousness and the human brain.
I was going to start this article differently. But that was before my 10-year-old daughter intervened. In fact, I had already started writing when she got up and tried to trick me. She offered to bet me her ten pounds that I could write red with a regular pencil. Unfortunately for this budding entrepreneur, I turned down the bet. She was so confident that she suspected he was up to something. But I let her reveal the trick. She took her lead pencil in her hand and she wrote, “In red color.” Then she laughed like a hyena and went out to fool her mother.
Our bright little sparks have opinions on everything from video games to sports to books. She’s learning basic algebra and coding, but her Taylor Swift expertise far exceeds mine. But even with all this knowledge, she still has many years to go before she reaches adulthood. If she lives out her average lifespan, she will spend a quarter of her year as a minor.
It is truly strange that humans have long childhoods. No other primate takes this long to reach adulthood. During the evolution of our species, childhood has become significantly longer, along with more obvious physical changes. Traditionally, paleoanthropologists have paid little attention to children, but that is now changing. A series of interesting discoveries over the past few years are building a complete picture of human childhood. When did this seemingly unproductive life stage expand, why was it so long, and what did prehistoric children do? This discovery does more than just shed light on a dark corner…
MTech mogul Ike Lynch, once known as Britain’s Bill Gates, has been in San Francisco for the past 10 months with a GPS bracelet on his ankle and two armed guards watching him 24/7. This week, he faces a tough battle for his freedom in court.
Thirteen years after a major acquisition involving one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent companies and Lynch’s business, his reputation as one of Britain’s top engineers has come into question. The acquisition is now the focus of a criminal fraud trial where Lynch could potentially be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison if found guilty.
Lynch’s spectacular downfall started with his role as co-founder of Autonomy, a software company that once made him a star in the British tech industry. His accomplishments in business earned him an OBE in 2006 for his contributions. However, his reputation is now at stake as he faces accusations related to the Autonomy acquisition.
Lynch is on a mission to prove his innocence and clear his name from the allegations surrounding the Autonomy deal. The odds are stacked against him as federal prosecutors in the US have a high conviction rate, making it challenging for defendants to win in court.
The trial will focus on the events leading up to HP’s acquisition of Autonomy in a multi-billion dollar deal that Lynch believed would propel the company to new heights in the software industry. However, the aftermath of the acquisition was far from what was expected, leading to a series of legal and financial troubles for Lynch and Autonomy.
As the trial approaches, Lynch is preparing his defense with the help of his legal team, who are working tirelessly to navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding the case. Both sides will present their arguments, and a jury will ultimately determine Lynch’s fate.
We're still trying to understand how animals react to solar eclipses
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You can't miss a total solar eclipse. The sun's disk is completely covered by the moon, casting its shadow across the Earth's surface and causing a sharp drop in temperature. Animals seem to notice, too, and researchers around the world are studying how animals respond.
Researchers have observed all kinds of animals, from wild hippos to pet dogs, during the eclipse. However, some of the most thorough research is done in zoos around the world.
adam hartstone rose North Carolina State University and colleagues conducted one of these large-scale studies It was during a solar eclipse that crossed the United States in 2017. “To be honest, I didn't expect to see anything interesting. Animals always see clouds passing overhead, but sometimes it gets cloudy. I never thought I would care about that at all,” says Heartstone-Rose. “Surprisingly, three-quarters of the species we observed showed some kind of response.”
Most of these animals seemed to think that it was night during totality, the period when the sun was completely hidden behind the moon. This may not come as a surprise to anyone who witnessed a solar eclipse somewhere outdoors, as it has been known for centuries that birds and insects tend to become quiet and search for nests. not.
“Gorillas usually hang out in gardens all day and go indoors at night, so it was like a whole herd of gorillas marching towards the front door and I was confused as to why no one would let me in. ” said Hartstone-Rose. . Similarly, he observed birds going to roost and sleeping. Once the totality was over, the gorillas and birds returned to their normal daytime activities. Previous studies have also observed spiders laying down their nests during totality, and bats briefly emerging from their daytime resting spots.
Another response the researchers found in many animals was anxiety. “We have a lot of experience in assessing anxiety in animals, especially zoo animals, because we are always trying to reduce anxiety,” Hartstone-Rose said. say. “So we are very cognizant of behaviors that may indicate anxiety.”
These responses include pacing, huddled, and increased vocalization. “Giraffes generally only run when they need to run for their lives, but during the eclipse, some giraffes started running like the sky was falling,” Hartstone-Rose said. “Several animals showed such reactions.” For example, baboons were seen running around together in groups.
Solar eclipse in 2024
On April 8th, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Our special series covers everything you need to know, from how and when to see a solar eclipse to the strangest solar eclipse experience of all time.
Some Galapagos giant tortoises began mating during the eclipse and looked up to the sky after the eclipse passed. Previous research on hippos found that they also remain excited even after the peak of the eclipse.
However, it is difficult to determine which animal behavior is caused by the eclipse itself, and which animal behavior is a reaction to the crowds drawn by the eclipse. This is especially true in zoos where animals and humans are in close contact. For the same reason, it is difficult to draw conclusions about changes in pet behavior during an eclipse.
Hartstone-Rose and her colleagues conducted another survey at the zoo during the total solar eclipse on April 8, observing some of the same species to see if their behavior matched, as well as identifying new species. We plan to collect data on they again, participatory science project Through this, anyone can report animal observations during the eclipse. By exploring the patterns of animal behavior during unusual events like solar eclipses, we may be able to understand animal thought processes more generally.
Claire Jacobs captured a rare moment with a gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) Spray water at a swooping white-tailed eagle (Harrietus albicilla) on the Isle of Wight. Image credit: Claire Jacobs.
Claire Jacobs witnessed a white-tailed eagle swoop toward the surface at high tide.
As the eagle approached, an adult gray seal emerged from the water directly beneath the predator.
This unusual event occurred in the waters of the Newtown Estuary of the Newtown River called Cramerkin Brook or Cramerkin Lake.
The encounter was caught on camera, with the gray seal initially emitting a warning call, but then resorting to an unprecedented defensive tactic: spitting a stream of water directly at the eagle.
“However, my year was enriched by being able to capture such rare and never-before-seen interactions.”
“Sightings of gray seals and white-tailed eagles are now common on the Isle of Wight, but interaction between these two species has so far not been reported,” said Megan Jacobs, daughter of Claire Jacobs and a palaeontologist at the University of Portsmouth. says Mr. .
“This is the first record of an interaction between these two top predators, and the first report of a gray seal using spit as a means of defense or deterrence against an airborne enemy.”
“White-tailed eagles directly compete for fish stocks, so spitting may be a strategy to eliminate them from competition for prey.”
The white-tailed eagle, also known as the Steller's sea eagle, is the largest species of European eagle.
Their wingspan can reach up to 2.6 meters, but is usually smaller, with males measuring about 2.26 meters and females about 2.37 meters.
White-tailed eagles went extinct on the Isle of Wight in 1780, but a bold reintroduction program began introducing young white-tailed eagles from breeding pairs in Scotland in the summer of 2019.
“Spitting is a rare behavioral activity among vertebrates, which is why this event is so fascinating,” said Megan Jacobs.
“This challenges our existing understanding of animal defense mechanisms.”
“Spits are commonly found in humans, camels, llamas, and alpacas, but are also used in some snakes to deliver venom, and may also be used to capture prey by archers, so there is no photographic evidence I'm excited to have gotten this fish. “
It has been 100 days since the war in Gaza began, and it has become increasingly difficult to read the news. Her husband told me it might be time to talk to a therapist. Instead, on a cold winter morning, after fighting back tears as I read another tale of human tragedy, I turned to artificial intelligence.
“I’m pretty depressed about the state of the world,” I typed into ChatGPT. “It’s natural to feel overwhelmed,” the magazine responded, offering a list of practical advice, including limiting media exposure, focusing on the positive and practicing self-care.
I closed the chat. I was sure that I would benefit from doing all this, but at that moment I didn’t feel much better.
It may seem strange that an AI would even try to provide this kind of assistance. But millions of people have already turned to his ChatGPT, a professional therapy chatbot that provides convenient and inexpensive mental health support. Even doctors are said to be using AI to create more empathetic notes for patients.
Some experts say this is a boon. After all, AI may be able to express empathy more openly and tirelessly than humans, unhindered by shame or burnout. “We admire empathetic AI” by a group of psychological researchers I wrote recently.
But others are not so sure. Many people question the idea that AI can be empathetic and worry about the consequences if people seek emotional support from machines that can only pretend to care. Some even wonder if the rise of so-called empathic AI might change the way we think…
Charlotte, a stingray residing in an aquarium with no male rays, surprised people worldwide with her sudden pregnancy, sparking interest in parthenogenesis, which refers to virgin conception in scientific terms.
While virgin births may seem rare, experts point out that many species, like zebra sharks, California condors, and Komodo dragons, can reproduce asexually through parthenogenesis. Understanding this process could aid in conservation efforts.
Mercedes Burns, a biologist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, stated, “There’s nothing unnatural about asexual reproduction,” emphasizing the remarkable strategies animals employ for successful reproduction.
The buzz surrounding Charlotte’s pregnancy arose when the Aquarium and Shark Research Institute announced her condition. Speculation on social media suggested she was impregnated by a neighboring shark or through parthenogenesis.
Kevin Feldheim, a researcher at Chicago’s Field Museum, debunked the shark theory, emphasizing the genetic differences between sharks and stingrays. Genetic testing post-birth will confirm if the offspring resulted from parthenogenesis.
Researchers are just beginning to explore parthenogenesis in various species. This phenomenon has been observed in 15 elasmobranch species since 2007.
Although common in animals, parthenogenesis is rare in mammals due to genetic mechanisms preventing it. Meiosis and fusion with polar bodies are key in spontaneous parthenogenesis.
The prevalence of parthenogenesis in the wild remains unknown, but it is easier to detect in captive environments. Vertebrates’ ability to reproduce asexually remains a mystery.
Research suggests parthenogenesis could be an environmental response or a chance occurrence in cell division.
When you look in the mirror, you may notice slight imbalances in your facial features, such as your nose crooked to the left, a wrinkle that only appears under one eye, or your ears slightly higher than the other. .
For centuries, this lack of perfect balance has been thought to detract from our beauty, and there are a number of services aimed at “fixing” it, from photo filters to cosmetic surgery. But asymmetry is built into the human body and brain, and for good reason. Moreover, new research suggests that it has little effect on your appeal to others.
First, lopsided arrangement of our internal organs. For most people, the heart, stomach, and spleen are all on the left side of the spinal cord, and the liver and gallbladder are on the right side. This makes more efficient use of thoracic and abdominal space compared to a structure that aligns all organs to the spine.
Why is the human brain asymmetrical?
What about your brain? Although her two hemispheres may appear to be reflective of each other, corresponding areas on each side have different responsibilities. You will notice the effect this has on your movements. If you're right-handed, it's because the left hemisphere of your brain, which is connected to the right side of your body, is slightly more specialized in controlling the fine muscles of your fingers, increasing your manual dexterity. .
You may be surprised to find that this “lateralization” is seen in many fields…
‘WWhen people play video games, they want to have fun,” Josh Mansell, composer of Naughty Dog’s early Crash Bandicoot games, tells me. It’s a simple word, but one that laid the foundation for everything that PlayStation’s most famous mascot would represent. “Crash Bandicoot” was fun, even when players were banging their heads against CRT TVs in frustration when “Slippery Climb”’s paranoid, creepy music started playing his 100th time. And Mansell’s soundtrack was there to remind us of that from start to finish.
However, the characteristically eccentric, manic energy that fuels Crash’s reckless platforming adventures didn’t come out of nowhere. “When I was working on the game, I was throwing things at the wall to see what would stick,” Mansell says.
Crash wasn’t as fast as Sonic or as approachable as Mario. He was scruffier, edgier, and an underdog than his sanitized mainstream stablemates. And the music captured that. It was insistent, encouraging, and quirky. A witty little Looney Tunes cartoon about someone getting addicted to sugar and accidentally wandering into the third dimension. However, that cheerful Hawaiian surf rock atmosphere was almost something completely different.
Early drafts of the score for the first Crash Bandicoot game were ambient and drum-heavy, focusing on creating a sonic jungle around Crash. So you will feel like you are with him on this dangerous island, surrounded by plants as deadly as animals. . This music was actually very similar to one of Mansell’s earliest projects as a composer, his American Kraft cheese commercial. “This commercial is about a little kid going through a jungle, and it’s all animated, and even the beat I used there is very similar to one of the beats that ended up in ‘Crash.’ I did.
“The early, more ambient stuff works better. It draws you into the jungle and into the immersive nature of what games should be.”
Josh Mansell, Crash Bandicoot game soundtrack composer then and now Photo: Josh Mansell
But Crash Bandicoot is not Uncharted or The Last of Us. Mansell had worked with Naughty His Dog during his “punk” days, and created Crash as a rival (and parody) of Sonic the Hedgehog. Developer’s “Hollywood” days were still two generations ahead of him, and at this point the music needed to be weird and quirky, more akin to a Saturday morning cartoon than a prime-time TV show.
And it was Hog Wild, one of Crash Bandicoot’s most infamous levels, that provided Mansell with the inspiration he needed to fit firmly into Crash’s baggy jolt. “‘Hog Wild’ was a big turning point, especially in terms of the feedback I got regarding the music,” he says. “They were pointing me in the direction of creating a more ‘experimental’ score, using all the percussion and ambience. Environmental sounds. And I think the reactions were divided. ”
Some producers at publisher Universal were not convinced by this more experimental approach. Mansell has previously been quoted as referencing the likes of Aphex Twin and Juan Atkins in these early scores, but that is completely untrue. Mansell says he admires the way the musicians were able to create deep soundscapes with limited space and tools. And that’s what he wanted to do with the Clash, more than “imitate the kind of music they were making”. We weren’t going to get someone like Alberto Balsalme from Crash Bandicoot, right?
“Hog Wild’s music was more…I don’t want to make a pun and say Universal…more comical,” Mansell says. “People laughed at it, and I started to feel like there was an even more positive response. It didn’t sound like Mario music, but it sounded like our own version of Mario. It was more animated, more It’s going to be character-driven.”
“This is what it’s supposed to sound like” when you’re jumping over things on a pig’s back, Mansell points out. And he’s right. Both in music and gaming, Hog Wild is a solid introduction to what Crash Bandicoot is all about. This is where this game departs from its infamous 2D platforming cousins Mario and Sonic. Hog Wild is his eighth level in the game and represents what Crash needs to be: fun, fast, reckless, and stupid. The perfect mascot for Sony and his fledgling PlayStation console.
“[Hog Wild] It was an eye-opener. That’s when I started to see what this game was all about. You’re playing a comic. You are a cartoon character. The person who designed the character was involved with Looney Tunes, right? Charles Zembilas brought that sensibility to the game before I stepped in. ”
Mansell is first and foremost a drummer, and you’ll find that Crash Bandicoot’s melodies, from the first game all the way to Crash Team Racing, are all very percussive and assertive. Just as you can tell that Dave Grohl writes vocal parts from a drummer’s perspective, you can tell that Mansell has a rhythmic heart. Everything about Crash feels groovy, uplifting, and tireless. He specifically mentions Stewart Copeland of the Police as an influence in this regard (“one of my favorite drummers of all time”), and for him the Ruins level of Clash 2 is a true “hat”. ). This creates an interesting loop. Two years after the release of Crash Bandicoot, Copland began composing the music for the Spyro the Dragon series, which also happened to be fortuitous for Mansell.
When Crash finds his feet, or “butt,” consider that during development it was called “Sonic’s Butt Game” because everyone kept paying attention to Crash’s polygonal butt. Mansell felt encouraged. According to the composer, Crash 2 (Cortex Strikes Back) and 3 (Warped) became more “musical” and he began drafting in a more personal style, taking liberties with this blossoming series (very Newly encouraged by its unexpected success in Japan) into the stratosphere.
Apple on Tuesday issued a surprise update to all iPhone users that promises to fix a number of bugs. However, what exactly those fixes are remains a mystery.
The technology company released iOS 17.2.1 just a week after rolling out iOS 17.2. iOS 17.2 included a number of innovative features, including a new Journal app and upgraded security measures.
This also comes just days after Apple announced the beta version of iOS 17.3, leaving many users confused as to why another minor update would be pushed in before the update was widely released. It becomes.
Technical experts said that while the English release did not include details of bug fixes, both the Japanese and Chinese versions had “an issue that could cause the battery to drain quickly under certain conditions. ”, he said, promising to address the issue.
Rapid battery drain seems to be a widespread issue among users after updating their iPhones to previous iOS updates, with many owners complaining about the X.
No details were provided for the iOS 17.2.1 update other than a promise that it would include “important bug fixes.” apple
“Battery life on iOS 17.2 on iPhone 15 Pro Max is terrible. SOT is barely 5-6 hours. Previously it was like 8-9 hours.” Technology Content Creator Sharon Bava wrote.
Apple did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment.
Although Apple recommends the latest update for all users, this update does not appear to be urgent.
This was not released as a quick security response and may indicate that the security issue has not been addressed.
The tech company is releasing iOS 17.2.1 in time for the holiday season so new users can update their devices before the holiday distractions or get a new device ready to give as a gift. It could have been done.
iPhones have recently been the victim of spyware attacks, so Apple is beefing up its security features.
Last week, the company released Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3 developer beta, which prevents thieves from accessing smartphones with stolen passwords.
This new feature specifically requires users to use biometric access codes, such as their face or fingerprint, when changing their Apple ID password, removing Face ID, and using other sensitive features.
Whenever a user’s device is in an unfamiliar location, stolen device protection is initiated and the user is then required to complete the aforementioned protocol.
A University of Michigan astronomer, Sally Ooi, led a study on the star-forming regions of the host galaxy NGC 2366, a typical dwarf irregular galaxy. This study was credited to the Observatorio de Calar Alto, J. van Eymeren (AIRUB, ATNF), and Á.R. López Sánchez. As it turns out, dwarf galaxies such as NGC 2366 experience a delay in expelling gas, which allows for the star-forming regions to hold onto gas and dust longer, promoting the formation and development of more stars. This delays the onset of strong superwinds by 10 million years, resulting in more active star formation. This discovery was published in the Astrophysical Journal.
This delay offers astronomers a unique opportunity to study a scenario similar to the dawn of the universe, when ultraviolet light begins to ionize hydrogen, changing the universe from opaque to transparent. By observing low-metallicity dwarf galaxies with large amounts of ultraviolet radiation, scientists can gain insight into these early stages of the universe. The use of new technology from the Hubble Space Telescope allows researchers to observe the light of triple ionized carbon in these galaxies. This observational evidence supports the delayed onset of strong superwinds and a greater amount of ultraviolet radiation in these galaxies.
Thanks to these discoveries, scientists may gain a better understanding of the nature of galaxies seen at the dawn of the universe. This information could be important for the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope. The study was published in the Astrophysical Journal and the Astrophysics Journal Letter. The research team involved in these studies included Michelle C. Jecmen, MS Oey, Amit N. Sawant, Ashkviz Danekar, Sergiy Silic, Linda J. Smith, Jens Melinder, Klaus Reiter, Matthew Hayes, Anne E. Jascott, Daniela Calzetti, Yu-Hua Chu, and Bethan L. James. Ultimately, these findings provide valuable insight into the formation and development of stars in low-metallicity dwarf galaxies.
New research reveals important links between nutrition, diabetes, and mental health. Poor dietary choices can put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Conversely, a diet rich in essential nutrients and low in processed foods can reduce these risks. The findings highlight the importance of informed dietary choices in the management and prevention of diabetes, anxiety, and depression and have implications for public health policy and medical practice.
A new literature review by researchers at the College of Public Health provides new insights into the relationship between nutrition and mental health.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with diabetes (diabetes mellitus) are two to three times more likely to experience depression than people without diabetes. Current treatments include therapy, medication, or both.
However, understanding of the multifaceted relationship between nutrition, mental health, and DM is relatively new in scientific discussion. Mason researchers sought to learn about the relationship between nutrition, diabetes, and mental health.
The impact of nutrition on diabetes and mental health
Two literature reviews by Associate Professor Raedeh Basiri show that malnutrition plays a dual role in contributing to both the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and mental health effects such as anxiety and depression. I am. According to the results of this study, mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety increase his risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and diabetes is also associated with an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety. Nutritional interventions can help with both of these health issues.
“Our findings highlight that dietary choices play a vital role in reducing the risks associated with both diabetes and mental health. These findings The implications of these findings extend beyond the scientific community, as they are expected to inform public health policies, medical practices, and dietary recommendations that can positively impact people. ” said Basili, lead author of the paper.
Strengthen dietary choices for health and prevention
“This research ultimately aims to enable individuals to make informed health-promoting dietary choices, which will help prevent and manage diabetes, anxiety, and depression. It serves as a proactive strategy,” Basili said.
More specifically, the research team’s findings provide a comprehensive view of the relationship between dietary patterns, health impacts, and the important role of eating behavior in the context of type 2 diabetes and mental health. Masu.
The research team found that eating foods rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products may be associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes and mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. found that it was associated with lower risk. Conversely, a diet high in processed foods has been found to have negative effects, making you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, depression, and anxiety.
The importance of a nutritious diet
Additionally, the researchers found that although people consume energy-dense foods, they lack essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, selenium, chromium, and magnesium. I found the meals to be nutritious. It is associated with worsening of unfavorable symptoms in both mental health and the development of type 2 diabetes. This relationship highlights the importance of nutrient-dense food choices for overall health and well-being.
“Current scientific evidence highlights the potential benefits of adopting a balanced diet in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression while enhancing glycemic control in people with diabetes.” said Basili.
References: “Exploring the interrelationships of diabetes, nutrition, anxiety, and depression: Implications for treatment and prevention strategies,” by Raedeh Basiri, Blessing Seidu, and Mark Rudich, September 29, 2023. nutrients. DOI: 10.3390/nu15194226
“Key Nutrients for Optimal Glycemic Control and Mental Health in People with Diabetes: A Review of the Evidence,” by Raedeh Basiri, Blessing Seidu, and Lawrence J. Cheskin, September 9, 2023. nutrients. DOI: 10.3390/nu15183929
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