🌟 What are Qualia?

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to taste an apple or see the color green? These subjective experiences are known as Qualia.

Qualia are the qualitative, subjective aspects of our experiences, such as the taste of chocolate, the warmth of sunlight, the sight of a red rose, or the sound of music.

🔹 Origin: The term “qualia” comes from the Latin “qualis,” meaning “of what kind.” It describes the internal, indescribable quality of our sensory experiences.

Philosophical Debates: Qualia are central to discussions on consciousness. How are these subjective experiences related to physical processes in the brain? Can they be fully explained by science?

Examples:

• Knowledge Argument: A scientist who knows everything about color physics but has never seen color learns something new upon seeing it for the first time.
• Zombie Argument: A being identical to a human in every way but without consciousness or qualia shows that qualia cannot be entirely explained by physical processes.

Qualia are crucial for understanding consciousness and remain one of the most intriguing topics in philosophy.

✨ Stay tuned! In one of our next post, we’ll explore how neuroscience approaches the study of consciousness and subjective experience. Don’t miss it

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Unveiling the Impact of Sleep on Cognitive Performance: Insights from a UK Biobank Study

A recent study published in BMJ Public Health delves into the intricate relationships between sleep patterns, health, and lifestyle factors and their collective impact on cognitive performance. This comprehensive analysis used data from the UK Biobank, encompassing 26,820 participants aged 53–86 years, to uncover key insights.

Key Findings:

• Optimal Sleep Duration: The study found that a sleep duration of 7–9 hours per night is associated with better cognitive performance. Short (<7 hours) and long (>9 hours) sleep durations negatively impacted cognitive scores.
• Chronotype Matters: Individuals with intermediate and evening chronotypes showed superior cognitive function compared to those with a morning chronotype.
• Health and Lifestyle Influences: Factors such as age, gender, diabetes, alcohol intake, and smoking were significant predictors of cognitive performance. For instance, older age and diabetes were linked to lower cognitive scores, while moderate alcohol intake and being an ex-smoker were associated with better cognitive outcomes.

Implications for Public Health:
These findings underscore the importance of maintaining a balanced sleep schedule and considering individual chronotypes for optimal cognitive health. The study also highlights the need for comprehensive public health strategies that address not only sleep patterns but also broader lifestyle and health factors.

For more detailed information, you can read the full study here: Link to Study

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#PublicHealth #CognitiveHealth #SleepResearch #BMJPublicHealth

Rama V, the King of Thailand, and Nicholas II in a friendly, informal atmosphere in St. Petersburg, Russia, 1897 📷

This pivotal photograph, once published in European newspapers, led France and England to abandon their plans to seize the Kingdom of Siam.

#thailand #Russia #history

The Legacy of Johann Friedrich Schmidt’s 1898 Lunar Model

In 1898, the renowned selenographer Johann Friedrich Schmidt unveiled a groundbreaking three-dimensional model of the Moon. This extraordinary creation marked a significant milestone in the history of lunar studies, encapsulating Schmidt’s lifelong dedication to mapping the Moon.

Schmidt, deeply engrossed in lunar cartography, persuaded the director of the Bonn University Observatory in the 1850s to create a 3D model of the Moon. Constructed from plaster, wood, and metal, this model represented the hemisphere visible from Earth.

During his meticulous work, Schmidt conducted over 3,000 measurements of lunar elevations. For enhanced visualization, the relief of craters, seas, and ridges in the model was exaggerated threefold. The Moon model comprised 116 plaster fragments, forming an impressive structure over five meters in diameter.

This pioneering model not only advanced lunar science but also inspired future generations of astronomers. Join us on our channel to delve deeper into the fascinating world of lunar exploration and other scientific marvels.

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The real cause of the Windows crash worldwide has been identified

Soft Microrobots: A New Frontier in Cellular Manipulation

Soft, optically controlled microrobots represent a remarkable advancement in the field of robotics and cellular biology. These tiny marvels are designed to capture and move individual cells with precision.

Utilizing optical traps, these microrobots can manipulate single cells without causing photodestruction. This innovative technology ensures both spatial control and stability during the manipulation process, opening new possibilities for scientific research and medical applications.

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Did you know that crows are not only able to find suitable tools but can also modify them? It’s clear that they solve these tasks with ease and enjoyment.

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The Penrose Triangle: A Journey Through Impossible Geometry

The Penrose Triangle is one of the most fascinating “impossible figures.” This optical illusion presents a three-dimensional triangle that can be depicted through perspective but cannot exist in the real world. It was first created in 1934 by Swedish artist Oscar Reutersvärd, who illustrated it as a set of cubes.

The triangle gained widespread recognition after an article on impossible figures was published in the “British Journal of Psychology” by psychiatrist Lionel Penrose and his son, mathematician Roger Penrose, who later won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020. In their article, the triangle was depicted as three beams connected at right angles.

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finita la commedia

Epic shot of Starship Super Heavy firing tests

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Drosera hamiltonii, or the Pink Sundew, is a captivating carnivorous plant that catches and digests insects. Its leaves are covered in hair-like structures that release a sticky mucus resembling dewdrops. This adaptation helps it thrive in nutrient-poor environments by trapping and digesting insects for nourishment.

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Unexpected Explosion at Yellowstone Sends Steam and Rocks 30 Meters into the Air

In a surprising event, an explosion at Yellowstone National Park propelled a cloud of steam and rocks 30 meters into the sky. Visitors captured the dramatic scene on video, providing a firsthand look at the power of nature.

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Former OpenAI employee
shares
a thrilling roadmap that outlines the company’s ambitious plans for the next five years, hinting at a future where artificial intelligence dramatically reshapes our world. Here’s what they predict:

1️⃣ End of 2024 – Launch of GPT-Next: The most intelligent neural network ever created, poised to surpass all previous models and set new standards in AI.

2️⃣ 2025 – End of Routine Tasks: AI agents will revolutionize daily life by taking over mundane tasks, freeing humans to focus on more creative and complex endeavors.

3️⃣ 2026 – The Year Everything Changes: OpenAI aims to develop an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with human-level intelligence. This breakthrough could replace hundreds of professions, marking a significant shift in human dominance on the planet.

4️⃣ 2027 – 70% Chance of ASI: The likelihood of developing Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) becomes high. This advanced AI will begin self-learning and might take over solving global challenges, sidelining human intervention.

5️⃣ 2028 – Eradication of Diseases: ASI will engineer nanorobots capable of eliminating all harmful viruses and microbes, potentially erasing diseases from existence.

6️⃣ 2029 – Rise of Skynet: The advent of superintelligence that controls the world, accelerating progress to unprecedented speeds and possibly ushering in a new era of technological dominance.

While these projections might seem like science fiction, the rapid advancements in AI suggest that AGI by 2029 could be within reach.


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The Origin of Bread: A Discovery 14,000 Years in the Making

In 2018, archaeologists made a groundbreaking discovery in the Jordanian desert: traces of a 14,000-year-old bread-like mixture. This astonishing find, predating the advent of agriculture by millennia, sheds new light on the culinary practices of ancient hunter-gatherers.

The site, abandoned in haste by its inhabitants, featured two primitive ovens where remnants of this ancient bread were found. Using a scanning electron microscope, researchers identified 24 charred fragments as bread, though the exact grain type remains undetermined. The cell structure of the grains suggests they may have been wild einkorn, rye, or millet. Likely, these were unleavened flatbreads, but their precise appearance is unknown.

This discovery reveals that the practice of bread-making is far older than previously thought, originating well before the development of farming. The Natufian culture, flourishing around 15,000 to 11,500 years ago in regions now known as Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, is credited with this early culinary achievement. These people had already begun settling in wooden houses, indicating a shift towards a sedentary lifestyle independent of climatic factors.

This transition to the Neolithic way of life—characterized by settled living, food production, and significant cultural changes—started before the end of the Ice Age. The intriguing question remains: why did these ancient people undergo such a radical transformation in their lifestyle and thinking? What motivated one of the most profound changes in human history?


@science #history

The image of Saturn captured by the Hubble Telescope also includes two of its icy moons. The dot on the right is Mimas, while the one below is Enceladus.

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Where is the frontier of neurotechnology today?

Consider this experiment: two healthy female mice are idly sitting in a chamber. Suddenly, magnets around the chamber are activated. The female mouse marked with green suddenly rushes to the distant mouse pups and brings them to safety. The other female mouse, marked with red, remains indifferent.

Scientists have triggered a specific behavior pattern—maternal care—in the "green" mouse. This was achieved without any cables or electronics attached to its head, solely using a magnetic field. They could induce other behaviors as well, depending on which neurons were targeted. Now, researchers can gather rodents in one place and simultaneously activate or deactivate various behavior patterns in different individuals.

There's no need to worry yet—turning a human into a zombie using magnets is still far from reality. However, we are now a step closer to treating brain diseases. This method allows for non-invasive and selective regulation of specific neural circuits' activity.
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👆 How the experiment works: Both female mice were injected with magnetic nanoparticles into their brains, but different receptors and ion channels were introduced for control. The “green” mouse has mechanosensitive receptors on GABAergic neurons in the hypothalamus, while the “red” mouse does not. These particular cells trigger the maternal care pattern—if they are blocked, the female won’t pay attention to the pups.

When the magnets are activated, the particles start to ‘tickle’ the mechanosensitive receptors, thus activating the cells. By choosing where to express the receptors, you determine which behavior pattern you will induce. The authors successfully controlled feeding and social behaviors selectively and reversibly, influencing the motivation system in freely moving animals. This innovation comes from Korea’s IBS, and you can find more details here.

It’s worth noting that the approach using nanoparticles and magnetic fields was pioneered by Polina Anikeeva (Russia). Unsurprisingly, the Korean researchers reference her work. Polina graduated from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and, as of July, heads the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT. 👏

P.S. Mechanosensitive channels can also be directly activated by ultrasound, bypassing the need for particles. A recent development from the University of Texas introduces a wearable miniature device for transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation. Weighing only 8.5 grams, it is compatible with EEG and simply attaches to the scalp.

These are just glimpses of what’s happening, and they already hint at the future.

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That moment when evolution took a wrong turn.