An electronic tattoo that bends with body tissue and is able to sense brain-wave activity, muscle movement, and heart activity? It may sound like science fiction, but scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University, among others, have been working on these [ … ]
Consider this: nearly a quarter of Americans suffer from depression or anxiety in any given year. Given this statistic, it is imperative that we find innovative solutions to alleviate mental suffering. One approach in particular that has shown promising results in recent decades is ACT. [ … ]
Ask a handful of people if they believe in the abilities of psychics, and you will find a bitter divide between several distinct camps: some put full faith in a psychic’s capacity to predict the future, while others are staunch in their skepticism. The subfield of science that seeks to gather empirical evidence [ … ]
“Tell me one last thing,” says Harry Potter to his mentor Dumbledore towards the end of the saga’s last movie. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?” As opposed to millions holding their breath to see Dumbledore’s reaction, Dumbledore stays calm and turns to Harry: “Of course [ … ]
With bright red lips, rosy cheeks, and painted smiles, clowns are creepy. They make us balloons shaped like puppies, dance, and tell jokes — they even come out of small clown cars, all to make us laugh. So why are these (supposedly) beloved clowns so unnerving? It’s because of the “uncanny valley” [ … ]
For centuries, sleep has been more of a mystery to evolution than the duckbill platypus. Yet despite its weirdness, like every animal, even the platypus needs its zzz’s. Considering this unconscious function has been conserved across species and the fact that our brains are just as active during sleep [ … ]
As a writer, I tend to cover a wide range of topics, and in the process, I usually get to learn something new. One of these topics is music. Every once in a while, I get to write an album review; doing so allows me to familiarize myself with the artists. This week, I learned about Annamaria Pinna, lead singer [ … ]
We’ve learned about the consequences associated with spending too much time indoors —looking at screens, in urban cities — so let’s examine the positive effects of nature on our psychological and emotional lives. We’ve already discovered the link between increased rates of mental illness [ … ]
When speaking about evolution many people tend to use the past tense, as if we’re no longer evolving, as if our species is the same now as it was during the Paleolithic period. This is false. Similarly, many people believe that in order to maximize our health and longevity, we should imitate [ … ]
My sister called me and told me her trip was cursed. It was a sign. No matter what she tried, she couldn’t seem to get to the airport. I told her not to trust her instincts, to try harder and come anyway. I must admit, though, she did have me a little worried. Superstition — not even scientists are [ … ]
We often think of bacteria as something dirty and dangerous, something that has the potential to cause us harm; and, while this is true in some cases, bacteria are fundamental to human existence. In fact, “single-celled organisms — mostly bacteria — outnumber our own cells 10 to one [ … ]
Anyone who has ever attempted to meditate can vouch for the fact that while it is theoretically simple, it is extremely challenging in practice. In fact, its simplicity is what makes it difficult, and it is also what makes it worthwhile. “Mindfulness meditation” (the practice most popular in the United States) [ … ]
Just about every branch of human thought has tried to make sense of the concepts of time and space, whether or not they exist as constants and how accurately our own measurements can represent each. This is all perhaps just part of being human, as a study suggests that we determine [ … ]
As the temperatures rise and the flowers start to bloom, do you catch the spring cleaning bug? If so, you’re not alone. When the bright, warm rays of spring sunlight begin to finally stream through our windows, most of us feel the urge to make sure everything in our homes is fresh, shiny, and [ … ]
According to Tierney Thys of National Geographic “As of 2010, we have officially become an urban species. More of us live in cities than don’t, and that is a trend that is continuing and accelerating … The average North American and European spends 90 percent of their time indoors.” [ … ]
© 2009–2018 BRAIN WORLD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
