TIL of the 'Centre of the Universe' in Tulsa- If you stand in the middle of the circle and make a noise, the sound is echoed back several times louder than it was made. Those outside the circle hear the same sound but distorted.
TIL Slime mold is an amoeba that group together forming a multicellular structure to find food with staggering intelligence for a no-brain organism. Slime molds haven been known to solve math problems, find the most efficient way to food, remember it and even anticipate periodic, regulated changes
Research indicates that there is a “neurobiological home” for spirituality. When we feel a sense of connection with something greater than the self—whether transcendence involves communion with God, nature, or humanity—a certain part of the brain appears to activate.
Forget fears of automation, your job is probably bullshit anyway - A subversive new book argues that many of us are working in meaningless “bullshit jobs”. Let automation continue and liberate people through universal basic income
For the first time a new study has shown how the size of interpersonal space changes depending on the tone and content of other people’s conversations, suggesting that the average size of someone’s interpersonal space becomes larger after listening to an aggressive conversation taking place nearby.
TIL Researchers have devised a microneedle skin patch that can turn energy-storing white fat into energy-burning brown fat locally to burn off pockets of unwanted fat such as “love handles” and treat metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes.
An argument against every general theory of consciousness: Every theory unjustifiably assumes either the falsity of panpsychism, the falsity of highly restricted views of consciousness, or both.
TIL of a form of debugging called rubber duck debugging, where you debug code by explaining it. The name is in reference to the book 'The Pragmatic Programmer' where a programmer would debug code by explaining it, word by word, to his rubber duck.
TIL about the 'Didetrot effect' where, if a person buys something that is deviant from their usual style, it can often trigger a wave of uncharacteristically risky purchases, in an impulsive effort to switch to the new style.
Ever wonder how computers work? This guy builds one step by step and explains how every part works in a way that anyone can understand. I no longer just say 'it's magic.
Taking a photo of something impairs your memory of it, whether you expect to keep the photo or not - the reasons for this remain largely unknown, finds a new study.