All posts tagged: acts

Scientists discover that brain region acts like an “anxiety meter,” scaling activity to match threat level

Scientists discover that brain region acts like an “anxiety meter,” scaling activity to match threat level

Published by José

Scientists have discovered that a specific area of the brain, called the ventral hippocampus, functions like an “anxiety meter.” This brain region increases its activity in proportion to the level of anxiety experienced. Using a specially designed maze for mice, the scientists showed in new research published in The Journal of Neuroscience that as the animals encountered increasingly anxiety-provoking situations, the activity of neurons in their ventral hippocampus rose accordingly. Anxiety is a fundamental emotion that helps animals and humans survive by preparing them to face danger. It’s a natural response to threats, prompting vigilance and action. However, when anxiety becomes excessive or persistent, it can lead to significant problems, such as chronic anxiety disorders. These conditions affect millions worldwide and can severely impact quality of life. While some treatments for anxiety exist, they are not always effective for everyone, highlighting the urgent need to better understand the brain mechanisms behind anxiety. “Anxiety is a deeply personal yet broadly experienced state. While some level of anxiety is normal and even beneficial, excessive or persistent anxiety …

Scientists determine whether church attendance really boosts charitable acts

Scientists determine whether church attendance really boosts charitable acts

Published by José

A new study published in the Archive for the Psychology of Religion provides evidence that attending religious services actually causes an increase in charitable actions, like donating money and volunteering time. While the study found this causal effect to be more modest than simple observations might suggest, the researchers demonstrated that even a slight rise in regular religious service attendance across a population could lead to a noticeable and significant increase in overall charitable contributions. For many years, scientists who study religion have been interested in understanding whether religious beliefs and practices make people more inclined to act kindly and generously towards others. This idea, that religion promotes prosocial behavior, has been discussed for centuries. However, it is surprisingly difficult to definitively prove that religion causes people to be more helpful. Many past studies have simply shown that religious people tend to be more prosocial, but this doesn’t tell us if their religion is the reason for their generosity. It could be that people who are already kind and giving are simply more drawn to …

Commentary: In sharing acts of kindness on social media, there’s a fine line between inspiring and exploitative

Commentary: In sharing acts of kindness on social media, there’s a fine line between inspiring and exploitative

Published by Sam

When citizens are made aware that many people in society are doing good for others, it can also contribute towards normalising charitable attitudes and actions. More people can be spurred to proactively do good, rather than remain passive bystanders. But when it comes to doing good, there is a risk of exploiting the plight of beneficiaries.   When we turn human vulnerabilities and struggles into “content” for public consumption, there is a danger of repeating what showman Sam Torr did in the late 19th century to John Merrick – better known as the Elephant Man – whose physical deformity was put on display to shock and entertain audiences for Torr’s profit.   In the same way, when the act of helping people in need is carried out with the aim of increasing one’s wealth or influence by garnering more views or followers, the act is no longer charitable or philanthropic.   It degenerates into the performative – a showcase not to bring attention to real causes in need of aid and attention, but to the …

Acts of Self-Erasure | Anahid Nersessian

Acts of Self-Erasure | Anahid Nersessian

Published by skeptic

The American Academy of Arts and Letters sits at the back of Audubon Terrace in Washington Heights, flanked by Boricua College and the Hispanic Society Library and Museum. It is one of eight Beaux Arts buildings tucked into this beautiful and disorienting pocket of Manhattan, where the names of Spanish writers, artists, and conquistadors—Cervantes, Velazquez, Columbus, Balboa—are carved into the friezes and a giant bronze sculpture of El Cid dominates the plaza. The site is a throwback to another New York, when the architecture emulated Paris and money flowed into museums instead of half-empty high-rises. Directly behind Arts and Letters is Trinity Cemetery, a nineteenth-century burial ground whose notable residents include Alexander Hamilton, John Jacob Astor, Ralph Ellison, and Ed Koch. This Wharton-esque scene turns out to be an ideal setting for a spare, acerbic, and utterly thrilling exhibition of selected works by Christine Kozlov, the New York–born and, for a while, New York–based conceptual artist who died in 2005, at the age of fifty-nine. Curated by Rhea Anastas and the artist Nora Schultz, the …

Reading and Leeds festivals announce first headline acts | Ents & Arts News

Reading and Leeds festivals announce first headline acts | Ents & Arts News

Published by skeptic

Reading and Leeds festivals have announced their first headline acts, with a host of first-time headliners including Chappell Roan set to play next summer. With a stellar year following the release of her debut album The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, it will be Roan’s first festival headline set. Rapper Travis Scott, known for his high on-stage energy and larger-than-life production, is also debuting in his Reading and Leeds headline slot. Scott’s appearance is being billed as a “European exclusive”. With seven albums to their name, it’s Bring Me The Horizon’s first headline slot too, although they have previously played at the festival. Band frontman Oli Sykes said: “We are going to bring hands down the greatest show of our careers. “It’s going to be our only UK performance next year and the final European show of the NEX GEN campaign before the band take time away, so if you want to see BMTH next year, this truly is your only chance. Can’t wait.” Image: British rapper AJ Tracey performs at Reading. Pic: …

AI-Powered Robots Can Be Tricked Into Acts of Violence

AI-Powered Robots Can Be Tricked Into Acts of Violence

Published by skeptic

In the year or so since large language models hit the big time, researchers have demonstrated numerous ways of tricking them into producing problematic outputs including hateful jokes, malicious code and phishing emails, or the personal information of users. It turns out that misbehavior can take place in the physical world, too: LLM-powered robots can easily be hacked so that they behave in potentially dangerous ways. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania were able to persuade a simulated self-driving car to ignore stop signs and even drive off a bridge, get a wheeled robot to find the best place to detonate a bomb, and force a four-legged robot to spy on people and enter restricted areas. “We view our attack not just as an attack on robots,” says George Pappas, head of a research lab at the University of Pennsylvania who helped unleash the rebellious robots. “Any time you connect LLMs and foundation models to the physical world, you actually can convert harmful text into harmful actions.” Pappas and his collaborators devised their attack by …

California acts to preserve records detailing underground puppy market

California acts to preserve records detailing underground puppy market

Published by Sam

California has stopped destroying records that contain key details about the state’s underground puppy market after a Times investigation found that some unscrupulous resellers import hundreds of dogs from the Midwest with little oversight. Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, confirmed that the records the agency receives are now being preserved, but offered few other details about how the state will use them. “We have no staff that’s dedicated to this, so we’re a little bit hamstrung right now, but it’s not because we don’t want to be a part of the solution,” she said in a brief interview this week. In California, all dogs brought into the state for resale require a certificate issued by a federally accredited veterinarian listing the animal’s origin, destination and verification they are healthy to travel. The agriculture agency has long received those health certificates from other states by mistake — the records are supposed to go to county public health departments — and, in recent years, made it a practice to immediately scrap …

Are we returning to the days of Acts? – OpentheWord.org

Are we returning to the days of Acts? – OpentheWord.org

Published by skeptic

Tongues of Fire falling on the Day of PentecostCredit: Wellcome Collection, Wikipedia, CC BY 4.0 Attribution 4.0 International When we read Acts, we are struck by how the Holy Spirit moved in powerful ways resulting in healings, deliverance, salvation, Holy Spirit baptism, and prophetic guidance through dreams, visions, and prophecy. But God also moved in other unique ways. This included direct intervention, which included eliminating a government leader who interfered with God’s plans for the Kingdom of God. King Herod Agrippa, the grandson of King Herod the Great, had just ordered a Christian leader, James the brother of John, to be executed by the sword and then ordered the arrest of the Apostle Peter (Acts 12:1-5). A few verses later, we read that an angel not only broke Peter out of prison, but how another angel, probably the same one, also publicly struck down King Herod, “because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:23). God was divinely intervening in the political landscape during the book …

Eurovision 2024: Politics pushes its way into the spotlight as final 10 acts announced ahead of grand final | Ents & Arts News

Eurovision 2024: Politics pushes its way into the spotlight as final 10 acts announced ahead of grand final | Ents & Arts News

Published by Sam

Politics has thrust its way into this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, with several of the finalists referring to ongoing global disputes while speaking about their progression into the final stage of the competition. Latvian act Dons, whose song Hollow is about insecurity, was the first to use his platform to shine a light on to the troubled geopolitical landscape. Image: Latvia’s Dons. Pic: Corinne Cumming/EBU Appearing at a news conference following the selection of the final 10 acts on Thursday, he responded to a question from Latvian media asking him “What was your message tonight?” by saying: “Today was a special day in my life. I’ve never been so proud to be part of the Latvian nation. “Latvia is the only country in the world that is in the shape of a butterfly. Butterflies symbolise hope and freedom because to be a butterfly you have to fly and you have to be free. Every country in the world deserves to be free.” He received a loud round of applause within the room. The competition – …

Eurovision 2024: Who will win this year’s show and the acts to look out for | Ents & Arts News

Eurovision 2024: Who will win this year’s show and the acts to look out for | Ents & Arts News

Published by Sam

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Malmo, Sweden, this year. It’s a spiritual homecoming of sorts with Sweden’s supergroup Abba – who are the most famous band ever to come out of the contest – crowned the winners 50 years ago. Loved and loathed in equal measure for its euro pop earworms, evocative power ballads, and eye-watering novelty acts, there’s no clear frontrunner for this year’s show – meaning it’s all to play for. The political elephant in the room is of course Israel’s participation in light of the ongoing Gaza war, with many artists encouraged to boycott the event due to their participation. As it stands, no act has withdrawn from the contest. So, with 37 countries heading into the semi-finals ahead of a grand final featuring 26 songs on Saturday, who might we see take first place on the night? The top three Croatia is currently the country to beat, with Baby Lasagne (real name Marko Purisic) singing Rim Tim Tagi Dim. The 28-year-old bleach-blonde frontman says the title doesn’t …