All posts tagged: Mind

Why every arm of an octopus moves with a mind of its own

Why every arm of an octopus moves with a mind of its own

There are many remarkable things about octopuses—they’re famously intelligent, they have three hearts, their eyeballs work like prisms, they can change color at will, and they can “see” light with their skin. One of the most striking things about these creatures, however, is the fact that each of their eight arms almost seems to have a mind of its own, allowing an octopus to multitask in a manner that humans can only dream about. At the heart of each arm is a structure known as the axial nervous cord (ANC), and a new study published January 15 in Nature Communications examines how the structure of this cord is fundamental to allowing the arms to act as they do. Cassady Olson, first author on the paper, explains to Popular Science that understanding the ANC is crucial to understanding how an octopus’s arms work: “You can think of the ANC as equivalent to a spinal cord running down the center of every single arm.” Olson explains that “there are many gross similarities [between the ANC and vertebrates’ …

5 Women in Philosophy of Mind You Should Know

5 Women in Philosophy of Mind You Should Know

  The relationship between mind and body is one of the perennial questions, most often associated with the history of Western philosophy and one of its key figures, René Descartes. Descartes believed that the mind and the body are two radically different substances. However, there are some good arguments against this traditional view. Within these counter arguments are arguments for materialism, physicalism, etc. Many women have taken up the mantle of this question, coming up with incredible theories that span several disciplines in the contemporary, analytic philosophy of mind.   Women in the Philosophy of Mind Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, Pablo Picasso, 1907. Source: Pablo Picasso Gallery   “Where is My Mind” is not only a Pixies’ hit song but also one of the philosophical questions plaguing philosophers, theologians, and regular people (like the Pixie’ songwriter). One of the possible answers was a dualist one: the mind is not in space, unlike the body, so these two must be different despite their interaction. Descartes also offered additional arguments: the mind can’t be divided, whereas the body …

Gain peace of mind on your 2025 vacations with the ultimate camera and bug detector

Gain peace of mind on your 2025 vacations with the ultimate camera and bug detector

If you’re going on vacation after the new year and staying in an Airbnb, you might be wondering if your privacy is truly secure. With this hidden camera detector, those worries can be a thing of the past. For only two more days, you can get this privacy gadget on sale for $32.97 (reg. $59). This compact device, trending on TikTok and other social media platforms, is designed to detect hidden cameras, bugs, and GPS trackers, offering you peace of mind wherever you go. No peeping toms here! One of the standout features of this detector is its advanced RF technology. It can identify wireless signals from hidden cameras, audio bugs, and GPS trackers, giving you a comprehensive sweep of any room, whether you’re staying at a hotel or Airbnb rental. The device operates across a wide frequency range, from 1 MHz to 6.5 GHz, ensuring no signal goes undetected. Whether you’re in a hotel, Airbnb, or even your own home, this gadget gives you the peace of mind that you are protected from prying eyes—and ears. The hidden camera …

Peer Inside the Mind of Google’s AI With This New Experimental Gemini Model

Peer Inside the Mind of Google’s AI With This New Experimental Gemini Model

In these early days of artificial intelligence, you might find yourself staring at an answer, wondering: how on Earth did the model get to that? With Google’s newest experimental model, you can pull back the curtain on how AI thinks, as it’s designed to show you its thoughts. See an AI Model’s Reasoning With Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Building on its speedy Gemini 2.0 Flash experimental model, Google has just dropped Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking, a version that not only offers fast solutions to complex questions, but also presents its reasoning in getting to that solution. According to Google DeepMind’s Jeff Dean, the new experimental model was “trained to use thoughts to strengthen its reasoning.” While Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental is available directly on the standard Gemini desktop app, Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental is only available on Google’s AI Studio. That being said, it’s easy (and free) to get started on this platform. At the time of writing, you can present the model with up to 1500 requests per day without paying a dime. …

MIND diet slows cognitive decline in older adults, but effects vary by race

MIND diet slows cognitive decline in older adults, but effects vary by race

A new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia provides evidence that the MIND diet—a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH diets—may help slow cognitive decline in older adults, though its effects vary by race. While both Black and White participants showed benefits, White adults needed only moderate adherence to the diet to see improvements, whereas Black adults required stricter adherence. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are growing public health concerns, particularly for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Black and Hispanic older adults have higher rates of dementia than their White counterparts, often due to a combination of socioeconomic disparities, healthcare access issues, and vascular risk factors. While dietary patterns like the Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND diets are known to benefit cognitive health, most existing research has focused on predominantly White populations. This new study aimed to investigate whether the MIND diet’s protective effects against cognitive decline apply across diverse racial groups and whether benefits differ within specific racial and gender subgroups. “I am a trained nutritionist and a nutritional epidemiologist and was always …

Trumpists Don’t Seem to Mind Claims of Sexual Assault

Trumpists Don’t Seem to Mind Claims of Sexual Assault

Donald Trump is most likely not trying to intentionally assemble a Cabinet chock-full of people accused either of sexual assault or of enabling it, but if he were, he’d be killing it. Former Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, who has been accused of “sexual encounters” with a minor and paying women for sex, withdrew his nomination for attorney general last month. Gaetz, who has denied the allegations, was in no way qualified for the position, but he met Trump’s main criterion of being likely to comply with the president-elect’s every decree. (In Gaetz’s stead, Trump has nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who faces claims of more pedestrian political corruption.) Read: Either way, Matt Gaetz wins Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, the former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, has a military background, but he holds extreme views and beyond being another Trump toady is similarly unqualified to lead America’s large, complicated military bureaucracy. A 22-page police report describes an alleged sexual assault in California seven years ago—Hegseth has insisted that the encounter was …

Out of My Mind viewers all saying same thing about Jennifer Aniston’s new movie

Out of My Mind viewers all saying same thing about Jennifer Aniston’s new movie

Disney+’s new movie Out of My Mind landed on our screens this month – and viewers have given their verdict on social media.  The film stars Phoebe-Rae Taylor as Melody Brooks, a 12-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, who is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair. Because of this, she doesn’t get the same opportunities as her classmates and struggles to be heard. While she’s unable to speak, Friends-obsessed Melody imagines her voice would sound a lot like Jennifer Aniston, who narrates her inner monologue. The story follows Melody as she finds her voice with the help of assistive technology. WATCH: The trailer for Out of My Mind Viewers were full of praise for the heartwarming movie, with many hailing it as an “important” and “powerful” watch. One person penned: “#OutOfMyMind is such a sweet, make you cry, feel-good movie about acceptance and finding your voice,” while another wrote: “Want to watch a meaningful, touching movie? Go watch Out of My Mind, such a beautiful movie. You will laugh, you will cry, you will certainly get angry. …

iPhone 17 Pro Max: 5 INSANE Leaks That Will Blow Your Mind!

iPhone 17 Pro Max: 5 INSANE Leaks That Will Blow Your Mind!

The iPhone 17 Pro Max, slated for release in 2025, is set to redefine the smartphone landscape with its groundbreaking features and advancements. Building upon the successes of its predecessors, this device promises to elevate your mobile experience through significant improvements in camera technology, display design, and processing power. The video below from Matt Talks Tech gives us details on the latest iPhone 17 leaks. Unparalleled Camera System At the forefront of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s innovations is its innovative camera system. Apple is expected to equip this device with 48-megapixel sensors across all cameras, ensuring exceptional image clarity and detail. Whether you’re capturing breathtaking landscapes or intimate portraits, the increased resolution will allow you to preserve every nuance of your subject. Moreover, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to feature an impressive 10x optical zoom capability. This enhancement will enable you to capture distant subjects with remarkable clarity, bringing you closer to the action without compromising on image quality. From wildlife photography to sports events, the improved zoom functionality will open up …

A Roadmap to Befriending the Mind

A Roadmap to Befriending the Mind

Extensive research has explored our role as active agents in our own flourishing. In 2020, Cortland Dahl and colleagues from UW-Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds introduced a multi-disciplinary, training-based framework featuring four psychological pathways for cultivating well-being: awareness, connection, insight, and purpose. These dimensions, the authors argue, can be developed through various mental training methods, highlighting the plasticity of human flourishing. In his latest book, Dahl—an expert in the science of meditation and a Buddhist scholar—delves into meditation as mind training for well-being. Meditation, says Dahl, can help us develop a rich inner life. Our sense of self might shift, leading to a more direct experience of the world. This shift, according to Dahl, creates an intimacy with the mind. Intimacy, in turn, can be a harbinger of softening (“Paying attention is the most basic form of love,” writes Tara Brach). A kinder relationship with our own minds, then, like fertile earth nourished by the sun’s unreserved regard, can become footing for flourishing. Here are insights from Dahl on how exploring the mind through meditation …

The Dumbphone Revolution? | Mind Matters

The Dumbphone Revolution? | Mind Matters

It takes a lot of cultural pressure and overwhelming data for a society to change tracks on technologies we’ve long taken for granted, but in the case of the phones, the herd might be redirecting its migration route. More and more people, the young included, are sick of their smartphones and opting for a simpler, albeit more “boring” alternative: The “dumbphone.” Dumbphones, however, aren’t dumb at all; they just do what phones were originally designed to, which is to call people. Who would think that buying a phone just to take and make calls and text messages would be such a revolutionary concept? (Let’s phone Alexander Graham Bell to thank him for his service.) But alas, here we are. And it’s about time, too, given the mental health crisis among members of Gen Z, the out-of-control way that everything in our world, from natural disasters to people getting mugged on subways, from sexual acts to a backdoor view on people’s personal lives (as seen on Instagram), all exists at our fingertips. We have become a …