Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight If you have any doubt about the wonderful job our brains do, you’ll be won over by this riveting, disturbing and emotional story from Jill Bolte Taylor, neuroanatomist and stroke survivor. ‘How many brain scientists have the opportunity to study their brains from the inside out?’ she asks.… Continue reading Right brain or left brain? When it comes to feeling happy, it’s a no brainer
Category: Science
Stuff that makes me happy: A Worldwide Telescope tour of the universe
If you haven’t yet taken a tour on the Worldwide Telescope don’t wait another minute to hop aboard for this astonishing experience. It’s like a best-of clip show from the world’s greatest telescopes, with the images merged into a seamless spatial panascope (I know there’s no such word, but you get what I mean). It… Continue reading Stuff that makes me happy: A Worldwide Telescope tour of the universe
Is that Prozac in your pocket or do you just THINK you’re happy to see me?
‘Has the Prozac bubble finally burst?’ asks this week’s New Scientist mag. The article reports findings that antidepressants seem to offer no more than a placebo effect, except in the most severely depressed people. And those severely depressed people respond less to placebos, not more to the drugs. Reports of subjects’ happiness have been greatly… Continue reading Is that Prozac in your pocket or do you just THINK you’re happy to see me?
Happiness Life Strategy: How to be happy while waiting for the bus
‘How long till the bus gets here?’ ‘Should I walk instead?’ ‘Maybe it’s just around the corner and then I’ll miss it.’ ‘But if it’s not around the corner then how long till it gets here?’ If such Shakespearean dilemmas plaque your daily commute, you’ll be relieved to know there’s now a definitive, mathematically sanctioned… Continue reading Happiness Life Strategy: How to be happy while waiting for the bus
Not happy to say goodbye: Ali G on science & ‘techmology’
I still haven’t gotten over the demise of Borat and Ali G, two characters who brought me great, chunky wads of happiness. But I think it’s time to mark their passing with a little blog vigil. Two of my passions are science and technology, so this clip where ‘Ali G talks to some geezers about… Continue reading Not happy to say goodbye: Ali G on science & ‘techmology’
The truth may be out there, but it sure ain’t in here #2
If you weren’t convinced by the brain distortions in the earlier post The truth may be out there, but it sure ain’t in here, then I challenge you to check out The Same Color Illusion by Edward H. Adelson, Wikipedia and remain convinced that your picture of reality (?!) is accurate. A and B are exactly… Continue reading The truth may be out there, but it sure ain’t in here #2
10 ways to avoid cancer
In yesterday’s post we looked at nurturing the good in your life rather than just focusing on the problems. If you’re after ideas for nurturing good health, then look no further than this week’s New Scientist magazine. It reports on the very latest findings from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for… Continue reading 10 ways to avoid cancer
The truth may be out there, but it sure ain’t in here.
If you think your senses give you a direct line to reality, you might be in for a shock. In Mind Tricks: Six ways to explore your brain, the cover story of a recent issue of New Scientist, Graham Lawton explores many of the ways our brains mislead us about the alleged real world. Lawton… Continue reading The truth may be out there, but it sure ain’t in here.