Commentary

Unexplained Mysteries of 2013

Unexplained Mysteries of 2013

DEC 20, 2013 09:00 AM ET // BY TALAL AL-KHATIB

 

When every year comes to a close we have mysteries left behind. Here are some that at least one discovery news reporter considered the most interesting of 2013! Topics in the article include how Kepler-78b shouldn’t work but does, the unknown identity of the Mona Lisa, and and the bigass stone thing in the see of Galilee.

Will 2014 bring answers to any of these questions? Hopefully it will, and we’ll all be better for it.

8 Places Humans & Wild Animals Clash

8 Places Humans and Wild Animals Clash

OCT 1, 2013 09:40 AM ET // BY TIM WALL

 

Here is an article I decided to share featuring humans and animals, and some of the notable places in the world that they clash. Humans and Animals are in the middle of a long process in which we have to figure out how to coexist with nature, and how to reduce these clashes to save the lives of both humans and animals.

Brain Science #3: Creativity Linked to Mess?

Science seems to indicate a link. And I hope that my desk is an indication of my creativity. I have an organized brain sometimes, but I have to make myself organize and get there sometimes. Messy Rooms seemed to inspire creativity, and guides how we think. So, apparently my wreak of a desk indicates not disorganization, but creativity. Apparently we’re impulsive or something.

Study results are only early indications, however. It seems like something that bears more investigation. And perceptions of people outside yourself are critical…

Brain Science #2: Where Creativity Comes From

Can you cultivate creativity? Is it genetic? Swedish scientist seem to think that Bipolar disorder has a link to creativity, but it also ran in relatives of these patients seem to also share the creative “gene”. There’s some indication that their is genetic link. But, in addition to the gene, there seems to be indications that social element.

Brian Science #1: Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is fascinating. Your brain is always changing, and always adjusting to make you better at what you do. This means that my brain has constantly been getting better at writing, because I’ve been writing for years. And it’s constantly getting better at writing code because I wrote code every single day of my life (even if I’m not physically writing it, mentally coding the way I do all the time apparently helps for at least a short while).

Theory says that this might be a source of addictions and why habit breaking is so difficult. Though it’s very neat to see science advancing, and hopefully this science can be learned to help train brains to break addiction and the like!

I love blowing things up…

Seriously. I’m pretty sure that’s why I’m obsessed with Mythbusters. I must watch Tory’s webshow…. Seriously. Lots of fun explosives to play with and things that explode… I must learn about new explosives…. Also… Blowing things up is just straight up embowering.

Why Go Organic?

Yes. The news is a little bit older, but what can you do. I blame the accidental time off I took awhile back.

Just touching stuff that’s organic creates a positive contagion effect that improves a person’s feelings of wellbeing. So between that and improved effects on nature, I think we ca be happy about that. There are some details you have to be aware of, but if you buy well you can truly be happy with it.

Effects of Birth Order

I figured since I need to celebrate my new Nephew, who’s just two days old now that I would do a story about childhood.

It seems likely that it would effect a person, but I’m not sure what I think about the whole idea of these things being locked in except by the confines of an individual family. The compilation study seems the to have narrowed down what could be concluded…