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EverythingScience pinned «Brain : An Interactive Explanation - from Neurons to Consciousness. How does the brain work? In this simple and interactive visual explanation, we go on a journey inside the human brain — from neurons to consciousness. As we explore the basics of neuroscience…»

Brain : An Interactive Explanation - from Neurons to Consciousness. How does the brain work? In this simple and interactive visual explanation, we go on a journey inside the human brain — from neurons to consciousness. As we explore the basics of neuroscience, you'll learn about the human brain structure and functions, allowing you to understand how the nervous system give rise to your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and even conscious experience. 🧠 So in this short video, you'll learn : The basics of neuroscience and the fundamentals of how the human brain works. How neurons and neural networks shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The structure and function of different components of the nervous system (from microscopic neurons and neural networks to the whole brain and nervous system). How consciousness emerges from neural activity. How to use neuroscience in daily life to influence your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and experiences. Enjoy! Source:🌐Neurorama @EverythingScience

What do we do if SETI is successful? The Search For Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is evolving. We've moved on from the limited thinking of monitoring radio waves to checking for interstellar pushing lasers or even budding Dyson swarms around stars. To match our increased understanding of the ways we might find intelligence elsewhere in the galaxy, the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) is working through an update to its protocols for what researchers should do after a confirmed detection of intelligence outside Earth. Their new suggestions are available in a paper posted on the arXiv preprint server but were also voted on at the 2025 International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, with potential full adoption early next year. This updated protocol marks the largest change in the 36 years there has been a protocol. The IAA first created a "Declaration of Principles" in 1989 that was intended to suggest how humanity should react to a confirmed signal from an alien world. This protocol was updated in 2010, but those changes were largely just streamlining with little substantive differences. The update being put forth now, though, is significantly different in a number of important ways. It is intended to reflect the growing complexity of dealing with highly sensitive topics in the modern world, especially when dealing with social media. A big part of its intent is to protect the researchers who announce the discovery from online harassment, or worse. But perhaps the most important single change is the suggestion of whether humanity should respond to a direct message. Previous versions of the protocol have suggested that yes, we should, and put few restrictions on doing so. The updated one suggests that the researchers should absolutely not send any reply until after the issue is discussed at the United Nations, which makes sense, though getting the UN itself to agree to anything at this point seems like a hard ask. To be clear, as it is explicitly stated in the paper, this suggestion does not directly impact the idea of messaging extraterrestrial intelligence (METI), where we would proactively send high-power signals ourselves to potentially promising nearby star systems. That idea is even more controversial than just passively scanning the skies for signals, or looking for other, unintentional "technosignatures." While it should probably have its own governing protocol, the best we have done so far is a series of "position papers" from the IAA and other organizations addressing thoughts on what we should do, but which hasn't been formally ratified into an accepted set of actions. The actions in the new SETI protocol, though, are much more straightforward, though they too are to be thought of as "best practices" rather than hard and fast rules that bind anyone in the international order. They include methods for verifying the signal or collected data, as well as how and where to store the data (in two separate geographical locations and made accessible to more stakeholders), as well as the software used to analyze the data itself. Source:Phys.org @EverythingScience

You are what you eat... literally 🐍 King cobras feed on other serpents like this rat snake with ease—they even make a meal out of other king cobras. Source: @NatGeo @EverythingScience

Alien civilizations may only be detectable for a cosmic blink of an eye Is anybody out there? Probably. Most stars have planets; we've discovered more than 6,000 exoplanets thus far, and the most basic statistics point toward the existence of countless potentially habitable worlds in the universe. But when we have looked for any scrap of evidence for alien civilizations, we have found nothing so far. The question is why? There are the usual ideas: life actually doesn't find a way; Earth is being kept in a cosmic zoo; civilizations destroy themselves as soon as they have the power to do so; some civilization has to be the first, and that's us. None of them are really provable at this point, and none of them are particularly satisfactory answers. So why not add another idea to the mix? What if the reason we haven't detected aliens is because of AI? This idea comes from a new paper posted to the arXiv preprint server that re-examines some musings of Carl Sagan. Back in the 1970s, Sagan considered some of the challenges of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and one of them was what he called the "communication horizon." The idea was that as an alien civilization advances, its technology becomes too sophisticated for us to detect. We could detect strong radio signals from a civilization 100 light-years away, but if they use neutrino communication, they'd be essentially invisible to us. And if there is some novel physics that allows them to communicate faster than light? Our search is doomed. Sagan figured that it would take about a thousand years for a civilization to progress outside our observational limits, based on the way human civilization had advanced in the past. But a great deal has changed since Sagan's day, particularly in the area of computer technology. These days, artificial intelligence is all the rage. Like it or hate it, AI is now a part of our daily lives. It's quite possible that the advancement of AI will reach some technological plateau, but it's also possible that we will achieve some kind of artificial super-intelligence (ASI). If an ASI appears in the next decade or so, it would become the dominant intelligence on Earth, and it would continue to advance at a rate faster than we poor lumps of flesh can imagine. This latest work argues that if we factor in the exponential rate of technology and consider the possibility that non-biological intelligence is common, then the observation horizon shrinks considerably. It could be as short as a decade or two. If that's the case, then our chance of detecting an alien species is essentially nil. Perhaps the answer to Fermi's paradox of the Great Silence is the Dead Internet Theory on a cosmic scale. Source:Phys.org @EverythingScience

Landmark Study Finds Alternative Autism Therapies Lack Scientific Proof The largest and most detailed analysis of alternative and complementary autism treatments has found little reliable evidence that these methods are effective, and noted that their safety is seldom evaluated. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how people communicate, process information, and interact with others. It is estimated to affect around 1 in 100 people worldwide. In a study published in Nature Human Behaviour, researchers from Paris Nanterre University, Paris Cité University, and the University of Southampton reviewed 248 meta-analyses, which together included 200 clinical trials and more than 10,000 participants. The research examined how well complementary, alternative, and integrative medicines (CAIMs) work in treating autism, as well as their safety. The team analyzed 19 different approaches, such as animal-assisted therapy, acupuncture, herbal remedies, music therapy, probiotics, and Vitamin D. The team also created an online platform to make it easier for people to see the evidence they generated on different CAIMS. Autism and the Search for Better Treatments Autistic people can find it hard to communicate, understand how people think or feel, be overwhelmed by sensory information, become anxious in unfamiliar surroundings, and carry out repetitive behaviors. All of this can interfere with their quality of life, and up to 90% report having used CAIMs at least once in their lifetime. “Many parents of autistic children, as well as autistic adults, turn to complementary and alternative medicines hoping they may help without unwanted side effects,” says Professor Richard Delorme, Head of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit at Robert Debré Hospital in Paris. “However, it is necessary to carefully consider evidence from rigorous randomized trials before concluding that these treatments should be tried.” The Power of an Umbrella Review Researchers carried out an umbrella review – a type of study that pulls together evidence to give an overall ‘big picture’ summary. Dr. Corentin Gosling, Associate Professor at the Paris Nanterre University and first author of the study, explains: “Rather than looking at individual trials, we reviewed all the available meta-analyses, which are a compilation of many trials. This allowed us to evaluate the full body of evidence across different treatments. “Importantly, we also developed a free and easy-to-use online platform, which we will continue to test. Ultimately, we hope this tool will support autistic people and practitioners in choosing together the best treatment.” Source:SciTechDaily @EverythingScience

🌕 Robots on the Moon — almost! Eight teams from six countries brought their lunar tech to life at esa-DLR en's LUNA facility in Cologne for the Second Space Resources Challenge 🇵🇱🇨🇦🇩🇪🇬🇧🇱🇺🇩🇰 ✨ Their mission? To dig, sort and process simulated Moon soil, aka regolith, paving the way for sustainable lunar living. 🔗esa.int/Science_Explor… Source: @esaspaceflight @EverythingScience

We’ve captured one of our best images of the Space Station yet. The number of satellites in orbit is set to increase tenfold in the next decade. At the same time, space-to-space threats are rising and the need to inspect and maintain satellites is accelerating faster than anyone expected. Resolution alone won't deliver what's needed. True understanding comes from observing satellites frequently, from multiple angles and orbits, so you can see how they behave, respond to their environment, and what they're capable of across time and geography. That's why HEO focuses on high-frequency Non-Earth Imaging. Our technology is built for speed, scale, and adaptability, operating across multiple orbits with diverse satellite providers to deliver more coverage, more data, and faster insights into thousands of satellites. This approach will get us to a future where satellite inspection is truly on-demand. You tell us you want an image of your satellite and we deliver imagery and analysis when you need them. Image of the ISS captured with our partner BlackSky Inc. Source: @heospace @EverythingScience

Breakthrough Vitamin K Compounds May Reverse Alzheimer’s Damage Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease occur when neurons in the brain gradually deteriorate and die. This progressive loss of nerve cells leads to symptoms like memory loss, cognitive decline, and difficulty with movement. Over time, these conditions severely impact quality of life and often leave patients dependent on constant care. While current medications can ease symptoms, they do not stop or reverse the disease, highlighting the urgent need for new treatment strategies. One promising direction focuses on encouraging the brain to generate new neurons through a process known as neuronal differentiation, which could replace damaged cells and potentially slow or reverse degeneration. Vitamin K, a fat-soluble nutrient best known for its role in blood clotting and bone health, has recently been linked to brain protection and neuron formation. However, naturally occurring vitamin K compounds such as menaquinone 4 (MK-4) may not be strong enough to serve as effective therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Designing Next-Generation Vitamin K Analogues In a groundbreaking study published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, researchers from the Department of Bioscience and Engineering at Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan, led by Associate Professor Yoshihisa Hirota and Professor Yoshitomo Suhara, developed new forms of vitamin K with stronger effects on brain cells. The team not only enhanced the vitamin’s neuroactive properties but also uncovered a previously unknown mechanism through which it promotes the formation of neurons. Explaining the findings, Dr. Hirota stated, “The newly synthesized vitamin K analogues demonstrated approximately threefold greater potency in inducing the differentiation of neural progenitor cells into neurons compared to natural vitamin K. Since neuronal loss is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, these analogues may serve as regenerative agents that help replenish lost neurons and restore brain function.” Source:SciTechDaily @EverythingScience

Scientists Just Discovered a Whole New Type of Connection Between Neurons Neurons are well known for passing rapid messages to each other using synapses to transmit both electrical and chemical information. Yet, other cell types are known to use physically connecting bridging tubes to exchange molecules. Chang and team have just confirmed that a similar type of tube bridge occurs in neurons too, using advanced imaging and machine learning. The researchers observed the nanotubes transporting amyloid-beta molecules that they had injected into mouse brain cells. These molecules have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, where they tend to clump together abnormally. When researchers stopped the bridges from forming, the amyloid-beta stopped spreading between cells, too, confirming that the nanotubes acted as direct conduits. Source:ScienceAlert @EverythingScience

10 effective things citizens can do to make change in addition to attending a protest What happens now? That may well be the question being asked by "No Kings" protesters, who marched, rallied and danced all over the nation on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Pro-democracy groups had aimed to encourage large numbers of Americans to demonstrate that "together we are choosing democracy." They were successful, with crowds turning out for demonstrations in thousands of cities and towns from Anchorage to Miami. And while multiple GOP leaders had attacked the planned demonstrations, describing them as "hate America" rallies, political science scholars and national security experts agree that the current U.S. administration's actions are indeed placing the world's oldest continuous constitutional republic in jeopardy. Once a democracy starts to erode, it can be difficult to reverse the trend. Only 42% of democracies affected by autocratization—a transformation in governance that erodes democratic safeguards—since 1994 have rebounded after a democratic breakdown, according to Swedish research institute V-Dem. Often termed "democratic backsliding," such periods involve government-led changes to rules and norms to weaken individual freedoms and undermine or eliminate checks on power exercised by independent institutions, both governmental and non-governmental. Democracies that have suffered setbacks vary widely, from Hungary to Brazil. As a long-term practitioner of democracy-building overseas, I know that none of these countries rival the United States' constitutional traditions, federalist system, economic wealth, military discipline, and vibrant independent media, academia and nonprofit organizations. Even so, practices used globally to fight democratic backsliding or topple autocracies can be instructive. In a nutshell: Nonviolent resistance is based on noncooperation with autocratic actions. It has proven more effective in toppling autocracies than violent, armed struggle. But it requires more than street demonstrations. Tactics used by pro-democracy movements So, what does it take for democracies to bounce back from periods of autocratic rule? Broad-scale, coordinated mobilization of a sufficient percentage of the population against autocratic takeover and for a renewed democratic future is necessary for success. That momentum can be challenging to generate. Would-be autocrats create environments of fear and powerlessness, using intimidation, overwhelming force or political and legal attacks, and other coercive tactics to force acquiescence and chill democratic pushback. Autocrats can't succeed alone. They rely on what scholars call "pillars of support"—a range of government institutions, security forces, business and other sectors in society to obey their will and even bolster their power grabs. However, everyone in society has the power to erode autocratic support in various ways. While individual efforts are important, collective action increases impact and mitigates the risks of reprisals for standing up to individuals or organizations. Here are some of the tactics used by those movements across the world: 1. Refuse unlawful, corrupt demands When enough individuals in critical roles and institutions—the military, civil servants, corporate leaders, state government and judges—refuse to implement autocratic orders, it can slow or even stop an autocratic takeover. In South Korea, parts of the civil service, legislature and military declined to support President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law in 2024, foiling his autocratic move. 2. Visibly bolster the rule of law Where would-be autocrats disregard legal restraints and install their supporters in the highest courts, individual challenges to overreach, even if successful, can be insufficient. In Poland, legal challenges in courts combined with public education by the judiciary, lawyers' associations initiatives and street protests like the "March of a Thousand Robes" in 2020 to signal widespread repudiation.. Read more Source:Phys.org @EverythingScience

How do our brains wake up? When you wake up in the morning, it might feel like your brain just switched on at the ring of an alarm, although you still might feel groggy for a while. But the actual process the brain goes through to wake up is a gradual, coordinated event. So exactly how does it happen? First, let's define what it means to be awake. "Being awake means the brain is in a state that supports awareness, movement and thinking," Rachel Rowe, a professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder, told Live Science in an email. "Unlike sleep, where brain waves are slow and synchronized, wakefulness is marked by faster, more flexible activity that lets us respond to the world around us." There isn't a single moment when the brain flips from asleep to awake, however, said Aurélie Stephan, a sleep researcher at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Research has shown that the subcortical regions of the brain — a group of neural formations located below the cerebral cortex — are responsible for waking us up. The reticular activating system (RAS) first acts like the "starter switch," Rowe explained, sending signals to activate the thalamus, a structure that relays sensory information to other parts of the brain, and then the cerebral cortex, the wrinkled outer layer of the brain. In a 2025 study, Stephan and her colleagues also found that the brain executes a signature pattern of activity upon waking. When the study participants woke up from non-REM sleep, which comprises different stages of sleep ranging from light to deep sleep — their brain activity first showed a short burst in slower, sleep-like waves, followed by faster waves linked to wakefulness. When they woke up from REM sleep — a sleep stage characterized by vivid dreams and rapid eye movements — their brain waves went straight to faster activity. Overall, regardless of which stage of sleep participants were in, their brain activity appeared to start from the front and central regions of the brain and move to the back of the brain as they woke up, the researchers found. Source:Live Science @EverythingScience