Discussions

TIL that the fur fringe or ruff around the outside edge of a parka hood is not just decorative, but functional. It creates a boundary layer of still air around the face, greatly reducing heat transfer versus a non-ruffed hood. This has been proven in wind tunnel tests.

Improvise a Door Lock with a Dinner Fork

From the explainlikeimfive community on Reddit

Learning about Block Chain with Python – Anna McAbee – Medium

Alibaba’s artificial intelligence bot beats humans at reading in a first for machines - A deep neural network model developed by Alibaba has scored higher than humans in a reading comprehension test, paving the way for bots to replace people in customer service jobs

From the Physics community on Reddit

CSS Grid explained with diagrams and code in 7 minutes

TIL most Koreans don't produce body odor due to large scale dominance of the gene ABCC11. As a consequence, deodorant is a rare commodity.

Hannah Arendt was the philosopher to reference in 2017

General anaesthetics disrupt presynaptic mechanisms, probably affecting communication between neurons across the entire brain in a systematic way that differs from just being asleep.

Python Open Source Projects of the Year

Does anyone else just not fuck with the new streetwear trends?

TIL that Misophonia (also called 'sound-rage' syndrome) is a condition in which strong negative emotions and physical reactions (e.g. sharp anger, aggression, pain) are triggered by specific, common sounds.

Combatting PTSD by letting patients hear their own brainwaves - New technology uses algorithms to turn brain signals into sounds, letting patients literally hear their own brain activity, allowing the brain to naturally “self-optimize” into a quiet pattern, resetting the stress response in PTSD.

Without Net Neutrality, Is It Time To Build Your Own Internet? Here's what you need to know about mesh networking.

How philosophy of mind rubs up against neurobiology when considering 'what it is like' to be a bee

my favorite piece I have, done by my favorite artist! done in one session by Corey Bernhardt @ Reclamare Tattoo and Gallery in Sacramento, CA

Self-Motivated Intelligent Agents

Link between gut microbes & despair - Research into to the human microbiome finds a connection between an imbalance of microorganisms in the gut & feelings of despair. The main metabolite for this effect appears to be cresol.

TIL the experience of hearing 'imagined' noises (like explosion, a gunshot, or a cymbal crash) when falling asleep, causing brief shock/fright has a name: Exploding Head Syndrome

Crashing the Metaphysical Party: Walter Benjamin on Knowing and Thinking

From the AskMen community on Reddit

Learn Permaculture Design Online for Free From The Oregon State University

Fowl Language: AI Decodes the Nuances of Chicken “Speech” - How machine learning can translate chicken chatter and improve farming

Former Facebook exec: I think we have created tools that are ripping apart the social fabric of how society works. The short-term, dopamine-driven feedback loops we’ve created are destroying how society works. No civil discourse,no cooperation;misinformation,mistruth. You are being programmed (2017)

TIL that Einstein worked until a few hours before his death, and he left 12 pages along his bedside. The last line in those pages was the last equation he ever wrote.

Restoration of metabolic health in diet-induced obese mice by decreased consumption of branched-chain amino acids

The placebo effect has an evil twin that makes you feel pain: A fascinating new study finds patients report worse side effects from placebo when they think it costs more money.

TIL that there is no actual evidence to back the idea of “learning styles”, despite having a huge influence on education

The Men Who Are Convinced We’re All Living in a Simulation