Some really great articles this morning! Quantity and quality. But – before that, there has always been a photo close to my heart and it made it to the (e-)papers today!
On this set is Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker – in my opinion the Big Three besides Everyone’s Favorite John Coltrane of course. The three have found a spot in my heart because of how dynamic and non-conformist, even for jazz standards, they are. Monk’s discordance (check out Body & Soul, you’ll see what I mean 10 seconds in), Parker’s unfettered energy (listen to Salt Peanuts! Salt Peanuts!), Mingus’ buttery smooth but mischievous chords. I haven’t much exposure to Roy Haynes – also in the set. Sorry, Roy. Yes, this is absolutely the greatest photo in jazz history
Ethics in Technology
- Collated findings from the Moral Machine Experiment – a global survey on who or what we should spare over others in the event of a self-driving car crisis. Results are not surprising, with humans – and vulnerable humans – at overwhelming advantage of being spared. The variations across culture are in the degree of preference to spare pets, passengers / pedestrians, more people over less, etc. All pretty consistent with prior findings of cultural preferences and mindset. But worth a think too: who would you save over another, and why?
- Liao, professor of bioethics at NYU, proposes the possibility of genetic engineering humans to reduce our carbon footprint (although he apparently does not endorse it) in his paper “Designing humans: A human rights approach“. Suggestions include engineering aversion to redmeat, reducing human size, enhancing altruism. He also introduces principles to lay ground for this possible future. I quite like this quote:
They’re right to be concerned,” he says. But in a world where such technology exists, he asks, “do we want a society where we say, ‘Nobody can have it’?
Liao seems careful in expressing a clear stand on this contentious topic, but he seems at least semi-open to this future. Frankly, I don’t feel the instinctive disgust towards genetic engineering as ‘unnatural’ like many others do. I do tend towards the futuristic, and think that it’s an inevitability. What I’m most concerned about is regulation, fair play, and possible cases of abuse.
Biotechnology
- Researchers at Osaka University developed a DNA sequencing method that could distinguish the drug molecules from normal nucleotides in short strands of DNA. In what they call the ‘single-molecule quantum sequencing’ method, they could identify individual molecules in the DNA based on electrical conductance variations. What are the implications of detecting anticancer drug molecules incorporated in the DNA? Ability to understand the molecular damage done to DNA by anticancer drugs, and from there develop more effective drugs.
I have so much admiration for researchers and doctors who advance biomedical therapies! It’s a costly and long-drawn affair, sometimes without headway even as they fight for funding. But the output and the goal is amazing – until some corporation or another snaps it up for exploitative profit-making, I mean. 🙃
- The Stowers Institute for Medical Research uses big data analysis on proteomics data to better model protein interaction networks. A topological scoring (TopS) algorithm, combines data sets to identify proteins that meaningfully interact. In lay man terms, there is such a huge amount of protein that detecting that rare interaction that is important in producing an effect is challenging. Now, researchers can better understand how biological processes are carried out. The TopS algorithm can also be applied to previous biological data generated – or even other fields of biotech / science!
Neuroscience
- Neuroscientists are able to predict a choice up to 11 seconds before the decision is consciously made. The study suggests that ‘traces of thoughts’ that sit unconsciously in our brain can influence us to make a choice that is reinforced by the stronger ‘trace’, with implications on PTSD, uncontrollable thoughts, unwelcome visualizations in OCD.
Studies like such are not new – there have been findings on how we can predict motor decisions and actions up to 10 seconds before the conscious decision. Usually, they are framed as having implications on our free will, which I disagree with. As above, I chose to focus on the distinction between unconscious and conscious thoughts, and their interaction. Free will is hardly relevant to this discussion – not even, as the article points out, our conception of free will. I’m fairly certain everyone is aware we have unconscious and subconscious thoughts and that they influence our decisions. The fact that we have a choice – no matter the degree – is free will, isn’t it?
- Through cell reprogramming, cells extracted from skin or urine samples are transformed into stem cells and then into neurons and other nervous cells. They are then cultivated for weeks until they form as aggregates of an embryonic brain (omg!) The team at the D’Or Institute for Research and Education recently perfected this technique, finding a suspension method on orbital steering plates to cultivate brain organoids with retinal pigmented cells. This heralds greater research opportunities on neurological disorders and treatment. Kind of gross but cool.
Evolutionary Psychology
- Great article to kickstart questions on anthropomorphism. The emotions animals are capable of and how that gives us greater insight on what being human is, what differentiates us? Also, how do we represent the inner worlds, mental models, and ‘consciousness’ of nonhuman animals? In neuroscience we know that the determining factor lies in the developmental phase of the prefrontal cortex and our vs their ability for advanced introspection and self-awareness. I’m of the belief that animals have consciousness, although that depends on your definition of consciousness.
- Participants were made to observe prehistoric ceramics from different cultural and societal styles, while measuring their visual behavior (eye movement) as an indication of cognitive processing. Findings indicate significant parallels between the visuals of different cultures and the cognitive processing styles. For instance, the shape and form of objects and the pattern of visual exploration has a clear evolution through time, and may be connected to social behavior and complexity.
I love evolutionary psychology and this particular study speaks to me. It’s amazing how we can use historical artefacts to now extrapolate how cognitive processes have evolved over time (through visual behavior).
Startup updates
- Mobike shuts down APAC operations outside China.
Love the trove of news on my feed today!
Q.bit 