Category: ideas

“Now, with 20% of 2.3 million war veterans coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the US, the engineering of traumatic memories now is more than a philosophical curiosity [or conceit of a film], but a medical priority. A definitive study published early this year has now claimed memory adjustment from the domain of fiction: Researchers were able to modify the distant recollections of fear in mice, opening way to novel PTSD therapeutics in the future.”

“Though it’s been around for a while, persuasive technology is becoming increasingly popular and profitable, inviting a deeper look into its ethics and efficacy.”

“How do you design cities and civic spaces in ways that account for people’s varied reactions to sound itself? Where does “sound” end, and “noise” begin?”

“What in the brain triggers aesthetic experiences? And how does knowledge of basic brain mechanisms inform our understanding of these experiences?”

“Students in a traditional lecture course are 1.5 times more likely to fail, compared to students in courses with active learning.”

It is “the age of the start-up,” and “American entrepreneurship is plummeting.” We are witnessing the Cambrian Explosion of apps and the mass extinction of apps. These are the glory days of risk, and we are taking fewer risks than ever.

“People could work from home absolutely anytime they felt like it, without needing a reason or excuse. There would be no such thing as a sick day or a vacation allotment—employees could take off as much time as they wanted, whenever they saw fit. Perhaps most provocative: All meetings would be optional. Even if your boss had invited you. Don’t think you need to be there? Don’t come.”

“The air sagged under the sickening odor of rotting bodies, feces, and fear — fear of decimation, fear of poison gas, fear of being buried alive — all of which made for an especially intense sense of isolation and solitude, perhaps unique to Verdun.”

“Yes, it’s taken for granted that creating is hard, but also that it’s somehow fundamentally unserious. Schoolchildren may be encouraged (at least rhetorically) to pursue their passions and cultivate their talents, but as they grow up, they are warned away from artistic careers.”

“His predecessor, Michael Bloomberg, was a major supporter of the arts and spent around $3bn on cultural projects during his 12-year tenure. After more than 100 days in office, De Blasio has made one thing clear: his approach will not resemble Bloomberg’s high-gloss, high-budget agenda.”