What Makes a Good Scientist? What Makes a Thug?
The other weekend I attended SciFoo Camp at Google in Palo Alto, California. It was a real treat to meet and mingle with nearly 200 other scientists, innovators, science communicators and science facilitators.
Beyond Classic Brain Illustrations That Make Us Drool
I threw down a bit of a challenge last month at the Association of Medical Illustrators Conference in Minnesota. But first, I had to—somewhat unexpectedly—accept some challenges presented by others.
Talking to Myself—Is That Normal?
Talking to yourself again? Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen assures you’re not going crazy. You’re simply thinking out loud, which is not only normal, but beneficial
Why Digital Education Means Reimagining Individual Agency
Scientific American's August supplement takes a look at the changing landscape of education in the face of emerging technology, and asks the question, how do we increase interest and engagement in STEM initiatives?
How to Manage Death in a World of Social Networks
A good friend of mine passed away in June. John had cancer. Before you offer condolences, you should know he did not want to be mourned. It’s been a hard request to follow, but he felt he had lived a full life.
Comedians Do Everybody Good (Researchers Included)
In my perfect world, artist-in-residence is just the beginning. In my perfect world, all researchers and research institutions are paired with a comedian-in-residence.
Lucy Film Hinges on Brain Capacity Myth
On July 25, French film writer/director Luc Besson's action thriller Lucy opens in theaters nationwide. The premise is that the title character, played by Scarlett Johansson, is exposed to a drug that unlocks her mind, giving her superhuman powers of cognition.
"Alive Inside" Shows How Music Can Break Through the Fog of Dementia
A documentary captures people with dementia reconnecting to emotions and lost memories through music
Diet, Exercise and Other Behaviors May Impede Dementia
In 2010, the National Institutes of Health held a conference to determine what measures, including behavioral steps like exercise and diet, could be taken to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Practice Alone Does Not Make Perfect, Studies Find
When I was a little kid, my mom and grandmom were having a heated argument in the front of the car. At one point I interrupted them, and with exasperation said: “You know, Mom, Grandmom is really right.” Then I turned to my grandmom and said, “I think my Mom is right too.” They were shocked, because [...]
Scientific Heretic Rupert Sheldrake on Morphic Fields, Psychic Dogs and Other Mysteries
For decades, I’ve been only dimly aware of Rupert Sheldrake as a renegade British biologist who argues that telepathy and other paranormal phenomena (sometimes lumped under the term psi) should be taken more seriously by the scientific establishment.
New Clues to Just How Much the Adult Brain Can Change
Popular neuroscience books have made much in recent years of the possibility that the adult brain is capable of restoring lost function or even enhancing cognition through sustained mental or physical activities.