[ad_1]
—James Ball
What do psychedelic medicine do to our brains? AI may assist us discover out
The large image: Psychedelic medicine have lengthy been touted as attainable therapies for mental-health problems like melancholy and PTSD. However little or no is absolutely identified about what these substances really do to our brains. Understanding how they work may assist unlock their potential.
A brand new methodology: Some scientists are utilizing AI to determine it out. A workforce at McGill College in Montreal used pure language processing to review written “journey reviews” of customers’ experiences with a spread of medication. The workforce then built-in this information with information of which neurotransmitter receptors within the mind every drug is thought to work together with. Collectively, these steps let the workforce establish which receptors are linked to particular drug experiences.
What subsequent: The work may make clear how hallucinogens set off particular psychological states, whether or not that be euphoria, anxiousness, or a way of being at one with the world. It may additionally assist design new medicine for psychological well being problems—one thing some corporations are already making an attempt to do. Learn the complete story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Russia has stepped up its marketing campaign of bombing civilians in Ukraine
It simply bombed a theater in Mariupol that tons of of individuals had been sheltering in. (AP)
+ US intelligence estimates Russia has misplaced greater than 7,000 troops already. (NYT $)
+ Zelensky urged extra US corporations to give up Russia. (Quartz)
+ Biden pledged an extra $800 million for Ukraine’s battle effort, together with drones and anti-aircraft techniques. (Reuters $)
+ The tractor has grow to be an emblem of Ukrainian resistance. (Vice)
+ Ukrainian influencers are documenting what’s happening. (The Verge)
+ What’s the danger of nuclear battle? It’s not zero. (NYT $)
2 Fb and YouTube eliminated a deepfake of the Ukrainian President
It purported to indicate him surrendering to Russia—but it surely was shortly debunked. (CNN)
+ Not earlier than inflicting a good bit of chaos yesterday, although. (Vice)
+ The most important menace of deepfakes is not the deepfakes themselves. (TR)
3 There’s a hyperlink between covid-19 deaths and web entry
It’s not clear precisely why, although. (Vox)
+ Covid circumstances are on the rise once more around the globe. (Ars Technica)
+ Citizen science is making a comeback. (Wired $)
4 NASA launched its first picture from the James Webb Telescope 🔭
And it’s a stunner. (Ars Technica)
+ NASA’s early warning system to detect asteroids obtained its first check. (CNN)
5 Elements of Kenya are slowly sliding underwater
And tons of of 1000’s of individuals are being displaced in consequence. (The Guardian)
+ How rising groundwater attributable to local weather change may devastate coastal communities. (TR)
+ The promise of photo voltaic canal panels. (The Subsequent Net)
6 How Chinese language professors obtained caught up in a spying panic within the US
And, in some circumstances, noticed their livelihoods torn to shreds in consequence. (New Yorker $)
+ The US authorities is ending the China Initiative. Now what? (TR)
7 Inside a ransomware gang’s group chats
The Conti gang extorted $180 million from corporations final 12 months. Now it desires to diversify into crypto initiatives. (Wired $)
8 Netflix thinks it will possibly guilt you into paying for these passwords you share
Simply after it considerably hiked costs. Good luck with that. (Gizmodo)
9 How is Instagram going to keep away from internet hosting stolen NFTs?
It appears like a minor consideration but it surely’s actually not, given the world of NFTs is awash with them. (The Subsequent Net)
+ Spotify is planning to hitch within the crypto craze. (FT $)
10 Elon Musk is beefing with Chechnya’s brutal dictator on Twitter
Warning: extraordinarily excessive ranges of poisonous masculinity detected. (Vice)
“I feel he’s a battle prison.”
—President Joe Biden delivers his sharpest rebuke but of Russian chief Vladimir Putin.
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Blissful St Patrick’s Day to those that have a good time it! And earlier than you determine whether or not to have a good time it, you would possibly wish to take this quiz.
+ These social media accounts are sure to cheer you up.
+ A surprisingly touching interview with the dwelling legend that’s Denzel Washington.
+ GUTTED to study the world’s largest ‘potato’ is, the truth is, not a potato.
+ The place you’ll discover a number of the finest sunsets and sunrises on the earth.
+ My internal baby was thrilled by this completely pointless, but completely hilarious, weapon.
+ A kind of bat not seen in 40 years has been present in Rwanda.
[ad_2]
