Science Archives

The Problems With Alternatives to Fossil Fuels

Can renewable energy replace fossil fuels? How do renewable energy sources compare to fossil fuel burning in terms of efficiency and output? Transitioning our energy sources away from fossil fuel consumption is a key environmental challenge of the 21st century. However, replacing fossil fuels altogether is likely impossible—at least in the near future. In this article, we’ll discuss the main problems with alternatives to fossil fuels (nuclear energy, wind energy, solar energy).

How Carcinogens Cause Cancer & Drive Its Growth

Can cancer be passed down genetically? To what extent is cancer hereditary? And if bad genes don’t cause cancer, what does? Contrary to a common misconception, cancer can’t be directly passed down to offspring (although various genes do make certain types of cancer more likely). According to Dr. Jason Fung, cancer is almost always the result of environmental factors called carcinogens—literally, “tumor creators.” Here’s how carcinogens cause cancer and drive its growth.

Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain: Book Overview

What is Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain about? What are the main takeaways of the book? In Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain, Lisa Feldman Barrett sheds light on the inner workings of the brain. She provides exactly seven and a half lessons that detail how the brain works. Read below for a brief overview of Barrett’s book.

Breaking Down the Organization of the Brain

50 Types of Mental Models for Better Decision Making

What does the organization of the brain look like? Is our brain just a layered structure? Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett claims that the brain is organized as a network of neurons. By understanding the brain’s organization, we can recognize the flexibility and resilience of the human brain and learn what makes it different from the brains of other animals. Keep reading to learn more about the organization of the brain.

The Lizard Brain Myth—Debunked by Science

What is the lizard brain myth? Why have scientists debunked this myth? There’s a neuroscience myth that claims a small part of the brain functions entirely on instinct, like a lizard’s. However, Lisa Feldman Barrett’s book Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain debunks this theory, saying our brains are different than other animals’ brains. Continue reading to learn why the lizard brain myth isn’t true.

How the Human Brain Works: A Breakdown of the Brain

How does the human brain work? What is the brain’s most important job? The brain’s most important job is allostasis, which manages the body’s energy budget. According to Lisa Feldman Barrett in her book Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain, all other brain functions are secondary. Keep reading to learn how the human brain works.

The Importance of Collaboration for Brain Health

What is the importance of collaboration? How do our brains support socialization? The brain requires input from our environments to properly develop. Long after it’s done developing, however, the brain continues to solicit information from other brains to perform daily tasks. Learn why collaboration is important for the development of human brains, below.

What Is Allostasis? The Brain’s Most Important Function

What is allostasis? How does allostasis impact your sensory experience? Allostasis is the process where your body responds to stressors. In Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain, Lisa Feldmann Barrett argues that the brain’s most important job isn’t thinking, it’s allostasis. Below we’ll look at how allostasis impacts the sensory system in the brain.

How the Luddite Movement Lives on With Neo-Luddites

What was the “Luddite” movement? What is a “neo-Luddite”? Why are some people turning against technology? As technology advances at an unprecedented speed, a growing number of neo-Luddites are urging caution about what we use and how we use it. According to them, we need to stop adopting new technologies mindlessly and start questioning their potential consequences. Read on for an overview of the Luddite movement and learn how neo-Luddites are continuing the fight against technology.

Human Brain Development: What Makes Our Brains Grow?

Do you understand human brain development? How does the brain develop? In Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain, Lisa Feldman Barrett explains how everyone’s brain develops differently, based on a combination of their genes and their environment. Human brain development depends on the interaction between the genetic information already present in the brain and the environment it develops in. Continue reading to learn how this interaction has great implications for the development of children’s brains.