The brainwaves of seasoned Tibetan Monks are a curious thing. Curious for many reasons, scientific, cultural, economic, and more; they have formed a captivating area of interest for both mystics and scientists. Reflecting upon the science, how it is communicated, and how it is received by society produces many interesting observations about how we work…
Are our brain networks wired and set into place? Are our thoughts and actions hardwired into neural circuitry in a mechanical way? Increasingly, the answer emerging from modern neuroscience is a resounding, “no, nothing is fixed in place!” The brain is constantly in motion, rearranging cells, strengthening pathways used often and pruning others who are…
The practice of lucid dreaming is gaining popularity in the modern era. From people looking to optimize their lives and sleep, spiritualists on inward journeys, and explorers of the dreamscape and beyond, the practice of lucid dreaming has benefits and experiences for anyone who wishes to explore what it offers. Lucid dreaming is the phenomenon…
Humanity has always questioned itself. An inherent part of our human nature is to look back on ourselves in wonder. Staring at our reflections, we get a keen sense of ourselves as discrete entities, individuals cordoned off into separate bodies, each containing a singular identity. Long have we then wondered, what is this identity, what…
The neuroscience of meditation is an ever-expanding and evolving field. Meditation changes brain activity in measurable ways, and one of the most common tools used to study it is electroencephalography (EEG). EEG allows researchers to observe patterns of brainwave activity—delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma—and how these frequencies shift during focus, relaxation, sleep, deep meditation,…
We’ve all heard it: drop food on the floor, grab it fast, and the “5-second rule” makes it safe. But is that actually true? Is the 5-second rule real? Can bacteria really wait several seconds before contaminating food, or is the rule just a comforting myth? Science gives us a very clear answer—and it’s not…
One of the most oddly contentious scientific events to have happened in the early twenty-first century was the demotion of Pluto. This celestial body of the solar system was once considered the ninth planet but is now defined as a dwarf planet, which is a classification that many seem to have a hard time accepting….
We’ve all heard the claim that humans only use 10% of their brains—and that unlocking the remaining 90% could transform us into geniuses. Movies like Limitless and Lucy helped popularize the idea, but neuroscience tells a very different story. In reality, humans use virtually all parts of the brain, just not all at the same…
