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In a groundbreaking study, researchers discovered that tomato plants produce popping sounds inaudible to humans, especially when thirsty or stressed. This finding, led by Lilach Hadany at Tel Aviv University, challenges previous beliefs about silent plant life. Using soundproof boxes and ultrasonic microphones, the team recorded these noises from tomato plants under various conditions, including dehydration. Stressed tomato plants generated about 30 to 50 popping sounds per hour, while unstressed plants were much quieter, making roughly one sound per hour. This research opens new perspectives on plant communication and responsiveness to environmental stress.

Innovation

Neuralink Patient Can Control a Computer Mouse Through Thinking

Elon Musk, the visionary founder of Neuralink, recently announced that a patient equipped with the company’s cutting-edge brain technology has achieved the ability to control a computer mouse solely through thought. During a discussion on the social media platform X, Musk shared, "The patient seems to have made a full recovery with no ill effects that we are aware of and is able to control the mouse, move the mouse around the screen just by thinking."

Neuralink, founded by the billionaire entrepreneur, has developed a brain implant with the goal of enabling humans to use neural signals to interact with external technologies. The company's mission includes the restoration of functions lost due to injury or disease, such as vision, motor skills, and speech capabilities.

This breakthrough follows Neuralink's first-ever human implantation of its device in January, a procedure carried out with precision by a robotic system.

Musk highlighted the company's objectives, stating that Neuralink aims to maximize the number of commands executed through thought, including actions like moving a computer mouse in various directions or dragging items across a screen.

The commencement of patient recruitment for its inaugural human clinical trial was announced by Neuralink last fall, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval in May, as detailed in a company blog post.

This initial human trial represents a significant milestone in Neuralink's journey toward bringing its technology to the market. Before gaining final FDA approval, medical device firms are required to undergo extensive safety data collection and rigorous testing phases.

I am glad to hear that there are no adverse effects so far. I certainly am not jumping at the opportunity to get a chip in my brain. However, the technology has a lot of promise for helping with certain neurological conditions like paralysis.

World News

Mega-Structure Built by Ice Age Hunters Found in the Baltic Sea

In 2021, a group of scientists stumbled upon an unusual discovery beneath the Baltic Sea – a peculiar arrangement of stones, approximately 1,500 in number, neatly aligned just 21 meters below the surface. What caught their attention was the precision of the arrangement, prompting them to consider a human-made origin. The researchers, hailing from various fields, now propose that Stone Age individuals might have constructed this structure around 11,000 years ago for the purpose of hunting reindeer.

This finding marks a significant milestone as the first identification of a Stone Age hunting structure in the Baltic Sea region. Originally, a team from Kiel University had set out to investigate manganese crusts on the seafloor near the Pomeranian town of Rerik. However, their focus took an unexpected turn when they stumbled upon this enigmatic row of stones, leading them to report their discovery to the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Agency for Culture and Monument Preservation.

The current depth of the Baltic Sea at this location, approximately 21 meters, indicates that the stone wall predates substantial increases in sea levels that occurred around 8,500 years ago, following the last ice age. The researchers speculate that the wall likely extended to a bog or lake before the landscape submerged, evident in a basin-shaped depression underwater.

Collaborating institutions, including the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde and the German Aerospace Center, conducted a comprehensive study employing modern geophysical methods to create a detailed 3D model of the wall and reconstruct the ancient landscape. Sediment samples and underwater exploration by research divers from Rostock and Kiel universities played a crucial role in narrowing down the construction period.

Lead researcher Jacob Geersen dismisses natural or recent explanations for the stone wall's origin, emphasizing the methodical arrangement of small stones connecting large boulders. The researchers propose that the wall served as a hunting aid, directing reindeer into a bottleneck for easier capture by Stone Age hunters.

Drawing comparisons with similar structures in Lake Huron, Michigan, suggests a global precedent for such hunting structures. The Baltic Sea discovery, dating back to around 11,000 years ago, makes it the oldest human-made structure found in the region.

Further investigations are underway, employing advanced sonar devices and diving campaigns to scrutinize the stone wall and its surroundings for archaeological evidence. Luminescence dating will aid in determining the wall's construction date, while researchers aim to reconstruct the ancient landscape in greater detail.

Entertainment

Play Mario Kart with Live Jazz!

A five-piece band in Oklahoma City is bringing a live jazz experience to local Mario Kart tournaments. Mario Kart 8 Live drummer, Ethan Neel, and his bandmates have taken on the challenge of playing the iconic Mario Kart tunes as players race through the latest version of the game.

Neel explains the natural pairing between video games and their soundtracks, highlighting the familiarity and nostalgia associated with Mario Kart music. The band's repertoire includes 32 out of 48 songs from Mario Kart 8, with plans to learn the rest.

The band, consisting of professional musicians, faced the logistical challenge of arranging and learning the songs for a smaller ensemble. Despite the technical aspects, the live music adds a unique element to the gaming experience, creating an immersive atmosphere for players.

The band, currently known as Mario Kart 8 Live, has performed at The 51st Street Speakeasy in Oklahoma City, with more dates announced for March. The live music enhances the gaming experience, providing a new and competitive twist to the popular party game.

While the band hasn't settled on a name yet, they are considering expanding their repertoire to cover other games like Super Smash Brothers in the future. However, Neel thinks that Mario Kart's accessibility makes it an ideal choice for their unique live music concept.

Environment

Are Insects Drawn to Light?

Contrary to the long-standing belief that flying insects are irresistibly drawn to bright lights like moths to a flame, a recent study challenges this notion. Instead of being attracted to light, researchers propose that artificial lights at night may disrupt the innate navigational systems of flying insects, causing them to flutter aimlessly around artificial beacons such as porch lamps and street lights.

Tyson Hedrick, a biologist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who was not part of the study, explains, “Insects have a navigational problem. They’re accustomed to using light as a cue to know which way is up.”

The study involved attaching tiny sensors to moths and dragonflies in a laboratory setting to capture "motion-capture" video footage of their flight. Additionally, high-resolution cameras were used to observe insects swirling around lights at a field site in Costa Rica.

The findings revealed that dragonflies tend to circle endlessly around light sources, positioning themselves with their backs facing the beams. Some insects even flip upside down and frequently crash land when exposed to lights that shine straight upward, resembling searchlights.

So, basically insects don't fly directly toward light sources; instead, they "tilt their backs toward the light," according to Sam Fabian, an entomologist from Imperial College London and co-author of the study published in Nature Communications. This behavior makes sense if the strongest light source is in the sky. However, in the presence of artificial lights, it results in midair confusion rather than attraction.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

What has only two words, but thousands of letters?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:
“a backwards glance”

Shout-out goes to Mike Runyan who got the correct answer in first!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.