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Have you ever participated in a medical study? In today’s newsletter we feature an article about a device with very promising results in treating various conditions. If you struggle with any of them, we included an e-mail for you to reach out to the research team, as they are currently looking for phase 3 study participants.

Health Sciences

Sound Waves Treating Pain and Depression

A new device, called the Diadem, has shown promising results in relieving pain and depression during clinical trials. It uses sound waves to target specific areas of the brain with millimeter accuracy. While non-drug treatments like this can raise skepticism, especially given the widespread use of SSRIs for depression, the research team is enthusiastic.

Lead author Tom Riis, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, reports significant improvements in patients after just one 40-minute session.

“Not every participant saw drastic changes, but for those who did, the results were remarkable,” said Riis. “In some cases, you could see the difference immediately—their mood and behavior had completely shifted.”

The device is in phase 2 trials, and the team is eager to move forward. Of 20 participants, 60% reported a 33% reduction in pain right after treatment. For those with depression, 10 of 14 reported remission a week later after just one session.

The Diadem sends ultrasonic frequencies to areas of the brain involved in pain and emotion regulation, like the anterior cingulate cortex. The device’s precision allows it to reach the target areas through the skull.

One patient described the experience as their brain “waking up,” while another reported feeling unusually clear-headed while walking through a grocery store. The team is now recruiting participants for phase 3 trials and can be contacted at [email protected].

Culture

The Newest AI Trend

An Instagram challenge with over 310,000 participants asks the AI chatbot ChatGPT to insult users' posts.

The "ask ChatGPT to roast your feed in one paragraph" challenge spreads through an Instagram story template, akin to modern chain mail but with more bite. Users who see the template on others' stories can easily re-share it or take part themselves.

To join the fun, users download the ChatGPT app, send screenshots of their Instagram profiles, and prompt the AI to "roast my Instagram feed in one paragraph." The result? Brutal, but oddly accurate, critiques like "trying too hard to be spontaneous," "generic dude at a party vibes," "the LinkedIn of Instagram profiles," "midlife crisis," "chaotic scrapbook," and "a Pinterest board that ran out of ideas." It's like having a brutally honest friend—if that friend were a robot with a snarky streak.

After getting roasted, users can share the insults, along with screenshots of their profiles, through the template.

The challenge is only available on the mobile app and requires a ChatGPT account. ChatGPT, the first major AI text tool, kicked off a wave of investment in generative AI. Despite this, Meta’s attempts to launch its own generative AI tools have struggled to gain similar traction.

This trend is one of the first major cross-platform AI challenges, proving that sometimes, we all just need a good roast—courtesy of a chatbot.

Environment

San Diego Zoo Welcomes Rare Sumatran Tiger Cub

The San Diego Zoo recently welcomed the birth of a Sumatran tiger cub, a critically endangered subspecies with only around 600 remaining in the wild. The cub was born on August 23rd to first-time mother Jillian. This marks a significant step in the zoo’s ongoing conservation efforts for Sumatran tigers.

Wildlife care specialists report that Jillian is adapting well to motherhood, displaying all the expected maternal behaviors, and the cub has been active and vocal while bonding with her. Lisa Peterson, the senior vice president of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, emphasized the importance of this birth, noting that it adds vital genetic diversity to the Sumatran tiger population.

Sumatran tigers are the smallest and most endangered of the tiger subspecies, and they face numerous threats, including habitat loss and poaching. Conservationists encourage the public to help protect these animals by avoiding products made with unsustainable palm oil and refusing to buy items made from endangered species.

Jillian and her cub will remain in their den for several weeks to bond before moving to a specially designed habitat. This period is crucial for the cub’s development. Globally, there are 375 Sumatran tigers in zoos, as part of efforts to ensure the survival of this subspecies.

Mind Stretchers

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What breaks yet never falls?

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
With no hands, I draw. With no words, I speak.
My canvas is your window, my art is unique.
What am I?
Answer: Frost.

Chris Hostetler got the correct answer!

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]

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.