Grad Student. AI Researcher. Aspiring polymath. Simply trying to stimulate minds and spread knowledge. Hopefully, my blog can stimulate your mind a bit and show you just how the sci-fi of yesterday is becoming the reality of today. Follow me if you love science, tech or you simply want to join on the journey of self-discovery.
You know when you ask someone for a favor, but it feels weird, especially if you barely know them? Or when someone asks for something in a light-hearted manner that’d be seriously cumbersome if you agreed to do it? Those feelings were summed up perfectly by keen observer Andrea Donderi way back in 2007. Her explanation of “ask culture versus guess culture” is a quick read that may just blow your mind and alter the way you relate to others.
In it, she describes two personality types that dominate our personal relationships. The first is an “Asker”; someone who frequently makes requests of others, regardless of how well they know them, knowing full well that they’ll often get a “no” in return. If you’ve ever felt put off by someone’s request for a favor, rebuked them, and got a cheerful “well, it never hurts to ask!” in reply, you’ve met a quintessential Asker.
The flip side is a “Guesser.” In guess culture... Read More.
The long read: A series of experiments has produced incredible results by giving young blood to old mice. Now the findings are being tested on humans. Ian Sample meets the scientists whose research could transform our lives
I have to wonder how this is going to manifest in the medical industry. It’s easy to come up with nightmare scenarios on how this could turn out as they discuss in the article.
It’s no secret that we’re obsessed with happiness. After all, the “pursuit of happiness” is even enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. But happiness is fleeting. How can we find it and keep it
A great article on personal steps we can take to live happier and more productive lives.
Feeding knowledge directly into your brain, just like in sci-fi classic The Matrix, could soon take as much effort as falling asleep, scientists believe.
When Laura Mickes was teaching a psychology class at UC San Diego, she made an effort to inject humor into the weighty course matter. Though much of that effort appeared to have gone underappreciated when she received a professor evaluation that had the indelible words: “She’s not funny.”
And this remark isn’t uncommon or limited to females in academia. The notion that women are simply not funny or are less funny than their male counterparts has long persisted. It’s also a view shared by both men and women.
For Mickes, the sentiment expressed by her student spurred her to test whether the widely circulated assertion had any ounce of truth.
And what she came to find in her experiment is this: men really are not that much funnier than women.
In the study, she and her colleague asked an equal number of male and female students to write captions for “New Yorker” cartoons and make them as funny as possible.
The resulting captions were then rated by readers unaware of the writers’ gender. What they found was that men’s captions were rated as funnier, but by an almost undetectable margin (an average of .11 more points on a 5-point system.)
And that slight edge was because men gave more points to captions written by fellow men, indicating perhaps a gender difference in preferences for humor.
In a separate study, they found that both genders disproportionately gave men credit for the more memorable and funnier captions (and misattributed less humorous ones to women). This finding could explain the stereotype’s perpetuation.
So why are men typically deemed funnier?
It may just be a matter of exposure, says Mickes. “We go around observing women laughing at men, men laughing at men, men as comedians, men asserting that they are funnier, and, most likely, men trying harder — none of which requires them to actually be more capable of producing humor.”
Read more about how the researchers conducted the study
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neEVoFODQOE (Part 2 - Has very important points on Reverse Racism and how it doesn’t exist, and it also dismantles the “We All Bleed Red” mentality.)
Could playing video games help improve your memory? That’s what researchers at the University of California, Irvine’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory set out to discover. Over a two-week period, non-gamer students played either “Super Mario 3D World” or the two-dimensional “Angry Birds.” At the end, only the participants who played the 3D video game saw an improvement in their performance on a memory test. The scientists who led the study, Craig Stark and Dane Clemenson, join Ira to discuss why 3D games might be beneficial for recalling where you left your keys.
The fine art of the counter-offer: Do your homework, have a real conversation, and arrive with confidence.
You’ve been offered a job but the salary wasn’t the number you were hoping to hear. Or you’ve received a bid on a project and it’s under what you think it’s worth. Instead of accepting the deal in disappointment or firing back with another amount, sports agent Molly Fletcher says it’s time to start a conversation.
"There’s room for negotiation on most prices," says Fletcher, author of A Winner’s Guide to Negotiating: How Conversation Gets Deals Done. "Certain things, like school tuition, for example, might have fees that are set in stone, but for many things, like salaries or even orthodontics, the value can be more vague."
Unfortunately, most of the world doesn’t ask for what it wants. A recent survey by Salary.com found that just 44% of people negotiate for a better salary.
And companies are happy when you don’t negotiate, says Fletcher: "Few offer their best price out of the gate," she says.
So how do you get what you want at a price that makes you happy? Fletcher says good negotiators have an ability to do five things well when striking a deal:
1. THEY SET THE STAGE
Doing your homework and understanding the market is half the battle, says Fletcher. This means knowing what you want, understanding the comparables in your industry, and considering the intangibles in every deal, such as reimbursed expenses, vacation time, and the amount of time it takes for a promotion or raise.
"Good negotiators also develop a ‘360-degree awareness,’ knowing the goals, needs, gaps, values, and fears of the other side," says Fletcher. "This data will be even more valuable as your strategy unfolds throughout the negotiation," she says.
2. THEY FIND COMMON GROUND
Too often people approach negotiations with their cards held close to their chest, not wanting to reveal too much too soon. But coming to the table wearing a shield can stunt negotiations, says Fletcher. Instead, she suggests people spend time finding common ground.
For example, while negotiating a deal with then Atlanta Braves General Manager John Schuerholz, Fletcher noticed he had a screen saver on his computer of famous golf holes. She recognized hole number 12 at Augusta National, and asked Schuerholz if he had ever played Augusta and what he got on number 12.
"We went into a 20-minute conversation about golf," says Fletcher. "This let us take down our guards and be people. When you talk, connect, and communicate, both sides create a better platform for a discussion; the ability to truly connect is an integral part of success."
3. THEY ASK WITH CONFIDENCE
After you receive an offer, begin the counter process by asking questions, but be sure to do so in a kind tone. For example, "Can you tell me how you got to that number?" "What are you paying other people in this position?" "Is there room to move the needle?" "Why do you feel that number is fair?"
When you ask questions, you get data that helps you position your case, says Fletcher. The more data you have about their perspective, the more power you have to continue the conversation.
"The questions you ask should help you understand why they’re at the number they’re at," says Fletcher, who recommends doing the negotiation process in person. "The answers make it easier to gauge their position according to their tone, timing, and energy."
Click here to read 4 and 5.
Why is it so easy for evil/stupid movements to find followers -- including intelligent, well-educated ones? I'm pretty sure the future of civilization hangs on figuring this out, so here's what I've got.
A super insightful article from Cracked on how people end up joining the social groups that (sometimes) come to define them. Of course, since it’s a cracked article, it’s not only educational but it’s also quite funny!
The centenarians living in Blue Zones aren't drinking Ensure or eating chocolate ice cream. Instead, many are drinking wine, and all are eating beans. But living to 100 isn't just about diet.
Some tips for getting people to like you and in turn boost your EQ.
Some people are naturally confident and self assured.
Unfortunately, I'm not one of them -- and possibly neither are you. Small talk doesn't come easily to us, and those first five minutes are tough because we're a little shy and a little insecure.
Yet we want to make a good impression. We want people to genuinely like us... but we want them to like the real us.
Here are six ways to be who you are -- and to be extraordinarily likable:
1. Lose the power pose.
I know: Your parents taught you to stand tall, square your shoulders, stride purposefully forward, drop your voice a couple of registers, and shake hands with a firm grip.
It's great to display nonverbal self-confidence, but go too far and it seems like you're trying to establish your importance. That makes the "meeting" seem like it's more about you than it is the other person -- and no one likes that.
No matter how big a deal you are, you pale in comparison to someone like, oh, Nelson Mandela. So take a cue from him. Watch how he and Bill Clinton (no slouch at this either) greet each other.
Clinton takes a step forward (avoiding the "you must come to me" power move.) Mandela steps forward with a smile and bends slightly forward as if, ever so slightly, to bow (a clear sign of deference and respect in nearly every culture.) Clinton does the same.
The result is two important people who put aside all sense of self-importance or status. They were genuine.
Next time you meet someone, relax, step forward, tilt your head towards them slightly, smile, and show that you're the one who is honored by the introduction -- not them.
We all like people who like us. If I show you I'm genuinely happy to meet you, you'll instantly start to like me. And in return you'll show that you like me... which will help calm my nerves and let me be myself.
Win-win, in the best possible way.
2. Embrace the power of touch.
Nonsexual touch can be very powerful. (Yes, I'm aware that sexual touch can be powerful too.) Touch can influence behavior, increase the chances of compliance, make the person doing the touching seem more attractive and friendly.
Go easy, of course: Pat the other person lightly on the upper arm or shoulder. Make it casual and nonthreatening.
Check out Clinton's right-hand-shakes-hands-left-hand-touches-Mandela's-forearm-a-second-later handshake in the link above and tell me, combined with his posture and smile, that it doesn't come across as genuine and sincere.
Think the same won't work for you? Try this: the next time you walk up behind a person you know, touch them lightly on the shoulder as you go by. I guarantee you'll feel like a more genuine greeting was exchanged.
Touch breaks down natural barriers and decreases the real and perceived distance between you and the other person -- a key component in liking and in being liked.
3. Whip out your social jiu-jitsu.
You meet someone. You talk for 15 minutes. You walk away thinking, "Wow, we just had a great conversation. She is awesome."
Then, when you think about it later, you realize you didn't learn a thing about the other person.
Extraordinarily likeable people are masters at Social Jiu-Jitsu, the ancient art of getting you to talk about yourself without you ever knowing it happened. SJJ masters are fascinated by every step you took in creating a particularly clever pivot table, by every decision you made when you transformed a 200-slide PowerPoint into a TED Talk-worthy presentation, if you do say so yourself...
SJJ masters use their interest, their politeness, and their social graces to cast an immediate spell on you.
And you like them for it.
Social jiu-jitsu is easy. Just ask the right questions. Stay open-ended and allow room for description and introspection. As soon as you learn a little about someone, ask how they did it. Or why they did it. Or what they liked about it, or what they learned from it, or what you should do if you're in a similar situation.
No one gets too much recognition. Asking the right questions implicitly shows you respect another person's opinion -- and, by extension, the person.
We all like people who respect us, if only because it shows they display great judgment.
(Kidding. Sort of.)
4. Whip out something genuine.
Everyone is better than you at something. (Yes, that's true even for you.) Solet them be better than you.
Too many people, when they first meet, engage in some form of penis-measuring contest. I know, crude reference... but one that instantly calls to mind a time you saw two alpha male master-of-the business-universe types whip out their figurative rulers. (Not literally, of course. I really hope you haven't seen that.)
Don't try to win the "getting to know someone" competition. Try to lose. Be complimentary. Be impressed. Admit a failing or a weakness.
You don't have to disclose your darkest secrets. If the other person says, "We just purchased a larger facility," say, "That's awesome. I have to admit I'm jealous. We've wanted to move for a couple years but haven't been able to put together the financing. How did you pull it off?"
Don't be afraid to show a little vulnerability. People may be (momentarily) impressed by the artificial, but people sincerely like the genuine.
Be the real you. People will like the real you.
5. Don't ask for anything.
You know the moment: You're having a great conversation, you're finding things in common... and then bam! the other person plays the networking card.
And everything about your interaction changes.
Put away the hard-charging, goal-oriented, always-on persona. If you have to ask for something, figure out a way to help the other person -- then ask if you can.
Extraordinarily likeable people focus on what they can do for other people -- not for themselves.
6. "Close" genuinely.
"Nice to meet you," you say, nodding once as you part. That's the standard move -- and one that is instantly forgettable.
Instead go back to the beginning. Shake hands again. Use your free hand to gently touch the other person's forearm or shoulder. Say, "I am really glad I met you." Or say, "You know, I really enjoyed talking with you." And smile: Not that insincere salesperson smile that goes with, "Have a nice day!" but a genuine, appreciative smile.
Making a great first impression is important, but so is making a great lastimpression.
7. Accept the fact it won't be easy.
All this sounds simple, right? It is. But it's not easy, especially if you're shy. The standard, power pose, "Hello, how are you, good to meet you, good seeing you," shuffle feels a lot safer.
But it won't help people like you.
So accept it's hard. Accept that being a little more deferential, a little more genuine, a little more complimentary and a little more vulnerable means putting yourself out there. Accept that at first it will feel risky.
But don't worry: When you help people feel a little better about themselves -- which is reason enough -- they'll like you for it.
Ramez Naam is the author of 5 books, including the award-winning Nexus trilogy of sci-fi novels. Follow him on twitter: @ramez. A shorter version of this article first appeared at TechCrunch.... read more
- Brain implants that give people control of robotic limbs
- The ability to simulate touch directly through the brain
- The ability to restore damaged memories
...and the ability to boost IQ straight up through the brain. What’s next?
“I know, I know, I have to admit it. I guess I’m a man, men are allowed to go to the bathroom, but women, what can we say? […] This is a guy who wants to be President of the United States.” - Bernie Sanders on Donald Trump’s comments on Hillary Clinton
Climate change will be an economic disaster for rich and poor
The argument against addressing climate change is often an economic one: We can’t afford disrupting our fossil fuel-driven society.
But an analysis by UC Berkeley and Stanford researchers has come to the opposite conclusion. In a paper published in Nature, they find that we can’t afford to ignore climate change because the economic impacts will far outstrip the cost of transitioning away from fossil fuels.
The study — based on 50 years of historical data from 150 countries around the world — was the first of its kind to assess how warming temperatures will affect global earnings and GDP.
The findings: climate change could reduce average global incomes by 23 percent. A projected 77 percent of countries — the US included — will be poorer in 2100 if we don’t avert warming.
Whose economy will take a hit? The redder the color, the more severe the impact:
Researchers found that, historically, labor supply, productivity and crop yields decline as temperatures climb above certain optimal levels. Wealthier, more developed economies are not immune to these economic shocks.
According to the researchers’ models, the hottest countries would take the biggest hit to their economies in a warming world, while those in temperate zones, like the US, China and Southern Europe, would face moderate declines. A few cooler countries — like Canada and Russia — could actually see productivity increase, but would have to contend with slowed growth among their trading partners.
See the other research stories that got the world buzzing in 2015 →
Childhood malnutrition and unsafe water are no longer in the top 10 of risks for death. But lifestyle-related risks, from smoking to diets high in salt and low in fruits, are killing millions.
