What Quirk of the Brain Turns People Into Compulsive Hoarders?
Mental Health | DISCOVER Magazine

“Hoarders cannot stop themselves from accumulating stuff—even if they live in fetid, rotting homes that ruin their lives. Visit Discover Magazine to read this article and other exclusive science and technology news stories.” – DiscoverMag

Every young geek at some point has longed for the ‘direct brain to computer’ interface. The Matrix movie series took the concept to science fantasy. Now super-heroes of science are connecting computers directly to the brain, and the brain… is typing. This short and approachable video presentation from Stanford University is equally scientifically fascinating and an inspiring message to those who need these interfaces to fully communicate.

Krishna Shenoy is creating “brain-computer interfaces” that will enable paralyzed patients to control prosthetic arms and computer cursors. In this short talk, Shenoy describes how his team of Stanford researchers has built a system that achieves typing at 15 words-per-minute, just by “thinking about it”.

Watch it on Academic Earth

I may have spoken too soon! It turns out science has created the Matrix-like fiber optic connection to control our brain.  That’s the ‘good’ news.  The bad news is they discovered our brain is wired for BlueRay.  This equally scientifically fascinating video, though by a slightly less interesting presenter, is well worth the fifteen minutes of your life to watch a genuinely brilliant presenter talk about the breakthroughs in how he and his colleagues are able to communicate directly to the brain using fiber optics and blue light.

Clinical_Applications_for_Cannabis_and_Cannabinoids.pdf

For those who are visual/pictorial thinkers (as I am) this is a fascinating and very personal presentation.  For those of whom who wonder where frequently odd and occasionally wonderfully innovative ideas come from, this should provide some interesting insights.  Ms. Grandin has a disinct cattle-country style about her, so if needed take a minute to let your mind get past it, as she has some interesting ideas worth sharing (the TED conference goal).

Designer, author and movie subject, Dr. Temple Grandin talks about how her mind works — sharing her ability to “think in pictures,” which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people across the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.

http://AskNature.org

A fascinating perspective on the threat to our children and how we can do something about it.

I especially encourage people who think growing a new heart or liver from your own cells is still science fiction to watch this one.  (Hint:  don’t take that bet.)