The trope that the human brain didn’t evolve to understand advanced physics is often applied in popular science.After all, early humans’ priorities were constricted to comprehending and contending with predatory threats, learning how to feed themselves and their group, seeking out conditions that were favourable to the functioning of their bodies, and deciding who might make a good candidate to produce offspring with.

Uncomplicated Knowledge

The laws of classical physics, which relate to Newtonian concepts like velocity and momentum, seem to make sense to us because they describe the behaviour of objects in the world as we<a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/113/34/E5072.short"> experience</a> them. When Isaac Newton declared that an object will only change its motion if a force acts upon it, we found this easy to understand because it relates directly to our perception of how things move and behave in the world.

The Physics Laws We Understand

Some post-classical concepts introduced by modern physics — such as entanglement, dark matter and the multiverse — seem to be at odds with what our common sense tells us about the world. And we often explain the counter-intuitiveness of ideas like non-local particle dynamics, wave-particle duality and the potential of a near-infinite number of possible realities by invoking that popular trope: These concepts seem to be outside the pay grade of our specialized cognitive machinery.

Where No Mind Has Gone Before

When they asked trained physicists to think about specific physics concepts last year, the researchers found that expert knowledge in physics has a neural trace that is measurable and is somewhat similar across experts. We could identify concepts across individuals even when they were trained in different systems and had different first languages. We may be able to assess knowledge in students by comparing it to the expert’s knowledge brain state because it is measurable and consistent across experts.

The Research Findings

The nature of many post-classical concepts requires the consideration of alternative possible worlds, such as the multiverse concept that many comic book fans are familiar with. Regions of the brain that were associated with hypothetical or speculative reasoning in<a href="https://www.mpi.nl/publications/item2506536/distinguishable-memory-retrieval-networks-collaboratively-and-non"> previous research</a> played a significant role in the neural signatures of post-classical concepts that required this type of abstract thinking.

Rethinking Thinking

String theory, quantum gravity, time dilation. Why do these advanced physics concepts come easily to some of us but not others?

philosophy

Philosophy

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

How Our Brains Organize Abstract Scientific Concepts

One of their most characteristic features is that they’re concerned about philosophical and transcendental questions. For instance, where do we come from? Why are we alive? What lies beyond death?These kinds of questions occupy their minds much of the time. Furthermore, they enjoy reading and learning about theological, existential, or spiritual issues.

1. They possess philosophical restlessness

They’re able to go beyond the physical senses to explain themselves and understand the world around them.In addition, they have a great ability to see the big picture in any situation. For this reason, they make good advisers, have the ability to solve problems and find solutions, and are usually good leaders.

2. They like to see the bigger picture

They generally move away from traits such as selfishness or self-centeredness, violence, and conflict. In fact, they’reusually conciliatory, peaceful, respectful, and supportive individuals. In addition, they tend to show great interest in the society around them and defend universal values such as kindness, love, peace, and brotherhood. Nevertheless, they can often feel alien and strange in their surroundings .

3. They possess high values

It’s common for people with high existential intelligence to show disinterest in certain habitual social practices such as consumerism and the normalized type of leisure in society today. On the contrary, they usually use their time to achieve an integral development of their own being.They’re people who are extremely aware of the care of their own body, the environment, and others. They often carry out acts of service and altruism. Ultimately, they perceive union in everything around them.

4. They practice an altruistic lifestyle

These people areextremely curious. They also have a high capacity for abstraction. This constantly leads them to search for answers. In addition, they’re more open to diversity and tend to ask the whys and wherefores of things.In short, their sense of transcendence is high. Therefore, they seek to place themselves and conceive of life and daily actions in the context of interconnection with the entire universe.

5. They possess a sense of transcendence

People with high existential intelligence go beyond the senses and the material world. Find out what they're like and how they think.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

mindfulness

Mindfulness

Five Characteristics of People With High Existential Intelligence

Quantum biology has been shown in both theory and experiments to hold the key to many recorded biological phenomena. Quantum biology deals with all interactions at the sub-cells level including many logic-defying functions of the smallest particles that we know of.Quantum mechanics is the route to understanding the behaviors of subatomic particles and their interactions. Biological units are nothing more than different configurations of subatomic particles working dynamically together to serve their survival and procreations.

Quantum Biology

They are composed of molecular computational systems interacting with received information then decoding and generating responses. For this reason it would be natural to expect that quantum physics plays key roles in biology.Scientists are rapidly finding new cases of quantum phenomena acting in many different biological processes. These include instances of: Quantum superposition in photons during photosynthesis, and quantum tunneling in electrons within enzymes acting as catalysts for reactions, between organic compounds.

With all these cases where quantum mechanics play significant roles in biological functions, the question of how could this affect our own DNA now comes up, which is an emerging field that scientists all over the world are starting to pick apartLiving entities are composed of atoms and molecules with specific structures that convert them to specialized biological cells acting as bio-constructors. Living cells continuously acquire and use energy to power their quantum mechanical activities. These dynamical processes differentiate them from ordinary matter.

In doing so,the cells become specialized computational machines with specific capabilities to receive,process and respond to bits of information in accordance with instructions stored within their governing DNA and in their stored memories.There is a weird phenomenon observed in biology.The DNA issues instructions for the cells’ mechanical parts to be carried out.The RNA acts as the information carriers, i.e.the messenger, which passes the instructions to the mechanical part of the cell. Prior to delivering the information for action, the information is verified by an agent known as the RNAi.

If the information has been corrupted then the instructions are ignored and not carried out by the cells. Biologists can’t explain how the verification process works. In other words how would the RNAi know what the correct issued instructions by the DNA should be? This process is similar to a well designed and secure software where information is checked for possible corruption or viruses prior to accepting it. We postulate that the RNAi verification process looks for the presence of certain symmetry code unique to the specific living entity prior to implementation.

The absence of such code would indicate that the carried message has been corrupted, hence permission is not given to proceed with implementing the instruction. For example if that DNA instruction is to produce the protein for giving a skin cell its colour and the instruction was ignored then that skin cell will be colourless.

Consciousness can be defined as an interactive information decoder interpreting the received superpositioned digital information to reflect the reality we experience. Our biological computational neural system compares the received new information with that already stored in our brains, which forms our memories and value systems. Therefore, our response to the received information is the result of a process of evaluation aimed at complying with the overall stored priorities. Most biological entities prevailing priorities are to survive and procreate to ensure the survival of the genes.

Consciousness

The stored information templates for evaluating the received information and issuing instructions are either genetically hard coded as in most animals, or acquired throughout life long contacts and experiences or a combination both. All routes lead to specific neural connections which shape the wiring of the neural systems. In the case of human beings, each change in the wiring of our brain leads to a change in our stored information templates, which are key to determining our reactions to new received information. The process of updating the wiring of our brains is determined by being open

minded and reflective.They are key to learning, improving the quality of lives and long term survival of our genes.Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brains’ quantum constructors to rearrange the bonding between the composing atoms and molecules,i.e.updating the wiring of our brains.This leads to creating different interpretations and responses to the received information. Electromagnetism is key to the process involving the working of the brains.The brain consumes on average 25%of the energy we consume to create the required electrical signals for communication between its different cells.

Neuroplasticity

It is well established that our responses to stimuli is determined by the stored information in our brains. Our free will as human beings is limited to our abilities to evaluate the consequences of our actions and then adjust the wiring of our brain (our stored information templates) for better future responses, which are compatible with our core objectives. Those who are blessed with greater abilities to learn and adjust the wiring of their brains will have a better chance to survive, procreate and experience joyous living.

The brain has its own building mechanism to update the received information so that they are compatible with formats which can be handled by its computational capabilities. Experiments in visual psychology have revealed that the brain will often construct sensations that override the visual input if the brain judges that the latter is too improbable. The brain would suppress the improbable mixed information in favour of what it is familiar with and thus compute what is more probable. For example during rapid movement of the eyes, the visual information is suppressed and what we see is largely

virtual reality created by the brain from our relevant memory templates.When we look into a mirror and move our eyes left to right, we cannot observe our own eyes movements. This demonstrates the phenomenon of suppressing the rapid eyes movements,i.e.our visual sensitivity is much reduced.Eye movements are closely linked to attention shifts.Thus what we see does not depend entirely on what is out there but also to a considerable extent on what the brain computes to be most probably out there. So we can ask how extensive is this filling-in process,what is its normal function and how is it done?

Some light on these questions may come from digital television compression technology. This seeks to send the maximum possible signal with the minimum computational power compatible with an adequate picture. Sending every detail of every scene over the TV system is efficient but carries a high computational cost. This is called the I programme. So TV engineers have supplemented this with a second programme, P, that derives the most probable scenes following scene ‘A’ based on the system’s memory and its previous experience of such scene sequences.

This is supplemented by a third (‘P frame’) programme that records only differences between scenes. The P programme is inefficient but cheap in computational cost. So the art is in finding the optimum mixture of I and P.

The DNA of all biological units are composed of four letters. Each letter represents a given combination of biochemical molecules. The molecules in turn are composed of specific atoms’ arrangements. Therefore, each letter of the DNA represents a pre-assembled digital code composed of strings and singularities.The way the DNA four letters are sequenced determine the nature and characteristics of the biological units. The role of information in managing the existence of life is clear from the way the DNA is structured as sets of digital instructions.

DNA as pre-assembled instruction codes

Adjusting the sequencing of the four letters is already being harnessed through the revolutionary technique of Gene Editing.We speculate that the evolutionary processes and the survival for the fittest principle are not random but they follow embedded biological deep learning algorithms within the genetic codes of each living entity. The specific genetic codes could have evolved (or designed) to simply monitor the levels and frequencies of using specific tissues within any living entity during its lifespans. This is in line with the key biological principle, “use it or lose it”.In a simplified

Embedded deep learning logarithms

version, it is similar to how google makes predictions based on your previous searches.The stored statistical information by the biological entities are collected and passed, most likely through the Y chromosome, to future generations. The purpose is. to emphasize the importance of the increasingly used specific tissues. After a few generations the genetic code of that biological entity get adapted to improve its fitness capabilities.

This could be seen as a very advanced build-in type of biological deep learning, similar to our attempts to create a digital based artificial intelligence with the capacity to update the survival of the model by meeting the overall objective for which it is created. Evolution of new species can be seen as similar to a computer game where the players cannot move to higher levels unless they collect certain points.

The only reality we know is the one our brains manufacture from the very limited information it is designed to receive and process. The possibility that reality is as we perceive is almost zero. What we experience is a convenient way to keep us in the cosmic game by receiving, processing, interpreting and transmitting the limited information we are designed to process and generate. A build-in program exists within all living beings, where repeated life supporting actions over a few generations lead to permanent genetic fitness improvement to thrive and dominate.

Biological entities’ fitness capabilities

Different biological entities possess/develop different fitness improvements capabilities. Using these capabilities lead to their continuous evolution. For those species where environmental changes are faster than their fitness’ improvements capabilities, will ultimately lose the battle to survive. For this reason we need to wake up to the danger of destroying the environment at the current speed, which is leading to the extinction of many species, as they have no time to adapt. Our rapidly changing lifestyle, including congregating in densely populated communities, our intensive farming,

widespread use of new chemicals and indiscriminate use of antibiotics in our food chain are all giving bacteria and viruses greater opportunities to evolve and threaten our very survival and also survival of many animals and plants.Humans are proceeding at a great speed to improve the biofitness capabilities of many biological entities which meet their needs by changing their genetic information.This is in effect a means of overriding the naturally embedded logarithmic processes in those entities andreplacing them by direct human actions to create the types of animals and plantstomeetourneeds.

All living beings are interactive participants in an energy-mass-information equivalence based universe. They represent specific types of information processing entities with causal powers determined by their fitness capabilities (encoded in theur genetic).With our causal powers we can reasonably suggest that our biological software has evolved to receive compressed (superpositioned)information and then analyze it by our network quantum computational units (our brain cells).Our perceived physical reality is a construct of the electrical signals being processed within our network of quantum com

Interactive biological quantum computational capabilities

Being players endowed with computational capabilities suggests that we may ultimately understand how the universe works at the fundamental level and advance our knowledge so that we can communicate with other alien participants. This is similar to developing a deep learning artificial intelligence (AI), which is designed to have consciousness, communicate with other machines and ultimately contribute to our total knowledge. As stated above, consciousness is the ability to receive information, compare it with our stored information templates or set of instructions, and then create a response in

It is even conceivable to conclude that we would reach a stage in our knowledge to ultimately speed up our evolution from our current fragile biological form to ultimately become a machine based species with more chances of survival as our environment greatly deteriorate.Until we succeed in guaranteeing the correct transformation we need to protect our biological existence from the potential domination and abuse by our created AI based units.

Next stage in human evolution

This may necessitate that we implant in the AI machines specific logarithms dealing with ethical values plus sufficient checks and balances to achieve these objectives. We may also resort to planting a self destruct mechanism, not accessible by our created AI units, to ensure our ultimate survival. Probably the best we can hope for in the long run is that our created AI will provide us with a heaven on Earth in return for providing some assistance in their scientific research endeavours.

All living entities are fundamentally similar to other non-living matter in terms of their composition from the two fundamental particles (FPs), the strings and the singularities with their binary…

health

Health

Quantum biology and living entities

The nature is telling us on what to eat and what to not eat.<ul><li>Food that did not contains killing the whole animals or plants means it "wants" to be eaten. Which is, fruits, milks, and nectars.</li><li>Eating seeds, leaves, or even flesh of an animals means killing it. It means they don't want to be eaten from the first place.</li></ul>

Some Foods "Wants" To Be Eaten, Some Are Not

<ul><li>Fruit, nectar, or milk has been produced dilligently in a way that it's directly digestible. </li><li>For example, plants needs to bear fruit to sprout their seeds. The seeds doesn't want to be eaten, it wants to grow. The animals who eat the fruit help the plants to sow the seeds somewhere. Same applied for nectars.</li><li>On the other hand, milk is produced for newborn of the same species. That's why we still suffer from lactose intolerant because cow milk means to be consumed by cow, not us.</li><li>However, doesn't mean we can't eat other food. That's why we invent cooking.</li></ul>

Why We Invent Cooking

<ul><li>Cooking not only helps us eating undigestible food to the digestible one. It shapes and grow our brains.</li><li>Cooking also changes our social structure. Back then, bonfire is not only for cook, but also for socialize.</li><li>Now, food still become a center of any party or gathering. It acts as social lubricant.</li></ul>

Cooking Is More Than The Nutrition

<ul><li>Fast food is convenience, however it is not only strip the nutrient, but also strip the social experience of eating the food.</li><li>GMO or other modified organism may be beneficial for us, but we don't know the effect of it in the long run.</li><li>Globalization has make any food available in any place possible, however this means local food are being replaced significantly. Unfortunately, our body can't adapt for change quickly. That's why some people can't digest certain foods.</li><li>Abundance of food in supermarket or restaurant make us eat more food than we need. This leads to "modern" diseases like obesity.</li></ul>

The Modern Approach To Food Reduce The Value Of It

<ul><li>People in different region needs a different kind of food.</li><li>That's why some diets, like paleo or medditeranian, are not suitable for most people.</li><li>The reductionism approach to food, to only focus on nutrition, is damaging us in the long run.</li><li>Our ancestors, everywhere, eat a diverse range of food. Not a protein bars or supplements.</li><li>So it's better to eat your traditional or local food as much as possible.</li></ul>

Some Diets Are Suitable For Some People Only

<ul><li>Shop in the edges of supermarket. Means, avoid processed food and choose whole food instead.</li><li>Avoid GMO if possible.</li><li>Respect your food cravings or aversion as long as it doesn't pose any significant risk. For example, aversion might indicate allergy.</li><li>Expose ourselves to eat a diverse range of food, especially food that comes from our ethnic background.</li><li>Perceive food as a whole, not only about nutrition.</li><li>Reduce food stocks and have an occasional fasting. This will avoid us to gorge food and eat more calories than needed.</li><li>Eat foods with other people.</li></ul>

Actionable Tips

A summary of the chapter 5, "Food". Read this if you want to change your diet or eat better.

A provocative exploration of the tension between our evolutionary history and our modern woes—and what we can do about it. We are living through the most prosperous age in all of human history, yet we are listless, divided, and miserable. Wealth and comfort are unparalleled, but our political landscape is unmoored, and rates of suicide, lone­liness, and chronic illness continue to skyrocket. How do we explain the gap between these truths? And how should we respond? For evolutionary biologists Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein, the cause of our troubles is clear: the accelerat­ing rate of change in the modern world has outstripped the capacity of our brains and bodies to adapt. We evolved to live in clans, but today many people don’t even know their neighbors’ names. In our haste to discard outdated gender roles, we increasingly deny the flesh-and-blood realities of sex—and its ancient roots. The cognitive dissonance spawned by trying to live in a society we are not built for is killing us. In this book, Heying and Weinstein draw on decades of their work teaching in college classrooms and explor­ing Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystems to confront today’s pressing social ills—from widespread sleep deprivation and dangerous diets to damaging parenting styles and back­ward education practices. Asking the questions many mod­ern people are afraid to ask, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century outlines a science-based worldview that will empower you to live a better, wiser life.

food

Food

history

History

books

Books

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

A provocative exploration of the tension between our evolutionary history and our modern woes—and what we can do about it.   We are living through the most prosperous age in all of human history, yet we are listless, divided, and miserable. Wealth and comfort are unparalleled, but our political landscape is unmoored, and rates of suicide, lone­liness, and chronic illness continue to skyrocket. How do we explain the gap between these truths? And how should we respond?   For evolutionary biologists Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein, the cause of our troubles is clear: the accelerat­ing rate of change in the modern world has outstripped the capacity of our brains and bodies to adapt. We evolved to live in clans, but today many people don’t even know their neighbors’ names. In our haste to discard outdated gender roles, we increasingly deny the flesh-and-blood realities of sex—and its ancient roots. The cognitive dissonance spawned by trying to live in a society we are not built for is killing us.   In this book, Heying and Weinstein draw on decades of their work teaching in college classrooms and explor­ing Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystems to confront today’s pressing social ills—from widespread sleep deprivation and dangerous diets to damaging parenting styles and back­ward education practices. Asking the questions many mod­ern people are afraid to ask, A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century outlines a science-based worldview that will empower you to live a better, wiser life.

Heather Heying

Bret Weinstein

A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century

When you binge your favorite TV show, your brain continue to produce more dopamine and you experience a drug-like high. It was like a pseudo-addiction” .

Increase in Dopamine

We get drawn to the lives of the characters portrayed on the show that also fuels our binge watching experience. 2 types of Character Involvement:<ol><li>Identification - it is when we see ourselves to the characters portaying in a show.</li><li>Perceived Similarity - this is where you had the “i know what it feels like” moment.</li></ol>

Connection With The Characters

Binge watching can be a stress reliever after our work shift. It’s like a wall that blocks our brain from dwelling about an unfinished to-do list and other stressors that you wanted to stop thinking for a while.

Temporary Escape

Because you watched the same tv show, you finally have this “sense of belongingness”. You felt that you were part of a small community where you can connect with and have an in-depth discussion of the show.

Foster Relationships

We substitute the virtual connection with the characters and disconnecting to the human interaction.

“Starving To death Emotionally

<ol><li>Set a time-limit and number of episodes that you will spend watching for the day/night.</li><li> Balance your binge with other activities. After the time-limit and episodes you set, go out with your friends and talked about the scenes you liked the most.</li></ol>

HOW TO BINGE WATCH RESPONSIBLY?

I am very much guilty of binge watching a tv show in one sitting 😑. I even have this special segment on my IG stories of #SeriesReviewNobodyAsksFor where I must say a lot rely on it if it was binge worthy. But now I am slowly rebuilding my reading habits and I am so glad I found deepstash.

Is watching the entire second season of "Stranger Things" on your weekend to-do list? Here's what you need to know. 

What happens in your brain when you binge-watch a TV show

Varahamihira was born in 505 A.D. into a family of Brahmins settled at Kapittha, a village near Ujjain. His father, Adityadasa was a worshipper of the Sun god and it was he who taught Varahamihira astrology. On a visit to Kusumapura (Patna) young Varahamihira met the great astronomer and mathematician, Aryabhata. The meeting inspired him so much the he decided to take up astrology and astronomy as a lifetime pursuit.At that time, Ujjain was the centre of learning, where many schools of arts, science and culture were flourishing in the prosperity of the Gupta reign.

10. Varahamihira 

Varahamihira, therefore, shifted to this city, where scholars from distant lands were gathering. In due course, his astrological skills came to the notice of King Yashodharman Vikramaditya of Malwa, who made him one of the Nine Gems of his court.Varahamihira was learned in the Vedas, but he was not a blind believer in the supernatural. He was a scientist.Like Aryabhata before him, he declared that the earth was spherical.In the history of science he was the first to claim that some “force” might be keeping bodies stuck to the round earth.

The force is now called gravity. He proposed that the Moon and planets are lustrous not because of their own light but due to sunlight.Varahamihira’s main work is the book Pancha Siddhantika (Treatise on the five Astronomical Canons gives us information about older Indian texts which are now lost). The work it seems is a treatise on mathematical astronomy and it summarises five earlier astronomical treatises, namely, the Surya Siddhanta, Romaka Siddhanta, Paulisa Siddhanta, Vasishtha Siddhanta and Paitama Siddhanta.

Gravity 

It is acclaimed that Pancha Siddhantika of Varahamihira is one of the most important sources for the history of Hindu Astronomy from before the time of Aryabhata.Another important contribution of Varahamihira is the encyclopaedic Brihat-Samhita. It covers wide ranging subjects of human interest, including astrology, planetary movements, eclipses, rainfall, rainfall, clouds even domestic relations, gems, pearls and rituals.

Brihat-Samhita 

Brihat- Samhita: Varahamihira's most notable work, the Brihat- Samhita is an encyclopaedic work, mostly about divination but also includes work on architecture, temples, planetary motions, eclipses, timekeeping, astrology, seasons, cloud formation, rainfall, agriculture, mathematics, gemology, perfumes and many other topics. The volume expounds on gemstone evaluation criterion found in the Garuda Purana, and elaborates on the sacred nine Pearls from the same text. It contains 106 chapters and is known as the "great compilation".

Varahamihira in 550 AD have described a large number of comets in the Brhat Samhita. He wrote over sixty couplets about comets. He did not have the modern facilities like Telescope or other electronic equipment. He says that sages Garga, Parasara, Asita, Devala and others had already written about the comets. He was also an astrologer and has written on all the three branches of astrology. His son Prithuyasas has also contributed in the Hindu astrology through his work, Hora Sara.

Comets 

the discovery of the trigonometric formulas. He improved the accuracy of the sine tables of Aryabhata l. He defined the algebraic properties of zero as well as of negative numbers. Furthermore, He was among the first mathematicians to discover a version of what is now known as the Pascal’s triangle. He used it to calculate the binomial coefficients.Varahamihira made some significant observations in the field of ecology, hydrology and geology too. He was the first person who predicted underground water.

Varahamihira’s mathematical work included the discovery of the trigonometric formulas. He improved the accuracy of the sine tables of Aryabhata l. He defined the algebraic properties of zero as well as of negative numbers. Furthermore, He was among the first mathematicians to discover a version of what is now known as the Pascal’s triangle. He used it to calculate the binomial coefficients.Varahamihira made some significant observations in the field of ecology, hydrology and geology too. He was the first person who predicted underground water. His claim that plants and termites serve as indicat<warningtag>ors of underground water is now receiving attention in the scientific world.</warningtag><warningtag>Varahamihira, without any scientific equipment, derived the true value of equinox. This value is very important for the modern day Geostationary Satellites.</warningtag>

Varahamihira’s mathematical work included the discovery of the trigonometric formulas. He improved the accuracy of the sine tables of Aryabhata l. He defined the algebraic properties of zero as well as of negative numbers. Furthermore, He was among the first mathematicians to discover a version of what is now known as the Pascal’s triangle. He used it to calculate the binomial coefficients.Varahamihira made some significant observations in the field of ecology, hydrology and geology too. He was the first person who predicted underground water. His claim that plants and termites serve as indicators of underground water is now receiving attention in the scientific world.Varahamihira, without any scientific equipment, derived the true value of equinox. This value is very important for the modern day Geostationary Satellites.

His claim that plants and termites serve as indicators of underground water is now receiving attention in the scientific world. Varahamihira, without any scientific equipment, derived the true value of equinox. This value is very important for the modern day Geostationary Satellites.

Varahamihira made some important mathematical discoveries. Among these are certain trigonometric formulae which translated into our present day notation correspond to \sin x = \cos(\large\frac{\pi}{2}\normalsize - x)sinx=cos(2π​−x), \sin^{2}x + \cos^{2}x = 1sin2x+cos2x=1, and \large\frac{1}{2}\normalsize (1 - \cos 2x) = \sin^{2}x21​(1−cos2x)=sin2x.

Trigonometric 

Varahamihira made some important mathematical discoveries. Among these are certain trigonometric formulae which translated into our present day notation correspond to \sin x = \cos(\large\frac{\pi}{2}\normalsize - x)sinx=cos(2π​−x), \sin^{2}x + \cos^{2}x = 1sin2x+cos2x=1, and \large\frac{1}{2}\normalsize (1 - \cos 2x) = \sin^{2}x21​(1−cos2x)=sin2x.

Another important contribution to trigonometry was his sine tables where he improved those of Aryabhata I giving more accurate values. It should be emphasised that accuracy was very important for these Indian mathematicians since they were computing sine tables for applications to astronomy and astrology. This motivated much of the improved accuracy they achieved by developing new interpolation methods. The Jaina school of mathematics investigated rules for computing the number of ways in which rr objects can be selected from nn objects over the course of many hundreds of years. They gave rules <warningtag>to compute the binomial coefficients _{n}C_{r}n​Cr​ which amount to</warningtag>

Permutation And Combinations

Another important contribution to trigonometry was his sine tables where he improved those of Aryabhata I giving more accurate values. It should be emphasised that accuracy was very important for these Indian mathematicians since they were computing sine tables for applications to astronomy and astrology. This motivated much of the improved accuracy they achieved by developing new interpolation methods. The Jaina school of mathematics investigated rules for computing the number of ways in which rr objects can be selected from nn objects over the course of many hundreds of years.

However, Varahamihira attacked the problem of computing _{n}C_{r}n​Cr​ in a rather different way. He wrote the numbers nn in a column with n = 1n=1 at the bottom. He then put the numbers rr in rows with r = 1r=1 at the left-hand side. Starting at the bottom left side of the array which corresponds to the values n = 1, r = 1n=1,r=1, the values of _{n}C_{r}n​Cr​ are found by summing two entries, namely the one directly below the (n, r)(n,r) position and the one immediately to the left of it.

Of course this table is none other than Pascal's triangle for finding the binomial coefficients despite being viewed from a different angle from the way we build it up today. Full details of this work by Varahamihira is given in Hayashi, in , examines Varahamihira's work on magic squares. In particular he examines a pandiagonal magic square of order four which occurs in Varahamihira's work.

Pascal’s Triangle And Magic Square 

Pancha siddhantika includes Surya Siddhanta, an astronomical treatise which explains or determines the true motions of the luminaries.Under this work,he has also explained the estimated diameters of the planets, like Mercury,Venus,Mars,Saturn and Jupiter.The book gave the locations of several stars other than the lunar nakshatras(constellations) and the calculation of solar eclipses.The book also had a significant coverage on kinds of time, the length of the year of gods and demons,day and night of god Brahma,the elapsed period since creation,how planets move eastwards and sidereal revolution.

Surya Siddhanta & description on planet Mars:

Surya Siddhanta mentioned the Mars’s diameter (which was calculated to be 3,772 miles that has an error within 11% of the currently accepted diameter of 4,218 miles), circumference and also carries calculations on and about solar eclipses and lunar eclipses, its color and portion of the moon as well.Apart from these, Varahamihira also predicted the presence of water on Mars. The book had a detailed description of planet Mars. He had said in his book that planet Mars has both water and iron present on its surface, which have now been revealed by NASA and ISRO.

Mars 

He was the first to mention and explain how each planet in the solar system has been created by and centered on the sun.It’s intriguing to know that during NASA’s Mars mission, Arun Upadhyay, a retired IPS, did a comparative study of Varāhamihira’s calculations about Mars and found certain similarities.Though the original book of Surya Siddhanta till date remains untraced, but somehow a few scholars had taken their notes for their own research work. Many fear that the original version was stolen by the other astronomers from overseas.

Solar Sy

The present version of Surya Siddhanta, which is often used by Panchang experts to predict festive dates and nakshatras, was modified by Bhaskaracharya during the Middle Ages.It is learnt, Varahamihira humbly said about his own treatises: “The science of Astrology is a vast ocean and is not easy for everyone to cross it. My treatises provide a safe boat.” Truly, even now they are acknowledged as masterpieces.

Varahamihira made great contributions not only in the field of mathematics; he was also an astrologer and is considered among the greatest Acharyas of modern astrology. Varahamihira’s son Prithuyasas also contributed to Hindu astrology and his book Hora Sora is a famous book on horoscopy. Listed below are some of the important works of Varahamihira. Pancha- Siddhantika: Also known as the Treatise on the Five Astronomical Canons dated 575 AD that now give us information about older lost Indian texts. The book of Pancha- Siddhantika is one of the main works by Varahamihira.

Works of Varahamihira

The work is a treatise on mathematical astronomy and it summarises 5 earlier astronomical treatises, namely the Surya, Romaka, Paulisa, Vasishtha and Paitamaha Siddhantas. It is a compendium of Vedanga Jyotisha as well as Hellenistic astronomy including Greek and Roman elements. The five siddhantas are elaborated below-• Surya Siddhanta, which is the Siddhantika of the Sun was actually composed by the ancient asura king Mayasura, who was also known as Mamuni Mayan as stated in the text by Varahamihira.

The 5 Siddhantas 

• Vasishtha Siddhanta, which is so called from one of the stars of the Great Bear, was composed by Vishnucandra.• Paulisa Siddhanta was taken from Pulisa which is supposed to be from Alexandria and was composed by Pulisa.• Romaka Siddhanta was the Doctrine of the Romans, which is the subjects of the Roman Empire and was composed by Srishena.• And lastly there is the Patiamaha Siddhanta.

•Varahamihira made some significant observations in the field of ecology, hydrology and geology too. His claim that plants and termites serve as indicators of underground water is now receiving attention in the scientific world. He was also a prolific writer. His mastery of Sanskrit grammar and poetic metre enabled him to express himself in a unique style.

....

•His encyclopaedic knowledge and his lively presentation of subjects, as dry as astronomy, made him a celebrated figure. His treatise such as Pancha Siddhantika (Five Principles), Brihatsamhita (Master Collection), Brahjataka(Astrological work) have put him on as high a pedestal in Astrology as Kautilya’s in Political philosophy, Manu’s in Law or Panini’s in Grammar.

Varahamihira – Indian Sage Who Predicted Water Discovery on Mars 1500 Years Ago and A lot More...

Worldwide, headache disorders are considered one of the most common — yet under-treated — disorders of the nervous system.“Headache is any pain affecting the head, upper face or upper neck. Headaches are called <a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/care/neurology/services/headache/types">‘primary’ </a>when they arise from biological changes within the brain itself... These include migraine headaches, tension-type headaches, and cluster headaches.” - Robert Kaniecki , Director of the UPMC Headache Center in Pittsburgh

Headache Defined

<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5005-migraine-headaches#symptoms-and-causes">Migraine-induced headaches </a>cause additional symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, fatigue, visual disturbances and more.According to Dr. Kaniecki, people may also experience “secondary” headaches if there is another underlying illness or cause for the headache.A 2018 study found that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29527677/">one in six people </a>in the U.S. reported having a migraine or severe headache over a 3-month period.What do you do to relieve your headacheBelow are some of the things neurologists personally do when experiencing a headache, and why these go-to strategies work

Migraines

1. Find a Quiet, Calming Space“If I have a headache, I rest or lie down for as long as I can, and it doesn’t depend on the time of day..With migraines in particular, people usually find that they have to lie down in a quiet, dark room.”- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_brain_doctor/">Faye Begeti </a>, Neurology doctor and neuroscientist in the U.K.2. Use Relaxing DistractionsDr. Burstein, utilizes relaxing distractions when he can’t power nap in the workplace.“As contrary as it may sound, walking can be helpful and reading,” -- Rami Burstein, Professor of Anesthesia and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School

A Calming Space Or A Relaxing Distraction

Understanding your headache triggers can serve as both a preventative and in-the-moment approach to address the pain.“Most of my migraine attacks are <a href="https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/understanding-ocular-migraine/">visually triggered</a> or are triggered when I am ambivalent or worried about a decision or situation. The latter is a bit harder to control, but it’s fascinating to recognize..Red wine can be a trigger for me, so I am careful about not having more than a few ounces.” - Jan Lewis Brandes,Director and founder of the <a href="https://www.nashvilleneurosciencegroup.com/">Nashville Neuroscience Group</a>

3. Find Out Your Headache Triggers

Sleep disturbances is also a common headache trigger. Contrary to what most believe that headaches are caused by a lack of sleep but Dr. Begeti explained that sticking to a consistent sleep schedule may be more important than the length of sleep you get every night.“This is something that I didn’t know when I was at university, so I would reliably have a headache every single Saturday after staying up late the day before, and sleeping in on the weekend,” - Dr. Begeti

More Headache Triggers

As crazy as it sounds some headaches can be relieved by simply drinking some water. This is call a dehydration headache. This happens to some people when they don’t drink enough water.More scientific research needs to be done to prove with certainty that dehydration causes headaches as there are lots of theories that need to be explored.One of which is that when we are dehydrated,our brain temporarily contract from fluid loss causing it to slightly pull away from the skull,causing pain which results to a headache.Once rehydrated,the brain returns to its usual state,relieving the headache

Dehydration Headache

The medical community however does have a formal classification for hangover headaches, which are partially caused by dehydration.Some of the known symptoms of dehydration headache (reported by research respondents) are:<ul><li>pulsating ache on both sides of the head (like in hangover headache) in that’s aggravated by physical activity</li><li>An aching that got worse when they moved their heads, bent down, or walked around. </li><li>nausea</li><li>a visual aura</li><li>thirst</li><li>dry or sticky mouth</li><li>not urinating much</li><li>darker yellow urine</li><li>cool, dry skin</li><li>muscle cramps</li></ul>

Symptoms of Dehydration Headaches

Since it is a dehydration headache it only makes sense that it can be remedied by drinking water.Kristina Lopez, an assistant professor at the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and headache specialist, said that her headaches are typically a signifier that she needs to up her hydration.“I finally took my own advice and started getting a consistent eight hours of sleep and drinking more water,” Lopez said. “It’s wild how much better I feel.” It’s a “cheap and safe preventative and as-needed treatment strategy.” -Dr. Lopez

4. Hydrate

Believe it or not caffeine can actually be a headache remedy. According to Dr. Brandes drinking a cup of coffee is the first step she takes when combatting a migraine attack, followed by drinking a glass of water and taking medication.Caffeine causes blood vessels to narrow and restricts blood flow around the brain, which can relieve pain.However consuming caffeine on the regular may lead to withdrawal headaches if you suddenly stop drinking your caffeine-laced drink.

5. To Drink Coffee and NOT to Drink Too Much Coffee

A personal tip from Dr. Kanieki is to break snacks and meals into 5 to 6 portions throughout the day.Low blood sugar may exacerbate headache pain and migraine symptoms. Try swapping up your meal times or breaking down bigger meals into smaller parts that you eat intermittently.

6. Eat smaller meals throughout the day

Depending on the severity of her headache, Dr. Begeti will take Over-The-Counter(OTC) pain relievers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aka NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. However, be sure to keep track of the number of pain relievers you take: Dr. Begeti limits her monthly intake of OTC pain meds to under 10 days a month to avoid medication-overuse headaches.“I get migraine attacks and will take a triptan — an as-needed migraine pain medication — and a nausea medication when I feel an episode coming on,” - Dr. Lopez.

7. Take Pain Relievers When Needed

If you are experiencing more severe pain or symptoms, it may be worth a trip to the neurologist to see if you could benefit from prescription medication and to make sure that your headache is nothing to worry about.

8. More Severe Pain Warrants a Trip To a Neurologist

“Sometimes there are no notable triggers to headaches.. A big part of why people get headaches is due to genetics, and I see headaches that run in families.” -- Dr. BegetiHeadache pain can range from mild to debilitating. Try these neurologist-approved strategies until you find what works for you. Establishing a unique, at-home routine is vital to treating these conditions effectively.“It’s important to listen to your body. I find that a headache may resolve if I do that and it certainly prevents it from getting worse,” -- Dr. Begeti

Some Headaches Arent Linked to Lifestyle or Environmental Factor

Steal this smart advice from the pros the next time you feel a migraine, tension or cluster headache coming on.

8 Things Neurologists Do When They Have A Headache

I recently sought help for a street dog (I named her Seeti because she always comes running at the sound of my whistle) who had TVT, a type of life-threatening cancer. I called up a vet in my area who directed me to <a href="https://barkindia.org/">Bark India Charitable Trust </a>. Their volunteers came within 24hrs to pick Seeti up, started her on chemotherapy, and dropped her back in no time. She’s been recovering very well ever since.   You can check the <a href="http://www.weforanimals.com/Veterinary%20hospitals/veterinary%20hospitals.htm">We For Animals listing </a>to find such organizations. You can also check People For Animals registered units and hospitals on their <a href="https://www.peopleforanimalsindia.org/pfa-units.php">websites </a>.

Don't Ignore The Sick

Don’t have the time to cater to your neighborhood dogs? Try helping out those doing great work for the voiceless by donating and sponsoring whatever you can. In the past few years, I have regularly donated to a bunch of individual stray dog caregivers in Bangalore like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ayyappa.kolluru">Ayyappa Kolluru </a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sanjanaa_narendra/">Sanjana Narendra </a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nabanita.chakraborty.144">Nabanita Chakraborty </a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008514764365">Tanya Singh </a>, to name a few.

Contribute What You Can

I’ve been skimming through this comprehensive <a href="https://pets.webmd.com/pets-vaccines-directory">Pet Vaccines Directory </a>at WebMD to educate myself about vaccinations that dogs usually need. Additionally, you can familiarise yourself with animal-protection laws in India so you can combat prejudices set against them. You can easily access this type of information on the websites of the<a href="http://www.awbi.org/">Animal Welfare Board of India </a>and the <a href="http://www.moef.nic.in/">Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change </a>.

Educate Yourself

Back in 2020, soon after moving to a new area in Bangalore, I spotted a dog howling on a neighboring house’s terrace. I thought the owners might have left him there for a couple of hours. Turns out, they never took him in. He was always on the terrace, come rain or shine. I reported it to the local animal welfare team, who immediately spoke to the dog’s owners and sorted it all out.

Take cruelty personally

I'm an animal activist and I love to help people do more for their street animals. 

You can easily find such heroes in your city by hopping onto social platforms and actively searching for dog-loving communities online.

Feeding street dogs is great, here are 4 ways to do more for them this year. - The Daily Report

1. Exercise: Exercise boosts brain power.2. Survival: The human brain evolved, too.3. Wiring: Every brain is wired differently.4. Attention: We don’t pay attention to boring things.5. Short-term memory: Repeat to remember.6. Long-term memory: Remember to repeat.7. Sleep: Sleep well, think well.8. Stress: Stressed brains don’t learn the same way.9. Sensory integration: Stimulate more of the senses.10. Vision: Vision trumps all other senses.11. Gender: Male and female brains are different.12. Exploration: We are powerful and natural explorers.

The 12 Brain Rules 

An updated and expanded edition of the international bestseller Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details that every business leader, parent, and teacher should know — for instance, that physical activity helps to get your brain working at its best. How do we learn? What do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multitasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget — and so important to repeat new information? In Brain Rules, Dr John Medina, a molecular biologist, shares his lifelong interest in brain science, and how it can influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule — what scientists know for sure about how our brains work — and offers transformative ideas for our daily lives. In this expanded edition — which includes additional information on the brain rules and a new chapter on music — you will discover how every brain is wired differently, why memories are volatile, and how stress and sleep can influence learning. By the end, you’ll understand how your brain really works — and how to get the most out of it.

exerciseandfitness

Exercise & Fitness

An updated and expanded edition of the international bestseller Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details that every business leader, parent, and teacher should know — for instance, that physical activity helps to get your brain working at its best. How do we learn? What do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multitasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget — and so important to repeat new information? In Brain Rules, Dr John Medina, a molecular biologist, shares his lifelong interest in brain science, and how it can influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule — what scientists know for sure about how our brains work — and offers transformative ideas for our daily lives. In this expanded edition — which includes additional information on the brain rules and a new chapter on music — you will discover how every brain is wired differently, why memories are volatile, and how stress and sleep can influence learning. By the end, you’ll understand how your brain really works — and how to get the most out of it.

DR. JOHN J. MEDINA, a developmental molecular biologist, has a lifelong fascination with how the mind reacts to and organizes information. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School" -- a provocative book that takes on the way our schools and work environments are designed. His latest book is a must-read for parents and early-childhood educators: "Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five."Medina is an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and two boys.

John Medina

Brain Rules

From the moment we first open our eyes in the morning to the moment we go to bed, we’re confronted with a barrage of decisions. Which outfit should I wear? What should I make for dinner? What’s the fastest route to take to work today? Our minds are often full of a continuous stream of tasks, and it takes a toll on our mental well-being. 
With so much information coming from different sources—from news to social media outlets to our own family in the background—our brains can feel completely overwhelmed.

The Brain Is Always On

You’ve decluttered your home for remote work. Now declutter your mind.


How to quiet your mind by doing a brain dump

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