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Scientists Pin Down a Link Between Happiness and 1 Daily Activity
Even under normal circumstances, it's tough to get motivated to bike across town or visit a museum when you're feeling low. But that's exactly what you should do, scientists say. Exploring the unknown has a powerful influence on mood, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Neuroscience. Researchers tracked the location and mood fluctuations of 122 people across New York City and Miami over three to four months. An analysis of movement patterns and reported emotions revealed an intuitive insight that had yet to be empirically demonstrated: Experiencing new and diverse experiences on a daily basis is linked to positive emotions.
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Will an A.I. Ever Become Sentient?
“Sentience” is a word with seriously heavy connotations that also tend to hold different meaning to different people and under differing circumstances. First, some definitions are in order: Intelligence: 1 a: the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations. b: the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one’s environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests) 2: mental acuteness. (Merriam-Webster) Sentient: 1: responsive to or conscious of sense impressions: sentient beings. 2: aware 3: finely sensitive in perception or feeling (Merriam-Webster) ... Biological Intelligence ... Dr.
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Learning to Live With Fear
... Fear is often a lonely experience. Its intensity can isolate us and make us question ourselves—make us feel flawed, weak and foolish. But because of the pandemic, millions of people around the world are sharing the same fears. That’s a rare thing, and it offers us a reminder that fear isn’t always something to be hidden or quelled, but something to be acknowledged and addressed. In times like these, fear can be an asset. It’s what motivates us to identify a threat and take measures to counter it. What we need to do—always, but especially now—is understand how our fears function to help us survive.
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The Growth Mindset: Spurring A More Skilled, Engaged And Innovative Workforce
In the past, it may have been acceptable to attend school, learn a skill and then use said skill for the duration of one’s career. Today’s reality looks much different: The half-life of skills, or the period of time in which a skill is innovated, flourishes and then becomes irrelevant, continues to drop significantly. In fact, research from Deloitte and the World Economic Forum reports skills that once had a half-life of 30 years now have an average life of just six years. This means that an employee will need to reskill seven times throughout the course of an average working career.
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To Build Resilience in Isolation, Master the Art of Time Travel
APS Member/Author: Adam Grant As isolation day approached, Scott Kelly knew he had to prepare himself mentally. He wouldn’t be able to hug his family and friends. He wouldn’t be able to go outside without protective gear. He’d have a hard time sleeping, because he’d be going to bed in his office and waking up in that same office — on the International Space Station. As an astronaut, Mr. Kelly had been to space three times before. This time, though, he would be setting an American record by spending a full year in space. The hardest part was the uncertainty: He wasn’t sure exactly when his mission would end, and he didn’t know exactly how he’d get through it.
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The Surprising Power of Social Outreach
APS Member/Author: Nicholas Epley Among the many pains associated with coronavirus is a feeling of helplessness. Even if you are sheltered in place, you can do more good than you may think by reaching out to others and connecting. But first, you have to overcome the tendency to underestimate how positively others will respond when you try. Beyond the bodily harm that comes from getting sick is the psychological harm that comes from mandated social isolation. The sense of disconnection that follows harms well-being, creates a psychological stressor that impairs our immune systems, decreases cardiovascular health and increases the likelihood of death.
