Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

My Two-Year Noise-Cancelling Odyssey: From Self-Delusion to 'Ah-ha!' Moment

2025-03-12

Driven mad by noisy upstairs neighbors and a perpetually loud park, the author spent two years experimenting with bizarre noise-reduction methods: from industrial-strength earmuffs and silicone earplugs to researching earwax genes and the physics of sound, even attempting to build a soundproof chamber. All failed miserably. The ultimate solution? A simple pair of noise-canceling headphones. This article reflects on how over-reliance on theoretical analysis, neglecting simple solutions, and a fixation on cleverness led to wasted time and suffering.

Does L-Theanine Actually Work? A Blinded Self-Experiment Yields Surprising Results

2025-03-09

The author, a long-time user of L-theanine supplements, believed in its anxiety and stress-reducing effects. To test this, they conducted a 16-month double-blind experiment, comparing L-theanine against a vitamin D placebo. Surprisingly, L-theanine showed no significant benefit over the placebo. While statistically, stress levels decreased slightly after taking L-theanine, the placebo group showed a similar trend. The author couldn't reliably distinguish between L-theanine and the placebo. This casts doubt on L-theanine's efficacy and encourages further blinded studies to verify its purported benefits.

The IRB Nightmare: Navigating the Absurdity of US Human Subjects Research

2025-02-13

The author recounts, in a lighthearted yet insightful manner, the complexities of Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval in US human subjects research. Using the analogy of an absurdly steep driveway, he illustrates the difficulty in comprehending the often illogical rules. The article debunks common misconceptions about IRB applicability, delving into the origins and intricacies of the Common Rule, and the added layer of FDA regulations. The author highlights the convoluted nature of current regulations, emphasizing that practical enforcement depends on selective application by regulatory bodies rather than strict adherence to written law. Ultimately, the author advocates for streamlining IRB processes, particularly for low-risk research, suggesting a post-hoc penalty system rather than pre-approval.