Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Do Newly Coined Swear Words Relieve Pain? A Controlled Experiment

2025-07-02

Researchers conducted an experiment to test whether newly invented swear words have the same pain-relieving effects as traditional swear words. Participants immersed their hands in ice water while repeating different words, including a conventional swear word, two newly coined swear words, and a neutral word. Results showed that the conventional swear word increased pain tolerance and threshold, but the newly coined words did not. This suggests the pain-relieving effect of swearing may not simply be due to sound or emotional arousal, but rather learned negative associations from childhood.

(www.frontiersin.org)

Misc pain swearing

Urban Raptor's Clever Hunting Strategy: Exploiting Red Lights

2025-05-27

Dr. Vladimir Dinets, a research assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, observed a Cooper's hawk demonstrating remarkable adaptation to city life. The hawk learned to use the sound signal from extended red lights at an intersection to predict the formation of a car queue providing cover. It then ambushed birds near a house, utilizing the cars as camouflage during its attack. This indicates the hawk understood the correlation between the artificial signal and vehicle behavior, possessing excellent spatial memory to accurately strike prey even when obstructed from view. This showcases the exceptional intelligence and adaptability of urban raptors.

(www.frontiersin.org)

Tech raptor

Algorithms Can't Understand Life: On the Non-Computational Nature of Relevance Realization

2025-05-15

This article explores the fundamental difference between organisms and algorithms in how they know the world. Organisms inhabit a 'large world' overflowing with potential meaning, requiring 'relevance realization' to discern relevant environmental cues. Algorithms, conversely, exist within predefined 'small worlds,' incapable of autonomously solving the problem of relevance. The authors argue that relevance realization is not an algorithmic process but stems from the self-manufacturing dynamic organization of living matter. This enables organisms to act autonomously and anticipate the consequences of their actions. This ability is key to distinguishing living systems from non-living ones (like algorithms and machines) and offers a novel perspective on natural agency, cognition, and consciousness.

(www.frontiersin.org)

AI relevance realization biological autonomy

Background Music Listening Habits Differ Between Neurotypical Adults and Those Screened for ADHD

2025-04-08

An online survey of 910 young adults (17–30 years old) compared background music (BM) listening habits and subjective effects between neurotypical individuals and those who screened positive for ADHD across tasks with varying cognitive demands. The ADHD group showed a significantly higher preference for BM in specific situations, such as studying and exercising, and a stronger preference for stimulating music. However, no significant differences were found in subjective effects of BM on cognitive and emotional functioning between the groups. The study highlights the importance of adjusting BM use based on individual arousal needs and available cognitive resources, offering a novel perspective on music interventions for ADHD.

(www.frontiersin.org)

AI Background Music

Andalusian Interest Groups' Digital Communication Strategies: A Silent Lobby?

2025-03-27

This paper investigates the digital communication strategies of Andalusian interest groups on social media. The study finds that these groups, primarily composed of companies and business associations, exhibit extremely low interactivity, rarely engaging in dialogue with the public. While employing some political communication and propaganda techniques, their communication activities lack clear political objectives, focusing instead on maintaining a positive self-image rather than active lobbying. The results suggest that the digital communication strategies of Andalusian interest groups may not primarily serve lobbying purposes but rather a more passive approach.

(www.frontiersin.org)

Misc interest groups lobbying

Chewing Hard Objects Boosts Brain GSH Levels and Improves Cognition?

2025-03-03

A Korean study found that chewing hard objects (like wooden blocks) significantly increases glutathione (GSH) levels in the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain. GSH is a crucial antioxidant, and higher levels are associated with better memory performance. In contrast, chewing gum showed no significant effect on GSH levels. Researchers suggest that increased cerebral blood flow from chewing hard objects may stimulate GSH synthesis. This study proposes a simple way to boost brain antioxidant defenses, but further research is needed to validate its effectiveness across different age groups and brain regions.

(www.frontiersin.org)

Tech Glutathione Antioxidant Cognitive Function

Warping in Fan-out Wafer-Level Packaging: Modeling, Measurement, and Control

2025-02-28

The end of Moore's Law has spurred advancements in advanced semiconductor packaging, such as fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP). FOWLP enhances performance and efficiency by packaging chips at the wafer level and redistributing interconnects. However, warping during FOWLP manufacturing poses a significant challenge. This paper reviews methods for measuring (Moiré interferometry, digital fringe projection, digital image correlation), modeling (Stoney's equation, Timoshenko's theory, finite element method, AI/ML models, multi-scale approaches), and controlling warping. Warping is primarily determined by material properties (coefficient of thermal expansion, glass transition temperature, Young's modulus), process parameters (temperature profiles, mold cure rate, mold flow rate), and geometry (layer thickness, chip geometry, chip layout, redistribution layer). Future research directions include the need for more accurate material data, multi-scale models, and the development of digital twin technology for real-time warping control.

(www.frontiersin.org)

Hardware Fan-out Wafer-Level Packaging Warping Finite Element Analysis

Local Social Spending Mitigates the Impact of Economic Hardship on Political Dissatisfaction

2025-02-27

This study investigates the impact of economic hardship on political dissatisfaction in the Netherlands and whether local social spending can mitigate this effect. Using data from the Netherlands Longitudinal Life Course Study, the research finds that economic hardship does increase political dissatisfaction, but higher levels of local social spending significantly reduce this effect, particularly for those experiencing long-term hardship. This may be attributed to feelings of gratitude for received benefits or positive evaluations of government responsiveness. The study also highlights that persistent economic hardship and an accumulation of economic problems exacerbate political dissatisfaction.

(www.frontiersin.org)

Misc political dissatisfaction economic hardship social spending

Unexpected EEG Patterns During Deep Meditation

2025-02-18

This study recorded EEGs from 29 experienced Buddhist meditators practicing Jhāna, revealing unprecedented brainwave patterns: spindles, infraslow waves (ISWs), and spike-wave bursts. These patterns correlated with deeper meditative states, suggesting a progressive detachment from default sensory consciousness, aligning with stages of Buddhist Jhāna practice. The findings offer a novel perspective on the neural correlates of consciousness and raise questions about the intricate relationship between deep meditation and brain activity.

(www.frontiersin.org)

AI Meditation

Vestigial Ear Muscles Activate During Effortful Listening

2025-01-31

A new study reveals that human auricular muscles, once used to move our ears, reactivate during challenging listening tasks. Scientists used electromyography to measure muscle activity while participants listened to audiobooks with competing sounds. The results showed increased activity in the superior auricular muscles when hearing was difficult, suggesting these vestigial muscles may play a role in attentional mechanisms. While the muscle movements are minuscule and likely don't improve hearing, their activation could serve as an objective measure of listening effort.

(www.frontiersin.org)

Tech hearing auricular muscles