As you might have heard, Spirit, the Mars rover, got stuck. A 7-year-old kid named Julian suggested a way to get it unstuck, and the drivers were so impressed by it that they’re sending him a reward.
Thanks, Atley.
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Scientists discover how long it takes for the brain to alter and change during meditation
Achieve a brain change in 7 minutes.
Meditation has been a practice for thousands of years, as early as 5,000 to 3,500 BCE. While typically a spiritual practice, meditation has since become a method to enhance mental and physical wellness. Many use meditation to lower stress and anxiety to feel more calm and grounded. Some practitioners meditate for hours at a time to achieve this, but, according to recent scientific research, they may only need seven minutes.
A study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bengaluru, India found that while meditation can alter and change the brain over multiple sessions, it only takes around seven minutes for that mental change to peak per session.
“Meditation research has traditionally compared broad states such as ‘rest’ versus ‘meditation,’ but we still know surprisingly little about when changes in the brain actually emerge after meditation begins,” said researcher Malipeddi Saketh to PsyPost. “Many people assume meditation effects require long sessions, yet little work has examined the moment-to-moment temporal dynamics of brain activity during meditation.”
Studying the brain while it’s meditating
For the study, Saketh and his colleagues separated 103 participants into three groups. The groups were separated by their meditation experience, from novices to regular practitioners. In a sound-proof room, they had the participants individually engage in a 15-minute breath-watching meditation. During these sessions, the researchers analyzed their brain activity at a rate of 1,000 measurements per second. They did this using a specialized net of 128 electrodes placed across the scalp.
The researchers also looked at a transitional band called theta-alpha, which ranges from 6 to 10 hertz. This band is said to reflect a calm, focused state when both alertness and relaxation overlap. This is in contrast to 8 to 12 hertz alpha waves, a state of relaxation in which a person is wide awake with their eyes closed.
To track changes in brain activity over time, the researchers compared the data collected during successive one-minute segments against the baseline, which was the first 30 seconds of the meditation session. They also ran a separate analysis comparing a period of eyes-closed rest to the participant’s meditative state.
The results were promising, especially for newbies to meditation. The researchers found that brain changes during meditation were found within the first two to three minutes. They also found that regardless of experience, these brain changes peaked in intensity within the first seven to ten minutes. This means someone could get the benefits of meditation in less time than it takes to watch a YouTube video.
Effective meditation requires less time than previously thought
“From a mental well-being perspective, this is encouraging because many people feel they lack sufficient time to meditate or believe they need to practice for very long durations to experience benefits,” Saketh noted. “Our findings suggest that even brief periods of intentional mental training may begin engaging brain processes related to attention and internal awareness.”
This study means that even if you have little time in your schedule, you can benefit from meditation. According to the Mayo Clinic, meditation can help a person manage symptoms of a wide assortment of ailments. This can range from IBS to high blood pressure. In general, meditation is seen as a good practice for stress management.
While there are several videos online and various venues for professional meditation sessions, beginners don’t necessarily need those at the start. They may not even need them at all.
Meditation tips for newbies
Experts have a few tips to get begin meditating regularly. Set some time aside for meditation, either in the morning to get your day off to a good start or later in the evening to let go of the day’s tension. Meditate in a relaxing, distraction-free spot while seated in a comfortable, upright position. Then, with your eyes closed, focus on the words “breathe in” and “breathe out” as you do so. While you might peak at seven minutes like in the study, you might want to have a full 20-minute meditation session.
If your mind wanders during your session, just acknowledge that it wandered and continue focused breathing. You may want to initially practice mindfulness as you begin your session. Notice what you are feeling, smelling, and what your other senses are engaged with.
This practice can take time to master. Some professionals highlight best practices to help you find what’s most effective for you. It should also be noted that meditation is not a replacement for medical treatment. It’s best to consult your doctor and/or psychiatrist to see if meditation can help you with specific needs.
Meditation may or may not work for you. However, based on this study, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try for at least seven minutes.
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Girl scouts use their cookie sale money to 3D print wheelchairs for toddlers
Girl Scouts step up to help their peers who need mobility devices.
When people buy Girl Scout cookies, it’s typically known that the proceeds would go to programs and activities for that particular troop and the organization as a whole. However, for eight third-graders in Dorchester, MA, the money was paid forward to another cause. They used the funds to purchase a 3D printer to make wheelchairs for younger children.
Along with their troop leader, Corinne Curran, the girls spent nearly $200 of the cookie profits on the supplies. It took about 200 hours for the pediatric wheelchair parts to be fully printed and less than an hour for the group to build it.
Kids helping kids
“They were so excited,” Curran said to ABC News. “One of the cool parts about Girl Scouts is they know they earn this money and they can see where it’s going and how they can use it to do good, make the world a better place.”
Curran said that the troop was inspired to build wheelchairs for fellow kids after a visit to Curran’s employer, The Boston Home. The Boston Home is a residential care center for adults with neurological conditions. After seeing the wheelchairs in use at the center, the girls wanted to provide such mobility to their peers.
How to 3D print a wheelchair
With this mission in mind, the troop discovered a design for a 3D printed toddler mobility trainer wheelchair through MakeGood. MakeGood is a non-profit organization that aims to provide more accessibility for those who need assistive technology. They do this by offering 3D printer designs for such devices to those who want to build them. They are also willing to pick up and deliver finished 3D printed devices to a person in need free of charge.
Items like toddler wheelchairs can be incredibly expensive, especially for those without health insurance coverage. According to a 2022 report by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, almost one billion children and adults need a form of assisted technology such as wheelchairs, but lack access. Because of the expense and growing need, many have turned to 3D printing to create those devices on their own. It should be noted that because these 3D printed devices are made from volunteers and aren’t regulated or clinically-approved medical equipment.
The girl scouts are excited to be a part of this movement to help others, and are eager to make more wheelchairs for kids.
“We do what the girls want to do, and this was a huge project for them. They were so excited about it,” Curran said. “They want to make another one that is multiple shades of violet. And they also said that they want to build [a power wheelchair].”
If Girl Scouts can make a difference with something as important as free wheelchairs, many more can. You can contribute to those in need of assistive technology locally and globally via different resources available online. The Wheelchair Foundation also has a list of relevant organizations to consider.
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Men were stunned when asked the same types of career questions women regularly face
Questions many women recognize instantly.
“How much do you think your looks helped you get promoted to your position?” Unfortunately for many women, this isn’t a shocking question. Interviews, performance reviews, and typical professional interactions can reveal a double standard and workplace bias.
In a social-experiment-style reel by lifestyle creator @bol.lifestyle, these questions were instead asked of men. Their discomfort and disbelief reveal why the standards women face regarding credibility are impossible to ignore.
An experiment to reveal a double standard
In the video, men are placed in an interview-style setup and asked a series of questions. Hearing these skewed questions for the first time, their expressions shift quickly from curious to confused and uncomfortable.
Host: Have you ever been asked to just smile and look pretty or smile and say nothing in a meeting with a customer?
One man appears somewhat shocked and uncomfortable. He quickly responds, almost dismissive at even being asked the question, “No.”
Host: Do you think that your looks helped you getting promoted or moving up to your current position?
Another man reflects and appears unable to answer the question.
Host: Looking so good. By the way, I do love the shoes. Are these designer or your particular brand that you really like?
A third man awkwardly smiles and vents some air, almost as if the ridiculous question doesn’t feel fitting at all. He doesn’t answer.
Host: Do your hormones sometimes get in the way?
A fourth man responds, “Hormones?” He awkwardly laughs and adds, “I don’t, I don’t know.”
Host: Do you sometimes wonder whether you’ve been chosen for this position because you’re a man?
Man 2 responds definitively, “No, not because I was a man.”
Host: How do you handle in your job being assertive without being perceived as aggressive or bitchy?
Man 1 tilts his head back and reflects on the question. “That’s uh, that’s a question that I find it very hard to relate to.” He then adds, “Because it’s not a situation I’ve been in.”
Many microphones are held in front of a man.
Photo credit CanvaReal questions women face
After this first series of questions, the video presents titles claiming: These were real questions asked to our female leaders throughout their careers.
The host goes on to ask the men how they feel about this particular line of questioning. Their response is predictable.
“It really, really, really feels uncomfortable. And I also feel it in my body,” said Man 3.
“When hearing these things still happen, it makes me also feel that, hey, maybe I am more privileged than I thought I was,” added Man 1.
At the end of the interview, the men seemed a little upset and surprised by the double standard. They collectively hoped for change, and some suggested they themselves were responsible for helping things get better.
A man writes the word “change.”
Photo credit CanvaPeople advocate for change
People seemed to really respond to the video. With over 6,000 comments, there was a consensus confirming the experience and advocating for change.
“Men, our male privilege is real. How we use it is up to us, and hopefully we use it to protect and improve the experience of the women in our workplace.”
“If you have sons, please prepare them to improve the way the world treats women.”
“The man that felt it in his body… welcome to the life of a woman”
“Perhaps the greatest privilege is never having to notice your own privilege.”
“Oh my God. I have heard ALL of these questions. And more.”
“Well done. We have to show a different way and we can do it with grace! We have to do it different.”
“It’s not what we perceive , it’s what is .”
“THIS experiment should be undertaken in workplaces all over the world…”
Women and men working together.
Photo credit CanvaIt’s not about finger-pointing
It can be easy to get lost in finger-pointing. Although at times the comments might feel like a pile-on, the success of the video lies in its simple setup. It takes a familiar experience and shifts the perspective so that people might hear it a little differently.
Certain assumptions or expectations can become so normalized that people, maybe mostly men, stop noticing them altogether. Is it possible for workplace conversations to be more thoughtful, fair, and aware than they have been or, in some circumstances, still are?
The intent of the video seemed less about provoking a fight. It demonstrated that some basic reflection and small shifts of awareness can lead to better experiences for everyone. There’s a familiar proverb that comes to mind: walk a mile in my shoes. These men seemed to gain some real perspective from the opportunity.
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Scientists discover how long it takes for the brain to alter and change during meditation
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