Science

2000€ reward for deciphering the French “Rosetta stone”

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Una publicación compartida de NU.nl (@nu.nl) el 10 May, 2019 a las 12:29 PDT

If you’re one of those who just loves a little brain teaser, this might be the perfect opportunity to show off your detective skills… and even get paid for it!

A mysterious stone found on the French coast

A French town called Plougastel-Daoulas has found a mysterious stone on their coast, which seems to hold a secret message. Experts have yet to figure out what the message means. It’s not even clear what language the message was written in. Lonely Planet has baptised it the French “Rosetta stone”.

Dare to decipher the message?

The French government has opened the case to the public, in hopes of finding what this enigmatic message might contain. In fact, they encourage anyone who might have a slight idea on what the stone says, with a reward of 2000€.

Hundreds of years old

Truth is, that the stone was found in 2015, so the case has been ongoing ever since. Theories claim it was written in Basque, others state it could be Breton. Any theory is but a longshot, as experts have absolutely no clue on what the message might mean.

French Village Is Offering $2,250 to Whoever Can Decipher Its Centuries-Old Stone Message https://t.co/bHYEPQuu2w pic.twitter.com/kuNKEB47HX
— Gordon White (@gordon_white) 13 de mayo de 2019

What they do suspect is that the stone could be hundreds of years old, but they won’t be able to pin down an exact date until they find out what the stone says.

What we know about the stone

The clues we have on what the stone might mean are scarce, but what we can rely on is what we see: its measurements are more or less that of an average human being, and all of its surface is engraved with what look like capital letters.

It also shows a drawing which contains what look like two dates: 1786 and 1787. These dates are thought to refer to the artillery batteries from the town next-door, called Brest.

Will we ever find out?

All in all, the only clue we have from the mysterious stone is that it might be related to the horrendous wars that have taken place on the French coast.

From here on, you can make your own conclusions: does the message lead to an impossible love story? does it narrate the tale of ripped apart family? For now, we will leave it up to you and your imagination to decide what enigma the message holds.

Photos: Unsplash, Pixabay, Twitter and Instagram

How Technology is Zapping Our Memory

While you might think you can easily remember everything thanks to the plethora of calendar and organizational apps available, turns out technology is actually worsening our memory.

A Quick Memory Check

Before you start to think this finding too terribly shocking– how many phone numbers of friends and family members can you recall, without looking them up? Or even more challenging- when are the birthdays of all your closest friends?

Brain gears working to produce a memory, result in a question mark.

Unsuccessful? We thought so. You’re not alone- technology has changed the way our memories actually work, and how our brains decide to store information.

How Our Brains Work

To have a better understanding as to how technology is impairing our memories, it’s important to know how our brain stores information in the first place.

Brain that internally looks like a memory board.

Our brains are working constantly, and every event that occurs in our life is compartmentalized into the three main types of memory: sensory, short-term (working), and long-term. Sensory memories are everything that we experience but don’t process; they last less than a second in our “memory storage.”

Short-term involves information that we can temporarily recall, typically from 10 seconds to a minute. Our brains can only retain a limited amount of information in short-term, so the information we give more attention to in this “working stage” can transfer to long-term memory. Otherwise, the information is essentially deleted from our consciousness.

Long-term memory is where- you guessed it- our memories are stored for life. The good news is that there is an unlimited space available in our long-term! Having more long-term memories has been proven to enhance our brain function and intelligence.

Girl at graduation with her graduation cap and tassle.

The Bad News…

The way we interact with technology today makes information much more difficult to be transferred to long-term memory. Every time you spend long nights scrolling through articles, newsfeeds, and images, your brain is being overloaded with information. Just imagine if you had all of your classes being taught at the same time- you would have no idea which information is most important to take notes on, or how to process it. Your brain is feeling the exact same thing, making it difficult to choose and process what’s important.

Girl with hands covering face and extra set on head, looking overwhelmed.

Social Media, Minus The “Social”

Forming memories has historically been considered a social process, with our memories being enhanced and more vivid thanks to the people we create them with. Although Social Media was created to help us stay connected, the numerous platforms have in turn made us less social. Rather than calling up a family member to remember a specific date, we check our phones. Instead of experiencing a new city fully while traveling with friends, we whip out Instagram to take photos and videos, producing a “photo-taking impairment effect.”

Hand with phone using Instagram in big city, which hurts our memory of events.

A Senior Moment, Or A Millennial Moment?

We all have heard of the senior moment, when typically an adult forgets something and attributes it to old age. However, a study by The Trending Machine found Millennials are actually more likely to forget common things like names and where they placed their keys and purse, than people over the age 55. Researchers attribute this lapse in memory to both interconnectivity and the high levels of stress common among the 18-34 year old crowd.

While your brain is not going to stop working entirely from using technology, it’s important to think about the long term. Finding ways to be more present in your daily life, and spending time with family and friends will help ensure you make and remember those important memories to last a life time.

Photos: Freepik, Pixabay, and Unsplash

Can A Mushroom Be The Answer To Our Plastic Problem?

If you haven’t already hopped aboard the #plasticfree train, you might be contributing to one of the world’s leading causes of environmental damage. According to National Geographic, “18 billion pounds of plastic waste flows into the oceans every year from coastal regions,” all of which will never break down in our life time (nor during the next generations…).

How This Plastic Build Up Affects The Environment…

To make matters worse, the majority of the plastic that humans consume around the world is never recycled. This means our landfills, oceans, and environment get filled with plastic trash, causing animals who mistakenly eat and get entangled in the products to die.

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Una publicación compartida de Plastic Pollution Coalition (@plasticpollutes) el 3 Mar, 2019 a las 7:20 PST

…And Affects Us

If the sight of animals being harmed isn’t enough to worry you (as it SHOULD), plastic also has many toxic chemicals that, when leached into the soil and groundwater, end up in our drinking water, produce, and fish. According to a study at Arizona State University, almost every human has some traces of chemicals in our system that have derived from plastic. These chemicals can have a range of negative effects, including cancer, hormonal changes, and a weakening of our immune systems.

The Search For A Solution

Despite the grim outlook on the planet’s future, scientists have been developing research for numerous ways to reduce and maybe even reverse the damage caused by our consumption. The latest of investigations? A plastic-eating mushroom called Pestalotiopsis microspora.

Asides from being a mouthful to pronounce, the Pestalotiopsis microspora is a fungus that was originally discovered in the Amazon in Ecuador by a group of scientists from Yale University. While most living creatures need oxygen to survive, this rare mushroom’s source of energy comes from consuming polyurethane, a plastic material.

A Waste Reducer…and Tasty Snack?

Before being trucked to as many landfills as possible to start eating away at the trash, scientists are still doing research on the properties of these mushrooms and potential side effects. Additionally, some scientists are cultivating the mushrooms to be grown into an edible snack. Talk about a renewable source.

While this mushroom is a promising find in the quest for measures to save our planet, it is unlikely to be the end-all solution for our problems. This means it’s vital we all find ways to reduce our plastic consumption and aim for a more sustainable lifestyle. Our planet and lives depend on it.

Photos: Pixabay

Easy Ways To Get (And Stay) Fit In No Time

If you are one of the many who made getting fit your New Year’s resolution (and subsequently broke said resolution two weeks later), this article is for you! Getting fit can seem like an impossible challenge, but once you start the habit, you’ll be wondering how you managed to live this long without exercise in your life. With this easy to follow guide, you’ll be on your way to reaching your exercise goals in no time.

Write Down Your Goals

Before even thinking about heading to sign up at a gym, think about why you want to get fit. Are you trying to lose weight? Did your doctor recommend it? Whatever the case may be, it’s important to set realistic goals– both short and long term- to start your fit journey. Once you come up with your goals, be sure to write them down and place them in a space that you will see everyday (above your bed, for example). This way you will have a visible and constant reminder for why you started, in order to push you on the days when your motivation is lacking.

Buy The Right Gear

You can’t feasibly (or safely) start running without a decent pair of running shoes. While you don’t have to spend tons of money on workout clothes, having a few basic items that you feel comfortable in will make getting fit that much more enjoyable and stress-free. Instead of worrying about how you look at the gym, you’ll be able to concentrate on your workout and achieving your goals.

Try A Fitness Class

Often times the most daunting part of going to the gym for the first time is doing it solo. Luckily, there are an infinite number of group classes available out there, both at specialty studios and regular gyms. Cross Fit, Yoga, Spinning, Barre… you name it there is a class for YOU. Not only will having an instructor help to motivate you throughout the structured classes, but you will be getting fit with a group of people that will make you feel a part of a community.

Create A Bumping Fit Playlist

There’s nothing worse than being on the treadmill with no music to distract you. Studies show listening to music while you workout can even enhance your physical performance by give you an energy boost. If you don’t feel like creating your own playlist, apps like Spotify have hundreds of great workout playlists already pre-made. Some playlists can even be created based on running tempo, so you can get fit at the pace you want.

Short and Sweet Does The Trick

Of all the crazy (false) myths that exist about getting fit, the biggest by far is that your workout has to be a 1-2 hour long sweat session to see results. In reality, a quick 15 minute HIIT (High Intensity Impact Training) workout can be just as impactful, if not more. HIIT workouts are the perfect alternative to squeeze exercise into a crammed workday, and the intense interval bursts help target fat and create toned muscle. You can say goodbye to the boring treadmill, and hello to the new you for good!

Photos: Freepik, Pixabay, and Unsplash

Your Trendy Drink Could Send You To The ER

Bubble teas are the trendiest new drink to thirst your quench this summer, but could this latest bubbly fad be a hazard to your health?

The Latest Bubble Tea Drink Craze

In case you haven’t stepped outside in the last month, bubble teas are the latest drink that will have you craving for more. Originated in Taiwan, bubble teas are a cold sweet flavored drink that contain little chewy “bubble” tapioca balls at the bottom. They often are sold in a variety of fruity flavors and with milkshake versions too. Bottom line- this drink is DELICIOUS.

While they’ve only started popping up recently around the world, this sweet bubbly drink has been an essential staple in Taiwan for years. Think of it like their version of coffee. Not a bad way to start the day!

Too Much Of A Good Thing…

Just like some people drink 4-5 cups of coffee a day, some people drink numerous cups of bubble tea a day… which caused one 14 year old girl from Zhejiang, China to be hospitalized. According to the reports, the unnamed girl had been suffering severe cramping to the point she couldn’t eat or go to the bathroom for five days straight.

Naturally alarmed by the pain, her parents decided to take her to the hospital, but doctors could not find anything wrong with her from a physical exam.

The Nightmare Continues…

With no answers from a physical exam, doctors decided to do a CT scan and found imaging of more than 100 tapioca bubbles that were trapped in her digestive system. The girl claimed she didn’t drink more than one bubble tea before she had cramps, but with THAT many undigested in her stomach… doctors thought otherwise.

Doctors believe she was not able to digest the drink because the bubbles are high in starch, which is very difficult for the body to break down. Thankfully, they were able to easily cure the girl with laxatives and sent her home with the reminder to not drink so many bubble teas!

Should I Be Scared To Drink Bubble Teas?

Of course not! This girl’s trip to the ER was just one unlucky incident due to consuming too much of the bubbly delight. As with most things in life, it’s important to enjoy the drink in moderation and remember to get enough water and nutrients from other sources. This will help make sure your digestion is in check. No need to sweat when you sit back and sip that bubble tea this summer!

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Get your fav @zenzoobubbles with your favs & ready to go?

Una publicación compartida de Sunflower (@jj_shineshining) el 16 Abr, 2019 a las 3:20 PDT

Photos: Unsplash, Pixabay and Pexels

How To Survive The Heat This Summer

Summer is almost officially here! While we love to think about lounging at the pool and taking much deserved vacations, there’s also the brutal reality of the intense heat. You know, the one that leaves you sticky and sweaty after you just showered to feel cool again…

While we could say move somewhere cold for the duration of summer (Antarctica, anyone?) the reality is most of us have no choice but to bear the heat. These simple fixes will have you feeling cool in no time so that you can truly get the most out of your summer.

Freeze Your Linens

Sounds crazy, we know. However, putting your bed sheets and linens in the freezer or refrigerator for a few minutes right before bed can help you feel refreshed and beat the heat when going to bed at night. While your sheets won’t stay cool the whole night, it will at least help you bypass those agonizing minutes of trying to fall asleep in a hot stuffy room. To avoid having your sheets smelling like last night’s leftovers, place your items in a plastic bag before freezing.

Chill Your Pulse Points

pulse point in the wrist are good for cooling down

If you’re in dire need of an instant fix to your heat woes, try placing a cold compress or ice cube on your pulse points. The best pulse locations for a cooling cure are located in your wrists, behind the neck and knees, and your inner elbow. If you don’t have an cold compress lying around, grab that bag of frozen peas and you are good to go.

Unplug To Reduce Heat

While we all want to stay connected throughout the day on our mobile phones and other electronic devices, think twice before leaving them to charge all night. Each electronic device actually produces heat while being charged, which adds up when they’re all charging at once (and most likely in your bedroom). By unplugging your devices at night, not only will you reduce the heat around you, you’ll also reduce your electric bills. A true win-win!

Stock Up On Produce

It’s a good thing all the best fruits are in season during the summer. Eating more fruits and vegetables during the summer helps to keep us hydrated, so our body can keep cooling down naturally. To also help lower the metabolic heat your body produces, cut down on the amount of high protein and salty foods you consume, both of which can leave your body feeling dehydrated.

And we can’t forget, the best way to stay hydrated in the summer heat is to sip some water throughout the day. If the bland taste just doesn’t do it for you, try adding some fruit like lemons, strawberries or cucumber to the water- an instant healthy, refreshing drink to make you survive the heat like a pro!

Photos: Unsplash, Pixabay and Freepik