"A neural code refers to particular patterns of brain activity associated with distinct words in their contexts. We found that the speakers’ brains are aligned on a shared neural code. Importantly, the brain’s neural code resembled the artificial neural code of large language models, or LLMs." - The Conversation
“When it comes to the health consequences of phones, so much depends on context. How someone uses an app matters, as well which app. One person might use Instagram to message with friends, whereas another could just scroll their feed aimlessly, feeling worse about themselves.” - The Atlantic (MSN)
The merchification of the movie-going experience was incomplete until Dune 2 kicked it off. Now? Viral merch may be helping save movie theatres. - Vulture
For instance, neither Deadpool nor Wolverine can die, and that makes them boring. “An entire generation has never known a time without the MCU and its reliable narrative architecture, with its wash, rinse, repeat of clever rejoinders, conflict resolution through fist fights and celebrity cameos.” - Salon
"By the end of the 20th century, our understanding of plant behaviour had expanded …, and it continues to expand. Plant behaviour is, as botanist Anthony Trewavas puts it, ‘what plants do’. It turns out that they do a lot. … The new plant philosophy has emerged partly in response to this work." - Aeon
“These are sandwiches that announced themselves, generating queues and crowds and noise, from hollers in the streets to streams of hyper-colourful Instagram photos. This is a potted history, not of London’s greatest sandwiches over the last two-and-a-half centuries, but of the most iconic ones.” - Vittles
American downtowns may have mattered before 2020, but the enormous growth of remote work (with the resulting rise in office vacancy rates) and the consistent preferences of home buyers show that suburbs and exurbs are where the action is — especially since much development there is along New Urbanism lines. - The New Atlantis
“It’s one of the most common low-stakes annoyances in modern life: you flop down on the couch, … to watch one of the dozens of incredible shows or movies you have access to” - and end up watching a rerun of a show you already know. Why? - The Verge
“Pull out the checklist: There’s music (and lots of it). There’s a cast of hundreds (or in this case, thousands) of performers. There’s grand spectacle (courtesy of director Thomas Jolly). There are fabulous costumes. There’s a narrative arc de triumph … They take, like, four hours.” - Washington Post
“Orwell would have been more disturbed by the mendacity of those claiming to have been canceled than he would have been by the decision of some media not to publish them.” - The Smart Set
The great discoveries of humanity have always taught us that we are not masters in our own house: Copernicus removed the Earth from the centre of the cosmos, Darwin spoiled our species’ idea of divine creation, Freud showed that we neither know nor control our desires. The humiliation by AI is subtler. - The Guardian
It is unclear how ordinary citizens can reliably evaluate the ideas circulating within the public sphere. Figuring out the truth about complex political issues is highly challenging. If people are selling untruths—simplistic, unfounded, or inaccurate ideas—how would ordinary citizens know? - Conspicuous Cognition
The very fun of being a creative is solving problems people don't even know to exist. Eventually, if you are creative and curious enough, one finding leads to another, and one way or the other, you learn more than just SEO, social media, and the thousand other things that felt overwhelming beforehand. - Creative Boom
Millennials and Gen Z are taking over now. "The KHive has ditched the bee and gone coconuts now that Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 election and endorsed Kamala Harris. What’s more, Harris’s laugh is getting remixed into songs by just about every pop diva.” - Vulture
