# gst: predicting tornadoes 3 weeks in advance

<< While meteorologists and computer models do reasonably well in forecasting severe thunderstorm activity up to a week in advance, their forecasts are less reliable in the 2‐ to 5‐week time frame. >>

AA << develop a technique that can accurately forecast severe thunderstorm activity in this time frame by using knowledge of the current state of weather in the tropics (the Madden ‐ Julian Oscillation). >>

Anne Manning. Researchers rise to challenge of predicting hail, tornadoes three weeks in advance. Colorado State University. Nov 29, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-11-hail-tornadoes-weeks-advance.html

Cory F. Baggett, Kyle M. Nardi, et al.  Skillful Subseasonal Forecasts of Weekly Tornado and Hail Activity Using the Madden‐Julian Oscillation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. Nov 12, 2018 doi: 10.1029/2018JD029059

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2018JD029059  

The Madden–Julian oscillation

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden%E2%80%93Julian_oscillation

# acad: oops! a database of more than 18,000 retracted scientific papers and conference abstracts has been released

<< Nearly a decade ago, headlines highlighted a disturbing trend in science: The number of articles retracted by journals had increased 10-fold during the previous 10 years. >>

<<  It is not a perfect window into the world of retractions. Not all publishers, for instance, publicize or clearly label papers they have retracted, or explain why they did so. And determining which author is responsible for a paper's fatal flaws can be difficult. >>

Jeffrey Brainard, Jia You. What a massive database of retracted papers reveals about science publishing's 'death penalty'. Science. Oct. 25, 2018

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/10/what-massive-database-retracted-papers-reveals-about-science-publishing-s-death-penalty

Searchable database of more than 18,000 retracted papers and conference abstracts dating back to the 1970s

http://retractiondatabase.org/RetractionSearch.aspx?

the blog Retraction Watch, by Ivan Oransky and Adam Marcus.

https://retractionwatch.com/

# game: cooperation and trust; cooperative behaviors (mediated by MDMA) without gullibility

<< Social decision-making is fundamental for successful functioning, and can be affected in psychiatric illness and by serotoninergic modulation. The Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) is the archetypal paradigm to model cooperation and trust. However, the effect of serotonergic enhancement is poorly characterised, and its influence on the effect of variations in opponent behaviour unknown. >>

<< MDMA [3,4-Methyl​ene dioxy​ methamphetamine ] increased cooperative behaviour when playing trustworthy opponents. Underlying this was a change in brain activity of regions linked to social cognition. [AA]  findings highlight the context-specific nature of MDMA's effect on social decision-making. >>

Anthony S Gabay, Matthew J Kempton, et al. MDMA increases cooperation and recruitment of social brain areas when playing trustworthy players in an iterated Prisoner's Dilemma. Journal of Neuroscience.  Nov 19,  2018, 1276-18. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1276-18.2018.

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/early/2018/11/16/JNEUROSCI.1276-18.2018

MDMA makes people cooperative, but not gullible.  King's College London. Nov 19, 2018.

https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2018-11-mdma-people-cooperative-gullible.html

MDMA  [3,4-Methyl​ene dioxy​ methamphetamine ]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA

# tech: terrestrial UFOs around us, by electroaerodynamics (ionic wind)

<< MIT engineers have built and flown the first-ever plane with no moving parts. Instead of propellers or turbines, the light aircraft is powered by an “ionic wind” - a silent but mighty flow of ions that is produced aboard the plane, and that generates enough thrust to propel the plane over a sustained, steady flight. >>

Jennifer Chu. MIT engineers fly first-ever plane with no moving parts.
The silent, lightweight aircraft doesn’t depend on fossil fuels or batteries. MIT News Office. Nov 21, 2018.

http://news.mit.edu/2018/first-ionic-wind-plane-no-moving-parts-1121

Haofeng Xu, Yiou He, et al.  Flight of an aeroplane with solid-state propulsion.  Nature. volume 563, pages 532–535 (2018).

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0707-9

# brain: about high creative abilities ...

<< Creative tasks range from what researchers call “little-c” creativity – making a website, crafting a birthday present or coming up with a funny joke – to “Big-C” creativity: writing a speech, composing a poem or designing a scientific experiment. >>

<< Recent evidence suggests that creativity involves a complex interplay between spontaneous and controlled thinking – the ability to both spontaneously brainstorm ideas and deliberately evaluate them to determine whether they’ll actually work. >>

AA << examined whether a person’s creative thinking ability can be explained, in part, by a connection between three brain networks. >>

Roger Beaty. New study reveals why some people are more creative than others. Harvard University. Jan 15, 2018.

https://theconversation.com/new-study-reveals-why-some-people-are-more-creative-than-others-90065

<< The findings thus reveal a whole-brain network associated with high-creative ability comprised of cortical hubs within default, salience, and executive systems-intrinsic functional networks that tend to work in opposition-suggesting that highly creative people are characterized by the ability to simultaneously engage these large-scale brain networks. >>

Roger E. Beaty, Yoed N. Kenett, et al. Robust prediction of individual creative ability from brain functional connectivity. PNAS Jan 30, 2018 115 (5) 1087-1092;  doi: 10.1073/pnas.1713532115.

http://www.pnas.org/content/115/5/1087

# gst: chaos from a double pendulum

<< Three double pendulums, all starting with near identical initial conditions, all rapidly diverging. >>

Ari Rubinsztejn. Chaos and the Double Pendulum. Nov 19, 2018.

https://gereshes.com/2018/11/19/chaos-and-the-double-pendulum

# ai-cpu: USB Neural Compute Stick 2 (99usd) by Intel

<< Intel has unveiled the Intel Neural Compute Stick 2. It looks like a standard USB thumb drive, and it runs on a USB 3.0 port, but is oh-more-special. CNET said the new AI "brain" sticks into the side of your PC. >>

<< Availability? And at what price? The new Intel NCS 2 is shipping worldwide from Nov 14. Kyle Wiggers, VentureBeat, had some details. It will be available through JD.com in China; RS Components in Europe, the Middle East and Asia; Switch Sciences in Japan; and Mouser worldwide, for $99. >>

Nancy Owano. USB form neural compute stick makes debut at developer event. Nov 15, 2018.

https://m.techxplore.com/news/2018-11-usb-neural-debut-event.html

https://software.intel.com/en-us/neural-compute-stick

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114005183/en/Intel-Unveils-Intel-Neural-Compute-Stick-2

Also

1746 - competitive professionalità. Dec 22, 2004.

https://inkpi.blogspot.com/2004/12/1746-competitive-professionalit.html

1965 - metaMeccano neoProtele. Feb 26, 2006.

https://inkpi.blogspot.com/2006/02/1965-metameccano-neoprotele.html

# astro: a "zombie" star as a homing beacon to detect classes of black holes

<< The research explored whether a dormant white dwarf star-sometimes referred to as a "zombie" star-could reignite if it had a close encounter with an intermediate-mass black hole. >>

<< If the stars align, so to speak, a zombie star could serve as a homing beacon for a never-before-detected class of black holes. >>

<< The stretching phenomena can be very complicated (..) Imagine a spherical star approaching a black hole. As it approaches the black hole, tidal forces begin to compress the star in a direction perpendicular to the orbital plane, reigniting it. But within the orbital plane, these gravitational forces stretch the star and tear it apart. It's a competing effect. >> Rob Hoffman

<< It was exciting to see that the zombie star reignited in each of the close encounter scenarios we looked at, >> Peter Anninos

Nolan O'brien. 'Zombie' stars return from the dead. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Oct 31, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-10-zombie-stars-dead.html

Peter Anninos, P. Chris Fragile, et al. Relativistic Tidal Disruption and Nuclear Ignition of White Dwarf Stars by Intermediate-mass Black Holes. The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 865, Number 1. Sep 17, 2018. doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/aadad9.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aadad9/meta  

# zen: effects of meditation and music on cellular aging and Alzheimer's disease

<< Telomere length (TL), telomerase activity (TA), and plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) levels have emerged as possible predictors of cognitive decline and dementia. >>

<< Practice of simple mind-body therapies may alter plasma Aβ levels, TL, and TA. Biomarker increases were associated with improvements in cognitive function, sleep, mood, and QOL (quality of life), suggesting potential functional relationships. >>

Innes Kim, Selfe Terry Kita, et al. Effects of Meditation and Music-Listening on Blood Biomarkers of Cellular Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: An Exploratory Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. Oct 11, 2018. doi: 10.3233/JAD-180164.

https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad180164

Meditation and music may alter blood markers of cellular aging and Alzheimer's disease. IOS Press. Nov 13, 2018.

https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2018-11-meditation-music-blood-markers-cellular.html

# behav: brain; neural cells tuned to posture

AA << identified neurons in the posterior parietal cortex and the frontal motor cortex that were associated with changes in posture. So close were the associations that the researchers could actually predict which posture a rat was assuming by simply watching neural activity in these two brain regions. >>

In a Perspective piece, Guifen Chen << wonders if neurons associated with posture become active only when a posture is achieved, or if they continue firing as that posture is held in place. >>

Bob Yirka. Researchers find neural cells in rat brain that are tuned to posture. Medical Xpress. Nov 2, 2018.

https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2018-11-neural-cells-rat-brain-tuned.html

Bartul Mimica, Benjamin A. Dunn, et al.  Efficient cortical coding of 3D posture in freely behaving rats. Science  02 Nov 2018: Vol. 362, Issue 6414, pp. 584-589
DOI: 10.1126/science.aau2013.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/362/6414/584 

Guifen Chen. Identifying posture cells in the brain. Science  02 Nov 2018:
Vol. 362, Issue 6414, pp. 520-521
DOI: 10.1126/science.aav3819.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/362/6414/520 

# climate: AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation) slowdown debate.

<< A few weeks ago, [AA] argued [..] that the Atlantic overturning circulation (sometimes popularly dubbed the Gulf Stream System) has weakened significantly since the late 19th Century, with most of the decline happening since the mid-20th Century >>

<< But there were also some questions and criticisms in the media, so [they would like] to present a forum for discussing these questions >>

If you doubt that the AMOC [Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation] has weakened, read this. stefan @ 28 May 2018.

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2018/05/if-you-doubt-that-the-amoc-has-weakened-read-this/

L. Caesar, S. Rahmstorf, et al. Observed fingerprint of a weakening Atlantic Ocean overturning circulation. Nature. 556 191–196 (2018).

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0006-5

# psych: birds of a feather flock together; why there are dysfunctional politicians.

“If we have dysfunctional politicians, it’s because we have a dysfunctional electorate,"

Paul Ratner. Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Why We Have Dysfunctional Politicians. March 10, 2017.

https://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/neil-degrasse-tyson-reveals-what-he-would-do-as-president  

Also

<< A study found that people with psychopathic traits are more likely to be attracted to others on the same psychopathic spectrum. >>

<< Psychopathic qualities include lack of empathy, lack of remorse, and other antisocial traits. >>

<< Psychopathic traits aren't that attractive to non-psychopathic individuals. >>

Mike Colagrossi. Psychopaths are attracted to other psychopaths. New psychological research suggests that psychopaths are attracted to others with their same disposition. Nov 2, 2018.

https://bigthink.com/sex-relationships/psychopaths-are-attracted-to-other-psychopaths

Ashley L. Watts  Jessica C. Rohr, et al. Do psychopathic birds of a feather flock together? Psychopathic personality traits and romantic preferences. Journal of Personality. April 16, 2018. doi: 10.1111/jopy.12394.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jopy.12394

# astro: the strange behavior of Oumuamua (Hawaiian for "scout")

<<  'Oumuamua (1I/2017 U1) is the first object of interstellar origin observed in the Solar system. >>

AA << discuss the possible origins of such an object including the possibility that it might be a lightsail of artificial origin. >>

Shmuel Bialy, Abraham Loeb. Could Solar Radiation Pressure Explain 'Oumuamua's Peculiar Acceleration? arXiv:1810.11490 [astro-ph.EP]. Oct 30, 2018.

https://arxiv.org/abs/1810.11490

Robby Berman. Harvard scientists suggest 'Oumuamua is an alien device. It's an asteroid, it's a comet, it's actually a spacecraft? Nov 6, 2018.

https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/oumuamua-spacecraft-alien-device

NASA utd about 'Oumuamua:

Calla Cofield. NASA Learns More About Interstellar Visitor 'Oumuamua. Nov. 14, 2018.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-learns-more-about-interstellar-visitor-oumuamua

# gst: how a bubble pops

<< After a bubble bursts at a liquid surface, the collapse of the cavity generates capillary waves, which focus on the axis of symmetry to produce a jet. >>

AA << show that the time-dependent profiles of cavity collapse (..) and jet formation (..) both obey a  inviscid scaling, which results from a balance between surface tension and inertia forces. >>

Ching-Yao Lai, Jens Eggers, and Luc Deike. Bubble Bursting: Universal Cavity and Jet Profiles. Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 144501. Oct 2, 2018

https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.144501  

John Sullivan. Math describes how bubbles pop. Princeton University. Oct 31, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-10-math.html

# rmx: on the rock called "della Carega", another singular surviving pine tree

<< In mezzo alla devastazione della mareggiata del 29 ottobre 2018 che ha distrutto porti e strade, il piccolo pino di Aleppo, cresciuto sullo scoglio detto della Carega, a forma di sedia, davanti alla strada per Portofino, ha retto. >>

Onde 10 metri, ma pino su scoglio resiste. Cresciuto su roccia tra Santa Margherita Ligure e Portofino. ANSA  GENOVA. 01 Nov 2018 18:22

http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2018/11/01/onde-10-metrima-pino-su-scoglio-resiste_01df6541-0e86-48c5-babb-87968adad428.html

Also

2157 - il pino di takata matsubara. Apr 01, 2011.

https://inkpi.blogspot.com/2011/04/2157-il-pino-di-takata-matsubara.html

Sara Malm. The miracle pine: Tree that survived 2011 Japanese tsunami before dying six months ago is rebuilt as monument to 19,000 victims of the disaster. Mar 11, 2013.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2291799/The-miracle-pine-Tree-survived-2011-Japanese-tsunami-dying-months-ago-rebuilt-monument-19-000-victims-disaster.html  

# behav: to avoid zombification (among humble cockroaches)

<< The emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa) is renowned for its ability to zombify the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) with a sting to the brain. >>

<< many cockroaches deter wasps with a vigorous defense. Successful cockroaches elevated their bodies, bringing their neck out of reach, and kicked at the wasp with their spiny hind legs, often striking the wasp's head multiple times (..) >>

<< Thus, for a cockroach not to become a zombie, the best strategy is: be vigilant, protect your throat, and strike repeatedly at the head of the attacker. >>

Catania K.C. How Not to Be Turned into a Zombie. Brain Behav Evol. 1-15 Oct 31, 2018.  doi: 10.1159/000490341

https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/490341

Karate kicks keep cockroaches from becoming zombies, wasp chow. Vanderbilt University. Oct 31, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-10-karate-cockroaches-zombies-wasp-chow.html

Also

<< cockroaches aren’t a nuisance. They’re "gregarious insects" that can teach us about how groups approach collective decision-making. >>

Erin Blakemore. Cockroaches Have Personalities, Too. Smithsonian.com Feb 4, 2015.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cockroaches-have-personalities-too-180954140

# qucpu: a quantum computer in a silicon chip seems closer to reality

AA << demonstrate an integrated device platform incorporating a silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor double quantum dot that is capable of single-spin addressing and control via electron spin resonance, combined with high-fidelity spin readout in the singlet-triplet basis. >>

M. A. Fogarty, K. W. Chan, et al. Integrated silicon qubit platform with single-spin addressability, exchange control and single-shot singlet-triplet readout. Nature Comm. volume 9, Article number: 4370  Oct 30, 2018.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06039-x

Tests show integrated quantum chip operations possible. University of New South Wales. Oct 30, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-10-quantum-chip.html