# chem: strange labyrinth structures when a crystal is split in two

<< what happens when the periodic pattern [of a ionic crystal] comes to an abrupt end? >>

<< If one splits a cubic crystal along a certain direction, one can end up with only positive or only negative charges at the surface. Such a situation would be highly unstable >>

<< Strangely though, by raising the temperature of the surface slightly, the islands break apart and the atoms form a labyrinth of jagged lines >>

<< The labyrinth structures are not only beautiful ... >>

Vienna University of Technology. Strange things happen when a crystal is split in two. Feb 2, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-02-strange-crystal.html 

Martin Setvin, Michele Reticcioli, et al. Polarity compensation mechanisms on the perovskite surface KTaO3(001). Science. 2018; 359 (6375): 572 - 5. doi: 10.1126/science.aar2287. Feb 2, 2018.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6375/572

# epidem: they fall from the sky

<< Aerosolization of soil-dust and organic aggregates in sea spray facilitates the long-range transport of bacteria, and likely viruses across the free atmosphere. >>

The << results provide an explanation for enigmatic observations that viruses with very high genetic identity can be found in very distant and different environments. >>

Isabel Reche, Gaetano D’Orta, et al. Deposition rates of viruses and bacteria above the atmospheric boundary layer. The ISME Journal.
doi: 10.1038/s41396-017-0042-4. Jan 29,  2018.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41396-017-0042-4

University of British Columbia.  Viruses - lots of them - are falling from the sky. Feb 6, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-02-viruseslots-themare-falling-sky.html

# astro: we have to escape with a speed of 550 km/s

<< When a rocket is launched into space, it is thrown out with a speed of 11 km/s to overcome the Earth's gravitational pull [..] Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is over a trillion times heavier than our tiny planet Earth so to escape its gravitational pull we have to launch with a speed of 550 km/s. >> Prajwal Kafle.

International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research. Milky Way ties with neighbor in galactic arms race. Feb 14, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-02-milky-ties-neighbor-galactic-arms.html  

FonT

intrigante il video che simula la collisione- fusione

# lang: language is learned in brain circuits that preexist humans

AA << study provides strong evidence that language—indeed both first and second language—is learned, in specific ways, by general-purpose neurocognitive mechanisms that preexist Homo sapiens >>

<< our substantial knowledge of the general-purpose mechanisms, from both animal and human studies, may also apply to language >>

Phillip Hamrick, Jarrad A G Lum,  Michael T Ullman. Child first language and adult second language are both tied to general-purpose learning systems. PNAS. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1713975115. Jan 29, 2018.

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/01/25/1713975115

Georgetown University Medical Center. Language is learned in brain circuits that predate humans. Jan 30, 2018.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180130094713.htm

# brain: controlling consciousness

<< There is current controversy regarding the role of prefrontal versus posterior cortices in consciousness. >>

AA << demonstrate that cholinergic stimulation of prefrontal cortex, but not parietal cortical areas, restored wakefulness in rats >>

AA << conclude that cholinergic mechanisms in prefrontal cortex can control the level of consciousness. >>

Dinesh Pal, Jon Dean, et al. Differential role of prefrontal and parietal cortices in controlling level of consciousness. bioRxiv. doi: 10.1101/262360. Feb 8, 2018.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/02/08/262360

https://twitter.com/biorxivpreprint/status/961721894352445440

# game: chaotic effects of crosstalk injection in social dilemmas

<< In the theory of repeated games, it is a tacit assumption that the various games that a person plays simultaneously have no effect on each other. [AA] introduce a general framework that allows us to analyze “crosstalk” between a player’s concurrent games. In the presence of crosstalk, the action a person experiences in one game can alter the person’s decision in another. >>

Johannes G. Reiter, Christian Hilbe, et al. Crosstalk in concurrent repeated games impedes direct reciprocity and requires stronger levels of forgiveness. Nature Communications 2018; 9 (555). doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02721-8. Feb 7, 2018.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-02721-8  

Researchers develop the first model to capture crosstalk in social dilemmas. Institute of Science and Technology,  Austria. Feb 8, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-02-capture-crosstalk-social-dilemmas.html

FonT

percio' si usano "ambiguita'", "pettegolezzo", "fake news" per direzionare, disorientare,  colpevolizzare, isolare individui, gruppi, moltitudini ...

Also

# n-soc: fake news, by slow or/and fast catalysis, everyday, everywhere, in all ages.

https://flashontrack.blogspot.it/2017/02/n-soc-fake-news-by-slow-orand-fast.html

Also

<< Il ruolo sociale del pettegolezzo e' immenso. [..] Il pettegolezzo e' una inquisizione continua e reciproca, uno spionaggio e una sorveglianza di tutti da parte di tutti, a tutte le ore del giorno e della notte. >>

Tarde, Gabriel. Ecrits de psychologie sociale. Cit. Prigogine, Ilya. La Nuova Alleanza. Milano: Longanesi & C., 1979,  pp.147-149. Trad. Morchio, Renzo.

# web: Facebook, every mistake you can imagine, by Mark

<<  "Over the years, I've made almost every mistake you can imagine," the Facebook co-founder said on his personal page >>

Zuckerberg acknowledges 'mistakes' as Facebook turns 14. Feb 5, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-02-zuckerberg-acknowledges-facebook.html

FonT
non ho letto il post di Mark Zuckerberg perche' non sono mai (qui si sottolinea "mai") stato iscritto a Facebook;  certo e' che dopo questo post il sospetto declina in certezza:  la moltitudine dei suoi utenti giovandosi di tali servizi non sembra messa molto bene  ... mah