The news: A unique form of brain stimulation appears to increase people’s ability to remember new information – by mimicking the way our brains create memories. A “memory prosthesis” that allows electrodes to be inserted into the brain also appears to work in people with memory problems.
How it works: The memory prosthesis mimics what happens in the hippocampus – a seahorse-shaped area deep in the brain that plays a vital role in memory. The structure of the brain helps us not only to create short-term memories, but also to direct long-term storage memories to other regions.
Why is it important? Future versions of advanced memory prostheses could help people with memory loss due to brain injury or aging or degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, say the researchers behind the work. Read the full story.
-Jessica Hamzelu
It should be read
I’ve scoured the internet for the most entertaining/important/scary/amazing stories about technology today.
1 Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has gone offline
The critical air conditioning systems of the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia plant may be forced to operate on emergency backup power. (NYT$)
+ The Kremlin won’t restore gas to Europe until sanctions are lifted. (the guard)
+ What is the risk of a nuclear accident in Ukraine? (MIT Technology Review)
2 It snows more and more
But while climate change may play a role, it’s not the only explanation why. (NYT$)
+ Extreme heat and floods are just the beginning. (Economist $)
3 Crypto traders are making big bets again.
It is a possible reason for the improvement of the Ethereum blockchain. (Bloomberg $)
+ Enthusiasts hope that the “merger” will clear the reputation of crypto. (TechCrunch)
+ Why Ethereum to Proof of Stake and how it works. (MIT Technology Review)
4 Meet Paolo Benanti, the Pope’s AI advisor
He is deeply concerned about AI taking middle-class jobs and exacerbating inequality. (New Scientist $)
