11.21: psy/parapsych/em waves for communication:
Sergei Mayburov at the Lebedev Institute of Physics in Moscowsuggests that optical communicationis a natural process in many cells of body,closely related to photosynthesis.Last year, researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicagoshowed that human cells in culturecould synchronize their internal chemical processeseven though they were mechanically, chemically,and electrically isolated from one another.The cells, it seemed, were communicating through the exchange of photons.
news.psy/parapsychology/bigger Not Necessarily Better, When It Comes to Brains:
Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals,despite only having a brain the size of a pinhead,say scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.Research repeatedly shows how insects are capable of some intelligent behaviorsscientists previously thought was unique to larger animals.This must mean that much "advanced" thinkingcan actually be done with very limited neuron numbers.Computer modelling shows that even consciousnesscan be generated with very small neural circuits,which could in theory easily fit into an insect brain.In fact, the models suggest that counting could be achievedwith only a few hundred nerve cellsand only a few thousand could be enough to generate consciousness.Engineers hope that this kind of researchwill lead to smarter computingwith the ability to recognize human facial expressions and emotions.