ESTI's goal is to provide you with accurate information on science, technology, and health. Happy reading!
In this Issue
MythBusters: Learning Styles Are Effective
Neuro News: Injection of Proteins Help a Blind Man See
Tech News: Understanding Cryptocurrency
This Month in Science: Mysterious Radio Bursts From Space
Health: Working With Your Anxiety
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MythBusters
False: Learning Styles Are Effective
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Learning styles have been a popular belief among educators, students, and parents for decades now. The idea that one has a specific way of learning that will give them the absolute advantage is appealing to many, especially when learning doesn’t seem to come easy.
However, there is little evidence to support the belief that an individual has a specific way of learning, or that teaching in a visual/auditory manner will help the individual learn better. In an article it was found that in five research reviews of many studies done on the reliability of learning styles there was little evidence to show that learning in a specific way (e.g., visually/auditory) did not show any significant benefit to the individual learning.
But, with so little evidence to support learning styles, why are educators and parents still backing up this myth? The first cause of this widespread phenomenon is that some researchers still back up this theory. For example, several researchers have created questionnaires/inventories for educators to use to assess what an individual’s learning style is. There have also been conferences/conventions centered around learning styles with educators and parents as their target audience. However, research behind the reliability of these questionnaires/inventories show only ~70% reliability, which is considered to be very low in this area.
For more information on learning styles, check out this article.
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Neuro News
Injection of Proteins Help a Blind Man See
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In a healthy retina, the photoreceptor cells detect light and send electrical signals to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) which then send signals to the brain. However, those suffering with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a rare genetic disorder that causes blindness by killing off the photoreceptor cells in the eyes. This disorder affects over 2 million people worldwide. But a new paper that was published in May gives hopes to millions that there is a treatment for RP.
Optogenetics is a technique that uses light to control neurons that are genetically modified to be light-sensitive. Researchers from the company GenSight Biologics, utilizies this technique to inject a virus that skips over the damaged photoreceptor cells and deliver light-sensitive proteins to the RGCs which allows them to detect images.
In this study researchers injected this virus into the eye of a man diagnosed with RP and waited four months for the RGCs to start producing the proteins before testing his vision. Because these cells can never be fully replicated, researchers also engineered googles for the participant to wear that will help in seeing and interpreting images clearly. For several months, the participant trained with the googles, and researchers found that the same visual cortex that activates when we see and interpret images, is the same area that activated for the participant.
However, the participant cannot see without the googles. This study still shows promise for those suffering with RP as the participant’s vision continues to improve since the two years he’s started the study.
For more information, check out this article.
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Tech News
Understanding Cryptocurrency
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Cryptocurrency has become a hot topic among all age groups. But what exactly is cryptocurrency? It’s a digital currency, which is also an alternative form of payment created using encryption algorithms. However, to use cryptocurrency, you’ll need a cryptocurrency wallet which will either be on your computer or mobile device. This will link your cryptocurrency to your identity and protect it as well.
However, cryptocurrency is still very new and the market is very volatile. Here are some tips to protecting your cryptocurrency:
- Look before you leap! Before investing in a cryptocurrency, be sure you understand how it works, where it can be used, and how to exchange it. Read the webpages for the currency itself (such as Ethereum, Bitcoin or Litecoin) so that you fully understand how it works, and read independent articles on the cryptocurrencies you are considering as well.
- Use a trustworthy wallet. It is going to take some research on your part to choose the right wallet for your needs. If you choose to manage your cryptocurrency wallet with a local application on your computer or mobile device, then you will need to protect this wallet at a level consistent with your investment. Just like you wouldn't carry a million dollars around in a paper bag, don't choose an unknown or lesser-known wallet to protect your cryptocurrency. You want to make sure that you use a trustworthy wallet.
- Have a backup strategy. Think about what happens if your computer or mobile device (or wherever you store your wallet) is lost or stolen or if you don't otherwise have access to it. Without a backup strategy, you will have no way of getting your cryptocurrency back, and you could lose your investment.
For more information, check out this article.
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This Month in Science
Mysterious Radio Bursts From Space
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A radio telescope in Canada reported 535 mysterious radio bursts. Located near British Columbia, the telescope that’s part of the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), was initially created to map the distribution of matter in the Universe and a few electronics were added to also catch radio bursts.
Even though the origin of these fast radio bursts is still unknown, researchers have distinguished two distinct types: (1) repeaters and (2) one-offs. Repeaters are understood to be coming from the same source and sending out multiple bursts even after the initial 535 bursts. One-offs are bursts that only happened once from one source.
The origins of these bursts seem to come from different galaxies with only one burst coming from our Milky Way galaxy. Additionally, researchers say that the bursts are evenly dispersed across the sky with only a handful of bursts coming from a particular galaxy.
For more information, check out this article.
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Health
Working With Your Anixety
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The pandemic has increased the number of people suffering from anixety. During the height of the pandemic during the summer of 2020, no one could predict what would happen the next day or when we would be safe from COVID-19. Every day was filled with uncertainty and dread. But now that everyone is getting vaccinated and businesses are opening back up, we’ve reached some level of normalcy. But we’re still not out of the woods yet.
With summer approaching, many people are still suffering from anixety. Here are some ways to help work with your anixety:
- Build your distress tolerance. Understanding how you’re feeling and accepting the things that you cannot control or change can help build up your distress tolerance. When we have a low distress tolerance, this can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance use or spending too much time watching tv or playing video games. Additionally, when you’re feeling your anxiety taking over, trying the five-finger breathing exercise can help stop those negative thoughts.
- Identify your best pandemic habits. One of the good things that came from the pandemic is the slower pace. Before the pandemic, many people lived a fast-paced stressful lifestyle but the pandemic forced everyone to slow down and really reflect. From that self-reflection, new habits and hobbies formed. Identify those healthy hobbies and habits and transfer them to your post-pandemic life.
- Strengthen your connections.We’re social creatures, and studies have shown that those with strong social connections lead happier lives. By cultivating those social connections that bring you joy and reduce anxiety, you can improve your quality of life.
- What do you need right now?During lockdown, many people struggled with the restrictions placed on social gatherings and now with everything opening back up, some feel bad about gaining weight or not exercising. It’s important to have self-compassion accepting our imperfections and not being hard on ourselves about whatever we’re lacking. According to Kirsten Neff, an associate professor at the University of Texas, self-compassion gives us the ability to not be overwhelmed by the many emotions we can experience. Research has shown that having self-compassion will help us take care of ourselves and lead healthier lives.
For more information, check out this article.
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