“…uncover the powers of our minds that we never knew existed.”

National Geographic presents six new hourlong episodes, jam-packed with an incredible assortment of mind-bending interactive games and enthralling experiments designed to boggle the mind with jaw-droping scientific revelations that reveal the truly awe-inspiring inner workings of our brains.

The new season of Brain Games takes viewers through a visually captivating expedition in search of answers to some of the most perplexing and fascinating questions in modern neuroscience, touching on topics such as survival, our hidden senses, how your brain ages and even God.

We are thrilled to wet your wow and give you an exclusive sneak peek of a mass ‘mind reading’ experiment in the one and only, Times Square New York, by world-renowned mentalist, Marc Salem!

To find out the brain and psychology-based secrets to this presumed to be fictional phenomena make sure you tune into the Super Senses episode on March 20, at 9 p.m. ET on National Geographic Channel.

Movies like Chappie have set imaginations afire with the possibilities of artifical intelligence, while back in reality using our mobile phones to meditate, learn a new language or tinker with virtual immortality is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to where technology is taking us.

With gargantuan leaps in technological applications happening on the daily, a fantastic variety of technology articles have graced the 2015 Top 10 list — the good, the bad and the ugly!

Its anyone’s guess the journey that technology will take us on in 2016, although we can certainly gleam a few hints from the top 10 technology stories of 2015:

1) Digital Drugs – Getting High Online?

2) Sexting – Just A Bit of Fun?

3) Top Meditation Apps

4) Immortality at the Click of a Mouse?

5) Chappie – Just How Artificial is the Intelligence Behind This Robot?

6) What Do Smartphones Do to the Brain?

7) Learn a Language While You’re Asleep

8) Human Bodies – Part of the Internet of Things

9) Meditating Mind Machines

10) Digital Dieting to Prevent Life-Destroying Internet Addiction

Image via Kirill Wright / Shutterstock.

Happy Birthday,
From all with a brain

A brief history of Stephen Hawking:

• 1942 – Born in Oxford, England, on January 8th, the 200th anniversary of the death of astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei.
• 1950 – Attended St. Albans High School for Girls, but only for a few months because at the time younger boys could attend one of the houses.
• 1958 – Attended college at Oxford where his passion was math and his degree was in natural sciences.
• 1958 – While at Oxford, he coxed a rowing team, as he put it, “To relieve immense boredom”.
• 1962 – Graduated from Oxford and went to Cambridge for his PhD.
• 1963 – Is diagnosed with a motor neuron disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and given the prognosis of two to three years to live.
• 1965 – Married first wife Jane “Wilde” Hawking.
• 1966 – Completed his doctoral work in theoretical physics, after submitting a thesis on black holes.
• 1979 – Had third child with wife Jane by the time he was 27 (showing that in addition to his brain, another body part still worked perfectly well).
• 1970 – Discovery of the fact that black holes emit radiation (result of combining the theory of relativity with quantum theory).
• 1979 – Became the 17th Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, an academic chair at Cambridge University, the same position held by Sir Isaac Newton from 1669 to 1702.
• 1982 – Awarded the honor of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
• 1985 – Hospitalized with pneumonia and receives an emergency tracheotomy, causing permanent damage to the larynx and vocal cords. As such a keyboard operated electronic speech synthesizer is made and adapted to his wheelchair, engineered by David Mason, at the time married to Elaine Mason, one of Hawking’s nurses and future second wife.
• 1988 – A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes is published on April Fool’s Day. It has become a landmark volume in scientific writing with more than 9 million copies in 40 languages sold worldwide. It remained a London Times’ best-seller for more than four years and is the most popular scientific text of all time. A Cambridge University poll ranked it as the book “most likely” to have the same influence as Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selections.
• 1991 – Steven Spielberg produced Errol Morris’s documentary A Brief History of Time documenting Hawking’s life and accomplishments, which became so successful that it led to the publication of a reader’s companion to the film and book. The success of the companion the led to a six-part television miniseries, Stephen Hawkin’s Universe, first televised in 1997.
• 1995 – Divorced Jane married Elaine Mason (whom he divorces in 2006).
• 1996 – Published The Illustrated A Brief History of Time.
• 2004 – Reversed the 1966 theory that black holes swallow everything in their path forever and declares that black holes will never support space travel to other universes.
• 2007 – At 65 years old, experienced space simulation at Kennedy Space Center where he reacted,
  

  “The zero-G part was wonderful and the higher-G part was no problem. I could have gone on and on. Space, here I come!”

• 2014 – Focus Feature’s film The Theory of Everything is released based on the memoir Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, by Jane Hawking. It is directed by Academy Award winner James Marsh, written and produced by Anthony McCarten, and starred Eddi Redmayne and Felicity Jones.

Image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.

Lakhan: What is your favorite quote?

Adaes:

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. – Eden Phillpotts

Lakhan: What drew you to medical journalism?

Adaes: I believe that a greater attention should be given to the public awareness of science and medicine. Scientific and medical articles are inaccessible to most people, as they are written by scientists and for scientists. It is extremely important to propagate information and to make scientific knowledge available for non-experts. I see medical journalism as a way to use the knowledge I have acquired as a scientist to make information on science and medicine accessible to everyone.

Lakhan: Among your articles on Brain Blogger, which is your favorite and why?

Adaes: My favorite article on Brain Blogger was actually an opinion article titled “There’s Something Really Wrong With Science These Days“. Although my main pleasure in writing for Brain Blogger comes from the opportunity to share knowledge, I also strongly believe that ethical and political issues surrounding science and medicine should be brought forth for open discussion. This concerns everyone because science is for everyone. I think it is crucial to inform the public about the problems that science and medicine face and to allow the public to contribute to a constructive discussion on how to overcome those problems.

Lakhan: As section editor of Health & Healthcare, what do you aim to accomplish? What should readers look forward to under your editorship?

Adaes: As section editor of Health & Healthcare I wish to help Brain Blogger become a reference in scientific and medical communication and a reliable source of information. I wish to offer our readers relevant updates on the latest scientific and medical findings in neuroscience. I aim to contribute to making Brain Blogger a respected platform for sharing knowledge and for openly discussing ideas. Our readers should look forward to being offered well-researched information over a variety of neuroscience-related topics as well as critical thinking and constructive analysis of those themes.

Image via Tyler Olson / Shutterstock.

Lakhan: What is your favorite quote?

Wlassoff:

If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? – Albert Einstein

Lakhan: What drew you to medical journalism?

Wlassoff: Every month, hundreds of new articles on neuroscience get published in scientific journals. Even professional researchers have no possibility to check them all, let alone to study them in-depth. As a scientific consultant, I often see clients who are unaware of novel scientific discoveries and developments in their research fields. To be in a position to help them, I must be well informed. Medical journalism offers a nice venue for both self-education and informing other people on what’s going on in the science labs around the world.

Lakhan: Among your articles on Brain Blogger, which is your favorite and why?

Wlassoff: I like my recent article on the link between high IQ and mental disorders. This connection is something that was suspected for very long time but too elusive to prove. Even with statistical link now clearly demonstrated, we still can’t be sure what are the actual mechanisms that connect high intelligence and higher risk of mental problems, and what are the social consequences of such connection. This is a good example of how little we still know about our brain and how much we still have to learn.

Lakhan: As section editor of Neuroscience & Neurology, what do you aim to accomplish? What should readers look forward to under your editorship?

Wlassoff: As editor of Neuroscience & Neurology section, I’ll aim to connect the readers with cutting-edge scientific developments in these fields of research. I’ll select and present the topics that appear to have the highest impact on both research in neuroscience and practical/clinical aspects related to the treatment and management of neurological disorders. Our understanding of brain and its function is still in the infancy. For me, this is an exciting aspect of neuroscience – every new discovery has a potential of revolutionizing our understanding of human brain. During the last decade we have witnessed a complete overhaul of our views on major neurodegenerative disorders, brain evolution and memory formation and storage. It will be safe to say that now, when we have better knowledge and technical abilities to decipher the brain’s mysteries, new discoveries in neuroscience will become even more frequent.

Image via xrender / Shutterstock.

Lakhan: What is your favorite quote?

Nessi:

No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. – Isaac Asimov

Lakhan: What drew you to medical journalism?

Nessi: Technology has fascinated me since I was a child. For me reading science fiction was a way of realizing the possibilities we have as inherently technological beings. Journalism gives me the opportunity of exploring the latest steps we are taking in an endless search for a better world. The prism of cultural sociology gives me the elements to analyse all this more deeply and that helps me to ask more questions. Asking questions is what drives scientific thought.

Lakhan: Among your articles on Brain Blogger, which is your favorite and why?

Nessi: I’ve really enjoyed writing about augmented reality. Exploring the latest trends felt exactly as if I was reading science fiction when little. It is fascinating to see where are we in our technological development but it is also very interesting and concerning to see that we might not be ready to handle the knowledge we are generating. Augmented reality is magic but we might use it for such futile or even harmful purposes.

Lakhan: As technology editor of Brain Blogger, what do you aim to accomplish? What should readers look forward to under your editorship?

Nessi: As the technology editor on Brain Blogger I know that our readers expect information about the latest trends in digital technology,media and medical science. But from me they can mainly expect more questions! I don’t think we can keep up with all the information and the latest inventions except through questioning. So each article is an introduction to something that can be a fascinating area for further study and an opening into a forum where people can exchange ideas.

Image via Fernando Cortes / Shutterstock.

Lakhan: What is your favorite quote?

Clark:

No, no, you’re not thinking; you’re just being logical. – Niels Bohr

Lakhan: What drew you to medical journalism?

Clark: To be bluntly honest, I get a real kick out of writing, teaching and talking about all things science, especially when it can help us improve our quality of life. Medical journalism in particular, is an amazing space for me to be in, it inherently keeps me at the forefront of research and there is NEVER a dull moment with scientific innovation. It drew me in, hook, line and sinker.

Lakhan: Among your articles on Brain Blogger, which is your favorite and why?

Clark: This is a really tough question as I routinely announce, “This is my most interesting article yet!”, every single time a new article is published, without fail. Why? You can, and should always, improve your writing, interpretation of results and reporting skills. But if I was forced at gunpoint to pick one, it would have to be “Life After Death – The Science of Near Death Experiences“. Mainly because of personal fascination, it’s one of our greatest unknowns.

Lakhan: As section editor of Psychology & Psychiatry, what do you aim to accomplish? What should readers look forward to under your editorship?

Clark: The relationship between psychology and psychiatry is increasingly being portrayed as a guild war, when in actuality, they are co-evolving, along with neuroscience, in the development of tomorrow’s more effective diagnosis, therapies and treatments. I plan on bringing readers along for the ride. Together we can witness the future of the mental health profession unfolding, spearheaded by the latest and greatest research.

Image via pogonici / Shutterstock.

• For our regular readers, we preserved all the functionality of the old site but with a crisper, social-media integrated design. Notably, our team of over 100 contributors will continue to feed your minds with articles tackling issues from multiple-angles.
• For our new readers, we hope that our fresh, multidimensional articles will capture you and our stylish yet functional site design will serve in the background to facilitate your precious readership.

Beyond the redesign, we are creating a unique brain-themed social community discussing the latest neuro-, psych-, and health-research in universally accessible language. Hundreds of brain and health related studies that could impact your health and well-being go unnoticed when they are not picked up by major media outlets. Unlike some other media providers who merely regurgitate content, we go directly to the source. Our team of professionals are scouring the research literature to throw out the garbage and present to you content deserving your attention.

Come join the movement that is currently tens of thousands strong! You may follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and YouTube. We also value your feedback to take this to the next phase. Please comment on this post on what we are doing right and, more importantly, wrong so that we can better your sensory, perceptual, and cognitive experience. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Shaheen E Lakhan, MD, PhD, MEd, MS
Editor, Brain Blogger

Image via AlexAnnaButs / Shutterstock.

We would like to thank the expert panel of judges who positively reviewed our site, the other blogs nominated, and to our team of over 35 writers.

The voting process opened earlier today and the winners will be selected by bloggers registered with ResearchBlogging.org.

We are amid excellent company and we’ve included our fellow nominees below:

Best Blog — Neuroscience

• Brain Blogger
• The Neurocritic
• The Quantum Lobe Chronicles
• NeuroDojo
• Wiring the Brain
• Neurotopia
• Talking Brains

Best Blog — Psychology

• Brain Blogger
• Body in Mind
• NurtureShock
• sciencetext
• The Psychology of Beauty
• BPS Research Digest
• The Quantum Lobe Chronicles
• The Thoughtful Animal
• NeuroWhoa!

Last, but not least, without our readers, these awards amount to nothing. Thanks for your readership!

Sincerely,
Shaheen

We at Brain Blogger have seen our readership and feed subscriptions triple from the preceding year, and we are grateful to our loyal readers. But, let’s not forget our contributors. We have been fortunate to have regular contributions from Mr. Dirk Hanson, noted book author and science writer (Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome); Dr. Jennifer Gibson, clinical pharmacist and medical writer/editor (Autism – No Need For A Cure?); Dr. Sajid Surve, physiatrist and osteopath (Are Humans Hard-Wired to Torture?); and the more than 50 other contributors.

2010 will be a year of change and expansion for Brain Blogger. We are completely redesigning our site from the ground up for both style and functionality. Headed by Rolam Shahin Designs, it is projected to be finished by the end of this month. We will offer the same great articles that have been piquing your interests for quite some time now, however, I will take a more prominent role in covering the breadth of neuro-, psych-, and health-related topics.

Here is just a preview of what is to come in the new year:

• Interviews with notable names and rising stars in science and medicine.
• Strong twitter coverage that will keep you abreast on the latest news/findings in neurology, psychiatry, and general health.
• Neurology anecdotes, secrets, and pearls that will both entertain and tickle your mind.
• Sneak peek at future article titles that are schedule to go live at Brain Blogger.
• Regular announcements, updates, and reviews of the major neuro/psych/health conferences where participants will be encouraged to contribute.
• Monthly articles on the most enlightening neurological case from the Journal of Medical Case Reports.
• Latest research findings and author commentaries under our new partnership with BioMed Central’s International Archives of Medicine.

We have taken in many suggestions throughout the past months and we will try to implement them in our redesign and writings. Should you have any suggestions on how to improve our site/articles, please feel free to comment.

I would like to end my first post of the year with one of my favorite maxims:

Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.

— Albert Einstein

So, rev up your brain and put it to good use for 2010…

Happy New Year!

Sincerely,
SHAHEEN E LAKHAN
Editor and Co-Founder, Brain Blogger

Image via Mr Doomits / Shutterstock.

<<< Start Copying From Here >>>

1. Write a short paragraph at the beginning of your post and link back to the blog that put you on the list in the paragraph. This isnâ€t a suggestion. You need to break up the duplicate content string. Someone took the time to add you so the least you can do is give them an extra linkback.

2. Copy the list of originals below COMPLETELY and add it to your blog. If you would like a different keyword for your blog then change it when you do your post and it should pass to most blogs with that keyword.

3. Take the adds from the blog that added you and place them in the “Originals” list.

4. Add no more than 5 new TECH, SCIENCE, or CONSUMER ELECTRONICS blogs to the list in the “My Adds” section.

My Adds:

Healthoma
Neural Gourmet
Encephalon
bio::blogs
Dr.Katte’s Blog

The Originals:

Brain Blogger
DigitalPhocus
Alpesh Nakar
OneTipADay
The How To Geek
The TechZone
Mega TechNews
Tech Buzz
Techzi
Connected Internet
John Chow dot Com
Ted Leung on the Air
Geek is a chic.
youâ€ve been HACKED
IDIOT TOYS
JMH Techtronics
Web Services
UtterlyGeek
Tech It Like A Man!
Ugh!!â€s Greymatter Honeypot
techboyardee
The Tech Inspector

<<< Stop Copying Here >>>

Currently, I am studying psychology at Baruch College in New York City. Psychology has long been an area of passionate intrigue for me; with its palette of varying concepts it piqued my curiosity last year. As a result it sparked an unquenchable desire to learn more about this area and the developing field of neuroscience, weighing with particular emphasis on the latter.

In addition, I shall be reviewing blogger contributions dealing in the areas of neuroscience, psychiatry and neurology from a biological, psychological and sociological perspective. As well as generating thought on the latest news within psychology that has been brought to light.

I look forward to our discussions and the eminent success of this blog.

Sincerely,
Shazeda Khan

[Former] Editor, Brain Blogger

Throughout these past few months and under the leadership and direction of Tony Brown, this blog has taken special paths to incite intellectual discussion and intrigue. His coordination was instrumental in establishing a group of dedicated authors. As of today, Mr. Brown is an editor of Brain Blogger. He will aid in overseeing the blog’s operations, focus, contributors, and sense of community.

Continue to enjoy the works of this blog! You will soon see major original works in a variety of fields. If you wish to volunteer as a blogger/writer for us, please visit our online sign-up page.

Sincerely,
Shaheen E Lakhan
Executive Director
Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation (GNIF)

We have a variety of new projects planned for you this year. We will be hosting “Roundtable” — an electronic forum introducing neuroscience topics for discussion and friendly debate. Additionally, we will host the venue “Anti Stigmatization,” a collection of interviews and stories about historical figures and Brain Bloggers who overcame societal stigmatization to make worthy contributions to their community.

We welcome your input and ideas in our effort to make Brain Blogger a communal and educational experience.

Until next time, KEEP THINKING!

Tony Brown
[Former] Project Coordinator
Brain Blogger