A Bird Rise quer ajudar a transformar a rotina matinal numa experiência mais calma, com gravações reais de pássaros de diversas espécies e de diferentes partes do mundo.
The post Bird Rise substitui os alarmes tradicionais por sons de pássaros para manhãs mais tranquilas appeared first on Tek Notícias.
Lanchester Wines in north-east England uses heat from a disused coalmine to maintain wine temperatures and with 23,000 flooded mines in the UK, there’s huge potential for more businesses and homes to follow its lead
Shove them in a fridge, stash them in a cellar – this is how most people store their favourite bottles of wine. But if you have warehouses full of thousands of vintages, you have to think a little differently.
For the last eight winters, Lanchester Wines has used heat from a disused coalmine to maintain ideal storage temperatures at its facilities in the north-east of England, helping to prevent freezing or spoilage.
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© Photograph: Posed by models; The Good Brigade/Getty Images
© Photograph: Posed by models; The Good Brigade/Getty Images
© Photograph: Posed by models; The Good Brigade/Getty Images
In a groundbreaking study poised to redefine our understanding of auditory perception across species, researchers have unveiled strikingly similar auditory perceptual maps in both humans and mice. This discovery not only bridges a crucial gap between animal models and human sensory processing but also offers predictive insight into how perceptual decisions are formed during auditory discrimination learning. The implications ripple across neuroscience, psychology, and artificial intelligence, promising new avenues for studying sensory perception and developing advanced hearing-related technologies.
Auditory perception—the way organisms interpret and make sense of sound stimuli—is a complex process that involves integrating multifaceted sound attributes such as frequency, intensity, and temporal patterns. While mouse models have long been foundational in auditory research due to their genetic malleability and experimental accessibility, skepticism has persisted about the extent to which their perceptual frameworks parallel those of humans. This novel research offers compelling evidence that these frameworks are not only comparable but also exhibit shared underlying structures.
The study employed a sophisticated experimental design in which both human participants and mice were exposed to a wide array of tonal stimuli varying systematically across multiple auditory dimensions. Using advanced computational modeling and neural decoding techniques, the researchers were able to construct perceptual maps—conceptual frameworks representing how different sounds are internally organized within the brain’s auditory space. These maps enabled a quantifiable comparison of perceptual similarity and distance between sounds for both species, revealing a remarkable congruence in their auditory representations.
What makes these findings particularly compelling is the demonstration that these perceptual maps are predictive of behavioral outcomes during discrimination tasks. In other words, the way an individual’s brain groups different sounds predicts how well that individual can distinguish between them in learning scenarios. This link between neural representation and perceptual decision-making underlines a fundamental cognitive mechanism shared across mammalian species, offering crucial insights into the principles guiding sensory learning processes.
Beyond the fundamental science, the implications for translational research are profound. Understanding shared auditory perceptual structures facilitates the development of more accurate animal models for studying hearing impairments and neurological disorders affecting auditory processing. It also guides the design of auditory prosthetics, such as cochlear implants, by informing the algorithms that mimic natural sound perception. By aligning animal and human perceptual frameworks, therapies can be tailored with greater precision and efficacy.
A key technical achievement of the study was the use of multidimensional scaling techniques combined with machine learning algorithms to decode auditory neural responses with unprecedented granularity. The researchers collected high-resolution neural data using electrophysiological recordings in mice and non-invasive neuroimaging in humans. This dual approach allowed cross-species alignment of perceptual space, overcoming previous methodological challenges that hindered direct comparisons between human and rodent sensory processing.
Moreover, the study explored dynamic aspects of perceptual learning by measuring how auditory maps evolve through repeated training sessions. The maps exhibited plasticity reflective of learning-induced changes, emphasizing the adaptive nature of auditory perception. This plasticity was mirrored across both species, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for tuning sensory systems based on environmental demands and experience.
One of the study’s most innovative aspects lies in its predictive modeling of discrimination performance. By mapping perceptual distances within the auditory space, the researchers could forecast individual differences in learning speed and accuracy, an advancement that holds enormous promise for personalized auditory training protocols. Such protocols could optimize rehabilitation strategies for individuals with auditory processing deficits by targeting specific perceptual aspects most relevant to their unique neural patterns.
The shared structure of auditory perceptual maps also raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary trajectory of sensory systems. The findings suggest that despite divergent evolutionary paths, fundamental auditory processing architectures remain conserved, supporting efficient sound discrimination necessary for survival and communication. This conservation across species underpins the generalizability of animal research findings to human sensory neuroscience.
Furthermore, these insights pave the way for advancing artificial sensory systems, especially in the realm of auditory artificial intelligence. By modeling computational auditory perception after natural neural maps, engineers can design more sophisticated speech recognition systems and assistive devices that better emulate human-like sound processing. The study’s integrative framework thus acts as a blueprint for creating tonal perceptual algorithms with enhanced contextual understanding.
This research also contributes importantly to theoretical debates surrounding sensory representation. By empirically demonstrating a shared, structured perceptual space, the study challenges views that sensory maps are strictly idiosyncratic or species-specific. Instead, it supports a paradigm that sensory systems leverage common organizational principles, rooted perhaps in fundamental neural coding constraints and environmental pressures shaping auditory perception.
The study’s methodology and results were meticulously detailed in a recent publication, where the authors delineated the computational techniques, behavioral paradigms, and statistical analyses that underscored their conclusions. This transparency fosters reproducibility and invites further interdisciplinary collaboration between computational neuroscientists, experimentalists, and cognitive psychologists aiming to unravel the complexities of sensory perception.
Importantly, these findings hold societal relevance beyond academic circles. Hearing loss and auditory processing disorders affect millions worldwide, often hindering communication and quality of life. Technologies and therapies inspired by a unified perceptual mapping approach could revolutionize auditory rehabilitation, offering hope for more effective interventions grounded in a thorough understanding of perceptual neuroscience.
In conclusion, this pioneering work illuminates the common auditory perceptual code shared by humans and mice, demonstrating that the brain’s representation of sound is not merely a byproduct of species-specific adaptations but a fundamental, conserved neural language. This discovery not only furthers scientific knowledge but also catalyzes innovation in medicine and technology, underscoring the power of cross-species research in unraveling the mysteries of the sensory brain.
As this field develops, future investigations are likely to explore how these perceptual maps interact with other cognitive systems such as memory and attention, and how factors such as age, experience, and pathology modulate the structure and function of auditory perception. With burgeoning advances in neurotechnologies and computational methods, the confluence of cross-species neuroscience and perceptual science promises to unlock new dimensions of understanding sensory experience.
Ultimately, the revelation that humans and mice share auditory perceptual maps that predict learning efficacies serves as a testament to nature’s optimization strategies, propelling a unified framework for deciphering sensory perception. This convergence of biology, computation, and psychology heralds a new chapter in auditory neuroscience with far-reaching implications for science and society alike.
Subject of Research: Auditory perceptual maps and discrimination learning in humans and mice
Article Title: Auditory perceptual maps in humans and mice share common structures and predict perceptual decisions in discrimination learning
Article References:
Seiler, J.PH., Cazzetta, G., Ghobadi, A. et al. Auditory perceptual maps in humans and mice share common structures and predict perceptual decisions in discrimination learning. Commun Psychol 4, 98 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-026-00485-w
Image Credits: AI Generated
In a groundbreaking study recently published in Scientific Reports, researchers have unveiled the intricate relationship between sleep disturbances, stress levels, and psychological distress among internally displaced persons (IDPs), demonstrating that the duration of displacement plays a pivotal role in shaping these outcomes. As millions worldwide are forced to flee their homes due to conflict, natural disasters, or political upheaval, understanding the complex interplay of mental health factors in this vulnerable population has become a pressing scientific and humanitarian imperative. This new research sheds light on how the protracted nature of displacement can exacerbate or modulate psychological conditions, potentially informing targeted interventions and policy decisions to support these populations more effectively.
Internally displaced persons represent one of the most precarious demographic groups in terms of mental health. Unlike refugees who cross international borders, IDPs remain within their own country, often caught in regions of continued conflict or instability. This paradoxical existence subjects them to an array of chronic stressors: insecure living conditions, loss of community and social support, uncertainty about the future, and the daily struggle for basic necessities. The study by Basishvili, Eliozishvili, Lortkipanidze, and colleagues delves deeply into how these chronic stressors produce different psychological trajectories depending on the length of displacement.
At the core of the research lies the investigation into sleep as both a symptom and a mediator of distress. Sleep disturbances are frequently reported among displaced populations, yet the nuances of how sleep quality changes over time during displacement have been poorly understood. Employing comprehensive psychometric evaluations and sleep quality assessments, the research team conducted a longitudinal study encompassing multiple cohorts of IDPs displaced for varying lengths of time, spanning from several months to multiple years.
The findings reveal a non-linear dynamic: individuals recently displaced exhibited acute sleep disturbances strongly correlated with heightened stress hormone levels and immediate psychological distress. This phase, typified by hyperarousal and vigilance, aligns with the body’s acute stress response, where cortisol and other neurochemical mediators disrupt normal sleep architecture. Paradoxically, those displaced for extended periods demonstrated a paradoxical pattern of gradual diminution in objective stress markers, yet enduring subjective reports of poor sleep and depressive symptoms. This suggests an adaptive but potentially maladaptive physiological adjustment where initial hypervigilance gives way to chronic sleep abnormalities linked with prolonged psychological wear and tear.
Advanced polysomnography and actigraphy data indicate that sleep fragmentation and reduced slow-wave sleep are especially pronounced among long-term displaced persons. Slow-wave sleep, crucial for emotional regulation and memory consolidation, is markedly impaired, offering a potential mechanistic explanation for sustained psychological distress. These alterations exacerbate levels of anxiety, depressive symptomatology, and cognitive deficits, which in turn can worsen social withdrawal and reduce resilience, forming a vicious cycle difficult to break without intervention.
Neuroendocrine assays conducted as part of the study underscore the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation as a critical biological underpinning. Elevated cortisol levels were consistently found with short-term displacement, whereas flatter diurnal cortisol slopes characterized those with prolonged displacement, indicating chronic stress dysregulation. These hormonal patterns mirror findings from PTSD and chronic depression literature, supporting the notion that displacement-induced stress elicits a spectrum of overlapping pathophysiological processes.
The researchers also investigated psychosocial moderators such as social support networks, access to healthcare resources, and coping strategies. Notably, individuals with stronger communal ties and better access to counseling services exhibited more stable sleep profiles and reduced psychological distress, regardless of displacement duration. These findings underscore the importance of integrative mental health services and community rebuilding as necessary components to ameliorate the scourge of displacement-induced morbidity.
This complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors implies that mental health interventions for IDPs cannot be monolithic. Recent arrivals require acute crisis interventions focusing on immediate stress reduction, sleep restoration, and trauma counseling. Meanwhile, long-term displaced individuals may benefit more from chronic disease management approaches emphasizing resilience building, sleep hygiene education, and pharmacological or behavioral therapies targeting sleep fragmentation and depressive symptoms.
The implications extend beyond clinical practice into public health and policy realms. By quantitatively establishing the bidirectional links between sleep disruptions and stress pathology modulated by displacement duration, the study advocates for time-sensitive resource allocation. Humanitarian agencies and government authorities can leverage these insights to design tiered mental health responses calibrated to the displacement timeline, enhancing efficiency, and outcomes.
Furthermore, the advancement of biomarker-driven diagnostics in this context offers a promising avenue to identify individuals at greatest risk of long-term psychological sequelae. Personalized intervention strategies guided by biological data such as cortisol rhythms and sleep metrics could revolutionize care for displaced populations, where resources are often limited and needs are immense.
The pervasive nature of displacement globally makes this research critically relevant in the current socio-political climate, where conflicts and climate-driven migration show little sign of abating. Integrating these scientific insights into coordinated international action can mitigate the profound mental health toll borne by internally displaced individuals, transforming a global crisis into an opportunity for innovation in humanitarian mental health care.
In sum, the study by Basishvili and colleagues offers a nuanced, detailed exploration of how the length of displacement modulates the interdependent phenomena of sleep disturbances, stress responses, and psychological distress in IDPs. This knowledge not only expands the theoretical understanding of trauma and adaptation but also provides tangible pathways to improve mental health outcomes through temporally tailored interventions. The future of displacement medicine will likely hinge on such integrative, multidisciplinary efforts that unify biology, psychology, and social policy within a coherent framework of care.
This pioneering research continues to underscore the vital importance of sleep health as a cornerstone of psychological resilience, especially under the extraordinary stress conditions faced by displaced populations. As global displacement trends rise, harnessing these insights to catalyze innovative, evidence-based interventions will be paramount in alleviating human suffering and fostering recovery amidst upheaval.
The authors conclude their work with a call to action, emphasizing the need for heightened international collaboration to translate these findings into scalable mental health programs. Such initiatives must prioritize accessible diagnostic tools, culturally sensitive therapeutic approaches, and sustainable community support systems aligned to the evolving phases of displacement. Effectively addressing the mental health crisis within IDP communities represents both a formidable challenge and a profound human opportunity in the coming decades.
Subject of Research: The study investigates the complex interactions between sleep patterns, stress physiology, and psychological distress among internally displaced persons, focusing particularly on how these factors are influenced by the duration of displacement.
Article Title: Relationship between sleep, stress and psychological distress in internally displaced persons depends on the length of displacement.
Article References:
Basishvili, T., Eliozishvili, M., Lortkipanidze, N. et al. Relationship between sleep, stress and psychological distress in internally displaced persons depends on the length of displacement.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-57241-7
Image Credits: AI Generated
Com 70 puzzles de física em cinco biomas animados, sete tipos de veículos e materiais variados, como aço, cabos e betão, o Bridge Constructor Studio é um jogo de engenharia criativa que diverte imenso, mesmo quando a ponte acaba por colapsar.
The post Bridge Constructor Studio: construa pontes sobre desfiladeiros nevados, cidades e vales, e teste a sua robustez appeared first on Tek Notícias.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Spotify sta registrando problemi di funzionamento con segnalazioni in forte aumento su Downdetector. Il servizio di monitoraggio mostra un picco dopo una giornata rimasta sostanzialmente stabile fino al primo pomeriggio.
Il problema sembra riguardare in particolare l'app, indicata dal 56% degli utenti che hanno inviato una segnalazione. Seguono il sito web, al 16%, e la connessione ai server, al 14%. In diversi casi l'app risulta accessibile, ma la riproduzione non parte o si interrompe, un comportamento coerente con le segnalazioni legate allo streaming audio.
Al momento, non ci sono indicazioni chiare sulle cause del disservizio.
Google rilascia un importante aggiornamento per l’app Health, quella che da quasi un mese, dopo aver “fagocitato” la piattaforma Fitbit, è sostanzialmente l’ecosistema unico per i prodotti della grande G. A ricevere le novità della versione 5.02 sono sia gli utenti Android che coloro che la utilizzano su iOS, con i primi che ne ricevono un po' più dei secondi.
In estrema sintesi, Google Health 5.02 porta maggiori possibilità di personalizzazione, con la possibilità ad esempio di riordinare con un semplice drag and drop le metriche chiave della scheda salute, migliorie per la gestione di cibo e alimenti, una migliore visualizzazione dei pisolini, un’analisi del sonno più accurata e il ritorno dei grafici per l’attività oraria. Alcune delle novità saranno apprezzate da chi si sente "orfano" dell'app Fitbit.
Ecco l’elenco completo dei cambiamenti che riguardano Google Health 5.02 sia per Android che per iOS:
Signify ha appena annunciato due nuovi prodotti Philips Hue che piaceranno in particolare agli appassionati di videogiochi, cinema e televisione: una piantana da pavimento e una da tavolo, chiamate rispettivamente Philips Hue Play Floor Lamp Large e Philips Hue Play Table Lamp. Entrambe hanno uno stile molto simile a quello già visto nella famiglia Hue Signe: molto minimalista e lineare. Sono pensate per essere rivolte verso la parete invece che verso l’ambiente, generando un’illuminazione decorativa indiretta.
Le lampade sono dotate di LED RGB ed esprimono il loro massimo potenziale quando usate in concomitanza con un uno dei Sync Box HDMI della gamma Hue (o le pp Hue Sync per PC e alcuni televisori smart), sostanzialmente una radicale evoluzione del concetto Ambilight tipico dei televisori Philips, che permette di creare effetti luminosi dinamici e variabili in base a ciò che è mostrato sullo schermo. Grazie ai Sync Box, l’effetto può essere esteso anche a qualsiasi fonte di illuminazione compatibile, invece di rimanere relegato ai LED sul retro del televisore.
Google’s latest and greatest Android version is officially now out in the world and available — but if you’re using any phone other than a Pixel, that doesn’t mean much for you just yet.
The reason why is simple: Despite Google officially launching Android 17 and starting to send it out to Android phone-owners this week, it’s up to each individual device-maker to process the software and deliver it to its customers. And outside of Google itself, unfortunately, most Android device-makers are exasperatingly unreliable about making that happen — some of ’em to almost comically bad extremes (insert exaggerated sigh here).
Hold the phone, though — ’cause there is some good news here: While we can’t force any Android phone-maker to start treating software support as a priority, we can get creative and find ways to bring interesting new Android features to devices running older Android versions. In fact, all four of the Android 17 features I called out earlier this week can be emulated on any Android phone this instant. All it takes is a teensy pinch of inspiration and a dash of tenacity — and, of course, the right roadmap to make it all come together.
The tenacity’s on you, but if you’re game, I’ve got your roadmap ready. Here’s exactly how to enjoy a similar sort of Android-17-style sorcery on whatever phone you’re using right now — as far as some of the more surface-level highlights, at least — without having the actual Android 17 upgrade in front of you.
[Get fresh Android tips in your inbox with my free Android Intelligence newsletter — one new and useful thing to try every Friday!]
The most shape-shifting Android 17 of all, without a doubt, is Bubbles — a snazzy new way to turn any app into a floating, collapsible window that’s readily available for on-demand access but also out of your hair when you aren’t actively using it.
JR Raphael, Foundry
I wrote about Bubbles and ways to achieve similar feats just a few months back. It’s surprisingly easy to accomplish, even without Android 17 in the picture.
Look over this list of crafty Bubbles-bringing workarounds and see which makes the most sense for you. One way or another, you’ll find yourself facing a fantastic new option for multitasking anytime you want it — no waiting or out-of-reach upgrades required.
Our next Android 17 addition is a little trickier to emulate without the actual operating system update in the equation. But fear not, for this is Android — and when there’s a will, there’s a way.
The feature of which we speak is an expansion of Android’s framework for how apps can access your location. It’s a two-parter: First, whenever any app is accessing your location, you’ll now see a blue dot appear in the upper-right corner of your screen — and if you swipe down once from the top of your screen to open your notification panel, you can actually tap on the location icon that appears in its place to get detailed info about exactly which app or apps are involved. Second, when an app asks to access your precise location, Android 17 adds in the option to allow such access only temporarily — for that one brief moment and purpose — without giving the app permanent permission for ongoing use.
The second part, unfortunately, is challenging to achieve without Android 17 being present. But the first part is something we can make happen with a sliver of creative zest.
The trick revolves around a classic third-party app called Privacy Dashboard. Privacy Dashboard came about back in the Android 12 era, when Google first introduced a full-fledged privacy dashboard into Android and certain devices were lagging behind and taking too long to adopt it.
With Android 12 now being five years old, the app hasn’t had much need in recent years — until now. Interestingly enough, the ability to see full details about ongoing location access and then tap to adjust the associated app’s settings is something Privacy Dashboard has long offered. And it’s consequently a great way to bring that newfound native ability from Android 17 onto a device running an older Android version.
The catch is that because of the limited need for the app all this time, it’s no longer being actively developed — and as a result, if you hadn’t previously downloaded it, the Play Store will probably give you an error saying it’s made for an older Android version and can’t be installed on your device.
It will still work, though, and it’s perfectly functional and effective.
Provided you’re comfortable and that this won’t violate any of your company-associated policies, you can download the original verified Privacy Dashboard app package from my own personal Drive storage. I saved it using the Google Files file manager and then uploaded it directly to Drive. It’s quite literally the same exact app you’d get from the Play Store, if the Play Store would let you download it — and while I wouldn’t often advise installing apps from unknown sources, I don’t exactly consider myself to be “unknown” (most of the time). So as long as you share that same trust, you can grab the app from me and put it on any device you want.
Once you get the app installed and give it the permissions it needs to operate, open ‘er up and tap the “App Settings” options on its main screen. Tap the line that says “Indicator Customization,” beneath “Privacy Indicators,” then flip the toggle next to “Click action” into the on and active position.
Aaaaand, that’s it: Anytime an app is accessing your location, you’ll see a green location icon appear in the upper-right corner of your screen. And tapping it will take you to the system-level timeline of exactly which apps have accessed your location recently, for added context.
JR Raphael, Foundry
Before you install Privacy Dashboard, you might also want to try just opening an app that you know accesses your location — like Google Maps — and seeing what, if any, indicator appears in the corner of your screen and if you can tap it. While that ability is technically associated with Android 17, it was actually included in an earlier Android quarterly update, and it’s possible your device may already have that piece of the puzzle in place even if it isn’t yet running Android 17.
Android’s dark mode is better than ever as of Android 17, with a nifty new way to force each and every app to respect your device-wide dark mode setting and adjust its interface to a less glary look — even if it doesn’t technically support the option.
JR Raphael, Foundry
Well, get this: If your phone’s Android software is reasonably recent, it’s entirely possible you can unlock the very same function by adjusting a few out-of-sight system settings.
Try this:
JR Raphael, Foundry
And there ya have it: You should now be able to open any app, even if it doesn’t officially support dark mode, and see it shift into a darkened state whenever you have dark mode enabled at the system level.
Easy peasy, no?
Our final Android 17 feature is a saucy little somethin’ called Comfort View. It applies a softer, pastel-oriented filter to your display with automatic adjustments based on your current viewing environment in order to make your screen easier on the eyes.
If you’re using a Samsung device, you may already have something similar in place even with an older Android version. Look in the Display section of your system settings and see if you see something called “Adaptive color tone,” then try activating it if it’s there — and/or look for “Screen mode” and play around with some of the settings in that area to see vaguely similar sorts of adjustments. It isn’t quite as intelligent or automatic as the new incoming Android-level equivalent, but it’s a start!
In any other scenario — or if you just want more nuance and control, even with a Samsung gizmo — grab an app called Twilight. It’ll let you tweak all sorts of specifics about the appearance of your screen, and while it’s presented mostly for nighttime optimization, you can use those same controls to create your own custom modes for any scenario imaginable.
JR Raphael, Foundry
The app doesn’t collect or share any manner of data, and while it does offer a $10 Pro upgrade, the free version is perfectly functional for most purposes.
And with that, give yourself a pat on the back: Your phone is officially now set up to showcase some of Android 17’s finest flavors — even without the software itself being available to you yet.
That, my friend, is quite an accomplishment. Well done.
Don’t stop there: Come check out my free Android Intelligence newsletter to get something new and useful in your inbox every Friday — and get my awesome Android Notification Power-Pack today.
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