Contagious cancer in fish

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/science/contagious-cancer-catfish.html?smid=nytcore-android-share

The cancer cells on the fish were all similar to each other and very different from their hosts. The possibilities of such a tumor happening in humans are particularly ominous. 

Radical Acceptance

1:19:25 in the Hidden Brain episode "Changing our Mental Maps," in the Q&A appended section about the show "Radical Acceptance." 

What's the difference between "It is what it is," and radical acceptance? 

Radical acceptance invites me through acceptance to not become passive. Passivity, as the outcome of acceptance, means you've not changed your mind about everything. What radical acceptance is supposed to do is to free you to change your mind about what can be not get stuck on what can't be and then move into that. The reason acceptance helps is you're no longer wasting your time on something that didn't require your attention, so you can do that which deserves your attention to some distance pointed out day. 

 -Tom

Victor Borge Claire de Lune

https://youtu.be/1mPJ3hm6M5I?is=0X6isbzXsE2D4Sz2

Absolutely beautiful performance. I love how he plays around with the tempo so delicately. 

Here's a rare recording of Debussy himself playing it. 

https://youtu.be/Yri2JNhyG4k?is=vCl4FKnxJ7MsnEuO

And here's Victor Borge at his best doing comedy. 

https://youtu.be/TIf3IfHCoiE?is=LUXqd6PWNRV0Dp_H

Very funny - the "page turner" 

https://youtu.be/LWqFaGwNCMU?is=qpnSDYlegFSd5xKU

Preventing relapse into depression

Comedian Gary Gulman describes having to be "vigilant" so he doesn't relapse into depression. 

What does he mean:

11:09"Exercising every day, eating right, getting enough sleep, taking on projects that keep me busy, and accepting invitations." 

https://youtu.be/M-hLZWN1Nvg?is=UM5N6d9nNTC26ONG

Training robots pays

https://youtu.be/yfZhpEupz5M?is=9BWaAP3yxoZ7n1zC

Smart startup - have your home cleaned for free by people wearing headsets that train robots for everyday tasks. 

You just have to ignore the privacy concerns. 

Crushed basalt helps trees grow.

https://youtu.be/3toYxpP_S2w?is=SFLv3cGYLMCtVCiU

1:49 Crushed basalt encourages 85% more growth and 27% more carbon sequestered in 4 years. 

Why? 

Crushed volcanic basalt slowly dissolves in soil water, releasing vital trace elements like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron over several years. - ref

This also supports soil bacteria and fungi, which build a healthier living network around tree roots.

Luckily, it's getting a boost from companies needing to pay for carbon offset, like Microsoft. And a large-scale project is underway in Brazil. 

Nuclear common sense, at last

https://youtu.be/YyXCWMwlCPw?is=kSV4mpt3V3z_vfHV

Phonesthemes

sway/sweep/swerve/swing/swirl/swish/swoop

(they all imply a closing motion)

clam/clamp/clap/clasp/clench/cling/clip/clop/close/ clutch (clump together)

lump/rump/hump/bump (heavy protrusion) 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18BKQ2cECu/

Changing our mental maps

25:45 the "default mode network" in our brains is constantly working to pass off mental tasks to an automated pattern. This simplifies "what am I doing in every given moment" but it also features blind spots as to "what other possibilities in this moment" which has big implications in our ability to change. The default mode network is like a "groove" that our mind falls into. 

Thinking about "the self" takes the highest priority because that's important for our survival. 

33:37 we saw that in depressed patients, the brain showed decreased activity in the areas related to sensation in areas of the body

https://www.hiddenbrain.org/podcast/changing-our-mental-maps/

Increasing the electricity grid capacity with superconducting cables

https://youtu.be/8KOYyfZbPzo?is=RkawiLkJO7Itljfa

8:40 superconducting power transmission lines

10:35 but they have to be kept cold, very cold

Marks Marine Pharmacy (CanShipMeds)

Marks Marine Pharmacy (CanShipMeds) https://share.google/cHPpwkCXNGQpfKkDr

Ships prescription drugs for less from Canada

Nuclear battery - radioactive nickel encased in diamond

https://youtu.be/Onk0FRuA4XU?is=EJ8oE_3YliwGQ8Pg

Lasts for decades. Weak radiation needs no shielding. Byproduct is copper. 

Weird sandwich

This combination sounds wild, but peanut butter, Miracle Whip, pickles, and bacon makes the ultimate sweet, salty, tangy, and crunchy bite.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fw7H5ArPy/

Automated mosquito-killer drone - no chemicals, no by-catch of helpful insects.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18wfvSKwre/

Tiny 40g drone finds and kills mosquitoes using ultrasound, self-charges, and flies autonomously. 

https://youtu.be/dDa9pFzeJvE?is=ZeIpfSg9WsxXzpGF

A startup developing autonomous micro-drones designed to hunt and eliminate mosquitoes in mid-air using artificial intelligence and ultrasonic sonar...acoustic detection and kinetic interception: Using a spectrogram analysis, the drone's system can listen for the specific acoustic "fingerprint" of mosquito wings flapping, to differentiate between a dangerous mosquito and beneficial insects like flies or wasps. Once ID'd, the drone's intelligent control algorithms guide it to intercept the pest in mid-air and knock it down using its propellers.

Earth erosion

https://youtu.be/BnYjRtos6L8?is=5IzuhXnVhQ07rDat

Very clear animation of the earth erosion formations at Omak near the Grand Coulee dam in WA State.