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We will all need to switch to electric cars in the future because the oil and gas we use in our cars today emit a large amount of carbon dioxide. It is harmful to the environment. Our planet's temperature is steadily rising due to the presence of carbon dioxide. If this continues, we will be unable to live in our world. Now is the time to think about and act on environmental issues. However, many poor countries cannot afford this because they only have enough electricity to get by. That is why we are looking for a more efficient way to generate electricity. Going back to my topic, do you believe it is possible to charge your battery in five minutes?

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Researchers discover a new function of the cerebellum

The cerebellum is known primarily for regulation of movement. Researchers at the University of Basel have now discovered that the cerebellum also plays an important role in remembering emotional experiences. The study appears in the journal PNAS.

Both positive and negative emotional experiences are stored particularly well in memory. This phenomenon is important to our survival, since we need to remember dangerous situations in order to avoid them in the future. Previous studies have shown that a brain structure called the amygdala, which is important in the processing of emotions, plays a central role in this phenomenon. Emotions activate the amygdala, which in turn facilitates the storage of information in various areas of the cerebrum.

The current research, led by Professor Dominique de Quervain and Professor Andreas Papassotiropoulos at the University of Basel, investigates the role of the cerebellum in storing emotional experiences. In a large-scale study, the researchers showed 1,418 participants emotional and neutral images and recorded the subjects’ brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging.

In a memory test conducted later, the positive and negative images were remembered by the participants much better than the neutral images. The improved storage of emotional images was linked with an increase in brain activity in the areas of the cerebrum already known to play a part. However, the team also identified increased activity in the cerebellum.

The cerebellum in communication with the cerebrum

The researchers were also able to demonstrate that the cerebellum shows stronger communication with various areas of the cerebrum during the process of enhanced storage of the emotional images. It receives information from the cingulate gyrus – a region of the brain that is important in the perception and evaluation of feelings. Furthermore, the cerebellum sends out signals to various regions of the brain, including the amygdala and hippocampus. The latter plays a central role in memory storage.

“These results indicate that the cerebellum is an integral component of a network that is responsible for the improved storage of emotional information,” says de Quervain. Although an improved memory for emotional events is a crucial mechanism for survival, it does have its downsides: in the case of very negative experiences, it can lead to recurring anxiety. This means that the findings, which have now been released, may also be relevant in understanding psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

(Image caption: The cerebellum (activation in red) connects with different areas of the cerebrum (activations in green) to enhance the storage of emotional information. Credit: MCN, University of Basel)

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Everyday Uses for Drones

Once a scary, obscure device, drones are now becoming an everyday reality. Here are two ways that you might interact with drones in today or in the near future.

Delivery

Delivery drones are closer than you might think. Companies, such as Amazon, have released teaser videos to entice the public, but none have launched a mass-market, consumer delivery drone yet. However, many are getting close. Notably, Domino’s Pizza in Australia tested semi-autonomous drones, called “delivery experts,” which might become a full-time addition to the Domino’s team. Other than pizza and product delivery, drones will be able to distribute basic, necessary goods, such as medicine, to people around the world. For now, we’ll have to wait until delivery drones become more mainstream, but I am eager to see how fully integrated delivery drones will be in the future.

Photography

Perhaps the most common use for drones in everyday life is photography. If you’ve been at any large convention in the last few years, you’ve probably noticed drones flying around to capture images. The field of aerial photography has expanded widely due to these drones, and the field is becoming more accessible as these drones become more common. One of my favorite YouTubers, Casey Neistat, is an avid user of drones and frequently documents his trials and tribulations with them. As this is becoming such a prominent field, there are a vast array of photography drones to choose from. Personally, I recommend the Phantom 4; I had a chance to try it out earlier this year and got some incredible footage. Another drone that has piqued by interest is the Lily, which claims that you can throw it in the air and it will begin recording. It’s still on pre-order, but I will be checking it out once it’s available. 

Drones are being utilized in more ways than ever today, and people are always finding new ways to utilize them. One of my favorite humans, Simone Giertz, even released a video revealing how to cut your hair using a drone. Good luck.