John MacGaffey
Links for May 15, 2022
What to Read
🧘♀️ Mastering the Mind and Body: Conscious Control of the Autonomic Nervous System — Future Minds Lab
Eugene Kwok shares some extraordinary ways people can learn to control their autonomic nervous system, which regulates everything from our respiration to reflexes:
One particular study showed [that Wim Hof's] techniques led to the voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system including the release of the hormone epinephrine. Furthermore, after being injected with an endotoxin, his techniques led to suppression of the immune response and attenuation of the inflammatory response, leading to an absence of flu-like symptoms compared to controls.
What’s important is that Hof was able to train healthy volunteers to achieve the same effects. This suggests his ability to modulate the autonomic nervous system are not simply a consequence of any special genetic dispositions but rather something that can be learned and trained by anybody.
Eugene Kwok
What to Play
Nicky Case has a delightfully illustrated game that explains the game theory of trust. It highlights the fact that creating the right incentive structures is one of the most important things we can do as a society to nudge the world in the right direction.
Part of its conclusion: "'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' may be not just a moral truth, but also a mathematical truth."
And if you haven't already read it, I recommend starting with my primer on positive vs. negative sum games.
What to Watch
Don't be put off by the fact that this is technically an Apple ad. It's really a mini documentary on the Star Wars sound library and an absolutely beautiful love letter to sound design, not to mention a reminder that technology enables art:
Tweets of the Week
Let's head into this week with restaurant owner energy:
When I was younger + single trying to get the courage to meet women, I came up with a strategy that helped:
— Sam Parr ⚪️ (@thesamparr) April 21, 2022
RESTAURANT OWNER ENERGY
You know how a restaurant owner confidently walks around to the tables, just asking people how they’re doing, like it’s their job to say hey?
Have that energy.
— Sam Parr ⚪️ (@thesamparr) April 21, 2022
No need to be rude, cocky or anything.
Just that confidence to walk up to anyone, bringing positive energy, like it’s your job to make sure others are taken care of and having a good time.
THAT RESTAURANT OWNER ENERGY!
Art ❤️ Science:
Inspired by the art of David Goodsell, this 3D rendering of a eukaryotic cell by Evan Ingersoll & Gael McGill is modeled using X-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and cryo-electron microscopy datasets for all of its molecular actors [source: https://t.co/7c84PwZ3bu] pic.twitter.com/6kh6jtWfJ1
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) April 21, 2022