July 2023 Linkpost

My pal tossed over this wild summary on the LK-99 superconductor hype – turns out the real breakthrough might just be in how fast the internet debunked it!

Philosophy & Human Nature

The Eve Theory of Consciousness: A Gendered Origin Story (vectorsofmind.com) The Eve Theory posits that recursion, the foundation of self-awareness and inner deliberation, evolved around 100-50 thousand years ago, with women developing it first due to evolutionary pressures like social adeptness during pregnancy. Key arguments highlight women’s advantages in emotional intelligence and brain structure facilitating intuitive-analytical communication, supported by archeological evidence like Venus statues and myths of primordial matriarchy. Evidence includes genetic surges in cognitive genes and sex differences in the precuneus. The methodology involves reviewing artifacts, psychometrics, and myths, with implications for uniting evolution and creation stories, explaining the Sapient Paradox, and potential genetic selection for recursion stability. As Socrates might say, this reframes consciousness as identifying with our inner voice – I would note how it echoes ancient tales where women awaken humanity, like Eve offering the apple.

The Case Against Travel: Why It Makes Us Worse, Not Better (newyorker.com) This essay contends that travel, especially tourism, deludes us into thinking we’re expanding our horizons while actually narrowing them, turning us into superficial spectators who impose change on hosts without personal growth. Drawing on thinkers like Chesterton (“travel narrows the mind”) and Emerson (“travel is a fool’s paradise”), it argues we seek validation through postcards and expectations rather than authentic experiences. Examples include the author’s futile Paris walks and Percy’s Grand Canyon tourists disappointed by unmet ideals. The conclusion: “Socrates said that philosophy is a preparation for death. For everyone else, there’s travel.” Implications question travel’s transformative claims, suggesting staying put fosters deeper connections. I would observe this resonates with those moments when a trip feels like motion without meaning, preserving that ironic caption from a friend about hating Musk after explaining him on a date.

Paradoxical Behavior: Why We Act Against Our Own Interests (psyarxiv.com) Human behavior often seems paradoxical, like showing humility to prove superiority or defying norms for praise. The preprint explores this through signaling theory, but details on methodology and findings were limited in my dive. I would suggest it’s a framework for understanding why we donate anonymously yet brag subtly, connecting to broader social dynamics.

A Life-Changing Sales Lesson from Dan (jakeseliger.com) This essay recounts a pivotal encounter with top salesman Dan, who, despite personal tragedy, maintained unshakeable positivity, teaching the author that attitude trumps expertise for success. Key lessons: make your boss look good, boost revenue, and exude confidence. Examples from sales: adopting “I’ve never been better” survived layoffs and propelled career jumps. Implications emphasize choosing positivity in work and life, ditching negativity swiftly. Someone shared this amid career chats – I would note it’s like that office serendipity moment, where faking it till you make it actually works.

Setting and Executing 50-Year Goals (hackernoon.com) The article outlines a method for long-term goal setting, but full details eluded my grasp – it ties into viewing line-cutting as morally right for efficiency. I would point out it’s memorable for challenging norms, much like biohacking intelligence in linked pieces.

Don’t Scar on the First Cut: Avoiding Policy Overreactions (signalvnoise.com) Organizational policies often form as “scar tissue” from overreacting to one-offs, like a dress code after shorts appear once. Examples urge addressing individuals directly instead. Conclusion: reserve policies for recurring issues to prevent bureaucracy. Implications for business: foster flexibility. A colleague forwarded this during process talks – I would add it’s useful for that rhythm in avoiding rigid rules.

Academic Research & Science

LK-99 Superconductor: The Hype and the Reality (eirifu.wordpress.com) Preprints claimed LK-99 as a room-temperature superconductor at 127°C, with videos showing partial levitation suggesting diamagnetism. Replications were mixed: Huazhong University reported levitation but suspected impurities; others like National Physical Laboratory failed, finding no superconductivity. Methodology: mix Lanarkite and Copper Phosphide, bake at 925°C in vacuum. As of July 2023, unconfirmed, often due to impurities like copper sulfide. Implications: if real, enables lossless power and portable MRIs, but skepticism persists. My friend buzzed about this in superconductor chats – I would highlight the simple synthesis as a curious democratizer, if it pans out.

Parents of Daughters More Likely to Divorce (economist.com) Research since the 1980s shows couples with first-born daughters divorce more than those with sons, emerging in teen years. Speculated “son preference” as cause, but methodology and samples unspecified in my review. Implications for family dynamics. I would connect this to hikes where we joked about ideal pro-social groups ending as frats.

Students’ Experiences of Ability Grouping (jstor.org) This paper examines how ability grouping fosters disaffection and polarization, with low-ability groups constructing failure identities. Methodology: qualitative interviews and observations in 12 London schools, sample of 144 Year 8 students (aged 12-13). Key findings: high-ability students thrive, low-ability resent labels, leading to anti-school attitudes. Conclusions: grouping reinforces inequalities. Implications: rethink tracking for equity. A buddy linked this amid education debates – I would observe it’s conversational fodder for why mixed classes might build resilience.

Vitamin B12 and Cobalt in Acne Pathogenesis (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Vitamin B12 modulates skin microbiota transcriptome, down-regulating B12 biosynthesis in P. acnes for acne patients, increasing porphyrins that inflame. Methodology: RNA-Seq on 9 samples (4 acne, 5 healthy), qRT-PCR on 24 more; supplementation in 10 healthy subjects repressed genes, one developed acne. In vitro: B12 increased porphyrins 19-39% (n=3-4). Cobalt depletion boosted porphyrins, sharing precursors. Conclusions: B12 excess triggers acne via microbiota. Implications: nutrient-microbe therapies. Someone shared amid health facts – I would note the cobalt tie, like “Cobalamin carries cobalt in our body.”

Therapy Culture: Cultivating Vulnerability (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Furedi argues psychotherapy’s spread fosters emotional vulnerability and powerlessness, shifting responsibility to professionals. Key arguments: therapy invades society, from pets to politics, eroding autonomy. Methodology: newspaper references over academics. Implications: therapy imprisons rather than liberates, rejecting suffering’s reality. Quotes: “Emotional vulnerability has become the defining feature of people’s psychology.” My colleague sent this during Jonah Hill talks – I would say it’s edgy, questioning if we’re too soft.

The Play Deficit: Why Kids Need More Unsupervised Fun (jonathanhaidt.substack.com) Play deprivation causes teen mental health crises, fulfilling needs for autonomy and competence. Methodology: review of surveys, studies; data: anxiety/depression up 5-8x since mid-20th century, suicides rose 3.5x 1950-2005. Evidence: breakdowns drop in summers, jobs boost happiness. Implications: restore play to build resilience. I would link this to overprotective parenting chats, memorable for “LetGrow” fixes.

Cultural Values and Productivity (journals.uchicago.edu) Cultural values shape productivity, but full details sparse. Implications for economics. I would ponder connections to Gambia notes.

Monotropism: A Theory of Autism (monotropism.org) Monotropism explains autism via focused attention on few interests, pulling resources from others. Evidence: aligns with autistic experiences. Implications: reframe empathy gaps, neurodiversity. A friend shared amid psych links – I would note it complements double empathy problem.

Monotropism Questionnaire (dlcincluded.github.io) This tool assesses monotropism traits in autism, but details limited. Implications for research.

Technology & Society

Llama 2: Meta’s Next-Gen Open Source AI (ai.meta.com) Llama 2 builds on Llama 1 with free access for research/commerce, Azure integration. Improvements: safety via red-teaming. Methodology: fine-tuning, evaluations. Implications: democratizes AI, fosters innovation. My buddy hyped this – I would say it’s useful for ethical AI rhythm.

AI Headshot Bias: From Asian to Caucasian (bostonglobe.com) MIT student Rona Wang’s AI-altered headshot lightened skin, blued eyes, associating professionalism with whiteness. Broader bias: AI reproduces training data flaws. Implications: high-stakes discrimination. Someone forwarded this – I would observe it’s a cautionary tale for trusting tech.

Shifting from Star Performer to Star Manager (hbr.org) Transition requires mindset shift from individual to team success. Implications: develop leadership. I would connect to Jonah Hill therapy vibes.

Economics & Development

Notes on The Gambia: A Tiny Nation’s Big Challenges (mattlakeman.org) Eight-day travel reveals $2B GDP, 20% tourism reliance, Chinese fishing depleting stocks (40% catch). Society: 96% Muslim, sharing culture, female sex tourism. Development: corruption #110, one bridge. Implications: colonial borders strain, strong leaders favored. I would highlight bumster economy, like reverse Pattaya.

Sex Tourism in The Gambia: Romance or Exploitation? (tourismteacher.com) Female Europeans seek romance with bumsters for economic gains like visas. Data: ~20% tourists engage. Implications: misunderstandings, scams; government represses. Comparisons: smaller than male tourism. A colleague shared – I would note the tactical sex dynamic.

Karluk’s Family Incentive: Reviving a Shrinking Village (mustreadalaska.com) Pays two families to relocate for a year to hit 10-student school threshold. Population: 21, mostly Native. Implications: sustains rural funding. I would say it’s a quirky fix for depopulation.

Reference & Curiosities

Thomas Paine’s Letter to George Washington (founders.archives.gov) Paine accuses Washington of apostasy or imposture. Quote: “whether you have abandoned good principles, or whether you ever had any?” I would note its brutal honesty amid birthday chats.

The Man Who Passes the Sentence Should Swing the Sword (goodreads.com) Socrates-inspired: owe victims personal responsibility. Implications for justice. Shared in death penalty talks – I would add it’s memorable for ethical rhythm.

Politics & Current Events (2023)

Say Goodbye to Permissionless Travel (reason.com) Americans need ETIAS for Europe (7 euros, biometrics), mirroring ESTA; Cuba visits bar visa-free entry. Implications: erodes freedom. I would observe it’s like serendipity gone wrong.

Florida Schools: Slavery’s ‘Personal Benefits’ (thedailybeast.com) Standards teach slavery benefited Blacks via skills, frame massacres as bidirectional. Reactions: opposition calls backward. Implications: victim-blaming curriculum. A friend reacted strongly – I would say it’s edgy history rewrite.

Hotbedding: Sharing Beds to Beat Rent (news.com.au) Students share beds amid 8.4% housing rise; 3% in survey. Implications: exposes crisis. Shared in housing chats – I would note the storeroom sleeps.

Declining American Pride Among Youth (axios.com) 18% of 18-34 “extremely proud,” down from 85% in 2013. Implications: generational fracture. Tyler shared with a :P – I would connect to GC posts.

Elite College Admissions Favor the Rich (nytimes.com) Top 1% 34% more likely admitted; methodology: tax/attendance data on millions. Implications: affirmative action for wealthy. Jan posted on IG – I would highlight abstract’s income factors.

Cambridge Schools Debate Middle School Math (bostonglobe.com) Removed advanced math to reduce disparities, but critics say it limits access. Data: pre-change, whites/Asians dominated advanced. Implications: equity vs. opportunity. Shared in grouping talks – I would say it’s like therapy culture gone academic.

Bank of America Fined for Fake Accounts (cnn.com) $250M fines for double-dipping fees, fake accounts. Implications: erodes trust. Chris noted big fines – I would add office serendipity vibes.

Boris Johnson on Ozempic: Wonder Drug or Nausea Nightmare? (dailymail.co.uk) Johnson lost weight initially but quit due to vomiting. Implications: obesity solution despite sides. I would note his “talking to Ralph” quip amid fridge raids.