The brain and consciousness. The human brain is an astonishingly complex formation, a nervous apparatus of tremendous subtlety. As a subsystem of the system of the whole organism it regulates the organism's internal processes and relationships with the external world. By means of the brain we see, hear and think, distinguish the ugly from the beautiful, the bad from the good, the pleasant from the unpleasant. In other words, the brain is the vehicle of what we call our "spiritual life". A normal mentality is impossible without normal functioning of the brain. Its reflective and constructive ability depends on the subtlety and complexity of its organisation. Human consciousness develops as the brain develops. An undeveloped brain results in various forms of mental deficiency, weakness of will, etc. In old age the nerve cells of the brain begin to atrophy, leading to senile decay, loss of memory and total confusion about the sequence of events. The pathological disturbanc...
A Short Story The day was calm and clear. Light blue insects darted about the lower branches of vibrant trees and bushes. Hanging loosely from extended branches, long vines, moved by the fingers of a slender breeze, oscillated in unison with falling leaves. On all sides of the forest, rising, shifting bubble shaped hills spread out from a single bright green clearing covered with flowering plants. It was a distinct and soothing nature, a thinking world fed by spinning waterfalls, and it was far from Earth. ….. “You’re never going to see anything. I’m telling you Alexander, give it up. Beyond having a possible ten to twenty thousand year orbit, the ninth planet is a myth.” James paused, wiped chocolate crumbs from his beard. “It’s good, I know, people should have an interest in new worlds, new ideas, but a planet seven to eight times the size of earth ─ that’s what they think now ─ if it appeared in our solar system orbital anarchy would rule the day. Damn, they first b...
SIDE ORDER OF WINGS In the media, drones have mostly been associated with the military and spying, plus the odd pizza-delivery publicity stunt. An annual competition in the United Arab Emirates, UAE Drones for Good Award, acknowledges both this dark reputation and that things are changing. Competition finalists this year pitched benefits for unmanned aerial vehicles from conservation support to medical deliveries, as well as farming help. The Munich-based Quantum-Systems entry was a transition aircraft combining capabilities of a multicopter and fixed-wing model – vertical take-off, plus fast forward flight like a normal plane. Quantum VRT design allows farmers to adopt precise fertilisation strategies via accurate flight-planning software with evaluation of crop conditions, so reducing reliance on fertilisers and boosting yields. Dubai plans to scale up agriculture drone technology usage in a bid to become self-sufficient in food security by 2030. With 98 per...