How much do we think about thinking? Science of Meta-awareness and Mind-wandering.

The discussion presented in the article delves into the complexities of human consciousness, cognition, and the intriguing phenomenon of mind-wandering. Professor Jonathan Schooler's research forms the foundation for this exploration, offering valuable insights into our thought processes and how we engage with our own awareness.  One of the central themes is meta-awareness, the ability to consciously acknowledge the contents of our consciousness. This concept invites us to take an active role in observing our thoughts and understanding our mental state. It encourages us to step back and reflect on the nature of our thinking. Mind-wandering, another key focus of the discussion, captures the moments when our attention drifts from the external world to our internal stream of thought. Schooler's research suggests that mind-wandering is primarily a result of fluctuations in attention, rather than a shift in our fundamental consciousness. This distinction is significant as it helps us understand the ebb and flow of our mental focus.

The article goes on to examine the practical implications of mind-wandering. Research findings reveal that a substantial portion of our working hours is spent in a state of mental drift, ranging from 25% to 50%. During these episodes, our cognitive resources are absorbed by internal musings, often at the expense of our primary tasks. This interference can affect various aspects of our cognitive functions, from reading and sustained attention to mood, working memory, and our overall attitude.

The neural and physiological aspects of mind-wandering are explored, shedding light on the Default Mode Network (DMN), a network of brain regions that becomes active when we are not focused on external stimuli. This network is closely associated with introspection and self-referential thinking, offering insight into what occurs in our brains during periods of mind-wandering.

The discussion also touches upon the potential link between mind-wandering and conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Exploring this connection could provide valuable insights into the cognitive processes associated with ADHD and potential interventions.

Lastly, the role of mindfulness is considered in managing and reducing mind-wandering. Schooler and his colleagues suggest that mindfulness training holds promise for enhancing our ability to focus and maintain attention. This implies that we have the capacity to harness our wandering thoughts through mindfulness practices, ultimately leading to improved concentration and overall well-being.

In summary, the discussion offers a comprehensive exploration of the interplay between awareness, attention, and mind-wandering. It underscores the prevalence and impact of mind-wandering on our daily lives and highlights the potential for mindfulness to serve as a tool for mastering our thoughts and enhancing our focus. It encourages individuals to become more mindful of their own thinking processes and to use this awareness as a means of self-improvement.

Worlds Without End

The “Worlds Without End: Exoplanets, Habitability, and the Future of Humanity” book, which was written by Chris Impey discusses the main challenges faced when finding planets beyond our solar system. As Planets don't emit light and only reflect the light produced by their host star, all the planets beyond our solar system have fainted by a billion times in the shine of a star like the Sun. Because of this, it was challenging to find the exoplanets with the scientific equipment in the 20th century.

Initially "Doppler Shift" was used to find the exoplanets which relies on the fact that the star wobbles as a planet orbits it. Then another indirect method called the Eclipse method was used to discover the exoplanets. This method uses the Kepler Space Telescope which takes a picture of one point of the sky every six minutes for about five years to determine the orbit size and the mass of the planets.

Chris said that seeing is believing for astronomers. So, astronomers advanced their research and developed a direct approach to imaging to find the exoplanets. As planets are less warm when compared to stars, they emit infrared radiation. So, the planetary system is being observed in longer wavelengths (infrared) providing a far greater contrast between the large exoplanets like Jupiter and the star.

Chris explained the diversity of exoplanets with variations in size, composition, and orbital characteristics. He discussed the possibility of Orphan planets which float in interstellar space, planets without a star and the possibility of Super Earth without a star. As the Sun is the life-giving star that impacts the biosphere of the Earth, earth without the star-like sun is the end to the bio-life on Earth. However, Super Earth without a star will not be tied to the lifetime of the star.

Chris explained how scientists are classifying the planets using the Doppler shift and Eclipse method to determine whether it’s a rocky planet or a gas giant like Jupiter and studying the atmospheric characteristics of these alien worlds. He revealed the advantages and challenges of the James Webb Telescope for advanced exoplanet research. Also, he projected the probability of life outside our solar system and then stated that interstellar travel is not possible with the current space technology and talked about the vision to develop competent technology for interstellar travel.

The Smartness Mandate

The book 'Smartness Mandate' is written by Orit Halpern, an assistant professor of history at the New School for Social Research and Eugene Lang College. The book's definition of "smartness" is the first topic of discussion. To further understand it, we will look at several examples. Is the smartness paradigm highly reliant on data collection, analysis, and human observation, as argued in the book? Is someone making use of our data? Well, I would suggest that using our data, we would receive related social media content such as YouTube advertising, Instagram reels, Facebook recommendations, and recommended friends. All of this occurs when we provide our information out, we address the various drawbacks and hazards of this data-focused strategy for individual rights and privacy. Human mistake is the most significant obstacle in data privacy and security; anyone who is unaware of this can use weak passwords or erase data without their knowledge, and they can all fall victim to phishing scams. Following that, the relationship between the resilience and smartness ideas is examined. Cities continue to face difficult challenges that put their resilience to the test. As smart cities are established, a better understanding of how smart technology will affect urban resilience is required. The findings suggest that, despite the availability of numerous definitions and interpretations, discussing resilience in relation to smart city components such as the data layer, digital technologies, and the physical city can provide some degree of clarity. Why did I choose this book? To gain a better grasp of how the term "Smartness" is defined.