🧠 #BrainFood 10.29.24

Oct 29, 2024

pink and green petaled flower — Photo by Esteban López on Unsplash

Decrease in Marijuana Use: Current marijuana use among adolescents dropped from 23.1% in 2011 to 15.8% in 2021, with first-time use before age 13 declining from 8.1% to 4.9%.

Grade-Level Trends: In 2021, marijuana use was most prevalent among 12th graders (22.4%), with all grades showing a decline from 2011 to 2021.

Gender Shift: By 2021, girls surpassed boys in marijuana use, with rates of 17.8% for girls and 13.6% for boys.

Racial Disparities: Black adolescents reported higher usage (20.5%) compared to white, Hispanic, and Asian peers.

Impact of Legalization: The legalization of marijuana for adults may influence adolescent perceptions and accessibility, complicating efforts to reduce use

🎃 A very deep history of Halloween

Origins in Samhain: Halloween traces back to Samhain, a Celtic festival on November 1, marked by bonfires and the belief that spirits roamed the earth.

Christian Influence: By the ninth century, elements of Samhain were integrated into the Christian Feast of All Saints, evolving into Halloween customs in Ireland.

Cultural Parallels: Similar themes appear in Día de Muertos in Mexico, merging Aztec traditions with Christian practices.

Archaeological Evidence: Neolithic tombs in Ireland align with Samhain, suggesting ancient rituals linked to the festival.

Proto-Indo-European Links: The article explores potential ancient beliefs connecting Halloween to broader Indo-European traditions involving the spirit world and ritual practices

🤖 A Terrifying Demonstration of a Biomimetic Humanoid Robot

A startup called Clone Robotics has taken a biomimetic approach to designing humanoid robots. Their ultra-creepy android torso, which looks straight out of Westworld, is mounted to a pelvis and features an artificial ribcage and hydraulics-powered muscles.