Wednesday 30 JUNE 2021

Innovating Above and Beyond

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Culture Accelerating Evolution

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What Should Be in Your Travel Safety Kit For those who do plan to travel after the Discovering restrictions are lifted, it is essential to pack a safety kit to better-protect yourself from contracting COVID-19. Here is some valuable information on safety products to help make your air and vehicle travel safer during the pandemic. Lost Masks for adults We all know wearing a mask all day isn’t exactly the height of comfort, but most people get used to it quite quickly. Even if it feels harder to breathe while wearing a mask, it doesn’t actually affect how much oxygen your body gets. Aside from people who are Treasure unable to put on and take off a mask themselves, almost everyone can safely wear a mask. Masks for kids Ancient Buddhist prayer Since the fit of a mask is the most important factor, kids should use masks made for kids. Masks aren’t effective unless you wear them properly — halls, monasteries, and and this can be more difficult with resistant children. Opting for a mask with a character or design your child likes to increase the chance that frescos of the Ajanta Caves they’ll want to wear it (and will keep it on when you’re not looking). Consider letting your child pick out their masks to ensure they’re happy wearing it.

By Jonathan Glancey restoration raised anew Face shields questions asked many times over While studies show that additional eye protection The Ajanta Caves, 30 the past 200 years. How did the in the form of face shields or goggles (not spellbinding Buddhist prayer artists paint so well, with such eyeglasses) decreases transmission in hospital halls and monasteries carved, as precise use of colour, in the dark settings, how much of an additional protection a if by sorcery, into a horseshoe- recesses of these rock-carved face shield offers in the community setting is still shaped rock face in a prayer halls and monasteries? unknown. While there is no downside to adding a mountainous region of India’s Just how many architects, face shield to your travel safety kit, they are not an Maharashtra State, 450km east masons, sculptors and painters equivalent substitute for face masks. They might of Mumbai, were ‘discovered’ by would have been at work between provide protection if someone sneezes in your accident in 1819. from circa 460-500 CE when so direction, for example, but they don’t protect people John Smith, a young British much of this glorious place, paid near you from aerosols and droplets coming out of cavalry officer, was on a tiger for by merchants and courtiers your mouth. However, face shields can be useful as hunt when he spotted the mouth during the reign of the Vakataka a reminder not to touch your face or your mask. of a cave high above the Waghora Dynasty emperor Harisena, was (Tiger) River that could only have created? And, in those brief years Hand soap, sanitizer, and wipes been man made. Scrambling up before the fall of the Vakataka Washing your hands with soap and water for at with his party, Smith entered the paintings that took the breath Sydenham, south London; in Empire and its patronage of least 20 seconds and drying them on a clean towel cave and, branding a flaming away. Here, Buddhist monks had 1866, 23 were destroyed by fire. Buddhist art, could this really is the best way to get cleaned. There’s no need to grass torch, encountered a great gazed on thousands of lustrous Newly armed with a camera as have been a place of quiet use antibacterial soap since they have no additional vaulted and colonnaded hall, its images of the lives the Buddha – well as brushes, Gill set to work contemplation when it must have effect on viruses, and they often contain harmful walls covered in faded paintings. Siddhartha Gautama – had lived again. Meanwhile, the Royal Cave been one vast building site? chemicals. Washing your hands for at least 20 Beneath a dome, a timeless before this 6th-century CE Temple Commission founded by The many archaeological seconds with soap is the most effective way to praying Buddha fronted a Indian prince took up teaching the Royal Asiatic Society in 1848 ventures over the past two clean, but hand sanitizer is a close second (and mound-like shrine, or stupa. and inspired a way of thinking had led to the foundation in 1861 centuries seeking to answer these often more convenient). Make sure your hand Smith carved his name on a and being practiced by hundreds of the Archaeological Survey of questions, as well as to uncover, sanitizer is alcohol-based and made with at least 60 statue of a Bodhisattva, a figure of millions around the world India. Concern for the treasures document and conserve this feast per cent alcohol, and spread it in the nooks and representing one of the past lives today. of Ajanta grew, as did the number of Buddhist creativity have added crannies of your hands. Be sure to rub it all over of the Buddha before he achieved Between images of the Buddha, of intrepid experts and treasure immeasurably to Ajanta’s fame, your hands until it evaporates. nirvana, or union with the divine were sensuous representations of hunters, some of whom did more along with the tramp of ever- Hand wipes are a last resort but are certainly spirit. Since then, thousands of glamorous princes and than carve their names on increasing tourists. In 2013, four better than having unclean hands in your mouth. people have added their names princesses, of animals, palaces, statues: they scraped paintings replica caves, created by the Keep in mind that most are formulated for objects as the Ajanta caves – a gallery of silks, jewellery, of lovemaking, from walls which crumbled into Mumbai-based designer Rakesh and not for skin. As with hand sanitizer, a hand- the oldest and some of the finest and life in all its mortal richness. dust. One of the few known Rathod, were opened at the wipe formula needs to be at least 60 per cent of all Buddhist art – has gained Some of the images shocked surviving paintings to have left visitor centre 4 km from the rock alcohol to kill viruses. fame and become a compelling Victorian sensibilities and are Ajanta intact is in the care of the face. The idea was to reduce tourist attraction. still condemned by religious Boston Museum of Fine Arts numbers heading to the precious Disinfectant wipes News of Smith’s find spread zealots unable to comprehend today. It had been sold in 1924 chaityagrihas and viharas. While keeping high-touch surfaces clean is quickly. In 1844, Major Robert that what these Indian artists for £1,000 at Sotheby’s in The fake caves, however, have important, obsession or worry over disinfecting Gill was commissioned by the saw was a joyous vision of London. not been a success, evidently, every surface you come into contact with outside of Royal Asiatic Society to create natural fecundity and divine visitors want the real thing even your home is unlikely to make a meaningful impact reproductions on canvas of the beauty. Searching for though many clearly revel in the on your risk of acquiring COVID-19. Objects you wall paintings. This was the Along with the1st-century CE understanding shopping bazaar and food stalls should clean regularly are your phone, sunglasses, beginning of measures to reveal architecture, these paintings greeting anyone making keys, and anything you touch and set on dirty and document the prayer halls showed remarkable affinities to Since 1999, a team led by pilgrimages to Ajanta today. surfaces; as soon as you pick them up off a (chaityagrihas) and monasteries classical Greek art. This was not Rajdeo Singh of the And yet, the serenity of the restaurant table or reception counter, your hands (viharas) that had, it seems, been coincidence, but evidence of a Archaeological Survey of India, sleeping Buddha lying in one of are now contaminated too. If you’re flying, you’ll hewn from solid rock in two Greco-Indian culture that had using new methods developed in the caves, the summer and want to wipe down any high-touch surfaces around phases, the first – five prayer spread from the 4th Century Japan, have revealed the intense winter solstice sunlight your seat. halls – between the 1st and 2nd BCE expeditions of Alexander the colours and sheer beauty of illuminating statues of the centuries BCE and, the second – Great. It stretched through many of the 1st Century CE praying Buddha, the spellbinding Storage bags 25 monasteries, or monks’ Hellenistic kingdoms and trade portraits along with the subtlety architecture and the compelling To make pandemic travel as easy as possible, it’s lodgings – in the 5th century CE. routes from the Mediterranean to of their artists’ use of perspective, beauty of the wall paintings lift important to have sanitizer and other essential Persia, Afghanistan and India – shading and other three- Ajanta above such worldly items with you and to keep them organised. Ideally, Lost to time with Ajanta along the way – to dimensional techniques concerns. This might be a tourist your carry-on bag would have multiple pockets so What Gill and other visitors distant China and Japan. including the use of bright magnet, yet thanks to you can keep things such as food and extra masks saw, having climbed ropes and Twenty-seven of Gill’s canvases stones, notably lapis lazuli from generations of conservationists, separate from dirty items. You’ll also want to be ladders, to reach the caves – the were displayed in the Indian Afghanistan. Ajanta remains a gateway to able to reach your hand sanitizer easily and not original stone stairs had long Court of the Crystal Palace at Their meticulous nirvana. contaminate everything else while trying to get it. It gone – was architecture of (bbc) is recommended to have a few plastic bags available a very high order as they’re useful to safely keep used wipes, tissues, and sculpture disposable masks, and other dirty items until you and can find a trash can. You’ll want one for your car, and flight attendants and aircraft cleaners will be especially grateful that you went the extra mile to protect their health as well as your own. What you can skip: Gloves You don’t need to bring gloves with you on your trip. The virus can live on the surface of a latex glove, the same as skin. Some people become too relaxed when they are wearing gloves. They do not realise they are at more risk for spreading COVID- 19 because they are touching multiple personal items in between other things. Studies have suggested that people who wear gloves tend not to wash their hands as often or notice when gloves get dirty or damaged. It’s also easy to contaminate your hands when removing gloves. Plus, we don’t need any more COVID-19 waste than we already have. (insider) C2 WEDNESDAY 30 JUNE 2021 SNEAK PEEKS LOOK Cardi B is Pregnant

Cardi B announced that she and husband Offset are expecting their second child together later this year. The WAP rapper, 28, revealed the news via Instagram on Sunday (27), with a photo that shows her torso covered in white, revealing her baby bump. “#2!” she captioned the snap with a heart emoji. She tagged Offset, 29, as well. The post was shared just as the performer went on Nayanathara to stage at the BET Awards on 27 June alongside her husband and his group, Migos, in Los Angeles. Cardi wore a jewel-encrusted black bodysuit that emphasised her growing belly with a sheer panel. Star with SRK Cardi and Offset‘s next little bundle of joy will join older sister, Kulture, who turns three on 10 July. When it comes to Shah Rukh The pre-production work for the Offset is also dad to sons Jordan, 11, and Kody, 6, as Khan‘s upcoming work, everyone is film is underway, with Attlee even well as daughter Kalea, 6, from prior relationships. always ears about it, aren’t they? making visits to Mumbai in the recent The soon-to-be mother of two seems to enjoy After his last outing in 2018 with past to discuss the progress with surprising audiences with pregnancy announcements. Zero, the actor hasn’t starred in any SRK. The film is tentatively slated to She announced Kulture’s expected arrival in a similar other film. Now, there has been go on floors by the end of this year. fashion during a live performance in 2018. enough news about a few of his On the work front, Nayanthara has Both expecting parents were nominated for BET upcoming films, Atlee’s next made her mark in the Tamil, Telugu, Awards. Migos was up for Best Group while Cardi was included. and Malayalam industries with her recognised in the Best Female Hip Hop Artist category, South Indian director Atlee is set to work in films such as Raja Rani, and she was nominated against herself with both Up direct SRK in his next film and if that Aramm, Puthiya Niyamam, Mookuthi and WAP going head-to-head for Video of the Year. has not gotten fans super curious Amman and Attlee’s Bigil too, Cardi has been open and honest about motherhood and excited to know more, news of opposite actor Vijay. On the other when discussing her life with Kulture. In December the female lead in the film has hand, SRK has Siddharth Anand‘s 2020, she discussed raising a child under vastly created all the more buzz. According Pathan alongside Deepika Padukone different economic circumstances than those in which to reports in various news portals, it and John Abraham, whose shoot they she grew up. is rumoured that top South-Indian are soon going to resume. He also has (usweekly) actress, Nayanthara, is being Rajkumar Hirani‘s social-comedy in considered to star alongside King the pipeline. Khan. (missmalini) A Rock Star Fades Angira and Anand Johnny Solinger, a former member of the rock band Skid Row, has died. He was 55. Skid Row announced the rocker’s death in a social media statement on 26 June. “We are saddened to hear the news of our brother Johnny Solinger,” the group wrote. “Our Tie the Knot thoughts are with his family, friends and fans.” Vicky Kaushal’s Love per “Godspeed Singo. Say hello to Scrappy for Square Foot co-star Angira us,” the statement continued, referencing Dhar tied the knot with Solinger’s late grandfather, Willard Jesse director Anand Tiwari. The ‘Scrappy’ Smith, who served as the inspiration actress took to her for Solinger’s solo album Scrappy Smith, per Instagram handle to share Billboard. some ovely candid pictures The Instagram post was signed with ‘much from her wedding day. love’ from Skid Row members Rachel Bolan, ZP bills. Raising over US$ 16,000 for Solinger, the The star looks gorgeous Theart, Snake Sabo, Rob Hammersmith and page also confirmed the singer’s death on in a red saree with a veil Scotti Hill. Sunday (27), citing Solinger’s wife, Paula that came with a golden Last month, Solinger announced that he had Marcenaro. “Update from Paula....Johnny has border. Her husband opted been diagnosed with liver failure. passed. I was holding his hand. He went in for an off-shite sherwani “It is with a heavy heart I must let everyone peace. Thank you all,” the statement read. “I set. As soon as she shared know what’s going on with me and my health. I will take a break from everything but please the post, Vicky and have been hospitalised for over the last month,” know I am forever grateful for your love.” Katrina dropped heart he wrote in 8 May Facebook post. “I have been On her Instagram Story, Marcenaro shared a emoticons in the diagnosed with liver failure. And prognosis is quote following Solinger’s death. “The reality is comments section. Adah not so good.” that you will grieve forever,” the post read. “You Sharma, Soha Ali Khan, “I am currently under at least seven different will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will Gajraj Rao, Sharvari, Neha medications and I need to have my abdomen learn to live with it.” Dhupia, Maanvi Gagroo, drained off fluid that gets accumulated every Solinger first joined Skid Row back in 1999, Gauahar Khan, Sumeet couple of days. I have lost a lot of strength and replacing Sebastian Bach as the lead vocalist. Vyas, and Harleen Sethi, will require physical therapy as well,” he The rocker stayed with the group until 2015, among others also dropped continued. before he was replaced by former TNT love in the comments A GoFundMe page was created by friend of singer Tony Harnell. section. Solinger’s to help the musician with his medical (people) (timesofindia)

SUMMERTIME FUN Jennifer Garner is spotted picking up her son, Samuel, from swim practice in LA

SIN CITY! BACK IN THE GAME MOMMY AND HER MINI-ME HYDRATION FIRST Kendall Jenner steps out in Las Selling Sunset’s Christine Quinn Anne Hathaway carries a reusable Vegas wearing a blue boa after Singer Ciara and daughter Sienna blow kisses to the cameras shows off her post-baby body in a water bottle on the set of her film celebrating her 818 Tequila launch at a sneak peak of Russell Wilson’s 3 Brand Clothing in NYC Burberry mini skirt and matching party at Resorts World Las Vegas We Crashed in New York City top when arriving at a hotel in LA LOOK Culture wednesday 30 june 2021 c3 Culture Accelerating Evolution Humans might be making genetic evolution obsolete

At the mercy of natural selection accumulated ‘mutations’ of cultural It’s possible, the researchers since the dawn of life, our ancestors knowledge. By developing vaccines, suggest, that the appearance of adapted, mated and died, passing on human culture improves its collective human culture represents a key tiny genetic mutations that eventually ‘immune system,’ said study evolutionary milestone. made humans what we are today. co-author Tim Waring, an associate “Their big argument is that culture But evolution isn’t bound strictly to professor of social-ecological systems is the next evolutionary transition genes anymore, a new study suggests. modelling at the University of Maine. state,” Smaldino said. Throughout the Instead, human culture may be And sometimes, cultural evolution history of life, key transition states driving evolution faster than genetic can lead to genetic evolution. “The have had huge effects on the pace and mutations can work. classic example is lactose tolerance,” direction of evolution. The evolution of In this conception, evolution no Waring said. “Drinking cow’s milk cells with DNA was a big transitional longer requires genetic mutations that began as a cultural trait that then state, and then when larger cells with confer a survival advantage being drove the [genetic] evolution of a organelles and complex internal passed on and becoming widespread. group of humans.” In that case, structures arrived, it changed the Instead, learned behaviours passed cultural change preceded genetic game again. Cells coalescing into on through culture are the ‘mutations’ change, not the other way around. plants and animals was another big that provide survival advantages. This The concept of cultural evolution sea change, as was the evolution of so-called cultural evolution may now began with the father sex, the transition to life on land and shape humanity’s fate more strongly of evolution himself, Waring said. so on. Each of these events changed than natural selection, the Charles Darwin understood that the way evolution acted, and now researchers argue. behaviours could evolve and be change is allowing us to evolve in help those groups survive. As ideas humans might be in the midst of yet “When a virus attacks a species, it passed to offspring just as physical ways biological change alone could spread, cultures develop new traits. another evolutionary transformation. typically becomes immune to traits are, but scientists in his day not. Here’s why, culture is group- In contrast, a person only inherits We might still evolve genetically, but that virus through genetic evolution,” believed that changes in behaviours oriented, and people in those groups genetic information from two parents that may not control human survival study co-author Zach Wood, a were inherited. For example, if a talk to, learn from and imitate one and racks up relatively few random very much anymore. postdoctoral researcher in the School mother had a trait that inclined her to another. These group behaviours mutations in their eggs or sperm, “In the very long term, we suggest of Biology and Ecology at the teach a daughter to forage for food, allow people to pass on adaptations which takes about 20 years to be that humans are evolving from University of Maine, said. Such she would pass on this inherited trait they learned through culture faster passed on to their small handful of individual genetic organisms to evolution works slowly, as those who to her daughter. In turn, her daughter than genes can transmit similar children. That’s just a much slower cultural groups which function as are more susceptible die off and only might be more likely to survive, and survival benefits. An individual can pace of change. super-organisms, similar to ant those who survive pass on their as a result, that trait would become learn skills and information from a “This theory has been a long time colonies and beehives,” Waring said in genes. more common in the population. nearly unlimited number of people in coming,” said Paul Smaldino, an a statement. But genetics drives bee But nowadays, humans mostly Waring and Wood argue in their a small amount of time and, in turn, associate professor of cognitive and colonies, while the human super- don’t need to adapt to such threats new study, published 2 June in the spread that information to many information sciences at the University organism will exist in a category all its genetically. Instead, we adapt by journal Proceedings of the Royal others. And the more people available of California, who was not affiliated own. What that super-organism looks developing vaccines and other medical Society B, that at some point in to learn from, the better. Large groups with this study. “People have been like in the distant future is unclear, interventions, which are not the human history, culture began to solve problems faster than smaller working for a long time to describe but it will likely take a village to figure results of one person’s work but wrest evolutionary control from groups, and intergroup competition how evolutionary biology interacts it out. rather of many people building on the our DNA. And now, they say, cultural stimulates adaptations that might with culture.” (livescience) Tradition Favoured over Equality Claims Japan’s top court backs ban on separate surnames for married couples

Japan’s top court on 23 law and freedom of marriage, reported by local media. June ruled a law requiring which are guaranteed by the Under existing legislation, married couples to have the constitution.” couples can choose to adopt same family name is The ruling is in line with a either the husband or wife’s constitutional, rejecting 2015 Supreme Court surname when they marry. plaintiffs who sought the decision that also found the But in practice, the vast What Did Stonehenge right to keep separate law constitutional but urged majority of couples opt for surnames, media said. The lawmakers to discuss a bill the husband’s name. plaintiffs — three couples — addressing growing calls for The surname rule has submitted marriage flexibility on the issue. been in place since the late Sound Like? registration documents with Calls to allow separate 19th century as part of a different surnames for wives surnames have been growing family system gathering Stonehenge remains profoundly mysterious. We absorbed. Once the model was complete, he and husbands in 2018. But in recent years. The couples members under one head of still aren’t certain who built it, or why they began experimenting with microphones and municipal Governments argued that the, “Reasons for household, usually male. aligned its geometry with the summer solstice, or speakers, and measuring sound waves with a refused to accept the the 2015 verdict are no Backers say having a brought the smaller stones from 180 miles away, computer. documents, the Mainichi longer valid given changes in single-family name is or what range of purposes it served. But every “We expected to lose a lot of sound vertically, newspaper reported. society”, Jiji Press said. important to promote family year, scientists learn more about the great stone because there’s no roof,” he says. “But what we The plaintiffs argued Supreme Court officials ties and consider efforts to enigma on Salisbury Plain. Most recently, a team found instead was thousands upon thousands of requiring married couples to could not immediately change the rules an attack from the University of Salford, in Manchester, and reflections as the sound waves bounced around choose a single name, “Is confirm details of 23 June on traditional values. English Heritage, the charitable trust that horizontally.” These reflections would have against equality under the verdict, which was widely (breakingasia) manages Stonehenge, made a breakthrough produced, “Significant amplification—four about the monument’s acoustical wonders. decibels,” Cox says, as well as a powerful Despite the lack of a roof, the research team has reverberation effect, meaning that the sounds found, the original circle of 157 standing stones would have boomed and lingered before fading (only 63 complete stones remain today) once away. “You can compare it to singing outside, and acted like a sound chamber. For people in the then singing in a tiled bathroom: Your voice inner sanctum 4,000 years ago, the placement of sounds better in the bathroom.” stones would have amplified and enhanced As modern people living in sound-reflective human voices and music in a way that must have rooms and concrete cities, we are so accustomed been spellbinding. If you were outside the circle, to amplified, reverberating sounds that we barely though, the sounds were muffled and indistinct. notice them. In Neolithic Britain, however, people This finding has added credence to the growing rarely heard them unless they entered a cave or a consensus that rituals at Stonehenge were for a narrow rocky gorge. “It must have been magical to small elite. build Stonehenge, to make that massive The study was conceived by Trevor Cox, an community effort, to align it to the solstice, and acoustical engineer at the University of Salford. then walk inside the circle and hear reverberating “Some acoustical research had already been done sounds,” says Cox. at Stonehenge, but it was all based on what’s He thinks it’s extremely unlikely that these there now,” Cox says. “I wanted to know how it acoustic properties were there by design, but once sounded in 2,200 BCE, when all the stones were they were discovered, people surely would have in place.” exploited them. “Human ceremonies nearly To find out, he borrowed a standard technique always have speeches, singing or chanting,” he from architectural acoustics and built a scaled- says. “We know there were musical instruments down model. The tallest replica stones are around – bone flutes, pipes, drums, horns – and approximately two feet high. Cox and his they would have sounded amazing inside the co-workers based the model on laser scans of circle. If you were important, you’d definitely want Stonehenge that were provided by Historic to be in there. If you were on the outside, not only England, the Government agency responsible for was your view obscured, you couldn’t hear what preserving historic sites, as well as the latest was going on either.” archaeological thinking about the different The next stage of research is to place scale construction phases and configuration of the replicas of people inside the Henge, and find out original stones. To create replicas, he 3D-printed how much sound they absorb. Cox has also been 27 of the stones. Then he made silicon moulds of approached by a number of musicians who are them and cast the other 130 stones. Some of the eager to replicate the same precise reverberation model stones were hollow plastic; cavities were in their recordings. “It’s an exciting thought for filled with aggregate and plaster mix. The others them,” he says. “Through a mathematical process were cast using a plaster-polymer-water mix. called convolution, they can record their Gaps were filled with children’s modelling clay. All instruments to sound like they’re playing at the replica stones were sealed with a cellulose car ancient Stonehenge.” spray paint to prevent sound from being (smithsonianmag) c4 wednesday 30 june 2021 Travel LOOK LOOK Travel wednesday 30 june 2021 c5

The Best Roads for Travellers to Hit A list of world’s most instagrammed road trip routes Innovating Above and Beyond

Big Sur, USA Great Ocean Road, Australia Jebel Hafeet, UAE Nalanda Seya 2020 held virtually amidst the pandemic Pentagon Motor Group analysed more than Ocean Road on Instagram, meaning about seven million Instagram hashtags to 8,418 pictures are taken for every 1.6 determine the world’s most beautiful road trip kilometre stretch of road. Constructed in routes, based on photos per mile. The Great 1932, the route runs along the south-eastern Ocean Road in Australia emerged as the most coast of Australia, between the cities of Instagrammed road trip route, followed by Big Torquay and Allansford, and continues to be Sur in California and, in third place, Jebel one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hafeet. Australia. The USA is home to the highest number of Travelling in the comfort of scenic routes. Big Sur is the most popular, your car with 5,226 pictures per 1.6 kilometres, but Blue Ridge Parkway, Going-To-The-Sun With many people still wary of international Road, Route 66, California’s Tioga Pass and travel and staycations continuing to rise in Hana Highway also appear in the top 20. popularity, Pentagon Motor Group set out to Route 66 is the longest route on the list, discover the most visually arresting journeys covering 4,000 kilometres, cutting through that travellers could take from the comfort of eight American states – California, Arizona, their cars. New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, There are an impressive 1,321,570 hash- Missouri, and Illinois – and spanning three tagged images of the 253-kilometre Great time zones. Driving to Abu Dhabi’s highest The most beautiful road peak trip routes in the world Meanwhile, 4,840 pictures per 1.6 kilometres were posted of Jebel Hafeet. Great Ocean Road, Australia Standing at the border between Al Ain and Big Sur, USA Oman, and rising to a height of 1,249 metres, Jebel Hafeet, UAE Jebel Hafeet is Abu Dhabi’s highest peak, and Hai Van Pass, Vietnam the second tallest mountain in the UAE. The Chapman’s Peak Drive, South Africa craggy limestone peak offers expansive views Blue Ridge Parkway, USA of Al Ain and has also been the site of Going-To-The-Sun Road, USA significant fossil discoveries. Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland “Despite the looming question over By Shanuka Kadupitiyage atmosphere and ambiance of an Olympic Peninsula Loop, USA international travel, road trips are still on the Ceylon Today Features exhibition and even provided a Icefields Parkway, Canada cards, thanks to the luxury and convenience planned tour for those who visit the Route 66, USA of our wheels,” says Jonathan Lingham, With the ongoing pandemic virtual exhibition to navigate Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, Austria Marketing Director at Pentagon Motor Group. situation, many operations and themselves around, as if they were Pacific Highway, Australia “As there are so many driving holiday activities within schools have been in an actual exhibition hall. Tioga Pass, USA destinations around the globe, we were put on hold, including that of any “We know that there are some Military Road, UK curious to find out which route is officially the school clubs and societies. who like to walk around the school, Cabot Trail, Canada most beautiful. However, Nalanda College, Colombo enjoying the atmosphere before Hana Highway, USA “It’s great to see so many bucket-list-worthy 10 has proven that with a little help they step inside the exhibition, and The Atlantic Road, Norway road trips cropping up from all around the and a lot of dedication, students we were able to provide a virtual Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland world – from the UK to Australia, and Norway can still develop innovative tour of Nalanda College alongside North Coast 500, Scotland to the USA It proves that everyone can jump in solutions to existing problems. the exhibition,” DIlusha told us. their car and embark on an epic adventure.” The Nalanda College “We also had the option for those (thenational) Photographic Art Society had a to use VR technology to have a problem; they wanted to continue more immersive experience as the tradition of Nalanda Seya, the well,” he added. annual photographic arts exhibition organised by the society. Keeping tradition However, with the prevailing “One of the biggest motivators for Get Vaccinated and Visit Thailand pandemic, being able to conduct us was to keep the tradition of such an exhibition without holding such an exhibition,” said Phuket plans to welcome vaccinated tourists from next month potentially exposing participants to Dilusha. The Nalanda the disease was physically Photographic Art Society, with its Starting on July 1, Thailand plans to impossible. decades of tradition and history re-open its doors to international tourists – Not wanting to be defeated by this annually holds two major with a few caveats. problem, the team behind Nalanda exhibitions; ‘Orifice’ and ‘Nalanda Although currently experiencing its highest Seya, started looking for Seya.’ The dedication of those rate of infections and deaths due to COVID- alternatives to hold the event, and behind the Nalanda Seya virtual 19 since the outbreak of the pandemic, the have successfully done so with Chase by Yasith Manusha exhibition, and their innovative country plans to move ahead with its what might be the first ever virtual thinking, have certainly led to a previously-announced plans to reopen photographic exhibition held by a major success. tourism. The Tourism Authority of Thailand school in Sri Lanka. (TAT) has confirmed that from next month, Ceylon Today reached out to A team effort the country will allow quarantine-free entry President of the Nalanda College “It was a result of all of us coming to vaccinated tourists from ‘low-risk’ Photographic Art Society, Dilusha together to make this a success,” countries who enter Thailand via the island Lakshan to learn more about their Dilusha affirmed, thanking the of Phuket. achievement. many who helped make the While more details still need to be exhibition a success, including the confirmed, including what countries are Phuket’s pandemic restrictions have been Finding an alternative entire top-board and members of deemed low risk, for now the TAT says lifted, and the island’s tourist-oriented “We all believed that doing the Nalanda Photographic Art arrivals must be fully vaccinated or have businesses have been allowed to operate something was better than not Society, past-members, their past received their first dose of the AstraZeneca more or less normally. doing anything,” Dilusha explained. and current teachers in charge, vaccine, and must have tested negative not Until recently, Thailand seemed virtually “We wanted to hold Nalanda Seya and past and present Principals more than 72 hours before arrival. pandemic proof, with very few infections and last December, but because of the and Deputy Principals among the Upon arriving in Phuket – which by July even fewer deaths due to COVID-19. But a prevailing situation, it had to be many. Thai authorities say will have reached herd recent surge has caused authorities to put put on hold.” immunity – visitors must stay in a hotel the country into semi-lockdown. However, Dilusha continued, informing us Creativity and approved by the country’s Safety and Health the tourism-dependent country is reeling that Nalanda Seya is a innovation is obtainable Administration for the first seven nights. from an almost total lack of visitors over the photographic competition and that While on Phuket, visitors are not required to previous year, and the Government is keen this year, it was held under five Family by Ridma Sewwandi Galana Dahamganga by Shehan De Zoysa Gods on Earth by Parith Malaka Hopes by Pathum Saranga Quenching Thirst by Toshan Wijerathna Nalanda Seya’s virtual exhibition quarantine and are free to leave their to reverse the country’s economic stagnation. categories; Colour, Monochrome, was a major technical feat accommodation and travel around the island The Government’s registration portal, Nature, Travel, and Mobile, and from more than 560 applicants, Gurusingha; members of the Not only that, the group was out of the ballpark, the organisers help up make this happen. website, nalandaseya.com, the achieved by the Nalanda College with few, if any, restrictions, visiting gophuget.com, is still a work in progress, and contestants were grouped as inter- heralding from over 72 schools and National Photographic Art Society reluctant to put those who would got to work to continue the Collaborating with them, we were public can visit all the work of the Photographic Art Society and their beaches, restaurants and entertainment some key details of the proposed plan, such school (students from schools 28 universities, both state-run and of Sri Lanka. participate in such an exhibition at tradition while adhering to all able to put together the technical finalists, put on display within a dedication to not remain idle even venues as per normal. Visitors will be as whether or not visitors will be allowed to across the country), inter- private across various regions of “Normally we would print out the risk of contracting and spreading health and safety regulations. expertise and resources needed to virtual space. while the world is at a standstill is required to register at a government website transfer to Phuket via Bangkok’s university, and open-mobile, for the country, which were judged by pictures and have a grand the virus. “We have an Old-Nalandian make our venture a success.” Making our way through the admirable. They have set the and use an app that tracks their movements. Suvarnabhumi International Airport, or if mobile photographers using their our esteemed panel of judges exhibition, followed by an award Photographic Art Society, exhibition, it was clear that a lot of benchmark and proven that After seven nights on Phuket, visitors are children will be required to be vaccinated, smartphones who are outside of the including the likes of Harsha ceremony for the winners of each A clever idea consisting of past-pupils who were Nalanda Seya work went on behind-the-scenes to students can achieve much with free to leave the island to travel to other have yet to be determined. For updates, stay previously mentioned Jayasekara, Shantha Gunaratne, category, but because of the second Realising that although in the society while at school,” We are talking about of course, make this exhibition a success. The their creativity, dedication and points in Thailand. tuned to the TAT’s news feed on Twitter. demographics. Mohan Hathnapitiya, Yamuni wave, this became an impossible physically impossible to do so, Dilusha continued. “They gave a lot the Nalanda Seya 2020 virtual team behind Nalanda Seya had ability to adapt alongside the In preparation for tourists, many of (lonelyplanet) “We had over 3,500 submissions Perera, Lakshan Mapa, and Mohan task to do at that time.” holding a virtual exhibition was not of crucial insight and assistance to photography exhibition. Using their successfully recreated the support of those around them.

Recently the Oscar-winning actor project to work. “In this [scenario], you Virgin Australia is the latest airline contest in which vaccinated travellers Leonardo Di Caprio announced funding Rewilding project in the Galápagos Islands have to have the community as part of to offer travellers perks in a bid to get could win a year’s worth of free of US$ 43 million towards an ambitious the project, otherwise you are not going more people vaccinated against Get the Jab and Fly for Free flights, flight discounts, frequent flyer rewilding project in the Galápagos Galápagos’ giant tortoises and pink iguanas given lifeline from extinction to be successful mostly,” she said in a COVID-19. points and vouchers for future travel. Islands that aims to protect its fragile statement. “Once you remove invasive With the aim to encourage people in Airlines launch competitions to encourage travellers to get vaccinated In the US, United Airlines is giving ecosystem and reintroduce 13 locally Floreana mockingbird, an incredibly wildlife may soon be lost forever without species, you need to protect the island Australia to be inoculated against the away free flights for an entire year to extinct species, including the Floreana rare bird which is said to have inspired action,” she explained. Speaking about and avoid new species coming back. Coronavirus, the airline has teamed Air travel and COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated mockingbird – one of the rarest birds in Charles Darwin. Unfortunately, the Re:wild, Castaño added, “We know how The biosecurity aspect is very up with Velocity Frequent Flyer to give Australia and Velocity Frequent Flyer return of air travel. travellers. New US airline Avelo, the world. The funding will go towards bird has vanished from Floreana Island, to prevent these extinctions and restore important, so if [people] are not involved away dozens of business class flights prizes or be the lucky one to become a Virgin Australia is not the first Qantas has also announced a meanwhile, is celebrating the return of the launch of Re:wild, a global mainly due to the introduction of functional and thriving ecosystems – we on that, it will not happen.” and frequent flyer miles. Velocity Points millionaire,” said a airline trying to entice travellers to get vaccination competition. Last month, travel this summer by offering round- conservation charity that builds upon invasive mammals such as feral cats have done it – but we need to replicate There is nowhere quite like the One winner will also become a spokesperson for Virgin Australia. vaccinated in order to speed up the the Australian airline launched a trip tickets to 252 new graduates to decades of work by local communities and rodents through ship and air these successes, innovate and go to Galápagos. It represents the ultimate Velocity Frequent Flyer Points “What the latest lockdown in any destination in the low-cost and conservationists, including the traffic. Not only do these species scale.” Alongside efforts to control and natural paradise. Today, 98 per cent of millionaire. Melbourne and the evolving situation airline’s network. Galápagos National Park Directorate threaten the Galápagos’ ecosystem, eliminate introduced species and raise the archipelago is a National Park, Currently, only those aged 40 and in Sydney has taught us, is the sooner The impact of the Coronavirus and Island Conservation. Working with they also threaten local livelihoods by awareness among locals and tourists, where you can see the very creatures above, or those classed as priority, are we can all get vaccinated, the sooner pandemic has been detrimental on these organisations, Di Caprio (a compromising food security, and Re:wild is also working to protect that inspired Darwin to formulate the eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in we can get on with our lives, without the aviation industry, with 2020 founding member of Re:wild) said the reducing the number of endemic plants Galápagos’ marine resources so that theory of evolution. This makes it one of Australia. the constant fear and uncertainty that dubbed the worst year in the charity will, “Amplify and scale the local and species that tourists travel here to ecotourism can evolve in a more the top natural tourist destinations in To enter the contest, travellers must come with lockdowns, restrictions and industry’s history. solutions being led by Indigenous see. sustainable way; taking into account the world. But the Galápagos’ delicate be over 18 and have received two closed borders.” Now, as vaccinations roll out around peoples and local communities.” Paula A. Castaño, a local wildlife the needs and goals of the local ecosystem is easily disrupted and doses of a COVID-19 vaccination. Sydney reported a double-digit the globe and some countries begin to One of its first commitments is the veterinarian with Island Conservation, community by offering them support conservationists say they have now “For simply rolling up your sleeve rise in new locally acquired cases of ease travel restrictions, airlines are on introduction of 13 locally extinct said time is running out for many through workshops and engagement. reached a critical point in the and getting a COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 for the third day in a row on a mission to help travellers return to species to the Galápagos, including species. “Galápagos’ pink iguanas, According to Castaño, the entire biodiversity crisis. you could walk away with a share in 24 June, as officials battled an the air. pink iguanas, giant tortoises, and the Floreana mockingbirds, and other community needs to be involved for the (lonelyplanet) tens of thousands of dollars of Virgin outbreak of the Delta variant. (thenational) C6 WEDNESDAY 30 JUNE 2021 HISTORY/PUZZLES What was the Deadliest Day in U.S. History? The USA in 1918 during Spanish Flu pandemic

If you think of the deadliest day in the United States' history, your mind is probably drawn to the terrorist attacks of 11 September, the calamity that followed Japan's strike on Pearl Harbour or perhaps a battle from the Civil War. Or maybe you think of more recent days during the COVID-19 pandemic. The answer to the question of what was the deadliest day, it turns out, isn't straightforward. But when you take the death rate into account, it's likely none of the events mentioned above. To put contemporary US deaths in perspective, before COVID-19 began circulating in late 2019, approximately 7,700 people died every day in the US for a multitude of different reasons, including things American Civil War Aftermath ov Galveston Hurricane, 1900 such as car accidents and heart disease, said J. David Hacker, a discount the people who also died on so the storm was an especially lethal causes on the same day as the Battle demographic historian at the that day, but from other causes? Or event. of Antietam. That means the battle University of Minnesota. do we include them? There's not Meanwhile, the Civil War, waged dead more than doubled the death The deadliest day in America's much of a consensus among The deadliest day in from 1861-1865, was an especially rate of that day, making it a pretty history is hard to pinpoint because, historians, and, on top of that, death America’s history is bloody time. It's estimated that deadly day by anyone's reckoning. for one thing, America's population records nationwide from 1776 to 750,000 soldiers perished from The tally was higher for the Battle of has grown considerably, from a mere now are lacking, Hacker said. hard to pinpoint injury and disease, according to a Gettysburg in July 1863 — where 4 million in 1790 to in excess of 332 That said, we can make a few because, for one thing, 2011 study in the journal Civil War more than 7,000 soldiers were killed — million today, Hacker said. So, educated guesses. "If it's just the History. And so, it's not too but that happened over the course of comparing the absolute number of total number of deaths in one day America’s population surprising that another event worthy three days, he said. deaths from yesteryear with today is from a specific event on a specific has grown of mention is the 1862 Battle of Putting violence aside, the Spanish like comparing apples with oranges. day, I think nothing comes close to Antietam, which thwarted the Flu was another particularly lethal "Of course, there are more overall the Galveston Hurricane on 8 considerably, from a Confederate invasion of Maryland period. "About 6,000 people died each deaths in a typical day today than September, 1900," Hacker said. The mere 4 million in and saw an estimated 3,650 soldiers day during October 1918 from there were in 1790, despite the fact hurricane, which struck Texas as a killed from both sides. But here influenza, on average." Hacker said. If that the death rate — deaths divided Category 4 hurricane with winds 1790 to in excess of again we come across data problems we had better data from that time, it by the population — was from 130 to 156 mph (209 to 251 332 million today. So, — not all who fought in the battle might have been possible to say that undoubtedly much higher in 1790," km/h), is also known as ‘The Great and died did so on the day of the the Spanish Flu was responsible for Hacker said. But even if we decide Storm of 1900’, and is often comparing the battle itself. "Men wounded in the the deadliest day in US history that the death rate is the fairer way described as the deadliest natural absolute number of one-day battle may have suffered for because some days likely eclipsed that to make comparisons across the disaster in US history, according to weeks or months before finally 6,000 figure. "If we knew the one-day centuries, finding an answer to the the National Oceanic and deaths from dying, and are likely not part of the peak number of deaths from influenza, ‘deadliest day' question is still more Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). yesteryear with today estimate," Hacker said. "Counting alas we don't, and added that to the complicated than you might think. Between 8,000 and 12,000 people Civil War deaths is not an exact daily total from other causes," Hacker "The deadliest day comparisons were killed during the hurricane, is like comparing science." said, "then perhaps the deadliest day I've seen rely on different measures," NOAA said in a 2011 report. Back in apples with oranges Hacker roughly estimates that in US history from all causes or events Hacker said. If we're looking at a 1900, roughly 3,500 people died about 2,500 other people died in the was in October 1918." single attack or event, do we each day, on average, said Hacker, US due to other (non-war-related) (livescience) 1785 1784 SOLUTION

Yesterday’s

Crossword Puzzle 1885 CLUES Across Down 7 Some point in the air (6) 1 Small rodents (4) 8 Neckwear (6) 2 Cake (6) 9 A line that indicates a boundary (4) 3 Underwater diver (7) 10 Guarantee (8) 4 Go away (5) 11 Worldly (7) 5 Hunting expedition (6) 13 Eyeshade (5) 6 Flowering shrub or small tree (8) 15 Smelling of beer (5) 12 Unnerve (8) 17 Concordance (7) 14 Trim (7) 20 Legal ouster (8) 16 In orescence (6) 21 The dressed skin of an animal (4) 18 Driver and keeper of an elephant (6) 23 Nuclear (6) 19 Consisting of or made of wood of the birch tree (5) 24 Askance (6) 22 Unpleasantly cool and humid (4)

SOLUTION C WORD 1884 LOOK Features wednesday 30 june 2021 c7 That Little Voice in Your Head Does everyone have an inner monologue?

The ‘little voice in your head’ can be condensation, a measure of how thoughts, she said. Eventually, this your worst critic and the greatest verbose your inner speech is. methodology revealed that some supporter. It has been known to help Sometimes you think in words or people had inner speech every time with directions, give advice, rehearse fragments. But other times, like when the device beeped, almost as if, tough conversations, and even remind you're preparing for a conversation or "There's a radio in their head," you to put pesto on the grocery list. presentation, you're likely thinking in Lovenbruck said. But others had But does everyone have an inner whole sentences and paragraphs. less inner speech than usual, and monologue? For a long time, it was But a long-time confounder in some didn't have inner speech at all. assumed that an inner voice was studying inner speech was the fact They experienced images, simply part of being human. But it that, in studies, people expressed sensations, and emotions, but not a turns out, that's not the case — not their thoughts in words, Lovenbruck voice or words. everyone processes life in words and said, even if they weren't exactly The lack of an inner monologue sentences. thinking in words. has been linked to a condition "By inner monologue, we mean that This long-held assumption that all called aphantasia – sometimes we can have private speech that's people rely on an inner voice was called ‘blindness of the mind's eye’. addressed to ourselves and that is first challenged in the late 1990s, in People who experience aphantasia carried out without any articulation large part by research led by Russell don't experience visualisations in or sound," said Helene Lovenbruck, a Hurlburt, a psychologist at the their mind; they can't mentally senior neurolinguistics researcher University of Nevada, Las Vegas. picture their bedroom or their and head of the language team in the Hurlburt studied participants' inner mother's face. Many times, those Psychology and NeuroCognition speech by asking them to wear a who don't experience visualisations Laboratory at CNRS, the National beeper. Whenever the device beeped, don't experience clear inner speech, French Research Institute. they had to write down what they either, Lovenbruck noted. With true inner speech, you almost were thinking or experiencing in Aphantasia and the lack of an ‘hear’ your inner voice, she said. their mind just before the sound. At inner voice aren't necessarily bad. You're aware of its tone and the end of the day, they met with a But a better understanding of inner intonation. For example, the voice can researcher to go over their speech and the wide array of ‘sound’ angry or worried. Research responses. thought processes people has shown that children as young as Perhaps the participant wrote experience could be especially five to seven can utilise an inner voice, down, "I need to buy some bread." important, "For learning methods and some studies suggest kids may The researcher would then ask if and education in general," use some form of inner phonetics as dialogality. Humans can have such A monologue happens when you that's what they actually thought. Lovenbruck said. Up until now, the early as 18 to 21 months of age. complex inner speech, there's debate think to yourself something like, "I “Or did you think 'bread' or were you types of inner speech and Lovenbruck research looks at inner about whether it's accurate to call all need to buy bread." But other times, hungry, or was there a sensation in experiences children can have, and monologues in three dimensions, inner speech a monologue. So the first when you are reasoning, you might your stomach?’ Lovenbruck the resources they may need to according to a 2019 study she and dimension measures whether you're entertain and engage several points of explained. With each meeting with learn, have likely been vastly colleagues published in the journal thinking in a monologue or a view – like a conversation, a dialogue. the researcher, participants got underestimated, she said. Frontiers in Psychology. The first is dialogue. The second dimension is better at articulating their true (livescience)

Little Grey Cells Magnified When WFH Finally Ends Google maps a piece of human brain in the most detail ever How to manage the stress of returning to work

Google has helped create the most detailed map yet of the connections within the human brain. It reveals a staggering amount of detail, including patterns of connections between neurons, as well as what may be a new kind of neuron. The brain map, which is freely available online, includes 50,000 cells, all rendered in three dimensions. They are joined together by hundreds of millions of spidery tendrils, forming 130 million connections called synapses. The data set measures 1.4 petabytes, roughly 700 times the storage capacity of an average modern computer. The data set is so large that the researchers haven’t studied it in detail, says Viren Jain at Stress is a normal part of daily life. It is Google Research in Mountain View, California. the body’s response to changes in your He compares it to the human genome, which is environment, physical needs, thoughts and still being explored 20 years after the first feelings, and relationships. drafts were published. Adapting to a ‘new normal’ has brought It is the first time we have seen the real its own changes and stress. Many of you structure of such a large piece of the human learned behaviours. “There’s lots of things your are have had to cope with working from brain, says Catherine Dulac at Harvard brain does by cognition, by thinking and home or a temporary leave from work. As University, who wasn’t involved in the work. puzzling it out and making a decision, and people slowly return to work there may be “There’s something just a little emotional about there are many things you do automatically relief in returning to a normal routine. it.” that could not have come genetically,” he says, There is also fear and anxiety about This mammoth undertaking began when a such as braking when you see a red light. The adapting to the changes, understanding team lead by Jeff Lichtman, also at Harvard super-strong connections would allow a health concerns, and managing a new University, obtained a tiny piece of brain from a message to pass swiftly through the network. reality while being productive at work. 45-year-old woman with drug-resistant The team also found mysterious pairs of These concerns add to the already epilepsy. She underwent surgery to remove the neurons deep in the cortex that hadn’t been mounting stress of the last few months left hippocampus, the source of her seizures, observed before. “The two cells pointed in amid life stresses we all experience daily. It from her brain. To do this, the surgeons had to exactly the opposite direction on the same can leave you feeling like the situation is remove some healthy brain tissue that overlaid axis,” says Lichtman. Nobody knows why. out of control. the hippocampus. Brain mapping, or connectomics, has come a If you focus on what is not within your Lichtman and his team immediately long way since its first breakthrough in the control, you use energy and resources with immersed the sample in preservatives, then 1980s, when researchers mapped the 302 no appreciable gains. When you focus on stained it with heavy metals such as osmium, neurons in the nervous system of a worm called what is within your control instead, your visualisation, meditation, or deep so the outer membranes of every cell were Caenorhabditis Elegans. Jain, Dulac and efforts will be rewarded with better ability breathing. visible under an electron microscope. Then Lichtman were part of a group that, in 2020, to cope and better quality of life. Positive attitude: Change the way you they embedded it in resin to toughen it. Finally, argued in favour of mapping an entire mouse Try the following to strengthen your talk or think about something to change they cut it into slices around 30 nanometres brain at a similar level of detail. ability to manage the stress: your response to stress. Rather than thick, or about one-thousandth the width of a “A whole mouse brain is only 1000 times Awareness: Spend some time identifying saying, “I hate having to deal with all these human hair, and used an electron microscope bigger than this, an exabyte instead of a your thoughts and feelings. Knowing how new rules,” try, “These rules are annoying, to image every slice. petabyte,” says Lichtman. “It’s on a scale where you feel can help you take direct action to but they allow me and everyone else to be All of this details just a tiny fraction of the we probably will be able to do that within a improve your mood. For example, it is safe and protect each other.” brain. Jain says its scale is best understood by decade, I suspect.” Dulac wants to see how the normal to be concerned for your health and Social connection: Connect with friends thinking of a functional magnetic resonance cortex links to other parts of the brain, and safety. Understand your concerns and and family in-person (while practicing imaging (fMRI) scan, used to show activity in mapping the mouse brain would reveal that. familiarise yourself with the health and social distancing, of course) or virtually different brain regions. “The entire data set we Mapping an entire human brain would need a safety procedures at your workplace to through social media, video, email, or text. produced is a cubic millimetre, which is data set that is a further 1000 times larger, a help you feel confident that your health Social contacts help you feel secure and usually one pixel in an MRI scan,” he says. “It’s zettabyte, which Lichtman says is “comparable and safety are protected. can increase self-esteem and positivity. interesting to uncover all the stuff under the to the amount of digital content generated in a Take action: Learn about yourself, your Talk: Co-workers and management are hood of one pixel of an MRI.” year by the planet Earth.” likes, and dislikes. Make changes to how experiencing changes in the workplace as For Dulac, the data set is, “A trove of goodies But doing so might not be worthwhile. “We you spend your time accordingly. Set well. Listen to what they are saying and for years to come.” The team has already made may discover that a lot of it is coding boundaries to ensure you are using your share your own experiences. You may be new discoveries about how our brain is wired: information that came in through experience work and free time, effectively. Take a able to find support from each other. for example, there was a stark discrepancy in and therefore, every brain will be something movement break by stretching at your desk Build a daily routine: There is a sense of the numbers of connections between neurons. different from every other one,” he says. or walking to the water cooler for a drink of normalcy in following a daily routine that Normally, when a tendril from one neuron Without understanding how information is water. maintains productivity while keeping a passed close to another, it would form just one stored, the data would be gibberish, he says. Invest in you: Take care of yourself by manageable work-life balance. Even if your synapse, or more rarely two to four. But there A more immediate benefit would be to explore doing activities that bring you joy, help you work schedule may differ daily, try waking, were also some tendrils that formed up to 20 how the cell map differs in people with mental rest, and help you recover energy. Try sleeping, eating, resting, and exercising synapses onto one target neuron, meaning this health conditions, says Dulac. “Similar studies reading, watching, or listening to comedy, around the same time each day. This helps tendril by itself would probably be able to could be done in patients that also have some exercising, gardening, and cooking or try you regain some control of your daily trigger that neuron to fire. mental illness,” she says, to shed more light on something new. Choose quality foods for activities, as well as your energy and focus It isn’t clear why, but Lichtman speculates how conditions like schizophrenia manifest. your meals for energy and nutrition. throughout the day. that the multi-synapse connections underlie (newscientist) Explore relaxation strategies such as (wellnessinstitute) c8 wednesday 30 june 2021 click LOOK

SLAF Colourwash Mihintale Maha Seya

Poson Full Moon Poya Day is assistance of the Directorate of an important day of Civil Engineering commenced celebration in the Buddhist the colour washing in late April calendar and every year, the and after over a month, the sacred grounds of Mihintale sacred task was completed on prepares itself to celebrate the 21 June. The colour-washed day on which the Buddhism edifices were handed over to was introduced to Sri Lanka the Chief Incumbent of some 2,300 years ago. Mihintale Raja Maha Vihara Although the third wave of Venerable Dr. COVID-19 spoiled the plans of Walawahengunuwewe religious gatherings in Dhammarathana Thera by the celebration, Mihintale Raja Commander of the SLAF on 24 Maha Vihara nonetheless saw June. The Acting Northern Air the usual preparations being Commander and the Base done, courtesy the troops of Sri Commander of SLAF Base Lanka Air Force (SLAF). Anuradhapura, Air The colour washing of the SLAF, on a request made Sudarshana Pathirana. Commodore Deshapriya Silva sacred Mintale Maha Seya, the through the Ministry of Troops from Bases and and personnel who were Buddha statue, and painting of Defence and under the Stations of the Northern Air actively involved in the project other temple buildings were instructions of the Commander Command and Regimental were also present. recently carried out by the of the SLAF Air Marshal Special Forces with the (Pix by Amitha Thennakoon)

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