Imagine having a virtual copy of yourself that lives inside a computer. This virtual you is an exact replica of real-world you- complex data structures work together to recreate your unique genome in the digital world. This, essentially, is the idea of a Digital Twin. They combine machine learning, real-time analytics, VR, MR, and AR, to produce a virtual representation of … [Read more...] about Digital Twins: What are they and how are they used?
Afrofuturism
Benzodiazepines for Anxiety Disorders
Benzodiazepines have a variety of uses, but it is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders. This is due to their effect on the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which reduces neuronal excitability and thereby produces a calming effect (ScienceDirect). However, benzodiazepines are also known to produce rebound effects, or the return of the symptoms being treated … [Read more...] about Benzodiazepines for Anxiety Disorders
The Benefits of Immersive Education
It’s a Wednesday in September. I’m in my Marine Biology lecture. I open my pencil bag for a freshly sharpened pencil, and reach down into my bag for a lined piece of paper. But before I can fish out a sheet from my binder, my professor claps her hands at the front of the classroom, signaling for us to look up and give her our attention. “Today, we’re doing something a … [Read more...] about The Benefits of Immersive Education
Exploring Los Angeles Through XR
I always think of Los Angeles in the present, if that makes sense. As if the Los Angeles that I know is the only Los Angeles that ever was or will be. But, that’s not true. It’s often easy to forget that the very ground beneath our feet has been around long before me. This soil has been passed from generation to generation, changing a bit with each pocket of passed time. My … [Read more...] about Exploring Los Angeles Through XR
MDMA and Psychotherapy
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, is an entactogen that increases empathy, distorts one’s perceptions, and can increase a user’s pleasure from sensory experiences (NIH). It is considered a Schedule I drug by the FDA, meaning it has no clinical uses and has a high likelihood to be abused. However, research is being conducted into possible therapeutic uses for treating PTSD … [Read more...] about MDMA and Psychotherapy