Two Ice Age ‘puppies’ weren’t exactly dogs

Daniel Yon's A Trick of the Mind explores the "predictive processing" theory, which suggests our brains don’t just passively absorb information—they constantly predict and fill in gaps in our perception. The book breaks down this complex psychological concept in an engaging way, arguing that what we "see" is often a best guess shaped by past experiences, not raw reality.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just academic navel-gazing—understanding how our brains construct reality helps explain everything from optical illusions to why eyewitness testimony can be unreliable. Yon’s accessible take on the science makes it feel less like a textbook and more like a revelation about how we all experience the world.

SpaceX just fired another batch of 26 Starlink satellites into orbit from California, boosting its ever-growing internet megaconstellation. This marks yet another routine but crucial step in Elon Musk’s ambitious plan to blanket the globe with high-speed broadband—especially for remote areas where traditional internet sucks.

Editor’s Note: While this might seem like "just another SpaceX launch," it’s part of a bigger chess game to dominate space-based internet. More satellites mean better coverage and fewer dead zones, which could be a game-changer for rural communities, ships at sea, or disaster zones. But it also fuels debates about space congestion and who gets to control the skies. Either way, SpaceX isn’t slowing down.

Scientists have developed a new blood test for Alzheimer’s that could be a game-changer for diagnosis—it’s simpler, cheaper, and more accessible than current methods like spinal taps or brain scans. If you or a loved one are experiencing memory issues, this could mean faster answers without the hassle.

Editor’s Note: Alzheimer’s is notoriously hard to diagnose early, often requiring invasive or expensive tests. This breakthrough could remove those barriers, helping more people get timely care and potentially slowing the disease’s progression. It’s not a cure, but it’s a big step toward better, more equitable healthcare for a condition that affects millions.

Scientists have developed a breakthrough robot skin made from hydrogel that’s eerily close to human skin—it can sense touch, heat, and even damage. To test it, they subjected a robotic hand to pokes, burns, and cuts, proving it can mimic how our skin reacts to harm. This could let robots "feel" their surroundings more naturally.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about making robots creepily lifelike—it’s a big step toward machines that interact safely and intuitively with humans. Imagine prosthetics that sense pressure like real limbs or robots that handle fragile objects without crushing them. The tech could reshape everything from healthcare to manufacturing.

Astronomers have spotted a rare "teenage vampire" white dwarf—a dead star in a rebellious phase of its life where it’s greedily sucking material from a neighboring star. This brief but dramatic stage acts as a cosmic "missing link," helping scientists fill in gaps about how these stellar remnants evolve.

Editor’s Note: White dwarfs are usually thought of as quiet, fading embers of dead stars—but this discovery shows they can have a wild youth too. Understanding this phase helps piece together the life cycle of stars and could even shed light on how certain supernovae form. Plus, "teenage vampire star" is just a fantastic way to describe cosmic chaos.