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Do Plants Have Feelings? One of the main distinctions between plants and animals is how they respond to stimuli. Humans have brains, where stimuli are understood and responses formed. “Emotional” responses are merely complex responses to complex social stimuli. Plants lack a central nervous system but are still capable of processing information from external sources and responding to them. While plants don't have the same “feelings” that we do, they often remember stimuli and communicate with other plants about them. Plant vs. Animal Feelings Animals have neurons that transmit sensory feelings to a central nervous system (the brain). In humans, if your brain determines that those feelings are negative and dangerous, it sends a message back to their point of origin, causing you to react to avoid the continuation of that pain. Animals like us have memories that allow us to avoid future pain. Memories of previous injuries don't trigger our bodies to produce adrenaline when the mem

The Environmental Impact of Ocean Noise Ocean noise pollution can extend beyond individual animals to impact entire ecosystems. Here are the facts and how you can help. Ocean noise broadly refers to the noise made by human activity that can obstruct the ability of marine animals to hear natural sounds in the ocean. Anthropogenic noise has been increasing over the years, even doubling each decade in some areas of the world. This noise can mask communication between aquatic animals and decrease their ability to find prey or be aware of predators, among other problems. This type of noise pollution can impact individual species from disturbance to mortality if not controlled. Ocean Noise Pollution Facts Sources of human-made ocean noise pollution include shipping vessels, sonar systems, seismic surveys, military exercises, and underwater construction. The intensity of ocean noise has increased dramatically over the past few decades due to the expansion of commercial shipping, offshore dril

The Grand Theft Auto VI - Prepare to Be Blown Away! After about a decade, fans were still purchasing their copies of Grand Theft Auto V and might have continued to do so if it weren't for the release of its sequel's trailer. This release was posted one day prior to the scheduled announcement, understandably due to the possible leaks from the overexcited fans. Overnight, the 90-second glimpse of GTA VI that was released on Monday night reached up to 60 million views. Finally, the GTA 6 trailer broke the record with 120M+ views within a very short period on YouTube. This R-rated gangbuster controversy game has been on the top list since 1997, with every release introducing new locations, guns, vehicles, stories, etc. This time, the makers have decided to take the players back to Vice City, in the state of Leonida. The first look at GTA VI brings a whole new level of street-level chaos, with its dual protagonists getting involved in all sorts of crimes. The trailer hints at illega

AI and Machine Learning in Marketing: Data Analysis In today's fast-changing business world, small businesses are adopting advanced technologies to stay ahead. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are standout innovations making waves in marketing. These tools change how businesses look at data, grasp consumer habits, and shape their marketing plans for better outcomes. AI and ML aren't just fancy terms – they represent a fundamental shift in how small businesses approach marketing. These technologies allow small enterprises to access large amounts of data to find valuable insights quickly. This could be anything from what customers like and current market trends to strategies used by competitors. One notable advantage of AI and ML in marketing is their ability to personalize campaigns. These technologies analyze customer behaviors and preferences, allowing businesses to create individualized marketing messages. This improves the customer experience and boosts

Ways to Progress From Walking to Running As with any new habit, whether it’s drinking more water or starting a meditation practice, learning to love running takes time. It’s pretty uncommon for things to feel effortless and breezy the first time a runner laces up, especially because there are many factors at play, from the temperature to the route. Still, there’s no denying embracing running as a part of your regular routine has a slew of total-body benefits, including easing anxiety, weight loss and weight management. Compared to walking, running offers a greater calorie burn in a shorter time, giving it more bang for your buck if you’re looking for a quick workout. To pick up the pace of a leisurely walk and turn it into a run (or jog), take a cue from these expert-backed strategies: START SLOW You don’t have to put pressure on yourself to walk out the front door and crush an Olympic-worthy 5K. Instead, kickstart your running habit by introducing jogging intervals into your regular w

How to Find the Best Yoga Style For You With so many different yoga styles on the market, you’re practically guaranteed to find one you enjoy. The trouble is, having so many options to choose from can leave you wondering where to start your search to find the best yoga style for you. According to Ashley Sondergaard, a registered yoga teacher, and host of the Yoga Magic Podcast, the key question to ask yourself when searching for a yoga style is: What do I want out of my yoga practice? Maybe you’re looking to reduce stress, strengthen muscles, increase flexibility or tap into your spirituality. Whatever benefits you’re hoping for, chances are there’s a yoga style for you. Once you’ve ID’d your goals, you need to find the yoga styles that match. Don’t be afraid to try many different styles — and even teachers — to land on the best class for you. FITNESS AND STRENGTH If you’re looking for a good workout, try rigorous yoga practices like vinyasa, ashtanga, hot yoga or Bikram. Also, chances

The Link Between Sleep and a Strong Immune System There are numerous strategies related to improving the function of your immune system, from eating healthy foods to drinking enough water to getting consistent exercise. One more big one for the list? Making sleep a priority. STRONGER IMMUNITY WITH SLEEP The connection between sleep and immune function is well-documented, and biodirectionally linked — which means if your immune system is down, then you’ll likely have poor sleep, but that applies in the other direction, too. For example, one study looked at blood samples from identical twins and found those with shorter sleep duration had a depressed immune system compared to the sibling who slept better. That can make you more likely to get sick if you’ve been exposed to a virus, says Dr. W. Christopher Winter, president of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine, and author of “The Sleep Solution.” Also, if you end up getting ill, poor quality sleep and its immune-suppressing effe

Ways to Improve Your Hiking Stamina We know getting out in nature is worth the effort and part of what makes hiking so compelling. The best way to get better at hiking is to get on the trail as much as possible but sometimes it just isn’t feasible. And that’s where these six tips to improve your hiking stamina come in handy. WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HIKING STAMINA RUN/WALK When you’re not on the trail, consider other similar activities that can build your endurance. Running and walking are two great workouts that are easy to do almost anywhere and can build your endurance. If you aren’t an experienced runner, start with a run/walk program to ease into things. Aim for two runs per week to start, and when you have more time on the weekends, try including a few long walks. Increase your distance and time each week by about 10% until you build a good base and can walk for about the length of time it’s going to take you to complete your goal hike. START WEIGHT TRAINING Don’t underestimate how m

5-Minute Habit That Changes Your Career I read something about networking that hit me hard… Here’s the thing, I’m 26 and still learning about how to navigate my career. Lately, I’ve been making more of an effort to connect with people in my industry — both chatting with peers at events and introducing myself to leaders I look up to. I’ve always known the importance of sending a thank-you letter after interviews, but I typically didn’t do anything else until I read this: “I’m just stunned at how few people know how to follow up on a connection,” Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, recently told The Cut. “Make sure that you stay in touch with the people you’re interested in, make sure they’re aware of you, that you stay on their radar… It’s remarkable how much these people appreciate hearing from you when you don’t want something from them.” It’s so true, right? Sending emails just for the sake of staying in touch changes everything. It makes me think back to how

  Life’s a Party, Not a Race Some months back, a friend sent me a debut novel she’d read and loved. It had a splashy cover with a jaunty typeface, like the literary equivalent of a Fanta commercial. My reaction was a mix of interest — of course I wanted to check out the buzzy book — and envy. Another twenty-something wunderkind author. How do they do it? I wondered. How do they find the focus? What wisdom do they draw upon when they’ve only been alive for, like, five minutes? I pictured the “about the author” page, a cherubic face smiling atop a list of prodigious accomplishments. Because I am apparently a masochist, I looked them up. The author was in their 50s. There is nothing surprising about this story except my blatant, ridiculous ageism. People write all kinds of books at every age. As one who aspires to debut well into my 30s, and hopes to write forever, I certainly don’t believe that lively covers nor buzzy books are the exclusive domain of the very young. So, why did I make t