Tootfinder

The Land of Via Claudia Augusta
(Pre-sunset light on New Year's eve, overlooking a small part of the northern Alps, a view which I imagine was already enjoyed by the Romans who had built a settlement on this hill in 13AD...)
#SilentSunday #LandscapePhotography

In the context of visual prostheses for the blind, more scientists should be working on "mental imagery engineering" to nudge the human brain toward making the best of degraded or transformed visual input https://www.google.com/search?q="mental imagery engineering"

Finally some research into the decision making processes for #cycling infrastructure!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950105925000476

Mines, dams move in as protection slips in a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary https://news.mongabay.com/2026/02/mines-dams-move-in-as-protection-slips-in-a-cambodian-wildlife-sanctuary/

Mines, dams move in as protection slips in a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary
In Sre Chhuk village, a quiet patch in northeast Cambodia where the Mekong’s smaller veins trace the edge of a fading wildlife sanctuary, Vorn Pang and Sao Thorn once believed their land was safe. By 2018, officials and conservation groups had formalized their farmland as part of the Veal Kambor Community Protected Area (CPA), under […]

Speaking of embarrassing SF politicians, I haven't watched this yet but Lurie-appointed Supervisor Alan Wong reportedly did not come off well here.
(He said he would talk to everyone about Sunset Dunes park/former Great Highway before making a decision, and agreed to this town hall with Sunset Dunes supporters, but then preempted it by announcing he'd try to turn the park back into a highway)

from my link log —
Magnetic fields can change carbon diffusion in steel.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260125083427.htm
saved 2026-02-06

The magnetic secret inside steel finally explained
For years, scientists noticed that magnetic fields could improve steel, but no one knew exactly why. New simulations reveal that magnetism changes how iron atoms behave, making it harder for carbon atoms to slip through the metal. This slows diffusion at the atomic level and alters steel’s internal structure. The insight could lead to more efficient, lower-energy ways to make stronger steel.

𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑎

Asking the AI program manager for advice: How to nudge neuroscientists toward working on mental imagery engineering? https://chatgpt.com/share/693aad66-a62c-8004-a355-9bf39379a097 "Mental Imagery Engineering: A Missing Pillar in Restoring Vision to the Blind", &…

ChatGPT - Nudging mental imagery research
Shared via ChatGPT

Popular Mechanics article on the PRIMA retinal implant from Science Corp. https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a69948833/photovoltaic-retina-implant-trial-results/ "restored vision is not by any means immediate for tho…

A Revolutionary Device Can Cure Blindness. This Has ‘Never Been Done Before,’ Researcher Says.
Thanks to this tiny piece of tech, people with profound vision loss can now read, do cross word puzzles, and navigate public transit.

TMS-evoked phosphenes and oculomotor responses in visual-snow syndrome #neuroscience

TMS-evoked phosphenes and oculomotor responses in visual-snow syndrome
Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS) is a neurological condition characterized by continuous visual disturbances resembling television static across the visual field. Despite its significant impact on quality of life, objective assessment methods remain limited, with diagnosis relying primarily on subjective patient reports. Current understanding of VSS pathophysiology suggests cortical hyperexcitability, but precise mechanisms remain unclear. Here we developed an integrated protocol combining transcrani…