Daily briefing: Reading for pleasure linked to big brain benefits

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BCI translates both words and gestures

A new brain–computer interface (BCI) is the first of its kind to translate its user’s speech and movement at the same time. The device, tested in two people with forms of paralysis, uses artificial intelligence to convert electrical brain activity into text that appears on screen and to prompt a personalized animated avatar to move — all within seconds of the user’s intent. The work is “a step towards more multifunctional BCIs” that better capture the expressivity of communication than do current technologies, says bioengineer and study co-author Samantha Brosler.

Nature | 5 min read

Reference: Nature Neuroscience paper

Reading for pleasure has big brain benefits

Reading for pleasure is linked with structural brain changes and a laundry list of positive effects, including improved mental health and reduced risk of cognitive decline. A survey of evidence for the benefits of cracking a book also notes that starting young is linked to better attention, memory, executive function, academic achievement and fewer mental health problems. The key, says neuropsychologist and co-author Barbara Sahakian, is pleasure. “Read for enjoyment, as you will read more often and longer,” she says.

New Scientist | 4 min read (free registration required)

Reference: Psychological Medicine review

Science philanthropy is rising in Brazil

Philanthropists in Brazil are beginning to funnel money into science — a trend that could protect research funding if the winner of next month’s presidential election doesn’t prioritize science. Historically, scientists at leading Brazilian universities have been critical of others who accept private funding, arguing that science should be fully government-funded. But researchers who have received philanthropic funding say that it provides a welcome degree of flexibility, or has helped them launch projects when public funding doesn’t stretch far enough.

Nature | 5 min read

Features & opinion

The geological hydrogen gold rush

“At the moment, we still don’t know if it’s almost nothing or completely everywhere.” That’s the conundrum, in the words of geophysicist David Waltham, facing energy prospectors around the world who are searching for deposits of hydrogen trapped in rocks underground. Excitement sparked when researchers estimated that Earth’s subsurface probably contains tens of trillions of tonnes of the clean-burning gas. “If it is going to happen, I would expect that we would see proof of concept — flowing hydrogen gas — within the next two to three years,” says geologist Chris Ballentine.

Nature | 7 min read

‘EU should be bold with gene-edited crops’

The European Union’s newly relaxed stance on the cultivation of gene-edited crops could be a game-changer for the region’s agriculture sector. But flaws in the new rules — such as strict caps on the permitted number of gene-edits in a crop — might limit their usefulness and harm public perception of gene-edited crops, argues plant geneticist Nico De Storme. “As implementation progresses, the EU should consider building in flexibility”, he writes. The bloc “missed out on the agrotechnological revolution brought about by genetically modified organisms — it must not make the same mistake again”.

Nature | 5 min read

Revisiting the legacy of Paul Kammerer

Paul Kammerer was a renowned zoologist with a history of dramatic love affairs and a reputation for self-promotion, who died by suicide just a few weeks after he was accused of academic fraud. A century after his death, his ideas deserve a fresh look, writes evolutionary biologist Max Telford.

Nature | 15 min read

I’m always happy to hear about improvements to fuel efficiency, but this example is really out of this world: the lifespan of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has been more than doubled from original projections. It’s all thanks to “exquisite planning by our orbital dynamics team, brilliant execution by the operations team, and a precise launch”, says NASA’s Jamie Dunn.

If you’re a car driver who wants to emulate this exquisiteness, consider moderating your top speed to 70–80 kilometres per hour (45–50 miles per hour), turn off the ignition if you’re stopped for more than a few seconds — and, needless to say, leave the car at home when you can.

While I plan a nice long walk, why not send me your feedback on this newsletter? Your e-mails are always welcome at briefing@nature.com.

Thanks for reading,

Flora Graham, chief editor, Nature Briefing

With contributions by Jacob Smith

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