Brain’s Secret Weapon Against Anxiety and Stress? (+ AI of the week and cows wearing VR headsets)

Today we'll cover topics from fixing depression, through AI, to cows using VR.

Can't make this stuff up, lol

Let's go!

Thing 1 - Brain’s Secret Weapon Against Anxiety and Stress?

According to research, low magnesium levels can mess with your brain's happy chemicals, making you feel depressed, anxious, and irritable. Think of magnesium as the conductor of your brain's orchestra - it keeps everything running like a well-oiled machine!
(Magnesium regulates important neuronal functions, including calcium ion flow and nitric oxide production, which affect mood regulation)

The bad news? Modern diets and water treatment can zap the magnesium right out of your food and water.

Case studies showed that individuals suffering from major depression experienced rapid improvement (within a week) after taking magnesium supplements (125-300 mg per day, divided across meals).

This magnesium magic doesn't just stop at depression. It might help with insomnia, those pesky cravings, and even foggy thinking.

It could be a superhero for your whole mental well-being! Here's the best part - unlike some medications, magnesium is generally safe and well-tolerated.

But...

• Limited Research
  This study relies on case reports and lacks larger-scale clinical trials. The findings are promising but need further validation through controlled studies.
• Not a One-Size-Fits-All Solution
  Magnesium deficiency might not be the cause of depression in all individuals. The effectiveness of magnesium supplementation could vary significantly depending on the underlying causes of depression

(source 1) (source 2) (source 3)

Thing 2 - AI of the week

• Aider lets you pair program with LLMs, to edit code in your local git repository
• Moshi is an experimental conversational AI. Thinks and speaks at the same time.
• Electronic Arts (EA) unveiled a concept for an AI-powered system called "Imagination to Creation" that aims to revolutionize game development by allowing users to create entire games without coding expertise
• TogetherAI's LlamaCoder lets you create apps just by describing them. It uses an open-source Llama 3.1 model.
• Runway and Lionsgate are partnering to explore the use of AI in film production. They are creating a new AI model, customized on Lionsgate’s proprietary catalog

Thing 3 - Cows wearing VR headsets

Yeah, that wasn't a typo 😂

A Turkish farmer, Izzet Koçak, increased his cows' milk yields by using (VR) headsets. He strapped 2 headsets on cows to simulate a serene environment of green pastures, which enhanced their emotional well-being and reduced stress.

Milk Yield Increase
The average milk production from two cows wearing VR headsets rose from 22 liters to 27 liters per day, marking a 22% increase in yield.

Calming Environment
The VR experience is designed to create a calming atmosphere, complemented by classical music, which further contributes to the cows' relaxation and productivity.

I mean, you could also let them out, but I'm sure that has its own challenges... But what if it's raining?

Cheers, Zvonimir