Reviews

__Science Documentary: Today I Died__ “Today I Died” is an hour long documentary produced by Pivotal Thinking. It can be viewed on Youtube in 6 parts. The topic that “Today I Died” debates is Near Death Experiences, or NDE’s. A Near Death Experience occurs when a person is clinically dead, which is defined as having no heartbeat or breathing and dilated pupils. The brain also stops working. However, many people claim to go through several experiences when this happens, the most common being a feeling of peace, going through a bright tunnel and seeing deceased relatives. This is scientifically impossible as the brain controls all senses, so the person should not be able to sense anything. This leads some people to believe that the mind can live on after the brain has died. NDE’s are exceptionally difficult to prove, the main problem being that no one can tell exactly when NDE’s occur, whether before brain death or after. Sceptics suggest that NDE’s are the result of endorphins, giving a sense of peace and happiness, a feeling many NDE survivors have mentioned. Believers suggest that the mind can live on after death, and that NDE’s are very real. The documentary interviews several people that have experienced NDE's, and I was intriuged by one particular case of Pam Reynolds. She had a NDE while undergoing brain surgery, showing that NDE’s can happen when the brain is dead. The documentary then introduces Dr Stuart Hameroff at the University of Arizona. He proposes that the brain provides the mind with microscopic structures known as microtubules. He hypothesizes that the microtubules act as tiny computers that organise cellular activities. I felt that the documentary was well produced, and after I watched the video I felt more interested in the brain and the whole idea of consciousness. However, I felt that the documentary produced more questions than answers. At the end of the documentary, nothing has been fully proved. Scientists have yet to understand what the mind is. I think that the mind is an extremely undiscovered area and there are many more secrets to be discovered. I fully enjoyed the video and I would recommend others to watch it.

__New Creatures Found Off Australia__ Recently, scientists at the University of Queensland brain institute used high tech camaras to take photos of marine life 1500 metres below water level. They captured on camara prehistoric 6 gilled sharks, giant oil fish and many different breeds of crustaceans, also filming many unidentified fish at Osprey Reef. Some of the pictures are as such:



I think that these strange and alien creatures are a reminder of how little we know of, and how humans are not "superior" to animals in sensory terms. I think that there are probably still thousands of new fish lurking beneath the surface and some may even be more highly evolved than humans. These creatures are only a fraction of the thousands of species of marine life, and I think that humans will eventually find them, whether it takes a decade or a century.These marine life may even benefit humans, as Professor Justin Marshall, who led the team of scientists, said: "'Learning more about these creatures' primitive eyes and brain could help neuroscientists better understand human vision." I think that we still have much to learn and I look forward to more findings from scientists about marine life.

__Review: Derren Brown Mind Control__ This video is sadly no longer available, but it shows magician Derren Brown demonstrating how he influenced peoples thought processes and actions by just his voice. I found some of the tricks quite amazing, especially one where he guessed poker cards just by examining the players faces. However, the video also showed how subtle movements can influence people, by gesturing in certain directions. I think that there is not really "mind reading" but rather the examination of facial movements can tell people what you are thinking. This video intriuged me as well as scared me because of the thought that magicians can "invade" your privacy just by studying your face. This video really gave me an insight into the art of mind control and I truly enjoyed it.

Derren Brown