Wander Thoughts

Chimpanzees and other primates may possess intelligence rivaling our own and have an intuitive ability to interpret human thoughts.

The skill of comprehending what another person knows is a complex ability that human children typically start to develop around three years of age.

Researchers have dedicated nearly 50 years to verifying that various animals, including chimpanzees and ravens, possess the ability, however many experts have proceeded with caution in considering this notion.

Researchers have gathered conclusive evidence that bonobos are capable of deciphering human thoughts and utilization of this knowledge to communicate effectively in order to obtain a desired reward.

Collaborated with a researcher to obtain a portion of a grape, a piece of an apple, a peanut, or a few Cheerios.

The food was concealed under one of three cups by the second participant, and the researcher would then transfer it to the bonobo facing them.

However, sometimes the researcher didn't know where to find the edible reward because a large cardboard obstruction was placed in front of them.

The apes noticed that the researcher did not detect the cup that the food was placed under.

But it requires a significant degree of insight to grasp that this meant the researcher had no mental knowledge of the location of the food.

It was evident the apes were somehow intuitive to his thoughts because of the additional effort they made to assist him in locating the hidden food that he had not initially seen.

They were 29 per cent more likely to point the cup out when the other person didn't know it held the food and they found it about 1.5 seconds faster when they did.

Dr. Chris Krupenye, a senior author of the study and assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University, noted, “The ability to detect gaps in others' knowledge is at the heart of our most advanced social behaviors, essential to the ways we cooperate, communicate, and work together strategically.

Because this notion of 'theory of mind' supports several essential capabilities that define human uniqueness, such as teaching and language, many consider it to be absent from animals.

‘However, this research indicates the profound mental foundations that humans and other apes possess-and implies that these abilities have their origins millions of years back in our common ancestral lineage.’

It was previously believed that chimpanzees could read each other's minds by contact-calling more often about a nearby snake towards chimpanzees who hadn’t yet spotted it.

However, some experts were unconvinced, wondering whether the chimpanzees may have only made the calls as a result of being frightened, rather than to warn others.

The research demonstrated that apes are capable of holding two mental concepts simultaneously - their awareness of where a treat was concealed and another individual's lack of knowledge about it - and could effectively convey this to others.

The research was published in the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences.

They refer to this concept as "unbossing".

The notion is that middle-management positions are outdated and should either be abolished or reformed in some way.

For younger generations such as Gen-Z, sometimes it's a conscious decision to refuse promotion to middle management roles altogether.

A majority of them (52%), according to a study by UK-based talent specialist Robert Walters, report that it's not worth it, a higher rate is reported in France (77%), in Belgium (42%) and in Switzerland (30%).

Why are young adults born during the late 1990s and early 2000s turning down mid-level management positions at work?

For individuals born between 1997 and 2002, the drawbacks are numerous.

Around 69% of them consider mid-management positions to be high-stress and low-reward jobs, indicating longer work hours and increasing responsibilities without a corresponding increase in salary.

Employees in similar industries reported that lack of autonomy (18%) and limited opportunities for professional growth (11%) are significant factors.

North director Lucy Bisset.

"They no longer feel driven to advance their careers in the classical sense," she mentions.

According to research by Capterra, 71% of mid-level managers confessed to feeling overwhelmed, under a significant amount of stress, and experiencing burnout.

How many would say no to a management role?

While 36% of Gen-Zers accept that they might take on a middle-management role at some point, another 16% are firmly against the idea of assuming such a position.

“Taking on middle management roles may become a significant challenge for employers in the future," says Robert Walters North director Lucy Bisset.

An increasing number of professionals across various age groups has begun to perceive the presence of multiple layers of management as fostering an 'us vs. them' mentality, creating a divide between employees who actually carry out tasks and those who assign tasks.

Seventy-two percent of Gen Zs believe the best way to advance in their careers is to focus on personal growth and skill acquisition, rather than pursuing a management position (28%).

Managers are increasingly being targeted for layoffs.

According to recent statistics, the threat of layoffs might deter the younger workforce from taking on higher management roles even further.

The number of dismissals in senior positions has seen a significant increase, with major companies such as Google, Amazon, and Meta all cutting back on middle management levels in 2023 and 2024.

In 2023, technology news website the Verge reported Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg as saying: "I don't believe you want a management structure that's just managers overseeing managers overseeing managers overseeing managers who are overseeing people who do the actual work."

Compared to others, the layoff rate for staff in lower-ranking positions has decreased.

Revitalizing middle management, rather than eliminating it

Only 14% of Gen Z professionals believe the traditional hierarchical structure remains suitable for today's workplace.

Although, 89% of employers still consider mid-managers to be highly important for their organization.

“Mid-level management is a crucial part of any organization," says Bisset, "and employers must find creative ways to make these roles more appealing – such as offering more autonomy, conducting regular workload assessments, and providing opportunities for skill development.”

Adopting an 'unbossed culture' may be the crucial step in transforming the role from solely being perceived as an 'unwanted layer' of management to a facilitator who enables their teams to take ownership of their actions.

The theory has been proposed as originating from hidden dimensions rather than mere brain activity.

A physicist has proposed that we tap into invisible planes of reality when engaging in creative expressions like art, scientific inquiry, philosophical contemplation, or daydreaming, which might account for a phenomenon that has long confounded scientific understanding.

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However, his theory is highly contentious, with one researcher commenting that the central point of Pravica's theory 'verges on science fiction.'

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Scientists have been trying to understand and explain the concept of human consciousness and its roots for centuries - and the proposed theories encompass a wide range.

One prevailing hypothesis posits that consciousness is correlated with the extent to which information is interconnected and unified across the brain's various regions.

Some argue that conscious mental states are controlled by neural impulses originating from higher areas of the brain. This process, known as top-down signaling, involves higher-level brain areas transmitting information, expectations or context to the lower-level brain regions.

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He proposed that during periods of intensified awareness, such as when we transition into a dream state or engage in profoundly creative or intellectual pursuits, our consciousness may surpass our physical realm and ascend to a higher plane.

During these times, our consciousness connects with unseen realms and receives an abundance of creative insight, Pravica stated.

Consider exploring the contentious idea with a clear understanding by examining the following situation.

Imagine being a flat character in a comic book-like world. Picture a three-dimensional sphere, such as a globe, cutting through the flat space where you exist.

The sphere would appear as a dot that expands into a larger and larger circle as it approaches, only to gradually contract out of view. You would have no means of determining that it's actually a three-dimensional object.

There is another philosopher Pravica who views us as characters in a two-dimensional world. Though we inhabit a realm of four dimensions, we are only capable of perceiving matter and energy within those same four dimensions. This is similar to beings in a two-dimensional world, who are incapable of perceiving a three-dimensional object.

Consequently, the constraints of our reality hinder us from identifying higher dimensions, which could, in principle, be omnipresent around us.

This is the basis of hyperdimensionality - the concept that the universe is composed of numerous dimensions, certain of which remain concealed as they extend beyond the confines of our tangible physical world.

An explicitly defined hyperdimension is also related to string theory, which posits that reality is comprised of countless tiny vibrating strings that are smaller than electrons, quarks, or atoms.

As the vibrational motions twist and fold, they generate effects across various unseen dimensions, ultimately giving rise to all the particles and forces that can be observed, ranging from subatomic particles to gravity.

'"String theory is essentially a theory of hyperdimensionality,' Pravica said. 'It's examining how the universe is organized at an even smaller scale than the quantum level.'

Although we can observe the effects that these vibrating strings have on the physics within our dimension, we cannot observe the hidden dimensions that they vibrate in.

observe them.

However, our consciousness may be able to access and utilize them, Pravica suggests.

The concept of hyperdimensionality and its connection to string theory is accepted by the scientific community, but the hypothesis of a relationship with consciousness put forth by Pravica is more contentious, particularly due to its fusion of scientific and spiritual perspectives.

As an Orthodox Christian scholar with a Harvard Doctoral degree, Pravica has discovered that hyperdimensionality serves as a connection point between his scientific expertise and his religious convictions.

He thinks Jesus may be an entity from a realm beyond our dimension.

"According to the Bible, Jesus rose to heaven forty days after being on Earth. How can Jesus ascend into heaven, considering he's a four-dimensional being?" Pravica inquired.

According to him, being hyperdimensional could, theoretically, have enabled Jesus to travel between our world and heaven, a realm that may exist in higher or infinite dimensions.

Pravica's theory is based on a 'God of the gaps' perspective, where gaps in scientific knowledge are attributed to divine intervention, according to Stephen Holler, associate professor of physics at Fordham University.

He thinks this way of thinking is inadequate, and it holds back the scientific investigation required to truly grasp and explain things we can't quite understand, such as human consciousness.

"It's a weak explanation mechanism that likely discourages the curious attitude necessary for good science and implies it's not acceptable to say, 'I don't know'," Holler told Popular Mechanics.

He underscores that our mathematical ability to manipulate higher dimensions does not prove their existence, nor does it guarantee that our consciousness can interact with them.

In addition, navigating these higher dimensions is not feasible at the moment due to the constraints of our present-day technological capabilities.

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The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) collides particles at incredibly high speeds - up to the speed of light.

This enables physicists to investigate the fundamental components of matter and energy, and access dimensions that are infinitely small - smaller than a single proton.

Although the LHC is capable of immense power, it still cannot uncover the high-dimensional strings predicted by quantum physics. To achieve this, physicists would require an even more powerful collider.

Without concrete evidence, Holler asserts that hyperdimensionality amounts to science fiction.

Pravica is hopeful that this technology may become a reality during the lifetime of his children.

He will continue to advocate for the concept of hyperdimensionality and its connection to human consciousness.

I fail to see the purpose," he said. "What is the reason for education? For existence?

Certain prominent intellectuals, including Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin, demonstrated extraordinary behaviors such as seclusion and proclivity for late-night study sessions.

Although the world may view these behaviors as unusual, various studies have discovered a correlation between them and high IQs.

That is because

1. Talking to yourself

You talk to yourself, you're not crazy. In fact, it may be a sign that you're more intelligent than the average person.

Although this conduct may seem irrational, a growing amount of evidence has indicated that it leads to significant cognitive advantages - including greater memory recall, enhanced confidence, and sharper focus, among other benefits.

In a 2012 study, an American research team presented 20 images of different objects to participants and asked them to locate a particular one.

Researchers discovered that individuals who engaged in self-talk whilst viewing the images were able to identify the object more quickly.

A 2017 UK study revealed that our brains function similarly to those of monkeys when we halt internal dialogue - activating distinct visual and auditory brain areas for each task.

Researchers conducted an experiment in which participants were asked to utter meaningless sounds, such as 'blah-blah-blah,' simultaneously with visual and auditory tasks.

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When the situation requires humans to process multiple sensory inputs, they tend to function similarly to monkeys, separately allocating brain regions for processing visual and auditory information.

The next time you're caught talking to yourself, don't be embarrassed. That unusual behavior is helping you process information and stay mentally sharp.

2. Staying up late

The early bird may get the worm, but studies suggest that night owls actually have higher intelligence.

A study using data from 26,000 adults discovered that individuals who stay up late significantly surpassed early risers in cognitive tests.

Night owls claimed about 13.5 percent more points than morning people in one group and around 7.5 percent higher scores than morning people in another group.

Numerous exceptional individuals are known to lead nocturnal habits, including notable figures like Charles Darwin and Marcel Proust.

Research suggests that individuals with high intelligence tend to exhibit heightened cognitive performance during the nighttime hours.

3.  Daydreaming

Being preoccupied with daydreams is often regarded as a moment of absent-mindedness. However, experts claim that this actually signifies that you are intelligent and possess a rich imagination.

"People with highly efficient brain functioning may experience mind-wandering due to their excess brain capacity," Georgia Tech Associate Psychology Professor Eric Schumacher stated.

His studies discovered that individuals consistently report daydreaming more often tend to achieve higher scores in intellectual and creative ability assessments.

MRI scans recently also clearly showed that these individuals had more efficient brain systems.

This evidence indicates that daydreaming is actually a beneficial exercise for your brain. So if you notice your mind drifting off, that's a positive indicator.

4. Thriving in clutter

Some individuals detest cluttered living or workspace areas. However, it appears that highly intelligent people are not bothered by disorganization or, in some cases, may even prefer it.

A team of researchers embarked on an investigation to uncover the reasons for this phenomenon. They placed participants in either a cluttered or organized office environment and required them to brainstorm new applications for ping pong balls.

Research has shown that individuals working together in a cluttered space generate a similar amount of ideas to those working in an organized one, but the cluttered group's ideas tend to be more innovative and imaginative.

'Disorderly environments seem to have a way of inspiring us to break free from traditional ways of thinking, which can lead to new and innovative ideas,' said Kathleen Vohs, the lead researcher behind the study.

'By contrast, well-organized environments foster convention and the pursuit of safety.'

Leaving your personal space untidy might help you think creatively.

5. The effective practice of continuously asking questions.

If you habitually ask how things function, their origins, and countless other queries that arise in your mind, it's likely that you possess high intelligence.

Curiosity is one of the most recognizable signs of brightness. It's a sign that your mind is always seeking knowledge and understanding about the world around you.

It also means that you're constantly discovering and storing new knowledge. The more queries you submit, the more your comprehension grows.

For some, it may appear annoying. However, for individuals with high intellects, this unrelenting quest for knowledge is only natural.

Einstein stated, 'I am not blessed with any unique abilities; I am simply intensely curious.'

6. Being introverted

Many intellectuals are often known to isolate themselves in order to focus or meditate in a peaceful environment.

It's only logical - it's often challenging to concentrate when surrounded by the nonstop conversations and stimuli of a social setting.

Research has demonstrated that introverts undergo more in-depth mental analysis than extroverts. They are inclined to ponder matters more thoroughly and critically, a tendency often linked to greater intelligence quotient.

Individuals who are naturally quiet and reserved, or introverts, tend to enjoy and benefit from engaging in activities that demand concentration and prolonged mental exertion, such as reading and research, which can promote cognitive growth and development.

7. Devouring books

Engaged readers are continually gaining new knowledge, absorbing new terms, processing intricate concepts, and experiencing diverse viewpoints. It's as if mental exercise is taking place with each page turned.

Reading contributes significantly to fortifying mental acuity, imagination, and the capacity to connect with and understand others emotionally.

Individuals with a consistent reading habit tend to increase their cognitive abilities continually, which thereby increases their likelihood of achieving a high intelligence quotient.

Consider the example of Warren Buffett, a successful businessman and investor, who devotes almost eight hours of his day to reading.

The act of constantly absorbing knowledge from a book can continually improve your intelligence as you progress through your reading.