What makes a narwhal’s tusk so special? Scientists are close to unraveling the mystery - Scientific American

IntroductionCreativity, broadly defined as the ability to form novel and valuable ideas or to find new solutions to problems [1], has long been suggested to be associated with psychiatric disorders [2]. This idea is fueled by many anecdotal examples of famous creators with eccentric personalities and psychiatric problems, from Vincent van Gogh and Ernest Hemingway to Virginia Woolf and Camille Claudel [3]. More recently, research including some systematic reviews and meta-analyses, has suggested that creativity and engagement in creative activities are associated with an increased risk of mental health problems [4, 5]. For example, creative professions were associated with a higher risk of bipolar disorder [6], music playing with more psychosis-like experiences [7, 8], and artistic achievement with multiple mental disorders [9]. However, the literature shows inconsistencies. For example, Cuypers et al. [10] found music-related creative activities to be associated with better perceived mental health. Similarly, art-related cultural activities were associated with less depression in older adults [11] and more social well-being in young adults [12].

5 min readOct 6, 2026--Press enter or click to view image in full size(Image credit: Jesse Watters Primetime, Fox News, October 5, 2026)The main challenge in identifying technological products of non-human origin, hereafter alien tech, is in separating the wheat from the chaff. The chaff is not just in the form of natural objects like birds, or familiar human technologies like drones, balloons, airplanes or satellites. It can also be in the form of black projects which represent technologies of the future. It is well known that the B-2 stealth bombers were confused for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UFOs) during their early test period. Similarly, if China employs today spy drones with AI capabilities beyond those familiar from commercial markets, those may be confused for mysterious orbs and reported as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) by FBI agents in the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE). The simplest way out of this possible confusion is to search for manufactured objects which represent a quantum leap in technology, akin to the surprising appearance of a cell phone to the eyes of a cave dweller who is used to sharpening stones.