Sun Feb 22 11:13:31 UTC 2026: # Science Advances: Cross-Species Perception, Advanced Data Storage, and Novel Depression Treatment Show Promise
The Story:
A diverse range of scientific breakthroughs has been reported, spanning from animal cognition to data storage and mental health treatment. Researchers have discovered evidence suggesting a pre-wired connection between sound and shape perception in chicks, mirroring a similar phenomenon observed in humans. Simultaneously, Microsoft researchers have developed a high-density data storage method using lasers to create 3D pixels within glass, offering potentially millennia-long data preservation. Lastly, a trial has shown promising results for a psychedelic drug, DMT, as a potential treatment for major depressive disorder.
Key Points:
- Three-day-old chicks exhibit the “bouba-kiki” effect, linking round shapes with “bouba” sounds and spiky shapes with “kiki” sounds.
- Microsoft has developed a laser-based data storage method capable of storing 4.8 TB on a 120 mm x 120 mm glass plate, potentially lasting 10 millennia.
- A clinical trial showed that DMT, a psychedelic, significantly reduced depression symptoms in adults with moderate to severe major depressive disorder, with benefits lasting up to three months.
- The DMT trial reported mild to moderate side effects without serious safety concerns.
Key Takeaways:
- The “bouba-kiki” effect research suggests a shared perceptual ability across species, hinting at a fundamental, possibly innate, link between senses.
- The new data storage method offers a potential solution for long-term archiving and data preservation, crucial in the age of exponential data growth.
- The DMT trial results offer hope for new and potentially more effective treatments for major depressive disorder, a significant global health challenge.
First Piper 