Watch, but don't look!
Fortunately for the nosey, one doesn't need to look directly at something to pay close attention to it. Humans can focus their attention on something in the periphery of their visual field without looking at it — the subject of research by Princeton psychology reseach fellow Tirin Moore and graduate student Katherine Armstrong. Using monkeys as subjects, the researchers stimulated the part of the brain responsible for shifting the eyes to a new target. But rather than stimulating the neurons with enough energy to elicit the eye movement, called a saccade, Moore and Armstrong used a lower energy to see what else the "frontal eye fields" control. Moore and Armstrong showed that by stimulating neurons in the frontal eye field, the monkeys became more sensitive to — perhaps more attentive to — particular regions in the visual field. The authors thus concluded that the frontal eye fields are linked to how both monkeys and people shift their attention, but not their gaze, to different parts of their visual fields.
Nature, "Selective gating of visual signals by microstimulation of frontal cortex." Jan. 23, 2003.
Where does the CO2 go?
Man-made carbon dioxide in the atmosphere gets absorbed into the ocean at a rate of up to 2 petagrams (1015 grams) of carbon per year — less than previously thought. (Humans create 5 to 6 petagrams yearly, e.g. by burning fossil fuels.) A research team including Princeton Atmospheric and Oceanic Science researchers Ben McNeil and Robert Key and geosciences professor Jorge Sarmiento announced their new estimate in an article published last month in Science. The team used measurements of chlorofluorocarbons in the ocean to determine the age of parcels of water — the time since it last was at the surface — in order to make their calculations.
Science, "Anthropogenic CO2 Uptake by the Ocean Based on the Global Chlorofluorocarbon Data Set." Jan. 10, 2003.
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Students weigh in on changes to hours at Murray-Dodge Café
Eojin ParkMurray-Dodge’s hours have been cut nearly in half. Previously, Murray-Dodge was open from 3 p.m. to midnight every day. Amid other closures of campus cafes, its hours have been reduced to 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
Murray-Dodge’s hours have been cut nearly in half. Previously, Murray-Dodge was open from 3 p.m. to midnight every day. Amid other closures of campus cafes, its hours have been reduced to 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reflects on path to the Supreme Court in campus lecture
Isaac Bernstein and Justus WilhoitAt Princeton’s Harlan Lecture, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson discussed her journey to the Supreme Court, the power of dissenting opinions, and the importance of inspiring future generations.
At Princeton’s Harlan Lecture, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson discussed her journey to the Supreme Court, the power of dissenting opinions, and the importance of inspiring future generations.
Student employment in flux as University navigates budget cuts
Kian PetlinThe future of student employment remains uncertain amid budget cuts, with impacts ranging from reduced hours to staffing shortages.
The future of student employment remains uncertain amid budget cuts, with impacts ranging from reduced hours to staffing shortages.