A Biologist Explains How Animals Feel Pain

We, of course, cannot read animals’ minds (even our pets) but that doesn’t mean we can’t intuit some of the ways they feel pain. According to evolutionary biologist Robyn J. Crook in a recent TED-Ed video, humans have two kinds of reaction to pain. First, nerves sense pain, communicate it and cause a jerking reaction. Second, there is conscious recognition—this is what we associate with …

India’s Cocktail Bars Revive Ingredients from Generations Past

Traditional Indian ingredients, used in cooking and drink-making by older generations, have reappeared in trendy cocktail bars. In a nation known for its wide array of traditional spices and fruits, components like aam panna (a juice from green mangoes), kaanji (a juice from black or fermented carrots) and kala khatta syrup (made from Indian blackberry) can now be found in the burgeoning craft cocktail scene. …

Iconic Sampler, Akai MPC, Gets 2017 Makeover

Hip-hop music wouldn’t be what it is today without Akai’s iconic MPC machines (aka Music Production Controllers) and now the sampler is getting a 2017 reboot. The Japanese company has two new MPCs coming out this year: the MPC Live and the MPC X. Upgrades include much more storage space for various sounds as well as a touchscreen, a built-in battery (making the Live genuinely …