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As part of mind stimulating trip I have the opportunity to visit some museums. I am lucky enough to be in NY city and visited the Metropolitan museum of art – among the greatest in the world.

I strolled through the long and winding rooms and wondered would I think these are great painting if somebody hadn’t told me? Or at least that these seven (pick any famous seven) painters are clearly above the other painters who’s works aren’t hung on these prestigious walls (and are largely or completely forgotten) for millions to see each year? Already the museum had at least got me thinking – proposing thought experiments.

I remember several years ago, after having spent 3 weeks in Europe and visiting various museums, when I walked into a Washington DC museum and as I wandered around I saw a painting in the distance and I said to myself - ‘A Degas’ even though I didn’t recognize this specific painting. When I wandered up to the description sure enough in was a Degas. I was feeling pretty proud for an artless scientist.

Therefore, today I was somewhat mystified when at the museums several times I was wrong with my guess of the artist. I thought I recognized the Pointillism style of X and it would turn out to be Y (pointillism is just one example of impressionism and post-impressionism). Then I realized as I looked closer (without remembering the names), at least to an untrained and schooled eye, that it seemed liked there were little groups that all pretty well used what I use to think of as a distinct style. I am sure somebody with a little bit more art knowledge would surely set me straight - but still there are some similarity in some of the techniques used by the various members (if they were not copying there were ‘heavily influenced’ - not to say the same thing doesn’t happen in writing and/or science).

This throw me for a few minutes because my simplistic understanding of the late 19^th century paintings were the exploration of new ways to look and interpret the world. They we could view the world through individual specific perceptions – but if they were just copying each other - . Early in the day I saw the rich colours and brilliant lighting techniques of the Renaissance and Baroque painters (and throw in Romanticism). Yes, they were beautiful but how many different ways can you depict reality in a straightforward manner (even with very dramatic lighting)? I had heard of several books that highlighted the changes in science and physics that fostered the new art (or vice versa – not sure about the chicken or egg argument in this case). My artless trained conclusion was how many ways can you depict a new reality – hence they soon started copying each other. And like the Renaissance painting style this new exciting departure from normal reality also gave way to the even newer and bolder attempts of modern art (modernism, post-modernism). Okay, enough of my overly simplistic art history lesson (which is I am sure somewhat misguided).

Sadly, I wasn’t inspired today at the museum – maybe because I have seen enough art (in the form of history) as now I only see slight derivations of things I have seen previously from the various museums I have visited around the world. (I also found myself in the middle of my visit to this museum pulling out my laptop and doing a little science as I glanced up at a Degas’ between my work on the computer - actually I guess I am pretty luck to be doing work in such beautiful surroundings).

But I do draw myself near to a Van Gogh painting - looking closely at the splotched on paint - layered thick and richly. I ponder of how his work, his inspiration is congealed in this one time piece of work that can not be copied - that globe of paint smeared with that specific color, that specific slash, that specific motion. His art does seem particularly full of energy - if that is possible.

What struck me the most today was when I visited the ancient Egyptian art section and they had stones wall carvings with hieroglyphics writing. I was not really sure if these were originals (but I assumed so), or copies. But I thought of the person who 5,000 or so years ago worked away to make this wall art. Was he a free person or a slave? Did he enjoy his work, or did they have any choice? But still the work has lasted – not in its original location half way around the world – but sits in a Central park museum on some of the richest land in the world. This art piece is viewed by millions and millions and over years and years. I wonder what is the artist’s story? This made my neurons and brain sing.

Stimulate your brain - take in some art, be it in a book, on the web, or stop by a local gallery in your area (you don’t have to go to some world class museum to view art). Sure you might have some disagreements with what the experts think. You might even have thoughts of your own - and there can not be too many things more stimulating for your brain than some honest to gosh thoughts. Maybe you will even be stimulated to produce some of your own art.

I am leaving for two scientific meeting early tomorrow morning (spread over 2 weeks). I am giving a talk in Toronto, and will do my best to swallow as much information as possible at the annual society for neuroscience meeting where 32,000 neuroscientists gather for 5 jam-packed crazy days to pick and choose among 15,000 posters and presentations.

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Due to the whirl wind trip I am not sure how regular I will be posting - but I am sure I will learn a great deal and have plenty to report when I get back.

SRT1720 is a sirt1 activator and the new hope for a calorie restriction mimicker, which may lead to an increase in human lifespan.

Resveratrol (which I have written about several times, here, here and here) is also a sirt1 activator, which is found (in very small quantity) in red wine,  is also a sirt1 activator and has been tested multiple times to see what it can do for animal’s health and survival (see below). The interesting thing about SRT1720 is that it works at a 1,000 times lower dose than resveratrol.

A new paper examining SRT1720 was published in cell metabolism and covered at eurakalert and wired.

In mice fed a high fat diet (very similar to the resveratrol study) SRT1720 spared the animals from gaining as much weight (even though they ate the same amount) and becoming insulin resistant. Additionally, the animals fed SRT1720 had greater running endurance (no great surprise since they were not overweight). Overall, the authors providing supporting data for the mechanism behind these affects is due to increased fatty acid oxidation (which should help endurance beyond just being a lighter weight) (the same thing exercise does).

Hmmm this sounds just like the recent paper I did on human exercise. Exercise in humans leads them to become less energy efficient at rest - as there was a decoupling of food intake and energy output (occurs in the mitochondria) and hence the extra energy is burnt off as heat. That is why you can eat more if you are on an exercise program and not gain weight (compared to your twin that is not exercising). This goes beyond just the extra calories you are burning while actually exercising. Your entire muscle metabolism becomes less efficient and you need more food to get the same amount of ATP. And while this sounds bad - there are obvious benefits once your muscles have to start working.

Back to RST1720 you must remember the results reported are for mice on a high fat diet. Resveratrol when tested on mice on a high fat diet improved health and survival (meaning the mice on this diet lived longer). When resveratrol was tested for its effect on lifespan on mice fed a ‘normal’ diet there was no effect (but the diet was not started until 12 months of age - it would be interesting to see if it would work when started earlier).

Take home message:

SRT1720 holds promise as it did prevent excessive weight gain and improved endurance, and appears to be an advance over resveratrol as it is 1,000 times more potent (hence I am guessing would be more economically viable). And combined with previous resveratrol studies is likely to increase the lifespan of animals on a high fat diet. The big question is will SRT1720 extend the lifespan of animals on a ‘normal diet’? This is the holy grail of calorie restriction mimickers. Time will tell.

Some might argue that genius can not be broken down into categories; musical, mathematical, writing, etc. However, it appears an equal number would argue that these (and more) categories exist. Sure, there are some very rare individuals that are geniuses in more than one category (though we seem to see less of these in our more complex and specialized times).

But the type of genius I am briefly discussing today is life geniuses. And this form of genius might be the most important in the terms of living and enjoying life.

Now I don’t know if anybody has thought of this category of genius - so I will give my (very rough) definition. A life genius excels at living a full throttled life with exuberance and class. The accept and search out challenges and seem to be at ease with anything that is thrown at them. They are simply living life to its fullest in a positive manner. They seem to exude energy and life.

I have been lucky enough to meet a few people that I consider life geniuses. At a neuroscience level I would love to know how their brain works - what makes them special? Do they have less fear, more capacity for love, more empathy, great resilency, greater energy?

I don’t know the answers but these people seem to live a life that most of us are envious of. They actually might be similar to the ‘Experiencers‘ I previoulsy mentioned (in regards to their spending habits). But then you have to take these experiencers and multiply exponentially to  get the life genius level. Maybe being an experincer is a prerequiste for being a life genius.

I am probably not doing a great job in explaining what a life genius is - but maybe you have met one yourself. Whatever the exact definition (even if that is possible) it would be interesting to study the makeup of these individuals - and more importantly find out how us mere mortals can ‘learn’ to become more like them (we can’t all be geniuses but we can learn and become better in any field - math, writing, music - life.

Maybe I will try to interview these lucky individuals and try to come up with some practical things the rest of us can start working on.