A newfound magnetic star, a dense relic of a once-bright star with a remarkably strong magnetic field, has been discovered outside the Milky Way. The newfound magnetar, a dense relic of a once-bright star with a remarkably strong magnetic field, resides in the galaxy M82 (dubbed the Cigar Galaxy), roughly 12 million light-years from Earth.

Scientists using a European Space Agency (ESA) telescope spotted the ultra-magnetic star after it violently erupted and blasted out intense energy that lasted just a fraction of a second.

Magnetars are rapidly spinning, intensely magnetized versions of neutron stars that shine thousands of times brighter than the sun.

Only three other magnetar flares have been recorded in the past 50 years, so the latest find opens the search for more extragalactic magnetars. The newfound magnetar adds to the three magnetars previously found within our galaxy, including a notable one spotted in 2004.

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"Multitasking": a necessary skill or just a harmful trick?

Many people seek to organize their day and divide its hours between work, performing household tasks, raising children, developing personal skills, and perhaps practicing hobbies and participating in social activities as well.

But in reality, our lives seem short and the hours in our days are insufficient to achieve all of the above, until the concept of “multitasking” appeared years ago, and seemed to be a solution to the problem of achieving all the goals we aspire to.

Technology has provided more options, while advice and experiences have varied in this regard. But the question remains: Can our minds really perform multiple tasks at the same time, or do we pay a high cost for these attempts?

What happens in our brains?

A report published by “The Conversation” website indicates that the expression “multitasking” was originally specific to machines, not humans. Then studies appeared revealing the benefits of multitasking, but they were limited to simple or “automatic” tasks, which put very little pressure on the prefrontal cortex. In the brain, such as eating while walking or watching movies, or walking while talking on the phone. When performing more complex tasks, things get complicated, and noticeable effects begin to appear.

What happens inside our brain when we try to do multiple tasks at the same time is that the prefrontal cortex in the brain initially works to maintain focus on performing the first task, and within seconds its work switches to focus attention on the second task.

Neuroscientists confirm that we do not perform two tasks at the same time, but in fact what happens is a rapid jump to switch between different activities, while the “working memory” remains busy for long hours, hindering normal mental performance, and in these switching processes, our brain performs a series of cognitive transformations. sequentially so that we can perform both tasks together.

With the growing need to perform multiple tasks, this has become our way of completing our work in record time, and a skill preferred by business owners. We actually engage in these attempts, but reaping them - as studies indicate - is costly, as our brain does not have this ability.

When the tasks are more complex, the load on our brains increases, and this sequence of switching between tasks costs us more time for completion, as it takes the brain to pay attention to the nature of the other task, then adjust the settings of the mind to suit its completion, and displace the setting for the first task.

Decreased productivity and creativity

While it may seem that only a few seconds of time are lost each time we switch between tasks, this process has a noticeable impact on our ability to pay attention and focus. Thus, contrary to the common belief that “multitasking” means increased efficiency and productivity, it causes more mistakes to be made, which leads to a 40% reduction in an individual’s productivity.

For example, if we talk on the phone while we are writing, the brain stops the flow of ideas, derailing the creative process. During the minutes that the brain stops writing, it prepares to listen, and then returns to writing again. This simple interruption may lead to making mistakes, and our creative abilities decrease when we are deprived of continuous focus on a single task, which results in a flow of ideas and the ability to connect them. Thus, we become less creative and more superficial, in addition to the memory problems it causes, reduced efficiency, anxiety, and chronic stress. .

A study published by the magazine "Health Psychology Review" in the year 2023 indicated that performing multiple tasks constitutes an organic, measurable pressure on the work of the sympathetic nervous system, as scientists observed higher rates compared to its activity when performing a single task. The study also revealed less functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system, as well as its effect on stress levels and psychological pressure. The researchers pointed to a possible effect on the immune system as well.

It may seem to us that we are more productive in the current era, thanks to multitasking, but that is not the real reason for this feeling. We are actually more productive thanks to the technological tools available that facilitate our work. As for the mind, its characteristics have not changed, and multitasking still causes us more anxiety, stress, and insomnia, and ends with the inability to work and concentrate.

The capabilities we need

On the other hand, if you are keen on greater productivity, what experts advise is to focus on attention, which is - in fact - a skill that we can develop, and make a difference in our ability to achieve through it:

Allocate periods for focus: Experts advise allocating periods to focus on doing a specific task, and stopping all distractions such as phone notifications or interruptions from colleagues.

Fight dopamine addiction: Another secret that drives our brains to multitask is the dopamine addiction associated with new information, which makes us respond to interruptions like answering the phone while we're writing an email. What actually happens is that dopamine addiction stimulates the brain to lose focus and search for external stimulation.

Choosing between tasks: Neuroscientists advise choosing between tasks that can be completed in parallel without significant negative impact, and other tasks that trying to complete together will cause loss of time or waste of effort.

Rest: The brain needs to stop from time to time. It will be beneficial to pay attention to physical activity and a good diet, which increase the ability to concentrate.