"Today I Learned": 50 Times People Learned Interesting Facts Online And Couldn't Wait To Share With Others (New Posts)

We're well aware of the power of learning and how important it is for us to celebrate curiosity, intelligence, and the desire to know more about our planet. Just a few decades ago, people had to read stacks of books and spend evenings at the local libraries just to learn something new. But in today’s modern world, we don’t need to lift a finger for it — except to type out a few Google searches and make some quick clicks on hyperlinks. In mere minutes, we find the fact or research we’ve been looking for.

We were curious to learn more about the benefits of soaking up the knowledge around us, so we reached out to Marilee Sprenger, an international educational consultant in the fields of social-emotional learning, literacy, vocabulary, and brain research. Being the renowned author of Social-Emotional Learning and the Brain: Strategies to Help Your Students Thrive, she explained that one of the most fascinating aspects of our brain is that it can change, and it does so every day.

"Neuroscientists want us to understand that the brain is plastic," Sprenger told Bored Panda. "Every time you learn something new, your brain grows new connections. As we practice this new learning, the connections between brain cells get stronger and more resilient. If it is useful information, it stays with us, possibly forever."

From learning new languages to increasing our vocabulary by memorizing new words every day, all kinds of learning grow the brain, the expert explained. But if we don’t put them to good use, our skills won’t really grow or keep these new brain cell connections.

"Trying a new recipe, if you like to cook, will also benefit your brain. If you don’t like the recipe, you will have learned not to make it again! Does that sound silly? Remember, Thomas Edison found 10,000 ways not to invent the lightbulb before he figured out how to do it! His brain had to change with each failure, and he learned from those," Sprenger added.

According to the professional learning consultant, keeping your brain active is vital. There’s an abundance of evidence proving that learning something new is an incredible way to stretch our critical thinking, keep our minds sharp, and become better at problem-solving. What’s more, one study had found that it could also prevent memory loss and dementia — more years of education may be associated with this decline.

But as Sprenger noted, because the brain has plasticity and can re-wire itself, we can also lose the information we learned. "Keeping your brain and your body active can make a big difference in your ability to concentrate, focus, and remember. The more you know, the easier it is to take new learning and new experiences and connect them to information already stored in your brain."

Every single one of us has at least a few topics we can talk about for hours — our job, school, or a favorite hobby — subjects we always want to dive deeper in. While it’s beneficial to explore the things that matter most to us, it is just as important to gain a broader understanding of the world.

Sprenger agreed with this line of thinking. "Whether you learn something new or pursue the study of an individual topic (like I do with the brain), you are keeping your brain active. If you focus on only one thing and not pursue other avenues, you could lose connections in other parts of your brain. So, diversification is good," she detailed. "Frankly, I am a nerd. I would rather read a new book on the brain than go out with friends. But I force myself to go. I know those social connections will help me on many levels. Socializing activates the brain," the expert explained that relationships are one of the most powerful tools to grow our brains.

If you encounter troubles with keeping up with your learning process, having a goal can be wise since it will help you focus on what’s important to you. Sprenger pointed out that our brains have these structures that filter incoming information. "If you tried to process everything that comes at you in a day, you would be overwhelmed and probably unable to do anything. So in that regard, your brain is looking out for you. What does the brain focus on? Anything novel. Its main function is your survival, so it must check out anything out of the ordinary."

Along with writing and presenting brain research information all over the country, Sprenger also loves teaching memory classes in the community. As she told us, many people, both young and older, often express worries about becoming forgetful. Well, their concerns seem justified, as a 2019 national poll from the University of Michigan revealed that over half (59%) of adults aged 50-64 felt their memory was slightly getting worse with age, and 7% reported it was much worse. Moreover, nearly half (48%) of respondents felt they were likely to develop dementia as they age and nearly as many worried about this prospect.

But fear not! Sprenger was kind enough to share a few things that will really help us remember. "We have five different memory systems in our brains," she said. "Two very important ones start with the letter E (that’s a little memory cue to help you remember them!) The first is emotional memory. When something happens that stirs an emotion, our brains tend to remember it."

The other system beginning with the letter E is episodic memory. "This system remembers where you are, which is a great trigger for memory. For instance, do you remember where you were when those planes flew into the twin towers on 9/11? Or where you were when you had your first kiss? Your first alcoholic beverage? Every time we learn something we are somewhere!"

"The night my high school boyfriend broke up with me, we were at a teen dance club. Just mentioning the place or driving by it brings back memories of that hurtful night. That went into many of my memory systems as it was both episodic and emotional," she continued. "So, the trick is to connect with your emotions and your locations to help you remember. You will automatically remember some events because your brain will store them without you trying. But take this information and use it to your advantage!"