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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Do we really lose imagination with age? New research reveals a surprising truth
Imagination doesn't decline with age—it evolves. While children may offer spontaneous, unfiltered ideas, adults often imagine with greater nuance and creativity rooted in experience. Recent studies show that older adults can be more inventive in specific contexts, challenging the myth that creativity is solely a child's domain. (Representative image: iStock) Imagining with Experience Grey Hair, Bold Ideas You Might Also Like: Want to grow younger? Harvard-backed study reveals a surprising vitamin that may reverse aging at the cellular level — sapinker (@sapinker) The Other Side of the Coin Imagination, Refocused iStock Studies show older people often outperform younger ones in creative tasks within known contexts. Rather than losing creativity, we redirect it toward purpose, memory, and meaning as we grow older. (Representational image: iStock) One Mind, Many Lifetimes You Might Also Like: Can your eyes reveal how sharp your memory is? New study shows how pupil movements uncover truth and falsehood For generations, society has clung to the romantic idea that children are the true dreamers—limitless in creativity, untouched by the rational rigidity of adulthood. Adults, it is often assumed, merely trade their whimsical wonder for a practical, more realistic inner world. But according to a growing body of psychological research, that narrative might be more fiction than per a report from the New Scientist, a recent wave of studies reveals a fascinating truth: imagination doesn't fade with age—it transforms. As it turns out, adults may be more imaginative than we think, just in a different, more refined way. Harvard University 's developmental psychologist Paul Harris challenges the prevailing belief that imagination wanes as we grow older. In a 2021 review, he argued that children's pretend play tends to be grounded in everyday experiences—tea parties, superheroes, and make-believe kitchens. The real shift, he observed, begins around age four, when children start to imagine truly conflicting scenarios—two possible, incompatible outcomes of a single aligns with problem-solving tests where young children often stumble. Take, for instance, the classic test involving a pipe cleaner and a bucket. The goal is to retrieve the bucket using the pipe cleaner by bending it into a hook. Children under five usually fail. Why? Because the imaginative leap needed to see a straight object as something that can change form comes only with age and mental you're picturing imagination as something that peaks in childhood and then diminishes into mental dullness, think again. Angela Nyhout from the University of Kent conducted a unique study at Dover Castle in the UK. Visitors were asked how they might use obscure historical objects like a warrior god mould or an old dress fastener. Older adults didn't just match the creativity of younger participants—they often surpassed them in the number of creative ideas, although within more familiar not an isolated case. Andrew Shtulman, in his 2023 book Learning to Imagine, proposes that imagination is like any other skill—it strengthens with practice. Unlike the freewheeling, trial-and-error method used by children, adults bring layered experience, refined intuition, and contextual awareness to their imaginative course, not everyone agrees. Psychologist Alison Gopnik of UC Berkeley reminds us that young minds have an edge in one critical area—openness. Without decades of accumulated assumptions or expectations, children freely explore a multitude of possibilities, even the improbable ones. As Nyhout notes, they simply don't yet know enough about the world to be constrained by yet, what younger children offer in spontaneity, they sometimes lack in insight. In one of Nyhout's story-based tasks, younger kids suggested magical wind control to stop papers from flying away. Older children, meanwhile, offered grounded, practical solutions. Both types of responses reflect imagination—just channeled through different cognitive the most revealing insight into how our imagination matures lies in how we remember. Jessica Andrews-Hanna of the University of Arizona explains that older adults tend to focus on the "gist" or emotional significance of memories rather than the finer details. This doesn't indicate a loss of mental clarity—it signals a shift in what we value. Adults may trade vivid imagery for narrative meaning and emotional than fading, imagination simply adapts to the needs of each life stage. A preschooler may invent new worlds, while an older adult might envision solutions to global crises by drawing on decades of life evolving nature of imagination is not a story of loss—it's a story of transformation. Children and adults may play in different imaginative arenas, but neither space is inherently superior. As Nyhout puts it, imagination across the lifespan is context-specific: what's optimal for a four-year-old won't always work for a forty-year-old—and vice fact, our collective imagination may be strongest when generations collaborate. Whether it's designing sustainable cities, reimagining social justice, or tackling inequality, bringing together the playful chaos of youth with the reflective insight of age might just be the creative leap humanity no, we don't lose our imagination as we age, we just learn how to wield it differently. And maybe, just maybe, more powerfully.
Toronto Sun
3 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
CHAUDHRI: Alleging cause requires hard evidence
A termination for cause is not a slap on the wrist. It is the pinnacle of punishment for an employee. And because it is rarely carried out appropriately, when cause cases turn up in courts, many of us in the employment bar take notice, writes Sunira Chaudhri. Photo by iStock / GETTY IMAGES A termination for cause is not a slap on the wrist. It is the pinnacle of punishment for an employee. And because it is rarely carried out appropriately, when cause cases turn up in courts, many of us in the employment bar take notice. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account A termination for cause usually happens when an employer is fed up after ongoing performance issues, major lapses in judgment or serious misconduct. The misconduct must be willful and not trivial. It is the most severe penalty an employee can receive. Most often, perks and pay seize the day a termination for cause takes place. Even if misconduct rises to the legal threshold of cause, it must be well documented and well supported by evidence. An employer needs receipts. And today I tell you a story of an employer that had the bones of a good cause case but did not have the evidence to back it up. An equipment company that I will refer to as 'Tractor' terminated an employee who I will call 'Shawn.' Tractor terminated him after various incidents including crashing the company truck, members of the public complaining about his driving and an incident where Shawn injured himself at least once. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Even the trial judge noted that Shawn 'never made it easy for himself.' Ultimately, Tractor terminated Shawn for cause in September, 2021 after it received a customer complaint about Shawn's alleged unprofessionalism including pressuring said customer to initial a sales agreement and that Shawn tried to call the customer eight times that day to close the sale. Shawn had 18 years of service when he was fired. At trial earlier this year, Justice Akazaki heard evidence from the manager who spoke to the disgruntled customer. But, the disgruntled customer was never called as a witness. While the judge accepted the manager's evidence that the customer complained, the judge could not go so far to accept that the complaint itself was objective or reasonable. After all, customer complaints are not made under oath and could be inaccurate, unfair or embellished. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Because the customer was not called as a witness, the nature of the complaint, as the manager relayed it to the court, was hearsay. The fact a customer complaint happened, with nothing more, did not meet the threshold of cause. The court found no cause and awarded Shawn 17 months of pay in reasonable notice. Notably, even though there was evidence that Shawn accepted a lower paying driving job after termination, the court did not deduct that income from his damages award. Read More There are a few practical takeaways from this case. The first is that cause is complicated. This employer had a problematic employee that the court readily acknowledged. But even a consistently reckless, unprofessional and under performing employee may not have breached his duties to an employer in a legal sense. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Further to that, evidence is technical. Second hand accounts of poor behavior will not pass muster in a court of law. If the best evidence (like a witness) is missing, a court will not overlook the glaring omission. Most lawyers would not be surprised that this termination for cause was not upheld by the court. A punishment so severe was simply disproportionate in light of the evidence at hand. Have a workplace question? Email me at sunira@ and your question may be featured in a future column. The content of this article is general information only and is not legal advice. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Columnists Sunshine Girls
Economic Times
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Billionaires, artists, and geniuses share one surprising habit, and you can teach it to your child
iStock Beneath every billionaire, artist, or genius may lie an early love for music. Neuroscience reveals that playing an instrument activates nearly every part of the brain, nurturing imagination, time-awareness, and innovation. (Representational image: iStock) It might not be coding, advanced math, or public speaking. In fact, the most transformational skill shared by some of the world's most brilliant minds is far more rhythmic, soulful—and often underestimated. According to a report from CNBC Make It , from tech titans like Steve Jobs to classical artists, polymaths, and scientific thinkers, there's one habit that echoes through their lives: playing a musical instrument. Behind the melodies and scales lies a secret neurological workout that shapes some of the sharpest, most adaptable, and successful minds on the planet. In a now-famous interview from the 1995 documentary Triumph of the Nerds , Apple co-founder Steve Jobs reflected on what made his team different. It wasn't just their coding prowess—it was their creative backgrounds. 'The people who made the Macintosh were musicians, poets, artists, zoologists and historians… who also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world,' Jobs said. — curiouscamilo (@curiouscamilo) Far from being a casual hobby, music was central to their innovative DNA. Science backs him up. When a person learns to play an instrument, their brain engages in complex, multi-sensory processing. Areas related to motor coordination, auditory pattern recognition, emotion regulation, and even decision-making light up—firing in synchrony like an orchestra of neurons. Over time, this rewiring strengthens cognitive abilities that spill over into every domain of life. Musicians don't just play notes—they visualize entire performances. They anticipate the feel of the keys, the swell of the crescendo, and the emotion of an audience long before they step on stage. This kind of mental simulation becomes second nature, a potent psychological tool that helps them manifest real-world outcomes. It's the same kind of visualization elite athletes and CEOs use to win matches or lead teams through high-stakes decisions. For most people, time feels like something to chase or escape. But for musicians, time becomes something to live within. Every second is measurable—each beat, pause, and phrase precise. In this discipline, distraction isn't just a nuisance; it has a cost. The focused attention required to stay in tempo wires the brain for presence, purpose, and patience. That sacred relationship with time carries over into how these individuals manage meetings, relationships, and even crises. Every musician hits a wall. A note out of reach. A rhythm too fast. But there's no shortcut—you have to keep showing up. This practice of facing difficulty head-on cultivates mental grit. You learn to view struggle not as failure but as a gateway to mastery. This is why so many high achievers don't fear discomfort—they seek it. Music is emotional architecture. It helps individuals not just express but shape their internal state. Whether calming nerves before a speech or shifting tone during conflict, musicians grow adept at managing emotions with deliberate control. This emotional intelligence proves invaluable in leadership, negotiation, and creativity. Where others label a task boring, musicians get curious. Why is attention drifting? What are we trying to improve? With clear goals, even repetitive scales become meaningful. This mindset transforms how we approach any 'boring' task—from emails to spreadsheets. It trains the brain to ask: 'What is this building toward?' And that shift—finding purpose in process—is a hallmark of top performers. Sometimes a hand won't stretch far enough on the fretboard. Sometimes a passage just won't click. So musicians adapt. They rearrange, improvise, try again—until friction sparks a breakthrough. This ability to think flexibly, especially in the face of limitation, is the birthplace of innovation. It's not about perfection. It's about persistence—and pivoting. Once you've trained your ear to distinguish between 'good' and 'great,' you can't unhear it. That sensitivity builds an internal compass. Whether it's a product, a conversation, or a presentation, musicians often bring a heightened sense of quality control. Excellence becomes the expectation—not out of arrogance, but out of reverence for what's possible. There's a shift that happens when you perform. You're no longer just playing—you're communicating. Musicians intuitively begin creating with the audience in mind. They ask: Will this move someone? Will this matter? That ethos translates to everything—from business pitches to community-building. It's not about impressing—it's about connecting. If you're a parent, this might be the most important investment you can make in your child's future. If you're an adult, it's never too late to begin. Learning to play an instrument is not about becoming the next Mozart—it's about equipping your mind for resilience, focus, empathy, and creation. In a world of hacks and life shortcuts, music offers no easy way out. But perhaps that's exactly why it works so well. After all, the most successful minds don't just think differently—they listen, feel, and adapt differently. And often, that begins with a single note.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Can you eat pasta and still lose weight? Experts say yes, if you follow this one surprising rule
Experts reveal that cold carbs might be the key to guilt-free indulgence. Allowing pasta or rice to cool before eating turns its starch into a resistant form, which aids digestion, curbs hunger, and promotes weight loss. Endorsed by athletes and backed by science, this method even retains its benefits after reheating—making pasta salads a smart, slimming choice. A new food science hack suggests that cooling cooked carbs like pasta, rice, and potatoes before eating them transforms their starches, creating 'resistant starch' that acts like fiber. This slows digestion, stabilizes blood sugar, and supports weight loss. (Representational image: iStock) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pasta Salads Over Penne Hot Plates Also Read: How an extremely busy man lost nearly half his body fat in 3 months without strict diet or long gym sessions Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Experts claim even reheated cooled carbs retain these benefits, making pasta and noodles surprisingly diet-friendly when prepared right. (Representational image: iStock) Backed by Science, Loved by Nutritionists Chew Slowly, Stay Slim In a world where carbohydrates have long been villainized by diet trends, an intriguing twist is now warming (or rather, cooling) the hearts of pasta lovers. Experts are now saying that you don't have to banish noodles, rice, or potatoes from your plate to stay in shape. In fact, a surprising tweak in preparation—cooling them after cooking—could be the secret to guilt-free to a report from the Daily Mail, Fitness coach Kevin David Rail from claims that this simple habit can make a world of difference. 'When you cook and then cool carbs like pasta and rice, the starch molecules undergo a transformation. They form what's known as 'resistant starch'—a special type of carbohydrate that behaves more like fiber,' he explains. Unlike regular starch, resistant starch digests slowly, helping to stabilize blood sugar and keep you full for what does this mean for your diet? It means that chilled pasta salads, rice bowls, and even reheated leftovers might be better for your waistline than freshly boiled alternatives. Elite athletes, according to Rail, have been in on this secret for years—fueling their performance and recovery with cold carbs rather than skipping them altogether.'Footballers don't just think about what they eat, but how it's prepared,' says Rail. 'They know that cold carbs can offer sustained energy, better digestion, and even weight control.'Even when reheated, these once-cooled carbs retain their resistant starch structure, offering the same benefits as eating them cold. It's a hack that not only supports metabolism but also enhances gut health, keeps energy levels stable, and helps prevent the dreaded sugar claim isn't just gym-floor folklore. Dr. Chris van Tulleken, doctor and author of Ultra-Processed People, highlights how resistant starch offers a crucial metabolic advantage. Regular starch found in white bread or pasta, he explains, breaks down into sugar at lightning speed—comparable to drinking a sugary beverage. 'If that sugar isn't burned off, it's stored as fat,' he resistant starch takes a different route. Instead of being rapidly absorbed in the small intestine, it reaches the large intestine, where it is slowly digested by gut bacteria. This process not only keeps you feeling full but also creates short-chain fatty acids—compounds that have been linked to reduced heart disease risk and lower blood another fascinating twist, 2023 research revealed that al dente pasta—the kind with a bit of bite—is also beneficial. It slows down eating speed by 45 percent compared to softer, overcooked versions, giving your body more time to register fullness and avoid if you've been avoiding carbs in your weight-loss journey, it might be time to think again. With a little cooling, a touch of science, and a dash of patience, pasta and noodles may no longer be your dietary enemy. In fact, they could become your unexpected allies.
Economic Times
11 hours ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Can you eat pasta and still lose weight? Experts say yes, if you follow this one surprising rule
iStock A new food science hack suggests that cooling cooked carbs like pasta, rice, and potatoes before eating them transforms their starches, creating 'resistant starch' that acts like fiber. This slows digestion, stabilizes blood sugar, and supports weight loss. (Representational image: iStock) In a world where carbohydrates have long been villainized by diet trends, an intriguing twist is now warming (or rather, cooling) the hearts of pasta lovers. Experts are now saying that you don't have to banish noodles, rice, or potatoes from your plate to stay in shape. In fact, a surprising tweak in preparation—cooling them after cooking—could be the secret to guilt-free indulgence. According to a report from the Daily Mail , Fitness coach Kevin David Rail from claims that this simple habit can make a world of difference. 'When you cook and then cool carbs like pasta and rice, the starch molecules undergo a transformation. They form what's known as 'resistant starch'—a special type of carbohydrate that behaves more like fiber,' he explains. Unlike regular starch, resistant starch digests slowly, helping to stabilize blood sugar and keep you full for longer. So, what does this mean for your diet? It means that chilled pasta salads, rice bowls, and even reheated leftovers might be better for your waistline than freshly boiled alternatives. Elite athletes, according to Rail, have been in on this secret for years—fueling their performance and recovery with cold carbs rather than skipping them altogether. 'Footballers don't just think about what they eat, but how it's prepared,' says Rail. 'They know that cold carbs can offer sustained energy, better digestion, and even weight control.' Even when reheated, these once-cooled carbs retain their resistant starch structure, offering the same benefits as eating them cold. It's a hack that not only supports metabolism but also enhances gut health, keeps energy levels stable, and helps prevent the dreaded sugar crash. The claim isn't just gym-floor folklore. Dr. Chris van Tulleken, doctor and author of Ultra-Processed People , highlights how resistant starch offers a crucial metabolic advantage. Regular starch found in white bread or pasta, he explains, breaks down into sugar at lightning speed—comparable to drinking a sugary beverage. 'If that sugar isn't burned off, it's stored as fat,' he warns. But resistant starch takes a different route. Instead of being rapidly absorbed in the small intestine, it reaches the large intestine, where it is slowly digested by gut bacteria. This process not only keeps you feeling full but also creates short-chain fatty acids—compounds that have been linked to reduced heart disease risk and lower blood pressure. In another fascinating twist, 2023 research revealed that al dente pasta—the kind with a bit of bite—is also beneficial. It slows down eating speed by 45 percent compared to softer, overcooked versions, giving your body more time to register fullness and avoid overeating. So, if you've been avoiding carbs in your weight-loss journey, it might be time to think again. With a little cooling, a touch of science, and a dash of patience, pasta and noodles may no longer be your dietary enemy. In fact, they could become your unexpected allies.
