Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

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The Search for ET Should Quit Claiming Earth Is Not Special

How will we assess the raw probability of being alone in this universe when we have no other universe to compare with ours?
blue-earth-seen-from-the-moon-surface-stockpack-adobe-stock
blue earth seen from the moon surface
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Can Money Be Pure Information? Merely a Trusted Idea?

A group of pragmatic Pacific Islanders put that concept to the test centuries ago
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Traditional building Yap, Micronesia
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Researchers: Human Cerebellum Aids Higher Cognitive Functions

At one time, the cerebellum was thought to facilitate only functions like movement. But recent research shows that it’s more complex
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Purkinje neuron, GABAergic neuron located in the cerebellum
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Hossenfelder vs Goff: Debate About Electrons Sparks Social Media!

The public has not suddenly become interested in whether electrons exist. Rather, more people are using new media for an increasingly broad array of purposes.
Atomic structure. Futuristic concept on the topic of nanotechnology in science. The nucleus of an atom surrounded by electrons on a technological background
Atomic structure. Futuristic concept on the topic of nanotechnology in science. The nucleus of an atom surrounded by electrons on a technological background
Electrons orbiting an atomic nucleus Adobe Stock licensed

Night Shift: The Brain’s Extraordinary Work While Asleep

Lie down, close your eyes, lose consciousness, and the brain undertakes the heavy lifting that sleep demands.
top-view-of-handsome-young-man-sleeping-cozily-on-a-bed-in-his-bedroom-at-night-blue-nightly-colors-with-cold-weak-lamppost-light-shining-through-the-window-stockpack-adobe-stock
Top View of Handsome Young Man Sleeping Cozily on a Bed in His Bedroom at Night. Blue Nightly Colors with Cold Weak Lamppost Light Shining Through the Window.
Image licensed via Adobe Stock

Study: Babies Start Learning Their Home Language Before Birth

Neuroscience researchers found that newborns responded better to a folk tale in French than in Spanish or English — when French was their mothers’ native language
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Brain development during pregnancy of unborn baby. 3D rendered illustration.
Image licensed via Adobe Stock

Sports Illustrated Used AI-Generated Authors

Human authors for a human audience, please.
robot-article-editor-writing-publicity-post-robotic-journalist-copywriting-selection-and-verification-artificial-intelligence-vector-scene-stockpack-adobe-stock
robot article editor writing publicity post robotic journalist copywriting selection and verification artificial intelligence vector scene
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Claim: What consciousness studies needs is more Darwinism

The Darwinian view of the evolution of the human mind is, at best, a ladder with no upper rungs
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Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain
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Okay, Never Mind. Sam Altman Returns to OpenAI

The OpenAI CEO is back after a brief absence.
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Chat with AI or Artificial Intelligence. Young businessman chatting with a smart AI or artificial intelligence using an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI.
Image licensed via Adobe Stock

The Likely Reason the Human Mind Has No History

Our efforts to explain the origin of the human mind fall flat because we are looking for an origin that probably doesn’t exist
mind-labyrinth-and-business-success-psychology-concept-with-back-view-walking-businessman-to-the-light-spot-in-corridor-with-walls-in-form-of-human-head-stockpack-adobe-stock
Mind labyrinth and business success psychology concept with back view walking businessman to the light spot in corridor with walls in form of human head
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New Book Looks at Design in Nature From a Catholic Viewpoint

Catholic thinkers who reject Darwinism don’t focus so much on its claims about universal common descent as on its utter inability to account coherently for the human mind
cathedral-rock-closeup-stockpack-adobe-stock
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If Science Were Just Bookkeeping, Fine-Tuning Wouldn’t Matter

Astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser wishes we would just quit asking questions about why the universe is fine-tuned — as if we could…
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open eye in space
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The Explicitly Human Experience of Growing Up as a Twin

A philosopher muses on growing up as one of a set of two people
generative-ai-black-men-twins-brothers-posing-outdoors-city-street-stockpack-adobe-stock
Generative ai black men twins brothers posing outdoors city street
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Attempt To Tackle Censorship in Science Begins Well, Falls Flat

Scientists, we are told, censor “for the greater good.” Well yes, but ALL censors say that. Has anyone ever censored explicitly “for the greater harm”?
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A sharp pencil between two erasers on a blue background.Unfree creativity and censorship, concept
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