Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

Denyse O'Leary

homo-heidelbergensis-is-an-extinct-prehistoric-man-he-used-m-782439397-stockpack-adobe_stock
Homo heidelbergensis is an extinct prehistoric man. He used more advanced tools than Homo erectus, such as hand axes and spears, and probably fire

A Catholic Priest Talks About Human Evolution

Fr. Martin Hilbert approaches the topic from the perspective of evidence, reason, and faith — and realism about what is at stake in the discussion
Fr. Hilbert shows that we have not found anything that justifies a Darwinian approach to life as somehow more compatible with science than a Christian one. Read More ›
doctor-using-defibrillator-in-hospital-ward-clinic-staff-sav-503196037-stockpack-adobe_stock
Doctor using defibrillator in hospital ward. Clinic staff saving patient life.

3. A Cardiologist Encounters a Near Death Experience

Dr. Aufderheide hardly expected the patient, who was in prolonged cardiac arrest, to tell him what he had been doing — and thinking — when he was in the patient's room
As Sean McDowell points out, a research physician like Dr. Aufderheide, with nothing much to gain from telling the story, should be taken seriously. Read More ›
ai-chatbot-robot-assistant-sitting-at-desk-using-computer-as-artificial-intelligence-business-concept-ai-generated-stockpack-adobe-stock
AI chatbot robot assistant sitting at desk using computer as artificial intelligence. Business concept. AI generated

Allstate demands that tech mag delete evidence of AI e-mails

Allstate needs to remember: If the shout hits the fan, don’t start threatening media. Nothing spreads the story faster or guarantees it more publicity than that Read More ›
child-in-danger-drowning-in-the-pool-kid-girl-cannot-swim-to-551326545-stockpack-adobe_stock
child in danger drowning in the pool, kid girl cannot swim to deep water and raise two hand for help on swimming pool.

2. When information from a near-death experience is confirmed…

A seven-year-old girl who was a near-fatal drowning victim reported things that she saw during a state of clinical death that were later confirmed
A seven-year-old girl who was a near-fatal drowning victim reported things that she saw during a state of clinical death that were later confirmed Read More ›
dreamy-foggy-dark-forest-trail-in-moody-forest-alone-and-cre-218181114-stockpack-adobe_stock
Dreamy foggy dark forest. Trail in moody forest. Alone and creepy feeling in the woods

1. When actual experiences challenge the viewpoints of skeptics

Sean McDowell recently hosted J. Steve Miller to talk about his top five believable near-death experiences
Mark Twain and Michael Shermer each had an anomalous experience that he could not explain but would not deny. Read More ›
a-bunch-of-pink-and-purple-scheme-with-a-dna-strand-in-the-background-concept-xx-xy-chromosome-stockpack-adobe-stock
A bunch of pink and purple scheme with a DNA strand in the background. concept XX, XY chromosome.

Evolutionary biology group now claims: Humans are NOT two sexes!

One thing they are doing for sure is casting doubt on the value of evolutionary biology itself, in a way no Darwin doubter, however strong his argument, could. Read More ›
panoramic-view-of-the-earth-sun-star-and-galaxy-sunrise-over-194080021-stockpack-adobe_stock
Panoramic view of the Earth, sun, star and galaxy. Sunrise over planet Earth, view from space. Elements of this image furnished by NASA

New Book: The Catholic Case for the Design of Nature

Fr. Martin Hilbert notes that the history of life seems more like a separate collection of bushes than a single tree
The great Catholic theologian Aquinas noted that “what happens in the working of nature is either always, or mostly, for the better,” which rules out chance. Read More ›
playful-interaction-between-two-cats-one-black-and-one-tabby-1161206922-stockpack-adobe_stock
Playful Interaction Between Two Cats, One Black and One Tabby Gray, and a Wooden Cat Puzzle Toy with Balls with a Scratching Post

Science Writing: Cat Intelligence Compared With Baby Intelligence

Cat intelligence is of a rather different kind from dog intelligence
Cat intelligence is often underrated but the human mind belongs to an entirely different order of being from the feline mind. Read More ›
training-of-dog-close-up-of-pet-keeper-holding-treats-over-b-835373179-stockpack-adobe_stock
Training of dog. Close up of pet keeper holding treats over blurred background of adorable golden retriever. Excited fluffy dog waiting for favorite snack while executing sit command

Science Writing: Dog Intelligence Compared With Baby Intelligence

It’s an odd question because what we should be asking is, “Are kittens and puppies smarter than babies?”
The comparison doesn’t really work but it underlines the *doctrine* that human intelligence is just another type of animal intelligence. Read More ›
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News Update Journalism Headline Media Concept

Turns out many news media are on the U.S. government payroll

The basic problem with a federal government funding news media is that the real audience becomes — not the private news seeker — but that government. Read More ›
big-brother-is-watching-scary-eye-surveillance-ai-generated-628856053-stockpack-adobe_stock
Big brother is watching scary eye surveillance- AI generated

At LinkedIn, Covid myths still rule. Here’s a post they removed

Message to LinkedIn: The origin of COVID is not even a politically sensitive topic any more! Whoever you are protecting, you can just stop. Read More ›
europe-uk-england-wiltshire-stonehenge-winter-moon-stockpack-265913028-stockpack-adobe_stock
europe; UK, England, Wiltshire, Stonehenge winter moon

The Subtle Ways That Science Writing Erases Human Exceptionalism

Stone tool use among animals versus the Stone Age provides a useful illustration of the tendency
The assumed equivalence between animal behavior and the human mind is a feature of contemporary science beliefs, not of evidence. Read More ›
a-beautiful-sunrise-in-the-mountains-with-grass-and-purple-a-852616245-stockpack-adobe_stock
A beautiful sunrise in the mountains with grass and purple and orange tones A realistic photo in the style of high resolution

AI Specialist Explains Why AI Can’t Replicate Human Experience

A profound recent experience crystallized the difference for him between brain and machine
Alberto Chierici realized that a machine can analyze information about a sunrise but can never experience it as a moment of “quiet awe.” Read More ›
person-is-looking-for-way-out-of-psychedelic-maze-a-surreal-labyrinth-in-magical-forest-human-consciousness-is-at-dead-end-searching-for-solutions-created-with-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Person is looking for way out of psychedelic maze. A surreal labyrinth in magical forest. Human consciousness is at dead end, searching for solutions. Created with Generative AI

Scientists Wrestling With Human Consciousness Are In For the Win

Yet they can’t win because what they are doing amounts to a form of shadow boxing
If consciousness is immaterial, a scientific explanation must address and include that fact. The hard problem is impossible if that fact cannot be accepted. Read More ›
land-with-dry-and-cracked-ground-desertglobal-warming-backgr-203642674-stockpack-adobe_stock
Land with dry and cracked ground. Desert,Global warming background

Daniel Dennett Made Atheism Easy to Understand

In the process, he somehow also made it less believable
Dennett may be best remembered for inadvertently helping to reduce the popularity of atheism Read More ›
tv-news-studio-recording-and-broadcasting-media-in-a-modern-set-design-with-blue-background-for-journalists-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
TV News studio - recording and broadcasting media in a modern set design with blue background for journalists. Generative AI

Will a White House press shakeup change how news is delivered?

In December, we asked, “Can the White House ‘Mean Girl’” media be reformed?” We were looking at at journalist Mike Cernovich’s comments on the way that the White House press corps controls national political news in the United States: The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) has the power to control seat assignments and credentialing. When you walk inside the briefing Read More ›