Author: Denyse O’Leary | Page 2

^{Type
brief

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 21, 2025

Categorized
Medicine and Health

Tagged
COVID-19, Gain-of-function viruses, M. Anthony Mills, Trust in science}

A sober assessment of the deadly gain-of-function virus debate

_{Denyse O'Leary
April 21, 2025

3

Medicine and Health}

It’s no use demanding that the public trust scientists if they do nothing to deserve trust. Read More ›

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 20, 2025

Categorized
Free will, Neuroscience

Tagged
Benjamin Libet, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Michael Egnor, Wesley J. Smith, Wilder Penfield}

A Neurosurgeon Makes the Neuroscience Case for Free Will

_{Michael Egnor is concerned about the serious social implications of denying free will} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 20, 2025

7

Free will, Neuroscience}

Insisting that there is no free will amounts to declaring “I’m a meat robot, so take seriously what I’m saying.” That’s self-refuting nonsense, Dr. Egnor says. Read More ›

A detailed image of a laboratory white mouse on a structure that mimics neural pathways, highlighting the role of DNA sequencing and genetic research in neuroscience 8K , high-resolution, ultra HD,up3

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 19, 2025

Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Andreas Tolias, Carl Zimmer, Francis Crick, H. Sebastian Seung, Margherita Bassi, Mouse brain, Scott Lyon, Will Dunham}

The Nearly Unfathomable Complexity of Even a Mouse’s Brain

_{Mapping a small part of a mouse's brain required 1.6 petabytes of data, which is equivalent to 22 years of nonstop high-definition video} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 19, 2025

5

Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

If it takes a hundred scientists to map a cubic millimetre of a mouse’s brain, even the material world — never mind the immaterial world of the mind — is not likely to have a simple explanation. Read More ›

Smart Turtle with Glasses: A Hilarious and Adorable Reptile Portrait

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 15, 2025

Categorized
Animal mind, Evolution

Tagged
Convergent evolution, Fish intelligence, Gilles De Meester, Irina Epstein, Manta ray, Matthew Wills, Reptile intelligence, Simon Baeckens}

Reptilian Renaissance: How Did Reptiles Develop Intelligence?

_{Scientists used to think reptiles were dumb but then they looked more closely} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 15, 2025

5

Animal mind, Evolution}

Maybe if we are looking for general principles underlying the development of intelligence, we would be wise to leave evolution out of it for a bit. Read More ›

Highly detailed close up portrait of an adult Raven in Yellowstone National Park, species name Corvus corax

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 14, 2025

Categorized
Animal mind, Evolution, Human exceptionalism

Tagged
Bird intelligence, Featured, Giacomo Gattoni, Maria Antonietta Tosches, Niklas Kempynck, Onur Güntürkün, Yasemin Saplakoglu}

At Quanta: High Bird Intelligence Developed on a Different Path

_{High intelligence developing on different paths is consistent with convergent evolution. It’s also consistent with design in nature} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 14, 2025

5

Animal mind, Evolution, Human exceptionalism}

It is ironic that otherwise intelligent people must play the “we’re just another animal” game while demanding attention for ideas that only humans can give. Read More ›

3d rendered illustration of the human brain anatomy

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 11, 2025

Categorized
Evolution, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
German Primate Center, Human brain size, Kambiz Kamrani, Nesil Eşiyok et al.}

Did the Enlargement of the Human Brain Depend on Two Genes?

_{The genes, unique to humans, spurred brain growth when introduced in mice and chimpanzee stem cells} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 11, 2025

5

Evolution, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

While it is quite true that the human brain is very large by animal standards, there is no simple one-on-one relationship between brain size and intelligence. Read More ›

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 9, 2025

Categorized
Censorship, Media, Politics

Tagged
Asawin Suebsaeng, aylor Lorenz, Elon Musk, Fraser Myers, Jeffrey Tucker, Linda Yaccarino, Mark Zuckerberg, Patrick Walters, Pavel Durov}

Information Imperialism: The Battle for Free Access Heats Up

_{Headline incidents are only one part of an international trend toward attempted government control of the news stream} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 9, 2025

8

Censorship, Media, Politics}

Regardless of who emerges as the victor in the battle between government censors and independent creators, the traditional media landscape is now history. Read More ›

brain wave on electroencephalogram, EEG for epilepsy, illustration

^{Type
brief

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 9, 2025

Categorized
Free will, Medicine and Health

Tagged
epilepsy, Webb Wright}

Journalist: Seizures gave me a healthy respect for the brain

_{Denyse O'Leary
April 9, 2025

3

Free will, Medicine and Health}

Wright learned to see himself not as the conductor, nor as the orchestra, but the music itself, which gave him the confidence he needed to move on with life. Read More ›

a sticky note with an angry face drawn on it by a disgruntled employee

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 8, 2025

Categorized
Censorship, Social Media

Tagged
Anjana Susarla, Anna Lazarus Caplan, Community Notes, Fact-checking and Facebook, Featured, Joel Kaplan, Mark Zuckerberg, Omar Gallaga}

Facebook Ends Fact-Checking, Moves to Community Notes Format

_{Top executive admits that there was "too much political bias" at Facebook, Instagram, Threads…} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 8, 2025

5

Censorship, Social Media}

For the social media user at X, the advantage of a Community Notes approach is that the volunteer contributors address specific claims, not overall worldviews. Read More ›

Exploring the intricacies of human cognition a dual brain representation in artistic form

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 7, 2025

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind

Tagged
Alien hand syndrome, Dual consciousness concept, Gonzalo Munevar, Hannah Thomasy, Severance (2022–)}

Can One Person Really Have Two Different Consciousnesses?

_{The idea that split-brain surgery can create two separate minds is immortal — in science fiction} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 7, 2025

5

Medicine and Health, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind}

Real-world research shows the remarkable resilience of damaged brains housing single minds. Our brains are full of complexities and exceptions to rules. Read More ›

Bearded neanderthal man sits by fire in cave at night, caveman and bonfire on dark background. Concept of Homo sapiens, prehistoric era, primitive, ancient, Stone Age

^{Type
brief

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 4, 2025

Categorized
Paleontology

Tagged
Alexandra Gerea, Ben Marwick, Neanderthals in China, Quina tools}

Chinese Neanderthal technology raises some interesting questions

_{Denyse O'Leary
April 4, 2025

3

Paleontology}

The groups that made the distinctive Quina tools lived 7 to 8 thousand kilometers apart. Did they ever meet? Read More ›

Intensive care unit in the prison hospital

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 4, 2025

Categorized
Medicine and Health, Politics

Tagged
Alastair Santhouse, Caitjan Gainty, Kitty Wang, Li Yixue, No More Normal (Granta 2025), Nyima Patten, Psychiatry weaponized, Wang Wanxing, Zhang Junjie}

When Top People “Must Be Right,” Dissent Becomes Mental Illness

_{A healthcare historian looks at the history of the use of psychiatry to crush alternative viewpoints} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 4, 2025

5

Medicine and Health, Politics}

If all sadness, however caused, is depression and all anger, however motivated, is aggression, government can easily create contexts or pretexts for interference Read More ›

Empty Podium in White House Press Briefing Room

^{Type
brief

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 3, 2025

Categorized
Media, Politics, Social Media

Tagged
Max Tani, White House briefing room seating}

White House media discusses sit-in against seating changes

_{Denyse O'Leary
April 3, 2025

2

Media, Politics, Social Media}

You know that the media landscape is changing irrevocably when journalists threaten a sit-in against their subjects. Read More ›

A post-apocalyptic cityscape devoid of life, with crumbling buildings, overgrown vegetation, and the remnants of civilization scattered throughout the desolate landscape, Generative AI

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 2, 2025

Categorized
Evolution, Human exceptionalism

Tagged
Adrian Woolfson, Decline and Fall of the Human Empire, Edward Gibbon (1737–1794), Henry Gee, Human extinction, Lawrence W. Reed}

At a Science Journal: Humanity Is Just So Doomed

_{Opinions differ as to the details of what will wipe us all out — or maybe not} _{Denyse O'Leary
April 2, 2025

5

Evolution, Human exceptionalism}

In one version, the coming human eclipse originated in a sin against Darwinism: destroying the competition. Read More ›

^{Type
brief

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 1, 2025

Categorized
Human exceptionalism, Neuroscience

Tagged
Featured, Human-chimp differences, Rogier Mars, Tom Howarth}

Study: Human brains differ more from chimps’ than once thought

_{Denyse O'Leary
April 1, 2025

3

Human exceptionalism, Neuroscience}

Discarding decades of pop science, science writer Tom Howarth doubts that there is a single defining switch or pivotal evolutionary event that makes us human. Read More ›

Digital chatbots on smartphones access data and information in online networks. Robot Applications and Global Connectivity AI Artificial Intelligence innovation and technology

^{Type
brief

Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 1, 2025

Categorized
Creativity, Large Language Models (LLMs)

Tagged
Ken Francis, Literature}

Are chatbots starting to write literature?

_{Denyse O'Leary
April 1, 2025

3

Creativity, Large Language Models (LLMs)}

Of course, the critical question is, how much does the audience actually want originality and how much does it want the old familiar storyline? Read More ›

Dark sphere rests on volcanic rocks, Iceland landscape

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
March 28, 2025

Categorized
Paleontology, Philosophy of Mind, Technology

Tagged
Human evolution claims, Margherita Mussi, Spherical stones, Tudor Tarita}

Why Did Our Very Ancient Ancestors Collect Ball-Shaped Stones?

_{Over a million years ago, it seems that some of our ancestors hiked through valleys in East Africa, searching for volcanic spheres} _{Denyse O'Leary
March 28, 2025

4

Paleontology, Philosophy of Mind, Technology}

Darwinian evolution theory allows any state of affairs that dates to eons ago to be called “evolution” even when, as in this case, the facts imply the opposite. Read More ›

Newborn Alert Baby Boy on Mint Green Blanket

^{Type
brief

Denyse O'Leary
Date
March 27, 2025

Categorized
Neuroscience, Psychology

Tagged
Episodic memory, Nick Turk-Browne, Statistical memory, Tristan Yates}

Why don’t we remember being babies? Researchers challenge theory

_{Denyse O'Leary
March 27, 2025

3

Neuroscience, Psychology}

Their brain imaging research suggests that infants do remember things but the memories are not accessed later in life. Read More ›

Cancel word on a red enter key of the black pc keyboard. Concepts of cancel culture, ostracism and call-out culture social media and in the Internet. Computer enter key with message.

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
March 25, 2025

Categorized
Censorship, Disinformation, Law, Politics

Tagged
Angel Eduardo, Cancel Culture psychology, Greg Lukianoff, Misinformation concept, Trust in establishment}

How Our Expert Classes Have Torpedoed Public Trust

_{Long time free speech advocate Greg Lukianoff and Angel Eduardo dissect the Cancel Culture that makes distrust a quite reasonable choice} _{Denyse O'Leary
March 25, 2025

5

Censorship, Disinformation, Law, Politics}

All that said, it’s not villains who keep Cancel Culture going. It’s people for whom being Nice is far more important than telling the truth. Read More ›

Brain psychology mind soul and hope concept art, 3d illustration, surreal artwork, imagination painting, conceptual idea

^{Type
post

Denyse O'Leary
Date
March 23, 2025

Categorized
Philosophy of Mind, Religion

Tagged
Michael Egnor, Nancey Murphy, René Descartes (1596–1650), Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Soul (concept)}

Can Christianity Just Abandon the Idea of the Soul?

_{Theologian Nancey Murphy thinks that the Christian tradition can do without the idea of a soul, by relying only on faith in a bodily resurrection} _{Denyse O'Leary
March 23, 2025

5

Philosophy of Mind, Religion}

The view Murphy outlines at Closer to Truth has more in common with modern materialism than with a traditional Christian understanding of the human soul. Read More ›