Denyse O'Leary
Theoretical Physicist Admits That Humans Are Unique
In his forthcoming book, Marcelo Gleiser challenges us to acknowledge our responsibility to save the planet
If Panpsychism Is Now Mainstream, Is Fine-Tuning Next?
In his new book, panpsychist Philip Goff argues for fine-tuning of the universe and cosmic purpose
Study: Robotic Preachers Reduce Interest in Religious Faith
They are certainly not the answer to declining attendance and involvement that some have hoped they would be
Do Cool Floor Buttons Really Cause Dogs To Talk?
The latest fad in “Talk to the animals” appears to be a classic in confirmation bias
The Left and Right Brain Both Want Pop Science Media to Chill
Neuroscience is not an especially rewarding field for the pursuit of dogma
When Science Writers Say Things We Hardly Expected…
Some science writers are monotonous boosters for Answers from Science but the better ones challenge themselves, and thus challenge us too
The Big Bang: Last Summer, Doubt Suddenly Exploded. Why?
Why did a story that cast doubt on the Big Bang quickly go viral about a year ago? An experimental physicist offers some thoughts
Can Information Be Separated From Intelligence? Part 3
Theoretical biologist Barbieri’s practical dilemma is that a popular, dominant idea like “life is just chemistry” need not be proved, only insisted on
Does Deep Social Change Underlie the War on Math?
Why is the universal language of science sinking under the weight of claims about trauma and privilege?
Does Left Brain-Only Thinking Impoverish Our Mental World? How?
A discussion of the left brain vs the right brain that avoids pop science can set us thinking, as psychiatrist McGilchrist and neurologist Dirckx show
A Warning From the Unpublished Preface to Orwell’s Animal Farm
Only discovered in 1971, the Preface offers George Orwell’s critical but neglected insights into the nature of censorship in a free society
Can Information Be Separated From Intelligence? Part 2
Theoretical biologist Marcello Barbieri envisions life’s origin in terms that only make sense if we assume life is the work of an intelligent agent
Science Is Self-correcting? Time for a Reality Check!
In the wake of the Stanford scandal, the reasons why science often ISN’T self-correcting are attracting much more attention
Our Essential “I”ness … the Search for Its Address in the Brain
Does “I” — the first person singular — have or need a fixed address in the brain?
Can Information Be Separated From Intelligence? Part 1
Theoretical biologist Marcello Barbieri finds that many biologists see information in life forms — biological information — as something that “does not really belong to science.”In 2016, University of Ferrara theoretical biologist Marcello Barbieri wrote a rather interesting open access paper on a key philosophical conflict in biology: Is life only chemistry or is it chemistry plus information? In it, he says that many biologists see information in life forms — biological information — as something that “does not really belong to science.” How did they get there from here? Author of Code Biology: A New Science of Life (Springer, 2015), Barbieri offers a history, a critique, and a proposed solution. In this three-part series, I will look at all three elements. First, the history. Molecular biology understands genes as transferring linear sequences of information to proteins that carry out instructions. That’s information as it Read More ›
The Mind: A Neuroscientist and a Psychiatrist Walk Into a…
Psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist, conversing with Christian neuroscientist Sharon Dirckx about materialism’s deficits, shows considerable sympathy for panpsychism
What Do the “Laws of Nature” Actually Explain?
To what extent does the phrase simply stand in for an explanation?
Is Dementia Research Missing the Forest for the Trees?
Sudden bouts of lucidity in people with dementia are understudied, researchers admitResearchers have begun to ask about the curious fact that persons with obvious dementia sometimes have lucid episodes: “In the last week, Sarah has occasionally said things that were recognizable, startling her family. Most notably, on two occasions, she clearly and unexpectedly told her spouse, “I’m scared. I want you to come with me.” These episodes unsettled him. He reported them to Sarah’s physician, asking for advice. (This case is adapted from one of the author’s [JK] clinical experiences.)” – Peterson A, Clapp J, Largent EA, Harkins K, Stites SD, Karlawish J. What is paradoxical lucidity? The answer begins with its definition. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Mar;18(3):513-521. doi: 10.1002/alz.12424. Epub 2021 Aug 2. PMID: 34338400; PMCID: PMC8807788. The paper is open Read More ›
