Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

Denyse O'Leary

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Single strand ribonucleic acid, RNA and molecular biology research

RNA: The Text Message System Between Cells?

RNA is a very old way that cells encode information so cells across the domains of life can read messages encoded by other cells in RNA — for good or ill
The Big Bang and its outcomes may explain the origin of matter and energy but do they really explain the origin of information? Read More ›
the-confrontation-of-a-heatwave-and-a-melting-glacier-symbol-792041315-stockpack-adobe_stock
The confrontation of a heatwave and a melting glacier, symbolizing the collision of rising temperatures and shrinking ice masses. Concept of climate change impact on glaciers. Generative Ai.

New Atheism Is Shrinking and It’s Not Entirely Clear Why

Now, there is an eerie unfashionable silence that fashionable media are beginning to notice. For one thing, it is affecting Richard Dawkins
The Woke, it turns out, are no more tolerant of atheists than they are of anyone else with divergent views. That may be what finally fells new atheism. Read More ›
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Beautiful sunrise over the sea

Does Science Show That the Soul Persists After Death?

Gradually, medical findings about what happens to the mind around the time of death are undermining the assumption that the soul dies with the body
Life after death: A gap is growing between “no way” and “impossible to disclaim.” That gap is probably going to get bigger rather than smaller. Read More ›
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Small orange flags places in grass in memory of the thousands of Indigenous children that died in Canada's residential school system. Wide view.

Canada’s Residential Schools: A Saga of Journalistic Wrongdoing

Even as the story is collapsing for lack of evidence, there is a move afoot to criminalize doubt about what happened (denialism).
Could it happen in the United States? Of course. It can happen anywhere where people are willing to ignore the demands of evidence in favor of private truth. Read More ›
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Octopus cyanea, also known as the big blue octopus day octopus family Octopodidae in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Hawaii to the eastern coast of Africa mostly crepuscular, being active a

Octopus Organizes Packs of Fish to Help It Hunt

Unlike the fish, the octopus can work with stones where prey fish shelter. The fish get whatever the octopus drops — unless they are cheaters
But what is the origin of unique octopus intelligence? It’s almost as if the self-assured world of biology needed a shakeup. Read More ›
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World Darwin Day representing the evolotuion theory illustration generative ai

How Will Media Address Growing Doubts About Darwin?

In the water flea study, the doubts sound as if they are coming from inside the house. One news story sheds light on a reporting strategy
Perhaps an unwillingness or inability to even see this finding as evidence against Darwinian evolution, plays a vital role in quietly enabling further research. Read More ›
daphnia-a-genus-of-small-planktonic-crustaceansfood-for-youn-271381302-stockpack-adobe_stock
Daphnia, a genus of small planktonic crustaceans,food for young fish,special for young betta

Decade-Long Study: No Evidence Found for Darwinian Evolution

After many generations, water fleas showed no evidence of changing genetically to adapt to their environment, as the theory would predict
What is the origin of the “complexity and subtlety” the researchers cite? Do they not suggest a mind in or behind the universe? Read More ›
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Plant Cell Wall Composition: High-resolution view of plant cell walls, showcasing cellulose fibers, lignin deposits, and structural integrity

Can Plants See? A Shape-Shifting Plant Raises the Question

If it can’t see, how does it copy the leaves of any one of a number of plants growing nearby?
The traditional explanation — that natural selection acting on random mutation (Darwinian evolution) explains it all — is becoming increasingly untenable. Read More ›
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Digital brain connected to data center. Artificial intelligence concept. Based on Generative AI

When the Computer Tried Being a Mind, It Almost…

Philosopher Andy Clark offered to explain the popular computational theory of mind to Robert Lawrence Kuhn — but then a gap appeared
The weakness of mind-as-computer theories is that the steps by which a computer motors through a problem involve nothing that would generate mental states. Read More ›
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Arrested traveler

Why Was the Telegram CEO — 900 Million Users — Arrested?

Governments worldwide want a backdoor into social media, to target users where we spend so much time. But Durov said: nyet
Pavel Durov’s arrest chilled social media bosses but elated those who think it is time for governments, worldwide, to exert more control over what we say. Read More ›
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A stunning visual of a brain split into two halves, showcasing electric energy in contrasting colors, symbolizing creativity and logic.

Do all of us really have two minds inside our brains?

The truth is even more remarkable. When the brain is split in half, the mind remains a unity
Unity of the mind underlines the actual existence of the mind, a concept that many fashionable neuroscientists would very much like to refute. Read More ›
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Online vlogger filming podcast episode with man in studio, using camera and soung production equipment to record. Content creator broadcasting live conversation on social media.

Media war: Journalists vs. content creators—Taylor Lorenz explains

A revealing skirmish erupted around the DNC Convention. Your ability to get real news may depend on who wins
The internet crashed the cost of independent content creation but it also crashed the cost of censorship via compliant big social media platforms. Read More ›
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box of chocolates

Neurology Prof Robert Sapolsky Insists There Is No Free Will

We are controlled by our genes, by our prefrontal cortexes, and we can’t choose to change anything. Or can we?
In his view, no whole human being decides not to do something wrong or harmful. Only the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which has no opinion, does so… Read More ›
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Old Egyptian hieroglyphs with UFO Aliens on ancient background. Concept humanoid Flying saucer history of Earth. Generation AI

Are Beliefs in Space Aliens Really Spiraling Out of Control?

A British philosophy prof sees such views as a “widespread societal problem,” comparing them to the J6 riot
On the whole, Milligan’s worries are not so much unreasonable as they are perennial. People will NOT easily accept that we might be alone in the universe. Read More ›
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Comatose male patient in hospital.

Covert Consciousness: When “Brain Dead” Doesn’t Mean Unconscious

Now that brain scan studies have established that at least 25% of people classed as brain dead can respond, doctors ask what to do for them?
New brain implant technology may help covertly conscious people make contact because neurons can interface with electrical systems. Read More ›
concept-of-propaganda-and-fake-news-tv-addiction-a-lot-of-retro-tv-in-dark-room-with-spiral-illusion-effect-on-screens-politicians-manipulate-the-population-created-with-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Concept of propaganda and fake news, TV addiction. A lot of retro TV in dark room with spiral illusion effect on screens. Politicians manipulate the population. Created with Generative AI

The Hot New Word for Propaganda: Prebunking

Misinformation experts don’t address the fact that prebunking would work just as well for “inoculating” people against correct information as incorrect information
As governments increasingly attempt to control news, a question looms: What they will do when prebunking disapproved information doesn't prevent Wrongthink? Read More ›
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The concept of transhumanism

Should We Worry About Where Transhumanism Is Heading?

Wesley J. Smith asks some hard questions about the moral implications of Zoltan Istvan’s “anything to defeat death” atheist movement
Traditionally, atheists have not thought that just about anything is permissible in order to avoid death; like the religious, they approached it philosophically Read More ›
a-businessman-stands-with-his-turned-back-and-looks-into-a-cross-shaped-hole-in-a-concrete-wall-stockpack-adobe-stock
A businessman stands with his turned back and looks into a cross-shaped hole in a concrete wall.

X Now Banned in Brazil; Huge Fines Threaten Secret Users

The Supreme Court’s ruling seems to be part of an international trend toward attempted government control of the news stream
One of our readers writes to say, "I resisted the military dictatorship in Brazil in the 1960s, and I will resist the dictatorship of a judge in 2024." Read More ›
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Abstract golden particles flowing on dark background

Does a “Spiritual Particle” Explain Human Consciousness?

Before dismissing the idea as untestable, we should ask, is the idea that consciousness is an illusion, grounded in Darwinian evolution theory, testable? Read More ›
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Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis)

Are There Rules Governing Which Animals Are Smart?

A neurologist makes a case for the importance of warm-bloodedness but cold-blooded reptiles can be learn surprisingly quickly
Lizards can be surprisingly intelligent. If there are rules, it’s not clear what role, if any, evolution plays. Read More ›