World Wide Mind

Why are people fascinated by films that hide their secrets?

Neuroscience

Why I Walked Away From the Word “Cyborg”

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on March 19, 2013

I used it 157 times in my first book. In my second, only once. Why? I'll be lecturing on this subject at the Library of Congress on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

I used it 157 times in my first book. In my second, only once. Why? I'll be lecturing on this subject at the Library of Congress on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

Religion

What Kind of Religion Is There for Nonbelievers?

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on January 24, 2013

Nonbelievers can show that the universe does have meaning, and that it exists whether humans do or not. And they can show that that meaning emerges inevitably, inexorably, out of the basic physical processes of the universe – that it is not optional or accidental. We can get a religion out of that, but of a very different kind than we've had in the past six thousand years.

Nonbelievers can show that the universe does have meaning, and that it exists whether humans do or not. And they can show that that meaning emerges inevitably, inexorably, out of the basic physical processes of the universe – that it is not optional or accidental. We can get a religion out of that, but of a very different kind than we've had in the past six thousand years.

Neuroscience

Is the Brain Just a Giant Switching Machine?

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on January 23, 2013

Is the brain replaceable in principle by digital switches? Here's four reasons why it might not be.

Is the brain replaceable in principle by digital switches? Here's four reasons why it might not be.

Play

How To Play Video Games Peacefully

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on January 2, 2013

When you kill someone in a video game, there should be a popup telling you his name, age, significant other, and hobbies. Here's how I learned how to play video games peacefully.

When you kill someone in a video game, there should be a popup telling you his name, age, significant other, and hobbies. Here's how I learned how to play video games peacefully.

Ethics and Morality

Can science shed light on “Proof of Heaven”?

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on December 20, 2012

In his book "Proof of Heaven," the neurosurgeon Eben Alexander tells a vivid story of life after death, and of an omniscient and loving God. How much of it can a rationalist believe?

In his book "Proof of Heaven," the neurosurgeon Eben Alexander tells a vivid story of life after death, and of an omniscient and loving God. How much of it can a rationalist believe?

Environment

How To End Gun Violence

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on December 16, 2012

It's not enough to point out the difficulty of shooting only the assailant in a room full of panicking people. We also have to remember that in a civilized nation, citizens grant a monopoly on violence to a legitimately elected government.

It's not enough to point out the difficulty of shooting only the assailant in a room full of panicking people. We also have to remember that in a civilized nation, citizens grant a monopoly on violence to a legitimately elected government.

Far from being gravitational traps, super-Earths should be positive incubators of spacefaring civilizations. Surface gravity could be the same as Earth, and their larger size would give them more resources to work with.

Sleep

Do Super-Earths Have Too Much Gravity For Us?

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on November 9, 2012

Many rocky planets have been discovered in their star's habitable zone. All of them are larger than Earth, but that doesn't mean their gravity will be crushing.

Many rocky planets have been discovered in their star's habitable zone. All of them are larger than Earth, but that doesn't mean their gravity will be crushing.

Fear

A Status-Quo Election, But Much Cause For Hope

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on November 7, 2012

Historians will someday say that 2012 set the stage for 2016, the year in which the 21st century really started.

Historians will someday say that 2012 set the stage for 2016, the year in which the 21st century really started.

Memory

The Revolution We Can't Imagine

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on November 4, 2012

When implantable technologies come of age, new uses will be found for them, and they won’t be about merely enhancing our bodies. It’ll about letting our bodies do things we have never dreamed of doing before.

When implantable technologies come of age, new uses will be found for them, and they won’t be about merely enhancing our bodies. It’ll about letting our bodies do things we have never dreamed of doing before.

Career

Workstations of the Future

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on September 11, 2012

Imagine a user standing at a table, wearing glasses, gesturing in the air, and turning in various directions to look at different aspects of her work. Monitors will be obsolete. That's what computer work will look like in 2022.

Imagine a user standing at a table, wearing glasses, gesturing in the air, and turning in various directions to look at different aspects of her work. Monitors will be obsolete. That's what computer work will look like in 2022.

Optimism

Why I Am A Scientific Progressive–And An Optimist

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on September 6, 2012

In the long run, stupidity never wins. Humanity will get its act together, as it always has. The only question is when. That’s why I’m not only a scientific progressive, I’m an optimistic scientific progressive.

In the long run, stupidity never wins. Humanity will get its act together, as it always has. The only question is when. That’s why I’m not only a scientific progressive, I’m an optimistic scientific progressive.

Intelligence

The Uncanny Valley of Alien Technology

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on August 10, 2012

If you sent 5.25" floppy disks back to medieval times, knights might decide that they make excellent sun visors. And our cat Posy thinks that a flash drive dangled from a lanyard is simply a great cat toy. To my own surprise, this train of thought led to mind-destroying messages and Shannon entropy. Here's how you build really good alien technology.

If you sent 5.25" floppy disks back to medieval times, knights might decide that they make excellent sun visors. And our cat Posy thinks that a flash drive dangled from a lanyard is simply a great cat toy. To my own surprise, this train of thought led to mind-destroying messages and Shannon entropy. Here's how you build really good alien technology.

Dreaming

How Incomprehensible Could Extraterrestrials Be?

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on August 3, 2012

In the popular imagination, aliens are usually either thinly disguised humans (e. g. Klingons) or utterly incomprehensible (e.g. the inscrutable monolith in 2001.) But will real extraterrestrials be so different from us as to be truly incomprehensible? I think the answer is no. And yes.

In the popular imagination, aliens are usually either thinly disguised humans (e. g. Klingons) or utterly incomprehensible (e.g. the inscrutable monolith in 2001.) But will real extraterrestrials be so different from us as to be truly incomprehensible? I think the answer is no. And yes.

Education

Why Publishers Don't Fact-Check Books

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on August 1, 2012

In the light of recent events, some people have been asking why publishers don't fact-check books. Here's why.

In the light of recent events, some people have been asking why publishers don't fact-check books. Here's why.

Sport and Competition

Why the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony Was So Brilliant

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on July 28, 2012

Danny Boyle's opening ceremony for the Olympics told a rich and fascinating story of why Great Britain had such a massive impact on world history. It was a brilliant achievement, and it makes the 2012 Olympics one to remember.

Danny Boyle's opening ceremony for the Olympics told a rich and fascinating story of why Great Britain had such a massive impact on world history. It was a brilliant achievement, and it makes the 2012 Olympics one to remember.

Social Life

A better way to listen for messages from the stars

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on July 27, 2012

A small radio antenna fifty billion miles from Earth would be incredibly sensitive. It would use the Sun itself as a gravitational lens. If you want to get serious about SETI, this is one way to do it.

A small radio antenna fifty billion miles from Earth would be incredibly sensitive. It would use the Sun itself as a gravitational lens. If you want to get serious about SETI, this is one way to do it.

Intelligence

What's The Connection Between Deafness and SETI?

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on July 23, 2012

I think of our planet swimming in the starry blackness, studded with radio telescopes peering anxiously into the void—and hearing nothing. To me, that feels a lot like being deaf.

I think of our planet swimming in the starry blackness, studded with radio telescopes peering anxiously into the void—and hearing nothing. To me, that feels a lot like being deaf.

Artificial Intelligence

The Visitor From Planet X

Michael Chorost Ph.D. on July 20, 2012

When I was a kid I read "Tom Swift and the Visitor From Planet X" and found it a crashing disappointment. But here's a way we could send a real Visitor to an alien planet: create an AI (artificial intelligence) and send that, along with instructions on how to run it.

When I was a kid I read "Tom Swift and the Visitor From Planet X" and found it a crashing disappointment. But here's a way we could send a real Visitor to an alien planet: create an AI (artificial intelligence) and send that, along with instructions on how to run it.