Surprising Science — March 14, 2014

Are We Close to Reading Minds?

We’ve covered the potential for mind-reading before here on Big Think. The technology sounds exciting, but it also brings up terrifying ethical issues.

To quote Neil deGrasse Tyson, “we’re moving onward to the edge” when it comes to the cosmos of the mind.

Scientists at Stanford University have traced the source of thoughts to specific parts of the brain. Does this present the potential for mind-reading? DNews has the story:

Image credit: ezhikoff/Flickr

Health

Yes, you can be too tired to sleep

Like toddlers, adults can also get “overtired.”

a collage of a woman's face with a colorful background.

The ultimate guide to rationality

Steven Pinker explains how to cultivate greater rationality in today’s complex world.

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1:19:22 min

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with

Steven Pinker

Starts With A Bang

What is a black hole’s actual size?

What do we mean by a black hole’s size? A photon sphere? The minimal stable orbit? The event horizon? The singularity? Which one is right?

a golden statue of a person sitting in a lotus position.

Thinking

In the West, yoga is exercise. In the East, it is something much bigger

Yoga is more than just standing on your head. It’s about uniting with the divine.

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Health

Strengthening bone, not muscle, is the reason to lift weights

Having a “buff” skeleton prevents infirmity in old age.

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