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It's a winner-take-most economy
With fewer competitive participants, winning is harder, whether you're an investor, a consumer or a business.
Institutional investors own a significant stake of 40% in Seaport Entertainment Group Inc. (NYSE:SEG)
Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Seaport Entertainment Group implies that they have significant...
Trump Is Repeating One of Biden’s Big Mistakes
Downplaying voters’ economic pain will backfire.
Headspace CEO: ‘People are using AI tools not built for mental health’
Tom Pickett says care is needed when chatbots take the role of therapists
TCU on the rebound against streaking North Texas
TCU has a quick turnaround as it takes on red-hot North Texas on Sunday in the US LBM Coast to Coast Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.
WATCH: Hegseth delivers keynote address at Reagan National Defense Forum
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended strikes on alleged drug cartel boats during remarks Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, saying President Donald Trump has the power to take military action “as he sees fit” to defend the nation.
California health officials issue urgent warning to mushroom foragers after deadly poisoning outbreak
California health officials warn against mushroom foraging after a deadly outbreak in which death cap mushrooms were mistaken for edible varieties.
Politics-first Christians are living in the wrong chapter of history
Ryan Sanders: The Bible describes distinct chapters in humanity’s relationship to the divine. The mistake of many modern evangelicals, like 7 Mountain...
Kentucky's Mark Pope takes blame after Gonzaga loss: 'I'm pissed at the coach, too'
The pressure is on for Mark Pope after Kentucky fell to 5-4 with a 35-point loss to Gonzaga
Game Center: No. 11 BYU vs. No. 4 Texas Tech
Follow along as the No. 11 BYU Cougars take on the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with KSL.com's live Game Center.
Undermanned Wizards take on Hawks following historic loss
After flashing a few encouraging signs, the Washington Wizards' rebuilding efforts seem to be at a standstill.
NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Michigan takes over No. 1 national seed
Bracketology: Michigan earns No. 1 national seed after run at Players Era
Holiday-themed entertainment set to fill the stage
This holiday season you can immerse yourself in holiday fun with concerts and musicals, thanks to a full lineup of entertainment planned to take stages at venues across the area from the Fox Theatre to Little Caesars Arena.
New Lancet series blends social science with medicine to tackle global health inequities
Can doctors in California learn from a patient who was bounced from one specialist to another in Japan? Can clinicians in London take lessons from a patient seeking asylum while suffering a medical emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border? Can doctors treating refugees in Africa inform health policy around the world?
4 ChatGPT Prompts To Turn Your Business Idea Into Reality In 2026
Learn how four practical ChatGPT prompts can help anyone refine a business or side hustle idea, avoid common mistakes, and gain traction in 2026.
Health AI hits point-solution burnout
As the health AI market matures, the pressure to deliver real value for all stakeholders is intensifying.
2026 World Cup draw: England and Scotland learn group stage opponents for tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico
2026 World Cup co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico and takes place from June 11 to July 19; biggest-ever World Cup sees 48 teams competing across 104 matches; nations will find out venues and kick-off times for their games on Saturday at 5pm UK time, when FIFA will unveil match schedule
2026 World Cup groups confirmed: Full draw, groups, details
The 2026 World Cup draw has taken place with the 12 groups confirmed for the tournament next summer.
FIFA World Cup draw live updates: What countries will the U.S. play next summer?
Follow live coverage as teams are drawn for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer.
Is Christianity “Anti-Science”?
The idea that Christians are inherently anti-science is not only common but persistent, echoed in conversations and cultural commentary for as long as I can remember. I often hear claims that Christianity has historically repressed scientific progress, sometimes citing stories of Christians burning scientists at the stake or actively inhibiting scientific advancement out of dogmatic […]
How Donald Trump brings MAGA ideals into global politics
In his second term, US President Donald Trump has taken his MAGA movement global, criticizing election outcomes, climate change initiatives and migration policy while backing populist presidential candidates.
Mel’s Sports History: Watertown’s Championship win
For Mel’s Sports History, Mel Busler takes a look back 25 years ago when the Watertown boys basketball team won a championship game.
Rocket League Season 21: Pursuit in Paris!
It’s a full-on French takeover in Rocket League Season 21 featuring the Parc de Paris Arena! Unlock three Car Bodies with Rocket Pass Premium.
Dec. 5, 2025: 'If you can keep it' on unprecedented politics; Maintaining Mustang; Tech firm commits to downtown
Our series continues about unprecedented politics, named for the famous Benjamin Franklin line in 1787: "A republic, if you can keep it." University of Denver political scientist Seth Masket provides historic context. Then, it takes a lot of work to keep Mustang standing strong outside DIA. Also, tech firm Ibotta makes a 10-year commitment to downtown Denver, which other businesses have fled. And the family stories behind Denver's Little Saigon at History Colorado Center.
'Intelligence comes at a price, and for many species, the benefits just aren't worth it': A neuroscientist's take on how human intellect evolved
In his book "One Hand Clapping," Nikolay Kukushkin explores explanations for how consciousness evolved, and ultimately, what makes us human.
'Godfather of AI' Geoffrey Hinton says Google is 'beginning to overtake' OpenAI: 'My guess is Google will win'
Geoffrey Hinton, an AI pioneer who previously worked at Google Brain, said it was "surprising than it's taken this long" for Google to catch OpenAI.
3 takeaways from WBUR's investigation on sports betting addiction among young adults in Mass.
A lot happens in Boston every day. To help you keep up, WBUR, Boston's NPR News station, pulled these stories together just for you.
Holocaust survivors call on Nigel Farage to apologise over alleged antisemitic comments
Exclusive: Group’s open letter says Reform UK leader must take responsibility for behaviour as a schoolboy
Full-length Replay: Best of Wake Up Barstool
Highlights from Wake Up Barstool, a daily dose of unfiltered takes on the biggest stories in sports, featuring Dave Portnoy and the crew.
Full-length Replay: Best of Wake Up Barstool
Highlights from Wake Up Barstool, a daily dose of unfiltered takes on the biggest stories in sports, featuring Dave Portnoy and the crew.
Nuggets take potent offense on the road vs. depleted Hawks
On the heels of Jamal Murray's offensive explosion, the visiting Denver Nuggets will look to extend their recent dominance over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
Arts and Entertainment Agenda, Dec. 5-12
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet ‘The Nutcracker,’ Dec. 5 Aspen Santa Fe Ballet returns in its 35th anniversary year to perform “The Nutcracker” between Dec. 5-7 at Aspen District Theater. The highly-anticipated performances will take place...
A Ferrari and over 480 takeout orders: FBI details spending spree of Netflix director in $11 million fraud case
Netflix earmarked $11 million to finish a futuristic sci-fi show. Prosecutors say director Carl Rinsch used it for cars and a lot of Uber Eats.
Bengals discussion: How confident are you with Joe Burrow back?
Take our Bengals survey, and tell us why you feel that way ini the comments.
‘OPB Politics Now’: Homelessness in Portland and taxes in Oregon take center stage
Gov. Tina Kotek is running for reelection and is saying the state is “open for business.”
15 holiday romance books to get you in the festive spirit
Whether you're looking for a romantic take on "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" or a hockey love story, we found the holiday romance book for you.
The next big breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s science and treatment
The outlook for dementia care is changing fast. UC experts explain what that means for patients and families, and what it will take to keep the momentum growing.
'Not the time to lose our heads'
Burnley forward Lyle Foster says the team must draw confidence from their performance against Crystal Palace, despite slipping to a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat. Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, Foster stressed the importance of staying calm and maintaining belief during a difficult run. "After last night, we can take a lot of confidence and strength from the performance we have given," Foster said.
Of course Jennifer Lopez’s take on business attire includes a...
She put her signature twist on an office-ready staple.
Britain’s slot-machine politics
Voting is becoming a high-stakes, wildly unpredictable gamble
The political fallout in Nashville from the District 7 election
Key takeaways in Nashville from District 7 U.S. House race.
Middleby to Sell 51% Stake in Residential Kitchen Business to 26North in Transaction Valuing the Business at $885 Million
ELGIN, Ill., December 04, 2025--The Middleby Corporation ("Middleby") (NASDAQ: MIDD) today announced entry into a definitive agreement under which it will sell a 51% stake in its Residential Kitchen business to affiliates of 26North Partners LP ("26North") in a transaction valuing Residential Kitchen at $885 million. Following this transaction, Middleby will own a 49% non-controlling interest in a new standalone joint venture holding the Residential Kitchen business, while receiving upfront cash
New Hampshire faces Merrimack, seeks to stop 3-game skid
New Hampshire will try to stop its three-game losing streak when the Wildcats take on Merrimack
Elden Ring Nightreign Undertaker build, Relics, and passives
The best Relics and passive effects for Undertaker in Nightreign.
Strategies to Help Students Embrace Science Instruction (Opinion)
Knowing how to redirect science denial in your classroom is a strong way to start.
How diet affects gut health: 3 key takeaways from recent studies
Recent research has delved deep into the manifold ways in which diet can affect gut health throughout a person's life. Here are some of the most important takeaways.
Sources: Louisville Coach Jeff Brohm Declines Penn State Offer
The Nittany Lions fired James Franklin in October and were turned down by BYU’s Kalani Sitake a day earlier with former Brian Daboll now rising as an option.
Quin Hillyer: Louisiana should think twice before cutting from Safe Havens for mental health
The St. Tammany Parish Council seems poised to eliminate funding for its Safe Haven mental health campus. That would be a major mistake, this columnist argues, adding that the underfunding of mental health care is a statewide problem.
NCAA women's volleyball tournament: Bold predictions, must-watch players and more
Ahead of the tournament, our ESPN college volleyball experts give their take on five big questions.
Michele Kang takes on women’s sports’ most neglected need
With a $55 million pledge, Kang is committing to research the women’s sports world has waited decades for.
Ohio State OC Brian Hartline to take USF job: Buckeyes losing top recruiter
Ryan Day will be looking for a new Ohio State offensive coordinator once again
Your health has a ‘check engine’ light. Let’s start using it (Guest Opinion by Dr. Sarah Matt)
Wearable devices give us the power to see inside our own bodies and take action before health problems become impossible to fix, writes CNY surgeon and tech strategist.
Samus' death screams are no longer Jennifer Hale, as Dispatch actress takes over role for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has cast a new voice actress for Samus.
One UI 8.5 full changelog just dropped, see what you're getting!
Changelog for Samsung's next version of One UI for Galaxy phones and tablets, One UI 8.5, has leaked. Take a look at the changes it offers.
Improving Community Health Through Project Health
While visiting her local CVS Pharmacy, a woman walked by a Project Health event happening in-store. Interested, she decided to take advantage of the free health screening offered there. What began as a simple shopping trip quickly turned into a moment of motivation.
Full-length Replay: Big Ten Men's: Purdue at Rutgers
The Boilermakers (7-0, 0-0) take on the Scarlet Knights (5-3, 0-0) in this Big Ten opener.
Analysis: Kalani Sitake’s decision to stay at BYU another indication that the school is all-in on achieving sports success
Ten-year Cougars coach ended three days of heavy speculation that he would leave for Penn State by signing another contract extension in Provo
Rep. Crow to GOP: Trump is going ‘cost you your job’ after high-stakes TN special election
Feeling more at home on road, Nuggets take on Pacers
Home is usually a sanctuary for NBA teams, but Ball Arena has become a house of horrors for the Denver Nuggets.
Colorado seeks at least $500 million in rural health funding from federal Republicans’ megabill
Colorado health officials are seeking at least $500 million in health care funding over five years for rural communities, as cuts to Medicaid and other safety-net services are set to take hold. The funding would...
Oregon’s governor unveils a ‘roadmap’ to business prosperity. Here’s what’s at stake
The blueprint comes as Oregon faces sluggish population growth, high housing costs and other faltering economic indicators.
Spanberger announces seasoned policy advisor as Virginia’s next health and human resources secretary
As Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger prepares to take the helm of the state of Virginia, she has announced her pick for the next secretary of health and human resources: Marvin Figueroa.
Trump picks College Football Playoff? Rubio had to be joking
Secretary of state says Miami Hurricanes should be in or Donald Trump should take over the CFP selection process.
Trump backs vessel strike effort amid follow-up hit fallout
“I want those boats taken out, and if we have to, we’ll attack on land also,” Trump said
Emerson Takes Over the Museum of Science, Questioning What it Means to ‘Be Human’
Emerson Day featured presentations, exhibits, screenings, and interactive experiences that bridge art, science, and communication.
Is postmodernism wrecking science? In a provocative book, scientists weigh the evidence
War on Science takes aim at science’s global culture wars. Edited by controversial physicist Lawrence Krauss, it argues evidence-based science is under threat.
Laura Woods: TV presenter 'taken ill' during England coverage
Presenter Laura Woods appears to faint while leading the coverage of England's friendly against Ghana on Tuesday.
What’s at stake for health care reform? Insights from Florida and Massachusetts | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Health care access, costs, and coverage – particularly for lower-income Americans – are expected to undergo dramatic changes in the next few years. Enhanced
BYU gains momentum to keep coach Kalani Sitake amid Penn State pursuit
Uncertainty continues to hang over BYU's coach ahead of Saturday's Big 12 title game
Spanberger announces seasoned policy advisor as next health and human services secretary
As Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger prepares to take the helm of the state of Virginia, she has announced her pick for the next secretary of health and human services: Marvin Figueroa.
Anker’s new desktop docking station has a removable USB-C hub you can take with you
The best of both worlds: portability and lots of ports.
A dementia vaccine could be real, and some of us have taken it without knowing | BBC Science Focus Magazine
Getting vaccinated against shingles could protect you from getting dementia, or slow the progression of the disease, says a new study.
YouTube 'Recap' is like Spotify Wrapped for videos, starts rolling out today
YouTube is listening to feedback and officially launching “Recap,” its own take on Spotify’s popular Wrapped, which will walk you...
Replay Sports Cards Awards First-Ever Franchise to Business Partners Josh Stigdon and Jason Buckel
Replay Sports Cards ("Replay") – America's first national franchise dedicated exclusively to the hobby – has signed its first-ever franchise agreement with business partners Josh Stigdon and Jason Buckel, marking a pivotal moment in the company's growth and franchise expansion. The duo will open a new Replay shop in Seymour, Indiana, bringing the brand's modern, community-first take on the local card shop to collectors and families in the region.
27 Science Words That Only People With Above-Average Intelligence Know The Definitions Of
Welcome back to science class. Take a seat.
Why Does It Feel Like You’re Dropping Around 30 Seconds After A Plane Takes Off?
Our ears and stomachs are very good at picking up on changes in acceleration.
A short social media detox improves mental health, a study shows. Here's how to do it
Young adults who took just a one-week break from social media showed improvement in depression, anxiety and insomnia symptoms, a new study says. Plus, tips for how to take a break from your feed.
Tennessee special election stirs Democratic hopes and Republican fears of an upset
Tennessee’s 7th congressional district is usually an easy win for Republicans. But Tuesday’s special election gives Democrats hope for an upset as they test just how far their recently successful message of affordability can take them.
In Pictures: Sporting photos of the week
A selection of some of the most striking sports photographs taken around the world over the past seven days.
Health risks of taking too much turmeric: Hidden dangers for your liver, heart, digestion and iron levels | - The Times of India
Turmeric, a popular spice and supplement, offers health benefits but excessive intake can cause issues. High doses may lead to digestive upset, liver
The US is taking a stake in a chip startup led by Intel's ousted CEO
The US is investing up to $150 million in xLight, a chip startup chaired by former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, to boost domestic chipmaking.
Cleveland Clinic eCoaching Program Shows Promise for PsA-Related Mental Health
Immune Strength ecoaching allows users to take charge of their mental wellness through self-guided modules and support from health coaches.
S.F. Mayor Lurie takes another political gamble with latest Sunset supervisor pick
Alan Wong, who Lurie swore into office Monday as the Sunset’s new representative on the Board of Supervisors, has for years backed a variety of progressive politicians and policies.
Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on the political reaction to Trump's boat strikes
The issue that's scrambling both parties: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Indiana lawmakers return to take up redistricting, even with the outcome uncertain.
Bills show resilience in overcoming mistakes, injuries by dominating Steelers
Put aside the turnovers, middling passing production, poor tackling and all the other issues that have hounded the Buffalo Bills for much of this season
Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v Felix White
BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton takes on Felix White - and AI - with his predictions for the midweek Premier League fixtures.
This Unbeatable LG OLED Deal Takes the Cyber Monday Crown
Nab this stunning LG OLED C5 smart TV at a deep discount at Amazon and Best Buy.
Science Power-up: Where Biomanufacturing Can Take Us This Century
Explore how fundamental science is shaping the future of everyday items we all rely on, from food to plastics – and how artificial intelligence and data will power the technologies of tomorrow in biomanufacturing.
Buddy Dyer says Bale Dalton is the best Democrat to take on Cory Mills
'I’m honored to support him, and I encourage others who want a steady, principled voice in Congress to join me.'
How upcoming business leaders are using AI to prep for high-stakes deal negotiations—and everyday interactions
Students at American University’s Kogod School of Business are learning how to use AI to sharpen the way they negotiate everything from job offers to high-stakes mergers.
Science on Tap: The science behind food
Wisconsinites tend to take pride in being the dairy state, encouraging the love of everything from cheese curds to custard to cream puffs.But are you aware of how much research goes into perfecting the products?
Former USDA-ARS Lead Scientist and Researcher Brendan Niemira Takes Over as Chief Science and Technology Officer at IFT
Former USDA-ARS lead scientist and researcher Brendan Niemira takes over as the new Chief Science and Technology Officer at IFT.
5 takeaways from Broncos' 27-26 overtime win vs. Commanders
Here are five quick takeaways from the Broncos' wild win on 'Sunday Night Football.'
The most powerful news photos of the year
The most powerful news photos taken by Getty Images photographers in 2025 captured political unrest, natural disasters, and other major news events.
9 mistakes to avoid making at a work event, according to etiquette experts
According to etiquette experts, avoiding leadership and hiding behind your phone are things you should never do at a work event or holiday party.
Science must move from materialism to mystery
Theoretical physicist and neuroscientist Àlex Gómez-Marín argues that modern science has become trapped in a framework that mistakes matter for the whole of reality. In this wide-ranging interview, Gómez-Marín challenges the foundations of materialism, defends the scientific study of near-death experiences, and calls for a new type of science grounded in mystery and a renewed sense of the sacred. He suggests that abandoning materialism could open the door to a deeper understanding of consciousness, death, and the purpose of human existence. Simon Custer: You are both a theoretical physicist and a neuroscientist, and you have also been fiercely critical of materialist theories of mind and consciousness. What do you think the ultimate nature of reality is?Àlex Gómez-Marín: I don't know what the ultimate nature of reality is, but what I try to first assess is whether the stories that they [mainstream science] have told us about it are right, or maybe whether there are other alternatives. That's why I've been a fierce critic of materialism. As a scientist, I realized that they had sold us this idea that to be a good scientist you also had to subscribe to many other -isms, like materialism, reductionism, and even secularism. And so first I think one needs to unmount these -isms, and then, as is happening today in consciousness studies, we have a huge landscape where there isn't only one game in town, the idea that matter is the only thing that really exists. But because we are studying the hard problem of consciousness, it may be the case that other views of reality, like idealism, or even dualism, or other theories like dual aspect monism... these are philosophical ideas that now, I think, have room in science to be taken seriously. How does something like materialism relate to dualism or idealism? What is materialism in the first place?Well, materialism is the philosophical position that matter is the only really ‘real’ thing in the universe. And I think that worked kind of well because science started 400 years ago and Galileo made that split, I call it the foundational wound. It was a great business move.He said, let's start doing science on that portion of reality that lends itself more easily to mathematization and measurement. So, for some reason, the solidity of this table or the movement of planets lend themselves very well to this foundational idea of science. But as time went on, 400 years later, we realized that we had forgotten the other side, which is what really matters.What really matters is pain, is love, is feelings, sensation, consciousness, which is very hard to define, but very intimate. We all know what it is. It's that thing that disappears when we go into deep sleep and comes back in the morning. SUGGESTED VIEWING On the edges of knowledge With Michael Shermer, Rupert Sheldrake, Güneş Taylor It's what it is like to be, as Nagel said. It's the feeling of being alive. So, materialism is good to study certain things, but then when it ossifies into this ideology and then is dressed like science, now it's preventing us from understanding these key questions that are really that everybody wants to know.Why are we here? Why do we feel reality? Where do we go when we die? And so we need other ways. We need pluralism. I'm only asking for having more options on the table and taking them seriously. Why does materialism fail to explain consciousness? For example, if you were to lobotomize me, I would not be a functional human being. What do you say to someone who might think that materialism adequately explains the mind?Well, here we could speak about different things. We could talk about physics or about neuroscience. I happen to have training with both.For instance, for neuroscientists, 99% of them, I'm not included in that portion, believe that the brain can only be a productive organ. It's an organ that somehow, somewhere, consciousness emerges. It's like a lamp. And then something happens, magic happens, and then consciousness emerges.That's the position you need to be if you're a materialist because if the only really ‘real’ thing is matter, then you need to say, just give us some more time and money and we'll figure out how mind emerges or is produced from matter. There are many philosophically sophisticated ways of criticizing this.Now there's another option, which is the brain as a permissive organ. This was said by William James more than 100 years ago.Now then the brain wouldn't be like this machine, like for instance, a heat engine whose smoke is consciousness, which is what we would have in the first big model, the productive model. But in the permissive model, the brain would be a kind of a filter. And so the brain would still have a very important role in consciousness, but it wouldn't be a productive role.It would be permissive, much like a filter or much like a prism which would receive light. And - I'm speaking metaphorically - it would receive the light of the mind and then it could reflect it and refract it.Now, with these two big options on the table, I think we can make progress into what I call the edges of consciousness, which are all these experiences, weird experiences that many people have, but we don't talk about enough, like near-death experiences, precognitive dreams, synchronicities. These experiences are very important for humans and they have a place in the permissive hypothesis and they are literally impossible in the productive hypothesis. So that's yet one more reason to explore alternatives to materialism. There may be anecdotal evidence for near-death experiences, but is there robust evidence that would be accepted by the majority of scientists who subscribe to the scientific method?Sure. And the plural of anecdotes, someone said, is data.And there's a lot of data. Actually, this year is the 50th anniversary, half a century, since Dr. Raymond Moody realized that we have two ears and one mouth and started listening to what his patients had to say about their experiences while they were clinically dead.The heart had stopped, breathing had stopped in these patients. These patients would come back and tell him these amazing stories that some people may say are hallucinations, but for the patients were hyper-real, like seeing light at the end of the tunnels, seeing deceased family members waiting for them, feeling bliss.___I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain.___And so he and others started taking them seriously and writing their accounts down. And then you can do a science based on that material of experience that people have. Now, on the more objective side, more recently people have started to measure what's going on in the brain when people are clinically dead and brought back. This has opened a proper field of study, which is near-death studies.Evidence is a difficult word, because sometimes people think that when you say evidence, this is just the final proof. Evidence is like in a jury. You bring testimony, you bring pieces of data that point in one direction or another.I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain. When brains are broken or shut off, there can still be mind going on. And that's revolutionary.That would entail that when we die, it's not game over, which, by the way, is the thesis of materialism. If consciousness survives, materialism dies. It's game over for materialism if something of us continues after we die. Do you think that there is mental continuity after death?Well, I think so, and I believe so, and I could also say I may have experienced it myself, because four years ago I had a near-death experience. I was in the hospital, I lost a lot of blood, and I saw those beings at the end of the tunnel, three beings, and there was yellow light. I was in a well, I was looking upwards, and I hadn't read about NDEs by then, but when I came back from this experience, I decided I would try to integrate this also in my professional life. Not just my personal life, of course, but my professional life as a physicist and as a neuroscientist. So I may have had the experience of glimpses of what an afterlife would be, and I'm not ashamed to say it in this way, and then one can do science of it, and then one can do philosophy of it.One can think about what -isms we were discussing, what views on reality would allow those experiences to be really ‘real,’ as opposed to, well, poor guy, the brain was kind of broken, it must have been a hallucination. Do you have a view about whether individuality or “the ego” persists after death, or whether we sort of merge into some sort of cosmic consciousness instead?I don't know, but my view would be along those lines you're suggesting. I think we could speak about a kind of universal mind, and then the problem is not how we emerge from matter, but how we fragment from a more holistic consciousness into these individual eddies and then when we die, this kind of dissipates.But I'm not sure. For instance, idealism would promote that view, but then what would survive of us after these eddies just vanish and become again the big Consciousness, I'm not sure what that would be. I don't know for sure, but I would tell you I believe something of us survives.And there are other lines of research, not just near-death experience, that can address this really hard question of survival. For instance, there are children who remember previous lives. This was studied by Ian Stevenson at the University of Virginia for more than 50 years.___Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.___It's amazing research. He went all over the world, especially in the East, and collected all these case studies, all these stories. In plural, these were data of kids, very young age, who would describe up to 40 items that then he could go and verify.There was no internet. There was really no way the kid could know. Why would the kid say that when I was living in this other body and I was a woman and that's how my house would look like or that's how I would die, right? Again, there is evidence, not proof, but there's evidence not only that something weird and interesting is happening as we cross the threshold, but also when we come back to this life.Scientists should not be afraid of studying this, but they are because there's stigma. There's usually stigma upon the enigma, and this is so unfortunate. And one of the reasons is because of the ideology of materialism, because those things cannot be possible. What is wrong with the politics of science such that they have generated this stigma?So many things. Science is a human activity to begin with.So it falls prey to all our passions and ego and greed. That's one thing. Science is a job for the good and for the bad.You need to get a salary. You need to get grants. Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.And then, we didn't have time to unpack this, but science for many years become entangled, as I was suggesting before, to other -isms, materialism, secularism. So anything that smells like the afterlife, people may think has to do with God, and then they freak out.Anything that suggests that there's something about the mind that may not need a physical material substrate to exist, it smells like non-materialism. So, all these -isms are ideologically blocking that kind of research, and then there are all these sociopolitical constraints as to what should be studied and what shouldn't be studied.I call it the backstage of science. Sometimes we scientists or science communicators seem to speak as if the data is the only thing that matters. We say, well, data and theory.But then there's a third leg of this stool, which is all the politics that goes behind the scenes. And we often don't speak about this, and it's quite vicious and petty, and it's very real. Why is materialism so attractive to most scientists?Well, an easy answer is because we've grown up with it.It's what the educational system promotes, and that's what you hear when you go to university. So it's like growing in a culture. It feels like the air in which you breathe.So it's very hard to begin with to detect, well, maybe there's another alternative. Maybe there are other ways of doing science, other environments in which one could do science. That's one reason.And other reasons maybe are more profound, and I'm not qualified to explain them, but I could say, looking at this 400-year history of science, since it started around 1623 with Galileo's book The Assayer, that science went and coupled with all what's going on in the West.And so the fall of religion, you could say, and science presented us this new alternative that then could be coupled very well with other -isms, and this idea of growth, and then science losing its good twin brother, which was philosophy. There's a whole natural history of science starting as philosophy, kind of emancipating or breaking out from philosophy, and then marrying technology, and then marrying other social systems.From that point of view, materialism is a very convenient idea to propose. There were attempts, like the German idealists tried to do a more romantic science. But no, the idea prevailed, like Francis Bacon said: You should pursue nature through all her corners, he said, and make her spill her secrets.Our attitude towards nature in the science that dominates is very much reflecting how we treat nature in our society, in our culture, like a resource to extract secrets by force and then dominate it. How is materialism related to the notions of growth and progress? What's wrong with having a productive citizenry?This is another very interesting and very difficult question to answer.But there's this recent book coming out by Paul Kingsnorth. In it, he explains this idea of the machine and this idea of progress. And this, again, this conflation of more is better, of we need to go forward always, and convincing us that the way to do that is to continually extract more from nature. But because we don't have the religious context anymore, because God is dead, then what do we have? We have what we can do as humans with our own gadgets.It's kind of the story of the Promethean fire. We will just build anything to make ourselves God.A good example today is transhumanism. Transhumanism is this pseudo-religion dressed in technoscientific language whose goal is very religious. They promise immortality, they promise redemption, they promise transformation of the entire natural world, but it's done by human means through technology. Are you suggesting that we can't have ethics without religion?Well, we should have ethics with or without religion. That's another pruning that has happened in science. We say, forget about aesthetics, although some physicists still think that beautiful means probably true, and forget about politics. We pretend there's no backstage of science, and even let's forget about ethics.___Science needs to be in the service of mankind.___Scientists, when they become more like engineers, they're just thinking how to make things work so that they can go to the moon, go to Mars, make machines that think, but they don't think whether that's a good idea.And also consider metaphysics. Many scientists for a long time pretended, and maybe that comes from the stream of positivisms, that really one doesn't need metaphysics at all, except that materialism is always the metaphysics running the system.You see, it's not just ethics. It's the pruning of all of these, you could say, five main legs of philosophy that just makes a kind of unconscious science, a science that doesn't really know what it's doing. It's doing it very well locally, but it just doesn't know what it's doing globally. Do you think science has to have an ultimate vision and purpose behind it for it to be effective or for it to be meaningful and transformative?Yes, a way I would say that is that science needs to be in the service of mankind. And it hasn't been that. And we can see it through, you know, when we discovered the secrets of the atom, and all of a sudden, the Manhattan Project, and then we create nuclear weapons.And now we're trying to crack how machines may think, and now we're creating this mess, right? So science needs to be in service of mankind, not in service of a few ideas that maybe want to make more money or just dominate upon nature. What about planes, trains, automobiles, and modern medicine? Hasn't science served mankind by helping us develop those technologies?Yes and no. I see where you're going, and it's fair.I came here by plane, and it's a blessing. When I almost died, the surgeons did their job, and they saved my life. But these two forced choices between Luddites and Silicon Valley types, I think, of course, it's a false dichotomy.Progress, in a way, it's good, but we often don't speak about the dark side of the moon. We say the great things that progress has brought, and we don't speak about the disasters, the side effects that it has come with, and the same when we promise new technologies. We tend to think that any technology is great, that email is going to save us so much time because we don't need to write letters and send them anymore.Is that true? I spend so many hours a week writing emails. Let's just say there are great things about it and bad things about it. People like Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, for example, argue that we've made moral progress over time because of the Enlightenment. Do you think that's totally wrong-headed?I think he's emphasizing a side of the moon, and he does that very well, and you can find tons of plots where there's a slope going up and say it's great. But I think he should also tell the not-so-friendly story.But if your ideology is just to resist and continue to explain that the Enlightenment is the best thing ever and reason is the best thing ever… this feels to me like you're worshipping these abstractions.I'm very critical of it and also of these, again, science communicators and scientists that say, Oh, science says, in the name of science, experts say. It's like, come on, let's be careful because we can shoot ourselves in the foot by putting forth to the people an image of science that we know is not really true. Recently there's been a resurgence of spirituality and of people who say that they're spiritual but not religious, especially in the United States. If materialism is going away, what is going to fill that gap? Are we going to return to traditional religion? Do you see that being connected with the rise of the political right?I'm not a fortune teller, so I don't know what's going to happen. But, yeah, we could say we're in this post-materialist age and even post-secular age. One cannot come back to the past, but maybe just to contact with the roots is a good idea.What do I mean by that? I think we need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method. We need to do so in a culture where we realize humans cannot thrive in a vacuum where there's this idea that the sacred has to be removed.Now, how do we do that without bringing in back all the vices of religion? I don't know. I'm from a Catholic country.Here we are in England, so there are differences and interreligious dialogue has always been a challenge. But I think maybe a way of putting it is: after all these conflicts and branchings I was quickly alluding to, science from philosophy and then also from religion, now there's a time of reconciliation perhaps and maybe debates in the proper sense, like exchange of ideas in service of learning and getting into something higher than both poles. We need science to talk to religious people and it's interesting when people say they're spiritual and not religious.I think this is just a way of saying, no, I don't want to go back, I want to go forward. But at the end of the day, religions have offered us practices and grounding that we now desperately need. Everybody can and should just meditate or pray or do whatever they want, but we're in a crisis and it's time for reconciliation. What do you say to critics that say you are merely projecting our need for meaning onto a fundamentally indifferent universe?Yeah, I know that the typical science communicator says something like this. But we're not projecting. Human beings feed on meaning.It's the other way around. If you're a materialist, because the only thing that there is is matter, all that comes next, free will, consciousness, meaning, this is a kind of illusion that we need to explain.They're just craving for meaning, but there isn't really for them. I would also like to remind my materialist friends that for decades, if not centuries, they've said in the name of science, we know that this and this and this doesn't really exist. I think now they sense they're forced to say, well, actually, we don't know. We've been saying, for instance, that there's nothing after you die, and now probably they need to admit that they don't know the answer.___We need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method.___So it's a moment to open up possibilities and also to gently but fiercely critique these claims that I think harm society. If you say in the name of science, get on with it, when your father dies, you'll never see him again. Well, what the F do you know about it? You haven't studied the literature, you haven't had any of those experiences, and basically what you're doing is you're just doing marketing on ideology. This needs to stop. Do you think that it's scarier for some people to entertain the thought that there might be life after death, compared to a materialist worldview where you just die, given that there might be consequences for unsavory behaviour?Well, death and dying is scary. It's maybe the ultimate ending. It's a limit on life, and when we're in this conquest mode, we don't like limits.And it also has, there's a shockwave backwards, so I think if you change your notion of what death is or may be, you live differently. It also has consequences, as you're saying, for the future because this is not our only goal here and we come back in whatever form. And again, different religions would say different things. I the East, they are more happy with the idea of reincarnation, and here in the West, there are other preferences. But in any case, it changes how we live, and that's really what matters.It's not about just projecting or imagining what we'll be after, but how we live now and also how we treat those who are dying. So it goes from the individual to the families, to the hospitals.Now in the near-death research I do, this has ramifications at all these levels, all the way to society.But our society is thanatophobic. It has a phobia of death. We don't want to hear about death, and this is another thing we need to put on the table and be willing to talk about it. Do you think that we might get closer to answering ultimate questions like why is there anything at all if we jettison materialism?That’s an excellent question, Simon. Two things: we should stop treating reality, I believe, as a great sudoku, as an enigma, as something that with intelligence, money, and time that we will crack and instead treat reality more like a mystery. And what you do for in front of a mystery is not to be the clever guy in a class and say “I’ll solve you” but more like “I will bow and you will transform me.”I know this sounds a bit like a scientist speaking like a mystic. But I think this reorientation is needed. In the end, we won’t crack the big questions, but they will transform us. If we free ourselves from this prison of materialism, the way we will explore these questions will be freer, more creative, and in service of mankind. Do you think exploring mystery is the reason why we are here?I think we are here because, and this pseudo-theological argument I’m making off the cuff, But the One, the Absolute, if there is such a thing, had everything except limitation. We are that absolute experiencing that contingency. It’s like an act of divine proprioception. It’s a wonderful adventure, it’s just incredible to be alive. Perhaps we have forgotten why we are here and the whole point is to experience the flesh.Let me end by saying this. I criticize materialism harshly. I bang on this dead horse, because I think it’s dead. But matter is a great mystery. So maybe my invitation is as follows: hey materialist friends, come here, let’s work on materialism 2.0! Consciousness is a mystery, but matter is also a mystery. The fact that we can have an intersubjective experience consensus, the fact that we can apply mathematics, that we can measure things... the physical world we take for granted, but it is a great mystery too.Maybe that’s related to your last question: why are we here? Why did spirit decide to incarnate? Being in the flesh may be a great thing if spirit decided to do so.Àlex Gómez-Marín, thank you very much.My pleasure.
Sports betting goes live in Missouri, as sports celebrities and promotions abound
Launch-day promotions and celebrity bets are right around the corner for Missouri sports betting, which began Monday at the stroke of midnight. For those inclined to bet on sports, the earliest days after a state launch can be the only time they actually have a statistical edge on the house if they take advantage of […]