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Challenging the Acceleration of the Universe

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/challenging-the-acceleration-of-the-universe/

Published: January 5, 2026 16:28

South Korean astronomers are challenging the notion that the universe’s expansion is accelerating, an observation in the 1990s that lead to the theory of dark energy. This is currently very controversial, and may simply fizzle away or change our…

Biological vs Artificial Consciousness

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/biological-vs-artificial-consciousness/

Published: December 29, 2025 14:24

Definitely the most fascinating and perhaps controversial topic in neuroscience, and one of the most intense debates in all of science, is the ultimate nature of consciousness. What is consciousness, specifically, and what brain functions are responsible…

Animals Adapting to Humans

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/animals-adapting-to-humans/

Published: December 15, 2025 14:21

As human civilization spreads into every corner of the world, human and animal territories are butting up against each other more intensely. This often doesn’t end well for the animals. This is also causing evolutionary pressures that are adapting some…

Mining Asteroids

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/mining-asteroids/

Published: December 11, 2025 13:39

We are not close to mining asteroids, but the idea is intriguing enough to cause some serious study of the potential. The idea is simple enough – our solar system is full of chunks of rock with valuable minerals. If we could make it economically viable to…

New Study on the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/new-study-on-the-covid-19-mrna-vaccines/

Published: December 8, 2025 13:49

A new study reinforces the evidence for the safety and efficacy of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. That’s the TLDR, but let’s dive into the details. Medical evidence is always rolled out in stages. First there is what we would consider preclinical evidence, or…

Cognitive Legos

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/cognitive-legos/

Published: December 1, 2025 13:41

We have all likely had the experience that when we learn a task it becomes easier to learn a distinct but related task. Learning to cook one dish makes it easier to learn other dishes. Learning how to repair a radio helps you learn to repair other…

Is Climate Science “Post Normal” Science – Part II

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/is-climate-science-post-normal-science-part-ii/

Published: November 25, 2025 13:14

Yesterday I started a response to this article, which seems to me fits cleanly into a science-denial format. The author is making a lawyers case against the notion of climate change, using classic denialist strategies. Yesterday I focused on his denial…

Is Climate Science “Post Normal” Science?

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/is-climate-science-post-normal-science/

Published: November 24, 2025 13:46

This article is from a year ago, but it was just sent to me as it is making the rounds in climate change denying circles. It is by Paul Macrae, who is an ex-journalist who now seems to be primarily engaged in climate change denial. The article (a chapter…

The Future of the Mind

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/the-future-of-the-mind/

Published: November 18, 2025 03:31

I am currently in Dubai at the Future Forum conference, and later today I am on a panel about the future of the mind with two other neuroscientists. I expect the conversation to be dynamic, but here is the core of what I want to say. As I have been…

Superfoods Are Bunk

https://theness.com/neurologicablog/superfoods-are-bunk/

Published: November 17, 2025 13:16

The popularity of the acai berry as a so-called “superfood” is a triumph of marketing over reality. This is a berry from the Amazon that was eaten by local people – because it was available – but was then marketed by a company called Sambazon and became an…