The article draws parallels between the curiosity that drives particle physicists and the intrigue in the film 'A Passage to India'. It discusses the quest for understanding the relationships and interactions between elementary particles, beyond their basic properties like spin and charge. The author explains the significance of the discovery of the Higgs boson and the ongoing search for a grand unified theory that could explain all forces at the subatomic level. The article touches on historical scientific unifications, such as Newton's gravity and Maxwell's electromagnetism, and how these have simplified our understanding of nature. It also delves into the potential unification of gauge forces (electromagnetism, weak force, and strong force) and the role of group theory and renormalisation group techniques in supporting this idea. The author mentions the importance of experiments like DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande in searching for proton decay, which could provide evidence for a grand unified theory. The article emphasizes the richness of understanding the subtle relationships between particles and the potential for future discoveries in physics.

The article discusses the 'vulnerable world hypothesis,' which suggests that there is a level of technology that could potentially destroy civilization unless extraordinary measures of policing and global governance are implemented. It uses the example of nuclear weapons to illustrate how a 'black ball' technology could have catastrophic consequences if it were easier to produce. The article explores various scenarios, including 'easy nukes,' 'safe first strike,' and 'worse global warming,' to demonstrate the types of risks that could arise from technological advancements. It argues that to protect civilization, we may need to consider stronger surveillance and global governance, despite the potential downsides. The article also touches on the challenges of implementing such measures and the need for immediate action in the face of emerging threats. It concludes by suggesting that while partial solutions can be pursued, fundamental changes in preventive policing or global governance might be necessary for long-term stability.

The article explores the concept of 'plurals,' individuals who identify as multiple people sharing one body, distinct from dissociative identity disorder (DID). Plurals do not see their multiplicity as distressing and do not necessarily meet the criteria for DID. The author discusses the challenges in understanding plurals, as their experiences are subjective and not externally observable. The article argues for respecting plural identities, suggesting that singlets (non-plurals) should not dismiss or try to correct plurals' self-perceptions. Instead, singlets should engage with plurals respectfully, trying to understand their perspective without necessarily believing it. The author suggests that this respect is both a social/moral obligation and an epistemic one, as it allows for a deeper understanding of plurals' experiences and claims. The piece concludes by emphasizing the importance of establishing relationships with plurals to grasp the meaning and significance of their identities.

The article explores the significance of fire in human evolution, cultural myths, and the concept of 'pyrocognition' - the behavioral and cognitive abilities to harness fire. It begins with the Chaga people's myth from eastern Africa about the discovery of fire and its transformative role in human development. The earliest evidence of human fire use dates back 1.5 million years in eastern Africa. The article discusses how cooking, a primary function of fire, was crucial for human evolution, leading to increased brain size and a reduction in teeth and jaw strength. It also touches on the potential for fire to have influenced human sleeping patterns, social behaviors, and adaptations to smoke. The article delves into the pyrocognitive abilities of animals, suggesting that studying their interactions with fire can provide insights into how early humans might have approached and eventually mastered fire use. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding fire's role in both human history and the current ecological landscape, especially in the context of the Anthropocene and the increasing prevalence of megafires.

The article discusses the growing divide between human understanding and machine prediction in the scientific field. It reflects on the historical alliance between understanding and prediction in science, citing figures like Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton who augmented human perception with tools. However, with the advent of big data and complex systems, the article argues that machines can make predictions that are beyond human interpretative capabilities. This has led to a schism where the predictive power of algorithms challenges our traditional quest for understanding. The article explores the philosophical implications of this divide, referencing thinkers like Baruch Spinoza, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Richard Gregory, Kurt Gödel, Plato, Immanuel Kant, and John Searle. It concludes by suggesting that future scientific progress will require harmonizing the human desire for understanding with the capabilities of machine learning and artificial intelligence.

The article explores the Gaia hypothesis, which suggests that Earth functions as a single organism maintaining conditions suitable for life. Initially proposed by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis in the 1970s, the hypothesis has faced criticism from Darwinian scientists for not aligning with the principles of natural selection. The author, an evolutionary biologist, admits to initially opposing the Gaia hypothesis but has since begun to see its potential validity. The author discusses efforts to reconcile the hypothesis with Darwinian theory by considering multilevel selection theory and the concept of differential persistence. The article suggests that viewing Earth as a coherent whole with an evolutionary trajectory could have significant implications for understanding and addressing environmental crises. The author hopes that these efforts to integrate the Gaia hypothesis within a Darwinian framework would be something Charles Darwin might have appreciated.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the former chief medical officer for England, expressed her sorrow to the families who lost loved ones during the Covid outbreak while giving evidence at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. She recounted the harrowing experiences communicated to her by her daughter, a frontline doctor in Scotland. Dame Sally discussed the independence she had as CMO and reflected on Exercise Cygnus, a test of the UK's pandemic response, acknowledging that the UK's plans were insufficient. She also mentioned a bias towards preparing for a flu pandemic and recognized the failure to plan for a lockdown. Former Prime Minister David Cameron also admitted to a mistake in focusing too heavily on flu pandemic preparations. Dame Sally highlighted the lack of public health resilience as a significant factor in the UK's poor outcome from the pandemic, emphasizing the need for societal structures that facilitate healthy choices.

The article discusses the concept of 'neurodiversity', a term coined by sociologist Judy Singer in the late 1990s to describe and advocate for the acceptance of neurological differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other mental conditions. The movement has gained cultural influence, promoting the idea that society should embrace these differences. However, the article critiques the movement's reliance on brain-based explanations for mental differences, suggesting that this approach may overlook the complexity of mental life and the role of social and historical contexts. The author introduces the concept of 'psydiversity', which emphasizes the mind's embeddedness in society and history, and argues for a more nuanced understanding of mental differences that goes beyond neuroscientific explanations. The article also touches on the history of neuroscientific and psychological thought, the limitations of psychiatric diagnoses, and the potential social and political implications of neurodiversity.

The article challenges the traditional belief that success leads to happiness, suggesting instead that happiness may precede and contribute to career success. It references the United States' cultural narratives, such as the Declaration of Independence and the American dream, to illustrate the common pursuit of success for happiness. The article reviews over 170 studies, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental research, to argue that happier individuals tend to perform better at work, earn higher salaries, and have more job satisfaction. It also cautions against forcing happiness in the workplace, as exemplified by the counterproductive policies at Trader Joe's. The article concludes by aligning with philosopher Bertrand Russell's view that happiness can lead to being good, or in this context, successful in one's career.

The article discusses the limitations of using mouse models for human brain research and the potential of brain organoids as a more accurate model. The author, a neuroscientist, reflects on the ethical implications of this research, especially as brain organoids begin to exhibit neural network activity similar to human brains. The article also explores the use of brain organoids to understand neurological disorders like autism, the effects of space on human brain cells, and the genetic differences between modern humans and extinct relatives like Neanderthals. The author's lab has sent brain organoids to the International Space Station to study the impact of space on brain physiology, and they have also created 'neanderthoids' to investigate the evolutionary aspects of the human brain.