It's crazy to think that we once believed the Earth was flat, and that if you walked a few steps too far, you'd fall right off into who knows what. Nowadays, we're sending crews to space, inventing cures for strange diseases, and employing robots to do the jobs of human beings.
Thanks to the smart men and women who dedicate their lives to studying science, human beings have come a long way. But as much as we like to think we know it all, we actually really don't. And here's the evidence: someone once asked the scientists out there, "What's craziest or weirdest thing in your field that you suspect is true but is not yet supported fully by data?" and they woke to more than 12,000 responses.
Astrobiologists, psychiatrists, paleontologists, computer scientists, and others all came forward to share their theories and research that they believe to be fact. Since the original thread is now more than a decade old, some of the answers have already proven to be true. Others, not so much. But we found the entire brainy discussion interesting nonetheless. Here are the top responses...
#1
Chestnut blight was introduced to the united states in the early 1900's and since then , all American chestnuts in much of the U.S. cannot mature properly and will die at a nearly uniform stage in development. Much of the work I did in college was looking at the issue of the blight, my masters took me to propose that the chestnut gall wasp has a direct link to developmental challenges introduced by hormonal changes within the chemistry of C4 pathway photosynthesis. These changes are directly influencing a protein coupling mechanism failure and aiding the blight of the chestnut. My doctoral thesis is showing this without a doubt and will soon present ways to offset the population growth of the gall wasp and will soon allow chestnuts to be regrown naturally. They will then dominate our landscape again as they did early in our history. I have a personal specimen in the smithsonian credited to my professor and I for being the first ones to document the gall wasp this far north on the easy coast.
EDIT: Woah. Gold on my Chestnut work? Thank you everyone for your interest in Castanea dentata! I cannot link my masters thesis yet because it is still well within the depths of peer review. My doctoral thesis is what I am working on now. As soon as this info becomes available I am going to share with you guys! Thanks.
EDIT: Woah. Gold on my Chestnut work? Thank you everyone for your interest in Castanea dentata! I cannot link my masters thesis yet because it is still well within the depths of peer review. My doctoral thesis is what I am working on now. As soon as this info becomes available I am going to share with you guys! Thanks.
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44points
Last year was a busy year for scientists. Well, every year is, but last year was no different. The brainy men and women in their respective fields were researching theories left, right, and center, and they managed to make some major breakthroughs.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, 2025 was the year in which scientists drilled some of the oldest ice ever recovered, researched a cancer blood test, and identified the pathogen behind a devastating decline of sea stars.
"Astronomers surpassed 6,000 confirmed exoplanets, and a new observatory unveiled its first space photos," it adds. "Rock fragments offered tantalizing evidence that humans set the first deliberate fires roughly 350,000 years earlier than thought."
Ordinary people also contributed to science by sharing rare videos that captured a meteorite striking the ground, as well as an earthquake fault in motion.
#2
Psychiatry
There was a recent finding that 5 psychiatric disorders share some common genetic mutations related to voltage gated calcium channel subunits in the brain.
Voltage gated calcium channels play a role in neurotransmitter release. Which is why some medications that increase the amount of neurotransmitter in the synapse (such as SSRIs) seem to "cure" some psychiatric disorders for some people.
This also might pose why electroconvulsive shock therapy works for some patients in treating their previously treatment resistant depression. The shock activates the voltage gated channels that are effected by the mutation.
psychiatry is probably one of the least understood areas of medicine. We still have no idea what truly causes mental disorders.
There was a recent finding that 5 psychiatric disorders share some common genetic mutations related to voltage gated calcium channel subunits in the brain.
Voltage gated calcium channels play a role in neurotransmitter release. Which is why some medications that increase the amount of neurotransmitter in the synapse (such as SSRIs) seem to "cure" some psychiatric disorders for some people.
This also might pose why electroconvulsive shock therapy works for some patients in treating their previously treatment resistant depression. The shock activates the voltage gated channels that are effected by the mutation.
psychiatry is probably one of the least understood areas of medicine. We still have no idea what truly causes mental disorders.
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42points
#3
Paleontology
"Darwin's Dilemma" refers to the absence of known macroscopic fossils (ie. excuding microbial stuff) from beneath the base of the Cambrian period (ie. older than 541 million years) when he was first describing his theory of evolution. Everyone (including Darwin) expected that when fossils were found from before the Cambrian period that they would be the ancestors of modern animals.
Then when those fossils WERE found Ediacara biota we call them, after the Ediacara Hills in South Australia), they were enthusiastically classified as ancient jellyfish, ancient worms, etc.
But it turns out that's a load of bull. Consensus is growing that almost none of those classifications were accurate. Instead, most Ediacaran organisms seem to have belonged to extinct groups unrelated to anything alive today, and they lived in a world that was so different from the following 540 million years, they had modes of life distinct from any living macroscopic organisms. We were so eager to make everything fit into our neat little evolutionary narrative that for decades we basically glossed over these crazy, alien sort of ecosystems that could be critical to understanding the origins of complex life on other planets as well as our own. We're still just beginning to really understand it though. It's a very controversial field of paleontology.
"Darwin's Dilemma" refers to the absence of known macroscopic fossils (ie. excuding microbial stuff) from beneath the base of the Cambrian period (ie. older than 541 million years) when he was first describing his theory of evolution. Everyone (including Darwin) expected that when fossils were found from before the Cambrian period that they would be the ancestors of modern animals.
Then when those fossils WERE found Ediacara biota we call them, after the Ediacara Hills in South Australia), they were enthusiastically classified as ancient jellyfish, ancient worms, etc.
But it turns out that's a load of bull. Consensus is growing that almost none of those classifications were accurate. Instead, most Ediacaran organisms seem to have belonged to extinct groups unrelated to anything alive today, and they lived in a world that was so different from the following 540 million years, they had modes of life distinct from any living macroscopic organisms. We were so eager to make everything fit into our neat little evolutionary narrative that for decades we basically glossed over these crazy, alien sort of ecosystems that could be critical to understanding the origins of complex life on other planets as well as our own. We're still just beginning to really understand it though. It's a very controversial field of paleontology.
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29points
One of the big scientific moments of 2025 happened right at the beginning of the year, when surgeons in America performed an organ transplant that was anything but ordinary. Instead of using a human kidney, the doctors successfully transplanted a gene-edited pig kidney into a man called Tim Andrews.
While it was the fourth transplant of its kind in the States, it was a breakthrough in terms of how long the organ kept working. Andrews lived with the pig organ for a record-breaking 271 days before it failed and was removed in October, the Smithsonian reveals.
#4
Yes this is my thread!
I think viruses were indispensable for creating complex life. Their unique characteristics enable them to copy and introduce genes from one species into another. Several colleagues have similar ideas, but only circumstantially supported.
I think viruses were indispensable for creating complex life. Their unique characteristics enable them to copy and introduce genes from one species into another. Several colleagues have similar ideas, but only circumstantially supported.
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24points
#5
Psychology/Psychiatry
There is ongoing discussion on the neurological and neurobiological correlates to Depression. Psychiatry has focused on neurotransmitters like Dopamine and Serotonin, because most antidepressants have effects on these transmitter systems and seem to help the patients over the course of many weeks (SSRIs take at least three weeks to show measurable, non-placebo effects in patients).
But, as a matter of fact, we still do not know why.
A German psychiatrist now proposed a new model for Depression, explaining it with a chronic o******e of Cortisol, a hormone closely associated with stress. He was even able to treat patients with a Cortisol antagonist - successfully and within hours of treatment.
(Very short explanation of the theory, actually.)
His work has not been acknowledged very much until now, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is something true to it.
There is ongoing discussion on the neurological and neurobiological correlates to Depression. Psychiatry has focused on neurotransmitters like Dopamine and Serotonin, because most antidepressants have effects on these transmitter systems and seem to help the patients over the course of many weeks (SSRIs take at least three weeks to show measurable, non-placebo effects in patients).
But, as a matter of fact, we still do not know why.
A German psychiatrist now proposed a new model for Depression, explaining it with a chronic o******e of Cortisol, a hormone closely associated with stress. He was even able to treat patients with a Cortisol antagonist - successfully and within hours of treatment.
(Very short explanation of the theory, actually.)
His work has not been acknowledged very much until now, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is something true to it.
24points
#6
History
That the food shortages that led to the Russian Revolution were indirectly, but loosely directly, caused by the prohibition of alcohol in 1914 by Tsar Nicholas.
Prior to 1914 there was an Imperial Monopoly on the production and trade of Vodka. This was several hundred years standing and in the late 1800's accounted for over a third of the Empires tax income.
This monopoly also facilitated the trade of grain and vodka between the rural and urban. Grain to the cities and vodka to the villages.
When the prohibition took effect, alcohol production went underground with the rural production of samogen (moonshine). On top this, all industrial products went to the war effort.
Essentially, farmers had no reason to part with their grain, and since they made alcohol on their own it became a cash crop.
When women and children were starving in St. Petersburg in the winters of 1916 and 1917, it wasn't because there was no grain in Russia, it was because it wasn't being moved out of the countryside. The Women couldnt feed their children and they took to the streets. The Tsar was overthrown and a civil war began.
Interesting hypothesis that is not often looked into due to the closing of the Russian Archives.
That the food shortages that led to the Russian Revolution were indirectly, but loosely directly, caused by the prohibition of alcohol in 1914 by Tsar Nicholas.
Prior to 1914 there was an Imperial Monopoly on the production and trade of Vodka. This was several hundred years standing and in the late 1800's accounted for over a third of the Empires tax income.
This monopoly also facilitated the trade of grain and vodka between the rural and urban. Grain to the cities and vodka to the villages.
When the prohibition took effect, alcohol production went underground with the rural production of samogen (moonshine). On top this, all industrial products went to the war effort.
Essentially, farmers had no reason to part with their grain, and since they made alcohol on their own it became a cash crop.
When women and children were starving in St. Petersburg in the winters of 1916 and 1917, it wasn't because there was no grain in Russia, it was because it wasn't being moved out of the countryside. The Women couldnt feed their children and they took to the streets. The Tsar was overthrown and a civil war began.
Interesting hypothesis that is not often looked into due to the closing of the Russian Archives.
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24points
"Andrews got a reprieve from dialysis for much of this year—and, as a living symbol of hope for other patients in need of kidney transplants, he threw the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game," adds the publication.
That same year, scientists over in China reported a successful transplant of a portion of a pig liver, which they removed after 38 days. This is good news for people waiting on a lifesaving organ transplant in a world where supply does not meet demand.
Pigs have metabolisms, immune systems, and organ sizes that resemble those of human beings, and scientists now believe they may hold the key to saving thousands of lives.
#7
Neuroscience here - paraplegia/quadriplegia are solved problems. We are already very good at recognizing patterns of activity measured through EEG or other (relatively) non-invasive recording methods in real time and using this data to control various simple machines. The next step is expanding the scale so that, instead of controlling a computer mouse, a paralyzed individual controls legs or arms fluidly. Currently, the most well-known researcher adapting this technology to allowing paralyzed people to walk and move is Miguel Nicolelis, who plans to construct an exoskeleton to allow a paralyzed person to kick a soccer ball at the World Cup. Soon (very soon), we will be able to make this feasible for real-world application.
Beyond that, the entire field of brain machine interface is booming. It is a natural adaptation of where neuroscience is, because you simply (it is not simple, but relatively so) need to be able to recognize recurring patterns you observe when an individual thinks or does something to be able to use those patterns to control machines. It's a fancy trick to allow "thought control" without really understanding why or how those "thoughts" exist in the first place. Very, very cool stuff.
Beyond that, the entire field of brain machine interface is booming. It is a natural adaptation of where neuroscience is, because you simply (it is not simple, but relatively so) need to be able to recognize recurring patterns you observe when an individual thinks or does something to be able to use those patterns to control machines. It's a fancy trick to allow "thought control" without really understanding why or how those "thoughts" exist in the first place. Very, very cool stuff.
19points
#8
Chemistry
We will, eventually, be able to efficiently design enzymes to conduct complicated chemical transformations that would be otherwise impossible on unmodified substrates.
A 2008 Science paper (David Baker, Ken Houk, Forrest Michael, and a bunch of other awesome scientists) showed proof of principle in designing a "Diels-Alderase" enzyme in silico. They designed the necessary transition state and the protein sequence that would form the corresponding active site, built the protein, and it catalyzed the exact reaction they intended to catalyze. It's beautiful work and they've done a lot of incredible things since then. Scott Miller's group at Yale has done similar things using much smaller peptide catalysts to do site-specific modifications of things like Vancomycin, which is a huge antibiotic, in a very selective manner.
What does this mean? Taking for example the development of antibiotics, we're running into problems of resistance - bugs are developing immunity to existing antibiotics. Even our last resorts (like Vancomycin) are starting to fail. We can bypass these resistance mechanisms by modifying the antibiotics at certain positions, but this can be an incredibly difficult process. If we could design protein catalysts to promote the desired reaction on the unmodified antibiotic in a highly selective manner, we can make libraries of antibiotics efficiently that can tide us over until we develop some other manner of treating infections.
We will, eventually, be able to efficiently design enzymes to conduct complicated chemical transformations that would be otherwise impossible on unmodified substrates.
A 2008 Science paper (David Baker, Ken Houk, Forrest Michael, and a bunch of other awesome scientists) showed proof of principle in designing a "Diels-Alderase" enzyme in silico. They designed the necessary transition state and the protein sequence that would form the corresponding active site, built the protein, and it catalyzed the exact reaction they intended to catalyze. It's beautiful work and they've done a lot of incredible things since then. Scott Miller's group at Yale has done similar things using much smaller peptide catalysts to do site-specific modifications of things like Vancomycin, which is a huge antibiotic, in a very selective manner.
What does this mean? Taking for example the development of antibiotics, we're running into problems of resistance - bugs are developing immunity to existing antibiotics. Even our last resorts (like Vancomycin) are starting to fail. We can bypass these resistance mechanisms by modifying the antibiotics at certain positions, but this can be an incredibly difficult process. If we could design protein catalysts to promote the desired reaction on the unmodified antibiotic in a highly selective manner, we can make libraries of antibiotics efficiently that can tide us over until we develop some other manner of treating infections.
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17points
#9
Biology
Not a practicing scientist but I work in the science field. We know very little about the depths of the ocean. Once we really start exploring those depths, we'll find living fossils that can answer tons of unanswered questions about the formation of Earth.
Not a practicing scientist but I work in the science field. We know very little about the depths of the ocean. Once we really start exploring those depths, we'll find living fossils that can answer tons of unanswered questions about the formation of Earth.
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17points
Also in 2025, a team of of astronomers identified what they called the “strongest evidence yet” of life on another planet. They found two chemical compounds on an exoplanet far, far away, that they say are only produced by living things.
"The discovery, reported in April in Astrophysical Journal Letters, came from James Webb Space Telescope data about the world K2-18b," reports the Smithsonian. "The exoplanet, orbiting a star 124 light-years away, had already seemed like a candidate for hosting life."
#10
[Cancer biologist]
Utilizing herpes virus as a promising vector for gene therapy for otherwise incurable tumors like glioblastomas. In this case, I guess herpes is the gift that keeps on giving.
Utilizing herpes virus as a promising vector for gene therapy for otherwise incurable tumors like glioblastomas. In this case, I guess herpes is the gift that keeps on giving.
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16points
#11
[Pharmaceutical Clinical Research]
That there is a cure for cancer available.
The problem, though, is that cancer in and of itself is so freaking variable between every type of cancer and then between every human being that it's nearly impossible for one cure to work for every person.
One "cure" may work for a selected group of people but we don't have the technology readily available to be able to know the exact DNA composition of the target cells of those cured people to be able to determine why the cure worked and then how to apply it to other people.
So, there may be cures out there but in order to be "fully supported by data" we aren't able to get a big enough sample size tested in one study in order to get statistically significant results.
That there is a cure for cancer available.
The problem, though, is that cancer in and of itself is so freaking variable between every type of cancer and then between every human being that it's nearly impossible for one cure to work for every person.
One "cure" may work for a selected group of people but we don't have the technology readily available to be able to know the exact DNA composition of the target cells of those cured people to be able to determine why the cure worked and then how to apply it to other people.
So, there may be cures out there but in order to be "fully supported by data" we aren't able to get a big enough sample size tested in one study in order to get statistically significant results.
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15points
#12
The Americas were inhabited by humans at least 30,000 years ago, possibly up to 60,000 years ago or more. Lots of archaeologists whisper this in hushed voices, but there are so many entrenched detractors that there's no way for this to become accepted until the current older generation pass away.
EDIT: 60,000 is kinda at the boundary of possibility, dates of around 30,000 years in age are expected by a sizeable number of archaeologists studying pre-clovis material. A lot of people are asking me questions that I have tried to answer elsewhere so please read through the comment tree to see a list of some of the sites and dates in question, how the debate is currently framed, my opinion, some opinions that agree with me as well as a few voices in opposition, hopefully most of your questions should be answered there.
EDIT: 60,000 is kinda at the boundary of possibility, dates of around 30,000 years in age are expected by a sizeable number of archaeologists studying pre-clovis material. A lot of people are asking me questions that I have tried to answer elsewhere so please read through the comment tree to see a list of some of the sites and dates in question, how the debate is currently framed, my opinion, some opinions that agree with me as well as a few voices in opposition, hopefully most of your questions should be answered there.
14points
It's important to note that the scientists did not find actual life-forms on the exoplanet—only the signatures of the compounds, known as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS). They're both sulfur-based gases found on Earth and produced by living things like algae.
While it is a big deal, the discovery is not a definite sign of life outside of Earth. That's because some experts believe that DMS and DMDS can be made in a way that doesn’t require any living organisms. It's likely going to take more time and research to find definitive proof of life in space.
#13
Physics
We can, and will eventually, achieve Inertial Confinement Fusion as a cheap and renewable source of energy.
Here is the website to the NIF project. I can't say much more than the website tells, but suffice it to say I'm convinced it *will* work, and it will work soon.
We can, and will eventually, achieve Inertial Confinement Fusion as a cheap and renewable source of energy.
Here is the website to the NIF project. I can't say much more than the website tells, but suffice it to say I'm convinced it *will* work, and it will work soon.
13points
#14
Astronomy
There are these things called Lorimer bursts in radio astronomy- the first detected only a few years ago, only four detections since. Basically it's a huge burst of noise that asks for a few milliseconds and disappears, more here.
The reason btw these are so weird is they're HUGE bursts of energy- and they come from about half the visible universe away from us. This should not happen, and no one really has an idea of how these things would be generated since right now there are no models for it.
Anyway, people still don't know what they are- there's some discussion that it was a weather phenomenon for awhile, and one telling thing is so far only Parkes Observatory in Australia (where "The Dish" was filmed) has seen them so everyone in radio astronomy is eager to be the person who spots one at a not-Parkes observatory.
So my weirdest thing is these things are crazy mysterious, but I like to think they're real and from far away. What can I say, I'm a romantic who loves curve balls thrown at us in science, and we only barely have the technology to look for them... plus hey, it'd make a nice chapter in my thesis if I found one!
There are these things called Lorimer bursts in radio astronomy- the first detected only a few years ago, only four detections since. Basically it's a huge burst of noise that asks for a few milliseconds and disappears, more here.
The reason btw these are so weird is they're HUGE bursts of energy- and they come from about half the visible universe away from us. This should not happen, and no one really has an idea of how these things would be generated since right now there are no models for it.
Anyway, people still don't know what they are- there's some discussion that it was a weather phenomenon for awhile, and one telling thing is so far only Parkes Observatory in Australia (where "The Dish" was filmed) has seen them so everyone in radio astronomy is eager to be the person who spots one at a not-Parkes observatory.
So my weirdest thing is these things are crazy mysterious, but I like to think they're real and from far away. What can I say, I'm a romantic who loves curve balls thrown at us in science, and we only barely have the technology to look for them... plus hey, it'd make a nice chapter in my thesis if I found one!
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13points
#15
Biology/Immunology
So much of our adult health is based on things we encountered during early childhood but we are only starting to realize the extent of it. Most basic science done in animal models focus on adults, even when trying to model pediatric disease. It is becoming clear that our immune systems are drastically different as infants, and we need to tailor vaccines or other preventative methods to address this.
So much of our adult health is based on things we encountered during early childhood but we are only starting to realize the extent of it. Most basic science done in animal models focus on adults, even when trying to model pediatric disease. It is becoming clear that our immune systems are drastically different as infants, and we need to tailor vaccines or other preventative methods to address this.
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12points
While some discoveries and breakthroughs in 2025 were intriguing, others were downright bizarre, like the creepy thing now known as the 'Bone Collector."
It's a species of caterpillar that was spotted wearing the leftover body parts of the prey it had devoured as camouflage. Straight out of a Steven King novel, this insect is a rare exception in the insect world, reports BBC Science Focus: "just 0.1 per cent of moth and butterfly species are carnivorous."
#16
I am studying in a relatively new field of science called astrobiology and just finished my first internship. Of all my studies, this is what caught my attention:
In 2004, the spectral signature of methane was detected in the Martian atmosphere by both Earth-based telescopes as well as by the Mars Express probe. Because of solar radiation and cosmic radiation, methane is predicted to disappear from the Martian atmosphere within several years, so the gas must be actively replenished in order to maintain the present concentration
Edit: TL;DR I truly believe we will have confirmation of life outside of planet earth in the next 2-3 generations.
In 2004, the spectral signature of methane was detected in the Martian atmosphere by both Earth-based telescopes as well as by the Mars Express probe. Because of solar radiation and cosmic radiation, methane is predicted to disappear from the Martian atmosphere within several years, so the gas must be actively replenished in order to maintain the present concentration
Edit: TL;DR I truly believe we will have confirmation of life outside of planet earth in the next 2-3 generations.
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11points
#17
Ecology/Biology
The presence of culture in mammals has been documented in pods of Orca Whales. Culture in this context refers to behaviors that are passed down from generation to generation. With Orca Whales we see this manifest as hunting techniques. Geographically distinct pods exhibit strikingly different hunting strategies. Certainly the differences in these strategies arise mainly because of the differences between geographic regions. However, the idea of culture comes into play when new techniques are developed by individual whales within a pod. When a whale develops a new hunting technique, other whales take notice. If it is a significantly more successful technique it will catch on more rapidly. Additionally, females teach hunting techniques to their young, passing on these techniques much like alleles for different passed on.
The idea of culture in mammals speaks to a level of intelligence that most people don't attribute to non-humans. For some, it is easy to believe that animals such as whales, dolphins, and chimpanzees could develop culture, but I believe it extends even further down the "ladder of animal intelligence". I believe that even rodents such as squirrels, prairie dogs, and pika could exhibit distinct cultures manifest as foraging or anti-predation behavior. I have studied a population of Red Squirrels in Colorado and I firmly believe that their behavior is distinct enough from other Red Squirrel populations to support my beliefs regarding culture in mammals.
The presence of culture in mammals has been documented in pods of Orca Whales. Culture in this context refers to behaviors that are passed down from generation to generation. With Orca Whales we see this manifest as hunting techniques. Geographically distinct pods exhibit strikingly different hunting strategies. Certainly the differences in these strategies arise mainly because of the differences between geographic regions. However, the idea of culture comes into play when new techniques are developed by individual whales within a pod. When a whale develops a new hunting technique, other whales take notice. If it is a significantly more successful technique it will catch on more rapidly. Additionally, females teach hunting techniques to their young, passing on these techniques much like alleles for different passed on.
The idea of culture in mammals speaks to a level of intelligence that most people don't attribute to non-humans. For some, it is easy to believe that animals such as whales, dolphins, and chimpanzees could develop culture, but I believe it extends even further down the "ladder of animal intelligence". I believe that even rodents such as squirrels, prairie dogs, and pika could exhibit distinct cultures manifest as foraging or anti-predation behavior. I have studied a population of Red Squirrels in Colorado and I firmly believe that their behavior is distinct enough from other Red Squirrel populations to support my beliefs regarding culture in mammals.
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11points
#18
Neuroscience/Psychology/Physics
There is a theory proposed by Nobel prize winning physicist Roger Penrose and all around cool guy Stuart Hameroff, M.D. that consciousness is not created by the brain (called ORCH-OR). They argue that the standard model of information processing in the brain -- that information is transmitted by neural firing rates -- it totally wrong. Although they agree neural processing is important, they argue that the microtubules in the brain allow the brain to connect (or tunnel) to processes that happen at the quantum scale (and that is where the real action is). Penrose argues that fundamental knowledge (like mathematical truth, beauty, etc) actually exists in some form at the Plank scale (very, very small scale). There is talk of wave collapses, etc that only physicists can really understand. Through this quantum mechanism, our brains are able to connect to this latent information (so this is a Platonic theory or knowledge). This means our brains/minds do not create knowledge (as most brain scientists think). Instead it allows us to connect to the knowledge that is inherent in nature.
There is some (or a lot, depending on who you talk to) hand waving, and no data to support this. However, the question of how the brain "creates" consciousness is such a vexing problem that it seems we (neuroscientists--of which I am one) are asking the wrong question. That is why this theory is exciting (even if its completely wrong).
This has huge implications for how consciousness is generated and especially for the problem of human identity. For example, it means that we cannot reduce ourselves down to the brain and its neural activity. It might suggest that when we die, the fundamental processes (at the quantum scale) that are 'us' might exist as probabilistic quantum states--forever. Its not clear that we could ever recover those states after our physical body decays, but its fun to think about.
Yeah, yeah, I know, you will all throw up your hands that its just quantum physics bla bla. But actually the theory is starting to gain attention (and by attention I mean prominent physicists and neuroscientists are starting to publicly refute it -- being refuted is better than being ignored!).
Edit: Thanks for the gold! I'm new to Reddit (just signed up a few weeks ago).
I'd like to say that this theory has zero empirical evidence. Penrose has proofs for it in his published work, but that is theoretical mathematics and quantum physics. The theory is testable, according to Penrose and Hameroff, but we'd need to build a very powerful particle accelerator. So, "in the future." (Of course that is a cop-out). The theory inspires me because it attempts to answer the question of how Godel could have solved the incompleteness theorem. If you don't know what that is, then you should read about it. Its a paradox that has haunted most of the greatest minds of the 20th and 21st century, including Godel. If you think consciousness is reducible to physics, and you hold this as a "firm" belief (as someone said), then you have not read enough about reductionism. There are serious problems with reductionism and there is no clear way out (although I'm inclined to hold his position anyway -- its intuitive). This is what makes studying the human mind -- my field -- so much fun! If you think you understand how the brain/body "gives rise" to consciousness, you are fooling yourself (or you deserve the Nobel prize). Nobody does, but that is OK. Its also part of the fun!
There is a theory proposed by Nobel prize winning physicist Roger Penrose and all around cool guy Stuart Hameroff, M.D. that consciousness is not created by the brain (called ORCH-OR). They argue that the standard model of information processing in the brain -- that information is transmitted by neural firing rates -- it totally wrong. Although they agree neural processing is important, they argue that the microtubules in the brain allow the brain to connect (or tunnel) to processes that happen at the quantum scale (and that is where the real action is). Penrose argues that fundamental knowledge (like mathematical truth, beauty, etc) actually exists in some form at the Plank scale (very, very small scale). There is talk of wave collapses, etc that only physicists can really understand. Through this quantum mechanism, our brains are able to connect to this latent information (so this is a Platonic theory or knowledge). This means our brains/minds do not create knowledge (as most brain scientists think). Instead it allows us to connect to the knowledge that is inherent in nature.
There is some (or a lot, depending on who you talk to) hand waving, and no data to support this. However, the question of how the brain "creates" consciousness is such a vexing problem that it seems we (neuroscientists--of which I am one) are asking the wrong question. That is why this theory is exciting (even if its completely wrong).
This has huge implications for how consciousness is generated and especially for the problem of human identity. For example, it means that we cannot reduce ourselves down to the brain and its neural activity. It might suggest that when we die, the fundamental processes (at the quantum scale) that are 'us' might exist as probabilistic quantum states--forever. Its not clear that we could ever recover those states after our physical body decays, but its fun to think about.
Yeah, yeah, I know, you will all throw up your hands that its just quantum physics bla bla. But actually the theory is starting to gain attention (and by attention I mean prominent physicists and neuroscientists are starting to publicly refute it -- being refuted is better than being ignored!).
Edit: Thanks for the gold! I'm new to Reddit (just signed up a few weeks ago).
I'd like to say that this theory has zero empirical evidence. Penrose has proofs for it in his published work, but that is theoretical mathematics and quantum physics. The theory is testable, according to Penrose and Hameroff, but we'd need to build a very powerful particle accelerator. So, "in the future." (Of course that is a cop-out). The theory inspires me because it attempts to answer the question of how Godel could have solved the incompleteness theorem. If you don't know what that is, then you should read about it. Its a paradox that has haunted most of the greatest minds of the 20th and 21st century, including Godel. If you think consciousness is reducible to physics, and you hold this as a "firm" belief (as someone said), then you have not read enough about reductionism. There are serious problems with reductionism and there is no clear way out (although I'm inclined to hold his position anyway -- its intuitive). This is what makes studying the human mind -- my field -- so much fun! If you think you understand how the brain/body "gives rise" to consciousness, you are fooling yourself (or you deserve the Nobel prize). Nobody does, but that is OK. Its also part of the fun!
10points
#19
Chemistry
This'll probably get buried, but the research done in my lab has shown that thioureas, (sulfur containing molecules,) are stronger electron donors than phosphine ligands. This is pretty weird, as phosphines are pretty much the golden standard for this.
Wasn't even the point of the research to look into this, just an interesting byproduct.
This'll probably get buried, but the research done in my lab has shown that thioureas, (sulfur containing molecules,) are stronger electron donors than phosphine ligands. This is pretty weird, as phosphines are pretty much the golden standard for this.
Wasn't even the point of the research to look into this, just an interesting byproduct.
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10points
#20
Biology / Immunology
The Hygiene Hypothesis
Humans evolved with helminths and other microorganisms in their systems which modulated the immune systems that we have today. With the increasing cleanliness of the Western world, it's the very absence of these organisms in our bodies that is causing our immune systems to function improperly and result in autoimmune disorders.
I feel like in the next few decades more evidence for this hypothesis will be published and therapies using worms or specific proteins might become the norm for treating autoimmune diseases and allergies.
The Hygiene Hypothesis
Humans evolved with helminths and other microorganisms in their systems which modulated the immune systems that we have today. With the increasing cleanliness of the Western world, it's the very absence of these organisms in our bodies that is causing our immune systems to function improperly and result in autoimmune disorders.
I feel like in the next few decades more evidence for this hypothesis will be published and therapies using worms or specific proteins might become the norm for treating autoimmune diseases and allergies.
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10points