Consciousness Archives

A close-up of a spotted nudibranch with translucent, pointed cerata on a brown underwater branch against a black background, inviting reflection on the intricate nature of consciousness in marine life.

Books

What sea slugs can teach us about the nature of consciousness

In this excerpt from "One Hand Clapping," Nikolay Kukushkin makes the case that neurons reveal how memory, meaning, and even consciousness emerge from the same biological roots in humans, sea slugs, and beyond.

Nikolay Kukushkin

Collage with hands shaping dough, overlapping U.S. flags, circular architectural elements, and "THE NIGHTCRAWLER" at the top—reflecting on the AI divide woven into the fabric of American life.

Business

The great AI divide: Europe vs. Silicon Valley

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

Eric Markowitz

Black and white illustration of a human brain with purple scribble circles and arrows pointing toward it on a light background, perfect for those interested in books about the brain.

Books

5 brilliant books to demystify the brain

Neuroscientist Rachel Barr shares her favorite books on the brain and how they shaped her approach to the field.

Kevin Dickinson

Abstract collage with a butterfly, brain sketches, graphs, and scientific diagrams overlaid with red, black, and beige shapes and textured patterns.

Neuropsych

Why the 21st century could bring a new “consciousness winter”

A conversation with neuroscientist Erik Hoel about the future of consciousness research.

Ross Pomeroy

A red door with a gold doorknob is floating in the middle of a blue sky surrounded by white clouds.

Neuropsych

What the stages of sleep reveal about consciousness

"Ordinary dreams are, perhaps, the clearest articulation of what it is like to be."

Rachel Barr

Abstract illustration of translucent human figures standing in line, with a mix of a natural outdoor scene and geometric digital elements in the background.

Neuropsych

Why AI gets stuck in infinite loops — but conscious minds don’t

The overlooked reason why "AI consciousness" isn't coming anytime soon.

Anil Seth

A split image showing the left half of a frog and the right half of a chemical structure on a green and white textured background.

Neuropsych

“Pure awareness”: Inside the psychedelic that erases space, time, and self

5-MeO-DMT may offer a practical way to access and study consciousness in its most basic form.

Christopher Timmermann

A digital collage featuring a brain illustration, distorted human faces, signal towers, abstract waves, and scattered data points and text on a blue and gray background.

Neuropsych

Inside the search for a universal signature of unconsciousness

A universal signature could make surgeries safer — and help reveal what holds consciousness together.

Ross Pomeroy

A man and woman sit on a bed with two young children, sharing a quiet moment; the older child stands while the younger, cradled by the woman, embodies the precious gift of consciousness within the family.

Business

What brain surgery taught me about the fragile gift of consciousness

After the trauma of a high-risk medical procedure, Eric Markowitz discovered a kind of consciousness that lives not in thought — but in presence.

Eric Markowitz

Books

5 brilliant books on consciousness

These expert-recommended books try to answer the questions of consciousness, from its fundamental nature to its role in human experience and the natural world.

Kevin Dickinson

A digital illustration of a hermit crab with a shell resembling a human brain, shown in two square sections over the shell.

Mini Philosophy

Think like a crow, choose like a crab: The animals inside our minds

A conversation about intelligence and consciousness with philosopher Peter Godfrey-Smith.

Jonny Thomson

Three circles show, from left to right, an oyster shell, a Vitruvian-style human figure, and a swirling spiral, linked together on a textured lavender background.

The Past

The philosophers who predicted “ultimate” forms of consciousness

Philosophers once prophesied that evolution would lead to minds far greater — and stranger — than our own.

Thomas Moynihan

Black and white close-up of an older man with glasses, a bushy mustache, and beard, resting his chin on his hand and looking directly at the camera.

Thinking

Daniel Dennett: Consciousness is no miracle. It’s a magic trick.

"For many people, the idea that consciousness is a set of tricks is offensive," the late philosopher told Big Think in 2012. "I think that's a prime mistake."

Jonny Thomson