Podcast appearances and mentions of george musser

Sam Harris speaks with his wife, Annaka Harris, about LIGHTS ON, her ten-part audio documentary exploring the perplexities of consciousness and the cosmos. They discuss the hard problem of consciousness, whether consciousness is fundamental, what split-brain patients can teach us about consciousness, what consciousness being fundamental could mean for the world of physics, and other topics. After Annaka's conversation with Sam, we present an excerpt from LIGHTS ON. Chapter 8: Space and Time features author and science writer George Musser, as well as physicists Lee Smolin and Carlo Rovelli. Annaka draws on their noted expertise to explore some of the most mystifying conclusions in quantum theory, how they may validate certain meditative insights, and the ways in which they challenge our basic understanding of reality. Everyday experience tells us that space fills the universe; that causes have effects across time; that the future exists only as potential; that consciousness is confined to intelligent creatures, rather than fundamental to the very structure of being. These bedrock assumptions, when examined through both modern physics and contemplative practices, prove surprisingly fragile—and the fabric of existence profoundly counterintuitive.   If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe. Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That's why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life's most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.  

In this week's episode, scientists Charles Liu and George Musser find joy in daily observations through science and writing. Charles Liu is a professor of astrophysics at the City University of New York's College of Staten Island and an associate with the Hayden Planetarium and Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. His research focuses on colliding galaxies, starburst galaxies, quasars, and the star formation history of the universe. In addition to his research publications, he writes books and online content for students and general audiences, The Cosmos Explained and The Handy Quantum Physics Answer Book. He hosts The LIUniverse with Dr. Charles Liu, a half-hour dose of cosmic conversation with scientists, educators and students about the cosmos, scientific frontiers, scifi, comics, and more. George Musser is a contributing editor at Scientific American magazine, a contributing writer for Quanta magazine, and the author of three books on fundamental physics for the general public, most recently Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation. He is a co-recipient of two National Magazine Awards and sundry other prizes. He lives in Glen Ridge with his wife, his daughter, and his daughter's schnauzer. Resources: Magnum ForceThe LIUniverseNext Stop WonderlandHubble Space TelescopeWendy Freedman InterviewDark MatterDark EnergyJanna LevinSean CarrollRome Song (SNL)D&D LiveBooks:A full list of the books and authors mentioned in this episode is available here. Register for Upcoming Events.The Watchung Booksellers Podcast is produced by Kathryn Counsell and Marni Jessup and is recorded at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ. The show is edited by Kathryn Counsell. Original music is composed and performed by Violet Mujica. Art & design and social media by Evelyn Moulton. Research and show notes by Caroline Shurtleff. Thanks to all the staff at Watchung Booksellers and The Kids' Room! If you liked our episode please like, follow, and share! Stay in touch!Email: wbpodcast@watchungbooksellers.comSocial: @watchungbooksellersSign up for our newsletter to get the latest on our shows, events, and book recommendations!

George Musser, a contributing editor at Scientific American, contributing writer at Quanta as well as the author of Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation (2023) and Spooky Action at a Distance (2015) joined “Something Offbeat” to help us get a better understanding of the multiverse and what it has to do with computers.

Send us a textWhat if the mysteries of consciousness and the universe are more connected than we ever imagined? Esteemed physicist and author George Musser joins me, Michelle McElhoun, on Crossword for an enlightening conversation that explores the fascinating intersection of physics, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence. Musser shares his insights into why physicists are increasingly drawn to these fields, suggesting they may hold the key to a unified understanding of our universe. Drawing from his book "Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation," Musser provides a compelling narrative on bridging the gap between mind and matter, urging listeners to reconsider the role of the observer in quantum physics and the humble perspective we occupy in the vast cosmos.Our discussion ventures into the complexities of neural networks and their potential implications for understanding human intelligence and consciousness. Musser compares these networks to intricate webs of tiny switches, processing information in ways that challenge traditional computing models. We explore theories like integrated information theory, which propose that certain neural networks might theoretically possess consciousness due to their sophisticated feedback loops, and examine how these loops mirror the human brain's intricate systems. Musser emphasizes the engineering challenges these concepts present, while also highlighting their potential to revolutionize our understanding of both artificial and natural cognitive processes.Curiosity and free will take center stage as we discuss their roles in human and machine learning. Reinforcement learning emerges as a fascinating example of how curiosity drives both humans and AI to persist through challenges without immediate rewards. Musser reflects on philosophical tensions between deterministic laws and the human experience of free will, drawing on his own life experiences to enrich the conversation. We wrap up by considering how AI might enhance our self-knowledge and deepen our understanding of human nature, inviting listeners to explore George Musser's work further and ponder the profound mysteries of consciousness.

Science writer George Musser on the unsung role of friendship in science's biggest discoveries. Science writer George Musser discusses the essence and nature of science, emphasizing its purpose as a means to understand and create a consistent view of reality. While we often imagine science geniuses such as Einstein as lone rangers in their field, scientists continuously share and refine ideas among colleagues, underlining the importance of friendships and trust in discoveries. Such relationships enable the initial testing of concepts in a supportive environment before they face the broader, often critical scientific community. Citing Einstein's interactions with Niels Bohr, Musser illustrates how even foundational principles, like the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, were continually probed and questioned — not out of disbelief, but out of a quest for deeper understanding. However, not all scientific dialogues result in consensus. One study suggested that the most innovative scientists often remain firm in their views, hinting that a certain degree of stubbornness might be beneficial for scientific progress. In essence, the rigorous, collaborative, and sometimes contentious interactions among scientists are fundamental to advancing knowledge. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ❍ About The Well ❍ Do we inhabit a multiverse? Do we have free will? What is love? Is evolution directional? There are no simple answers to life's biggest questions, and that's why they're the questions occupying the world's brightest minds. So what do they think? How is the power of science advancing understanding? How are philosophers and theologians tackling these fascinating questions? Let's dive into The Well. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This presentation was recorded at MindFest, held at Florida Atlantic University, CENTER FOR THE FUTURE MIND, spearheaded by Susan Schneider. Center for the Future Mind (Mindfest @ FAU): https://www.fau.edu/future-mind/ Links Mentioned: - Center for the Future Mind (Mindfest @ FAU): https://www.fau.edu/future-mind/ - Other Ai and Consciousness (Mindfest) TOE Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ7ikzmc6zlOPw7Hqkc6-MXEMBy0fnZcb - Mathematics of String Theory (Video): https://youtu.be/X4PdPnQuwjY - David Chalmers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r9V1ryksnw - Scott Aaronson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h16qJLGOXvw - National Intelligence University: https://www.ni-u.edu - Scott's Paper: https://www.scottaaronson.com/democritus/lec18.html - George's Book (Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation): https://amzn.to/3QuRDfZ Please consider signing up for TOEmail at https://www.curtjaimungal.org  Support TOE: - Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal (early access to ad-free audio episodes!) - Crypto: https://tinyurl.com/cryptoTOE - PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE - TOE Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerch  Follow TOE: - *NEW* Get my 'Top 10 TOEs' PDF + Weekly Personal Updates: https://www.curtjaimungal.org - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoriesofeverythingpod - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoriesofeverything_ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt - Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs - iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802 - Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e - Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything  

John Wells speaks with George Musser about his new book titled "Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation Why Physicists Are Studying Human Consciousness and AI To Unravel The Mysteries of The Universe."Then, Eric Siegel, author of the new book “The AI Playbook, Mastering the Rare Art of Machine Learning Deployment," talks about how machine learning can enhance business operations.

The whole goal of physics is to explain what we observe. For centuries, physicists believed that observations yielded faithful representations of what is out there. But when they began to study the subatomic realm, they found that observation often interferes with what is being observed―that the act of seeing changes what we see. The same may also be true about cosmology: our view of the universe may be inevitably distorted by observation bias. And so whether they're studying subatomic particles or galaxies, physicists might need to first explain consciousness. Searching to answer that question, George Musser turned to neuroscientists and philosophers of the mind. Neuroscientists have built up ever-better understandings of the structure of the brain. Musser asks whether that could help physicists better understand the levels of self-organization they observe in other systems. At the same time, physicists are trying to explain how particles organize themselves into the objects we perceive around us. So Musser also has asked whether those discoveries could help explain how neurons produce our conscious experiences. Join us for a special online-only program in which Musser tackles the potential interconnections between quantum mechanics, cosmology, human consciousness and artificial intelligence, providing a revelatory exploration of how a "theory of everything" may very well depend upon our understanding of the human mind. NOTES A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran science writer George Musser addresses the connections between artificial intelligence, quantum physics and the quest to understand the nature of consciousness in a new book, "Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation."

How can advances in the science of artificial intelligence and consciousness inform advances in the physical sciences? On this episode, George Musser discussed his book, Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation.

You know who thinks open-office designs are a good idea? People with offices. Scientific American contributing editor George Musser joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how the open-office plan took off, the downsides its designers didn't anticipate, and what a better office layout might look like. His article is “Fixing the Hated Open-Design Office.”

In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we discuss the cases of four men who recently went missing:   - Bryce Borca (23) vanished in Eagan, Minnesota on October 30, 2022 after a night out on a party bus with friends.  Despite a large scale search, involving hundreds of people, Bryce remains missing. - In December 2022, Dr Bolek Payan dropped his beloved dogs off to their regular dog sitter.  He never picked them up.   The search for Bolek lasted for days, before his body was eventually found in a frozen over pond near his home.  Was this a case of suicide or misadventure? - George Musser (20) vanished from a bar in Stillwater, Minnesota on Christmas Eve 2022.  The temperature was around -4 that night and George had no jacket.  His body was found on Christmas Day, around 1.5 miles from the bar. - Theodore (Teddy) Egge (35) has been missing from Marinette County, Wisconsin since January 13, 2023.  His car ran out of gas and he was last seen walking along a road, apparently heading to the closest town.  No sign of Teddy has been found.    If you would like to start straight at the case content, please skip to 12.55. Listen on Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DwVSsQN2yoCtu8QwGH5CW?si=jaRbNF6BQmC7gJyBDx13Ow And Apple here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000597653475   Read our blog here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2023/01/30/missing-men-bryce-borca-dr-bolek-payan-george-musser-and-teddy-egge/   We also discuss some BIG updates in some previously covered cases – Opelika Jane Doe has been identified and arrests have been made.  An arrest has also been made in the Jared Bridegan murder case. Bryce Borca (23) vanished in Eagan, Minnesota on October 30, 2022 after a night out on a party bus with friends.  Despite a large scale search, involving hundreds of people, Bryce remains  missing. In December 2022, Dr Bolek Payan dropped his beloved dogs off to their regular dog sitter.  He never picked them up.   The search for Bolek lasted for days, before his body was eventually found in a frozen over pond near his home.  Was this a case of suicide or misadventure?  George Musser (20) vanished from a bar in Stillwater, Minnesota on Christmas Eve 2022.  The temperature was around -4 that night and George had no jacket.  His body was found on Christmas Day, around 1.5 miles from the bar. Theodore (Teddy) Egge (35) has been missing from Marinette County, Wisconsin since January 13, 2023.  His car ran out of gas and he was last seen walking along a road, apparently heading to the closest town.  No sign of Teddy has been found.   If you would like to start straight at the case content, please skip to 12.55. Read our blog here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2023/01/30/missing-men-bryce-borca-dr-bolek-payan-george-musser-and-teddy-egge/ We also discuss some BIG updates in some previously covered cases – Opelika Jane Doe has been identified and arrests have been made.  An arrest has also been made in the Jared Bridegan murder case.      This episode is sponsored by: June's Journey - Start your investigation today and download June's Journey.  Available on Android and iOS mobile devices, as well as on PC through Facebook Games.

George Musser is a contributor to the Scientific American, an author and science communicator. Today, he talks about one of the most unexplained parts of the quantum world, known as quantum entanglement, or as was coined by Einstein, spooky action at a distance. George gives us a clear and easy to grasp explanation of what spooky action at a distance is, also discussing why it is that quantum physics is just so hard to explain compared to other areas of science. Lastly, the conversation covers some of the philosophy behind this quantum world, why its actually not that strange, and why unlearning things in science can often be just as important as learning them. Books can be found here: https://spookyactionbook.com/author/gmusser/

Is spacetime obsolete? ... Quantum spookiness explained! ... Black holes and the big bang are spooky too. ... What preceded space and time? ... Is physics just poetry with math? ... George’s next book: how mind relates to matter ...

Is spacetime obsolete? ... Quantum spookiness explained! ... Black holes and the big bang are spooky too. ... What preceded space and time? ... Is physics just poetry with math? ... George’s next book: how mind relates to matter ...

Is spacetime obsolete? ... Quantum spookiness explained! ... Black holes and the big bang are spooky too. ... What preceded space and time? ... Is physics just poetry with math? ... George’s next book: how mind relates to matter ...

Receive 25% off any web hosting plan using the promo code "science": http://hostgator.com A little over a week ago, Google announced they had achieved something called “quantum supremacy”, a powerful new way of computing that makes use of quantum principles. Google claims it's quantum processor can tackle a really difficult computational problem in about two and a half minutes--a task that would take the fastest classical supercomputer about 10,000 years. Researchers at IBM have contested that estimate and dialed it back to only two and half days. Whatever the true number is, we know Google’s processor is really fast--faster than any other computer preceding it and powered by quantum technology. Our guest in this episode, science writer George Musser, helps us unpack what quantum means and how quantum computing works. George has been writing about astronomy and physics, for over 25 years. He’s a contributing editor at Scientific American magazine and author of the book “Spooky Action at a Distance” all about the strange phenomena called quantum entanglement. **More to explore** George's article on AI and quantum computing for Quanta https://www.quantamagazine.org/job-one-for-quantum-computers-boost-artificial-intelligence-20180129/ George's website http://spookyactionbook.com Quantum entanglement videos for Scientific American https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z34ugMy1QaA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM3GOXaci7w The Integral Theory of Ken Wilber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integral_theory_(Ken_Wilber) **Tell us what you thought of this episode** Email: feedback@sciencentric.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/sciencentric Facebook: http://facebook.com/sciencentric Twitter: http://twitter.com/sciencentric

What is space? It isn't a question that most of us normally ask. Space is the venue of physics; it's where things exist, where they move and take shape. Yet over the past few decades, physicists have discovered a phenomenon that operates outside the confines of space and time: nonlocality-the ability of two particles to act in harmony no matter how far apart they may be. It appears to be almost magical. Einstein grappled with this oddity and couldn't come to terms with it, describing it as "spooky action at a distance." Author George Musser comes on to talk about his book with Lance and L.B.

Advances in physical sciences, biology, and neuroscience have dramatically enhanced our knowledge of the human species. But can physical sciences solve the biggest mystery the emergence of human consciousness? A distinguished panel of experts, including David Chalmers, PhD, Michael Graziano, PhD, Hod Lipson, PhD, and Max Tegmark, PhD, will discuss in this new podcast. Scientific American's George Musser moderates. This podcast features audio from the fourth event in our series, The Physics of Everything.

Featured Book: Spooky Action at a Distance, by George Musser. Quantum entanglement is one of the strangest ideas in modern physics – and could end up changing the way we think about space and time. And on the nightstand: Why Information Grows, by César Hidalgo; and Inventology, by Pagan Kennedy.

In this podcast, George Musser, author of a new book about the ability of one particle to affect another across space ("spooky action at a distance") sets out to explore the phenomenon. This lecture took place at the Museum on November 9, 2015. Support for Hayden Planetarium Programs is provided by the Horace W. Goldsmith Endowment Fund.

This excerpt from our Pride: Flying Cars and Other Broken Promises event features biologist and professor Stuart Firestein considering pride and scientific predictions. Professor Firestein discusses how scientific predictions, which can appear to the public as arrogant and unreliable, are ideally informed by humility and a sense of curiosity in the face of ignorance. The event was part of our Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series. The panel also featured professor of ethics Christiana Peppard, scientist and author Gregory Benford, and moderator and science journalist, George Musser. Biologist and professor Stuart Firestein discusses how scientific predictions, which can appear to the public as arrogant and unreliable, are ideally informed by humility and a sense of curiosity in the face of ignorance. The event was part of our Science and the Seven Deadly Sins series. The panel also featured professor of ethics Christiana Peppard, scientist and author Gregory Benford, and moderator and science journalist George Musser.

On the eve of the launch of the penultimate space shuttle mission, STS-134, Scientific American astronomy editor George Musser talks to veteran astronaut Stanley Love about being in space and the future of spaceflight

Scientific American staff editor George Musser joins podcast host Steve Mirsky to discuss his article in the September issue about the possibility of time itself coming to an end

Jack Szostak, who just shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, talks about his latest research on the origin of life. And Scientific American editor George Musser talks to Jonathan Mostow, director of the new Bruce Willis sci-fi thriller Surrogates . Web sites related to this episode include www.snipurl.com/surrogates; www.snipurl.com/telomere; www.snipurl.com/origin

Following up on the 2006 Colloquium titled "Revolution in Cosmology," this Conversation tackles topics such as superstring theory and supersymmetry, black holes and dark energy, and what comes after the Large Hadron Collider. Heather Preston – a NASA researcher, astronomy instructor and Mensan – discusses all this and more with George Musser, editor for Scientific American magazine and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to String Theory. Musser was the keynote speaker for the 2006 event.

Scientific American astronomy expert George Musser discusses the recent meeting of the American Astronomical Society and SciAm.com 's Larry Greenemeier reports on the Consumer Electronics Show. Plus, we'll test your knowledge about some recent science in the news

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Frank Wilczek and Scientific American editor George Musser talk about the Large Hadron Collider, the most powerful particle accelerator ever built, which went online this week. Plus, we'll test your knowledge about some recent science in the news. Web sites mentioned in this episode include www.frankwilczek.com; www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50ZssEojtM; http://www.sciam.com/report.cfm?id=lhc-countdown

George Musser talks about his new book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory . Plus, we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news

M. Night Shyamalan's new film, The Happening, involves an environmental backlash, the limits of reason and the beauty of math. SciAm editor George Musser discusses the film with the director. Plus, we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news. Web sites mentioned on this episode include www.sciam.com/daily

In this episode, Scientific American editor George Musser talks with Caltech Astronomer Josh Simon about dark matter, and about the efforts to try to locate the so-called missing satellites of the Milky Way--small galaxies that have yet to be found in the numbers that the cold dark matter theory predicts. Plus we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news. Websites mentioned on this episode include: tinyurl.com/27g9op; www.astro.caltech.edu/~jsimon

In this episode, Scientific American editors George Musser and Steven Ashley discuss the special section of the October issue devoted to the future of space exploration. Plus we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news.

In this episode, psychiatric geneticist Laura Jean Bierut talks about her article in the April Scientific American about the influence of genes on alcoholism. And Scientific American editor George Musser discusses the March 26th Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate at the American Museum of Natural History that dealt with the discrepency between the calculated and actual positions of the Pioneer spacecraft. Plus we'll test your knowledge about some recent science in the news.

In this episode, Scientific American editor George Musser explains recent research that could mean that the entire universe is 15 percent bigger and about two billion years older than previously thought. Plus, Pluto expert and MIT professor Richard Binzel, a member of the Planet Definition Committee of the International Astronomical Union, discusses the status of Pluto. And amateur astronomer and Plutophile Ari Mirsky shares his thoughts. Plus, we'll test your knowledge about some recent science in the news. Websites mentioned on this episode include blog.sciam.com, www.sciam.com and www.sciamdigital.com.