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The New Techno-Eschatology: AGI and Secular Religion

March 25, 2025 · 5 min read

Some techies today fear hell—not from a god, but from a computer.  Human beings have a habit of wrapping up big unknowns in familiar stories. Even in our high-tech, secular age, the quest to create Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) often comes with a kind of religious or end-of-the-world fervor. Some communities of self-described rationalists speak […]

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Longform

The New Techno-Eschatology: AGI and Secular Religion

Some techies today fear hell—not from a god, but from a computer.  Human beings have a habit of wrapping up big unknowns in familiar stories. Even in our high-tech, secular age, the quest to create Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) often comes with a kind of religious or end-of-the-world fervor. Some communities of self-described rationalists speak […]

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Biology

Stanford’s AI Revolution: Predicting Disease from Sleep Data

In a groundbreaking development, Stanford researchers have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict future disease risks using data collected from just one night of sleep. This revolutionary system, known as SleepFM, analyzes intricate physiological signals to forecast the potential onset of over 130 health conditions. The implications of this research hold the […]

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Psychology

Consciousness Theories: What Didn’t Stand the Test of Time

The study of consciousness has always been a frontier riddled with mystery and intense debate. In the early 2000s, a number of bold theories captured both academic and public attention, offering compelling—if sometimes controversial—explanations for the nature of conscious experience. As our tools have sharpened and our understanding of the brain has deepened, many of […]

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Computing

New Study IoT Security Fixes

Every second, billions of tiny digital messages move between our phones, smart speakers, and home appliances. But here’s the startling part: a single malicious message—just a few bytes—can open the door to a massive cyberattack. And according to new research, our devices may be missing some of the most important warning signs. Across the world—from […]

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Biology

The Unraveling of Climate Models: Why CO2 and Nitrogen Mismatches Matter

The relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and plant growth has long been heralded as a key element in climate modeling. However, recent research reveals that this relationship is not as straightforward as previously thought due to the crucial role of nitrogen in ecosystem dynamics. Climate models that overestimate the availability of natural nitrogen fixation […]

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Psychology

What Gore Videos Reveal About How We Really Know

To start at the beginning, I like horror movies. I don’t really like gore. I can handle some, but I get mentally queasy with the more intense stuff. About a year ago, I made a Reddit post about “what’s the best way to enjoy gore?” My thought was that I might be missing some really […]

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Health

Vaccines and Their Surprising Off-Target Benefits: Implications for Dementia Prevention

Vaccines remain crucial for managing various infectious diseases. However, an emerging body of research is shedding light on the ‘off-target benefits’ of vaccines, which seem to offer protection beyond their primary intent. Of particular interest is their potential role in reducing the risk of dementia, a debilitating condition affecting millions globally. Understanding Off-Target Benefits Off-target […]

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Environment

Unpacking the Unresolved Debates in Climate Intervention Research

Over the past decade, as the pace of climate change has intensified, a parallel debate in the scientific community has emerged over climate intervention—or geoengineering—research. While there is agreement on the urgency of addressing global warming, many scientists are split on whether—or how—such interventions should be part of our climate toolkit. One major unresolved debate […]

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Environment

How Mapping Plants Better Could Sharpen Climate Forecasts

Earth’s land absorbs about one-quarter of the carbon dioxide humans release every year—but scientists still can’t agree on how much. Some climate models say plants pull in 100 billion tons of carbon annually. Others say nearly double that. For decades, this gap has haunted climate science. Now, a new study suggests a surprisingly simple reason: […]

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Environment

This Study Could Improve Global Clean Energy Plans

Every major climate pledge in the world talks about “net-zero.” But here’s the twist: net-zero still allows fossil fuels. As long as countries capture or offset their carbon emissions, they can technically keep burning oil, coal, or gas. A new study in Nature Communications asks a radical question: What if a region actually tried to […]

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