Observing Brain Activity in the Moments Before Death

Dr. Stuart Hameroff, an anesthesiologist and professor at the University of Arizona, has contributed to discussions on this subject, referencing a study that monitored brain activity in clinically deceased individuals. The research involved placing specialized sensors on the brains of seven terminally ill patients moments before they were removed from life support. These sensors allowed scientists to record neural activity even after each patient’s heart and blood pressure had dropped to zero.

In a conversation with Jay Anderson on the YouTube channel Project Unity, Dr. Hameroff explained that researchers observed all neurological functions diminishing—except for a sudden and intense burst of activity.

“That could signify a near-death experience, or perhaps it represents the soul leaving the body,” he suggested.

A Quantum Perspective on Consciousness

Dr. Hameroff supports the theory that consciousness operates at a fundamental quantum level, arguing that it emerges from quantum processes within microtubules—microscopic structures inside brain cells—rather than being solely the result of electrical impulses between neurons. He posits that this perspective might explain why individuals continue to experience awareness in states where brain energy is significantly reduced, such as under anesthesia, in deep sleep, or during near-death experiences.

The scientists involved in the study proposed a more conventional hypothesis, attributing the burst of brain activity to oxygen deprivation.

The Quantum Information Hypothesis

Dr. Hameroff elaborated on this concept in The Science Channel’s documentary series Through the Wormhole, describing what could occur at the time of death: “When the heart ceases beating and blood flow halts, the quantum state of microtubules collapses. However, the quantum information they contain is not destroyed—it simply disperses into the universe.”

He further theorized that if a patient is revived, this quantum information might reintegrate into the microtubules, which could account for reports of near-death experiences. If the individual is not revived, this quantum data could persist indefinitely beyond the physical body, potentially existing as what some might consider the soul.

However, mainstream scientific consensus generally supports the view that consciousness arises from intricate neural network interactions that process information to create a cohesive subjective experience.

A Study Examining End-of-Life Consciousness

The study in question, conducted in 2009 by researchers at George Washington University, sought to examine levels of consciousness at the end of life in critically ill patients.

“We present a case series of seven patients who retained neurological function prior to the decision to withdraw life support due to severe systemic illness,” the study reported.

The group consisted of five women and two men, ranging in age from 34 to 74. Each patient underwent an electroencephalogram (EEG) while being taken off life support.

Unexpected Findings in Brain Activity After Death

Once EEG readings became isoelectric—indicating the absence of measurable brain activity—the patients were declared deceased, and the EEG devices were removed. However, an unexpected phenomenon was observed: data revealed a surge of neural activity lasting from one to 20 minutes after death.

Dr. Hameroff noted that, in one case, a patient’s brain exhibited a brief yet intense burst of high-frequency activity known as gamma synchrony for approximately 30 to 90 seconds after the heart stopped beating—before vanishing completely.

Gamma synchrony is a brainwave pattern commonly associated with conscious thought, awareness, and perception—the kind of neural activity observed when an individual is actively thinking or processing information. This suggests that even after the heart has stopped, the brain may exhibit brief signs indicative of awareness or consciousness.

Possible Explanations for the Observed Phenomenon

“The researchers considered whether this post-cardiac death brain activity could be linked to near-death or out-of-body experiences,” Dr. Hameroff explained. “However, since the patients did not survive, there was no way to confirm whether such experiences actually took place.”

The scientists presented two potential explanations for their findings. The first hypothesis suggested that electrical interference might have influenced the EEG recordings. However, given that the activity was observed on two separate monitoring devices employing different methods, this possibility was considered unlikely.

The second—and more widely accepted—theory proposed that the sudden surge in brain activity resulted from oxygen deprivation. As the brain reaches a critical state of hypoxia, neurons rapidly lose their electrical charge, leading to a cascade of electrical activity across the brain.

The Connection Between Near-Death Experiences and Brain Activity

This process might account for the vivid near-death experiences reported by individuals who survive cardiac arrest. Researchers speculated that the electrical cascade could be responsible for triggering memories and visual imagery, which patients later recall upon resuscitation.

“We suggest this as a potential explanation for the clarity with which many individuals describe ‘out-of-body experiences’ after being successfully revived from near-death events,” the study concluded.

The researchers also noted that, while the precise nature of this post-mortem brain activity remains uncertain, many grieving families find comfort in the idea that something profound occurs at the time of death.

What is this incurable disease that has the world watching so closely? How did it emerge, and why is it spreading so rapidly?

What Is the Bleeding Eye Virus?

The “bleeding eye” or Marburg virus is a highly virulent pathogen responsible for Marburg virus disease (MVD), a severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. First identified in 1967 during simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and Belgrade in Serbia, the virus was traced back to African green monkeys imported from Uganda for research purposes. This initial outbreak resulted in several fatalities among laboratory workers, marking the virus’s alarming entry into the human population.

Marburg virus is closely related to the Ebola virus, sharing similar structural characteristics and disease manifestations. Both viruses are filamentous and contain single-stranded RNA genomes, leading to severe hemorrhagic fevers with high mortality rates. The natural reservoir for the Marburg virus is the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus), with human infections typically resulting from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by these bats.

Transmission to humans occurs through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals or animals. Human-to-human transmission is facilitated by direct contact with broken skin or mucous membranes, as well as contact with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids, such as bedding and clothing.

The World Health Organization notes that the average case fatality rate for MVD is around 50%, with rates varying from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks, depending on virus strain and case management. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for MVD.

Recent Outbreak and Current Status of Marburg Virus

Since the first recognized outbreak in Marburg, Germany, in 1967, Marburg virus disease (MVD) has primarily surfaced in African nations, with recent outbreaks reported in Ghana (2022), Tanzania (2023), and now Rwanda.

The Rwandan Ministry of Health confirmed its first case of the Marburg virus in September 2024, with the country reporting a total of 66 cases and 15 deaths by November 29, 2024. The outbreak prompted the U.S. State Department to issue a travel advisory on November 22, urging “increased caution” for travelers to Rwanda due to the virus. This advisory highlighted potential additional health screenings for travelers entering and exiting the country.

As of the last update, approximately 75% of reported Marburg patients in Rwanda have recovered, with the last known patient being discharged on November 8, 2024, after testing negative for the virus. Following this, the World Health Organization began a 42-day countdown on November 9, 2024, to potentially declare the end of the outbreak. If no new cases are reported during this period, the outbreak could officially be declared over by December 22, 2024. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has maintained a Level 2 travel advisory (Practice Enhanced Precautions) for Rwanda and continues to monitor the situation closely in collaboration with international partners.

This recent episode in Rwanda highlights the persistent threat posed by hemorrhagic fevers like Marburg. There is a need for vigilant health surveillance, rapid response capabilities, and international cooperation to manage outbreaks effectively.

How Does the Bleeding Eye Virus Spread?

Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness characterized by a rapid onset of symptoms that can escalate swiftly. Below is the progression of the symptoms for early detection and improving survival rates.

1. Incubation Period: The incubation period for MVD ranges from 2 to 21 days, with symptoms typically appearing abruptly.
2. Initial Symptoms: The disease begins suddenly with high fever, severe headache, and malaise. Muscle aches and pains are common.
3. Gastrointestinal Phase: By the third day, patients may experience severe watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, and vomiting. This phase can last for a week, and patients have been described as having “ghost-like” drawn features, deep-set eyes, expressionless faces, and extreme lethargy.
4. Hemorrhagic Manifestations: Between days 5 and 7, hemorrhagic symptoms may develop, including:
   • Bleeding from the nose, gums, and injection sites
   • Blood in vomit and feces
   • Spontaneous bleeding from the eyes, leading to the “bleeding eye” nickname
   • Notably, “because it’s hemorrhagic, it ‘damages blood vessels and causes bleeding’ — often from the eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina.”
5. Neurological Symptoms:
   • In later stages, patients may exhibit neurological symptoms such as confusion, irritability, and aggression.
6. Fatal Outcomes:
   • In fatal cases, death usually occurs between 8 and 9 days after symptom onset, often preceded by severe blood loss and shock.

How Can the Spread Be Prevented?

For those in high-risk areas, such as caves or mines where bats are common, wearing protective clothing like gloves and masks is essential to avoid transmission from bats to humans.

During an outbreak, it’s vital to handle food safely by thoroughly cooking all animal products. Human-to-human transmission can be significantly reduced by avoiding direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. This includes not handling items like bedding and clothing that may have come into contact with the virus.

Isolation of suspected or confirmed cases is crucial, and monitoring anyone who has been exposed to the virus for 21 days can help prevent further spread. Safe burial practices are equally important, as the handling of bodies can lead to transmission.

For personal safety, avoid contact with potential animal carriers of the virus, such as Egyptian rousette bats and non-human primates in affected regions.

Should You Be Worried About Marburg Virus in the US?

As the Marburg virus captures headlines with its outbreak in Rwanda, it’s natural to wonder about the implications closer to home in the U.S. The good news, according to the CDC, is that the risk to the general U.S. population remains “low,” and this assessment is made with “moderate confidence.” So, what does this mean for those in the US?

The outbreak in Rwanda has been largely contained to specific clusters and has not shown signs of wider community spread. Additionally, measures are in place to monitor those who might bring the virus stateside. While the notion of the virus reaching the U.S. might seem concerning, the structure of travel from Rwanda to the U.S.—including the lack of direct flights and relatively few travelers—significantly reduces the likelihood of Marburg making its way here.

Furthermore, should the virus somehow enter the U.S., CDC reassures that the country’s public health system is prepared to handle it. Remember the Ebola outbreak in 2014-2015? It’s a similar scenario: despite the high stakes, only two infections occurred in the U.S., and both were contained without community spread.

For those without travel plans to Rwanda, the situation is more about staying informed than actively worrying. However, if you’ve recently been to Rwanda or know someone who has, it’s wise to be vigilant about health and follow the guidelines set by health authorities. Keeping informed through reliable sources and trusting our health systems are our best moves as we watch how this situation unfolds overseas.

Is There a Cure or Vaccine for Marburg Virus?

Currently, there is no approved cure or vaccine for Marburg virus disease (MVD). The WHO and various health agencies recognize the critical need for effective treatments and have reported that several vaccine and drug therapies are in the development stages. The Sabin Vaccine Institute and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) are among the organizations actively working on potential vaccines. Additionally, researchers at Oxford University, known for developing the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, began trials in the UK this summer using similar technology for a Marburg vaccine candidate.

Despite these efforts, healthcare professionals must rely on supportive care measures, such as rehydration and symptom management, which have been shown to improve survival rates.

Diagnosing MVD is also challenging as its symptoms are similar to those of many other infectious diseases, including malaria and other viral hemorrhagic fevers. Confirmation of the Marburg virus infection relies on specialized diagnostic methods such as the antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Staying Vigilant Against the Marburg Threat

The Marburg virus, with its devastating impact and high mortality rate, remains a pressing global health concern. From its alarming symptoms to its rapid transmission, understanding this disease is vital for prevention and containment. While recent outbreaks have highlighted the challenges in managing this deadly virus, they have also spurred coordinated international efforts to enhance surveillance, enforce preventive measures, and develop potential treatments.

Staying informed, practicing good hygiene, and adhering to travel advisories are essential for mitigating risks, especially for those in or traveling to affected regions. By prioritizing education and vigilance, we can collectively work toward minimizing the spread of the Marburg virus and safeguarding public health.

Myth 1: Mental Health Problems Are Rare

Mental health challenges aren’t as rare as some might think—they affect a huge portion of the global population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “1 in 4 people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.” In the United States, more than one in five adults live with a mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This prevalence shows how common mental health issues are and underscores the need to recognize and address them as a regular part of health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only intensified mental health struggles. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that the number of adults experiencing depression in the U.S. tripled during the pandemic, highlighting the importance of increased mental health support, especially during times of global crisis.

Understanding how common mental health issues are is key to fighting stigma and helping people feel comfortable seeking support. Realizing that these challenges affect many can foster a more supportive and empathetic society.

Myth 2: People with Mental Health Issues Are Weak

The idea that mental health struggles reflect personal weakness is a harmful misconception. Mental health conditions are complex medical issues, influenced by a mix of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors—none of which reflect on an individual’s character or strength.

The South Australian Health Department states, “A mental illness is not a character flaw. It is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, biological, social and environmental factors.” This underscores that mental health issues are not personal shortcomings but multifaceted health conditions.

NAMI also emphasizes that mental health conditions “have nothing to do with being lazy or weak, and many people need help to get better.” Seeking help is actually a proactive and courageous step, not a sign of weakness. It takes resilience and strength to confront these challenges, engage in treatment, and work toward recovery.

In reality, managing a mental health condition often requires significant courage. People facing these challenges show immense strength by seeking treatment and committing to recovery. As many say, “Fighting a mental health condition takes a great deal of strength”—a perspective that recognizes the resilience required to manage these struggles.

Myth 3: Therapy is Only for “Crazy” People

There’s this idea out there that therapy is only for people dealing with serious mental illness, but that’s a huge misconception. Therapy can actually help with all kinds of things—from handling everyday stress to working on personal growth and navigating life’s ups and downs.

Think of therapy as a safe, private place where you can talk openly with someone who’s trained to really listen and guide you. It’s different from venting to friends or family. Therapists have tools and techniques they’re trained to use that can genuinely make a difference.

And science backs this up. For example, research in the Journal of Counseling Psychology found that people who go to therapy report feeling better and handling life’s challenges more easily.

The truth is, therapy isn’t just for people in crisis. Lots of folks go to work on self-awareness, strengthen their relationships, or just set themselves up to live a fuller life. Let’s get rid of the idea that therapy is only for people with “serious” issues. It’s a helpful resource for anyone looking to feel better and grow.

Myth 4: Mental Health Conditions Are Permanent

A lot of people think that if you’re diagnosed with a mental health condition, you’re stuck with it forever. But that’s not always the case—plenty of people see real improvement, and some even recover fully.

Mental health isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. Recovery looks different for everyone, and things like getting help early, finding the right treatment, and making lifestyle changes can make a huge difference. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) even says, “recovery is a process, and it’s possible for people to recover and live full and productive lives.”

There’s research to back this up, too. One study in Psychiatric Services found that people dealing with serious mental health challenges saw big improvements in their lives when they had solid, community-based support.

Recovery might mean different things to different people. For some, it’s learning how to manage symptoms so they can live well. For others, it’s about reaching a point where symptoms are no longer an issue. Either way, mental health challenges don’t have to be a lifelong roadblock. Improvement is possible, and with the right help, people can and do live fulfilling lives.

Myth 5: People with Mental Health Disorders Are Violent

There’s this stereotype that people with mental health issues are violent, but it’s just not true. Most people dealing with mental health challenges aren’t violent at all—in fact, they’re often more likely to be victims of violence rather than the ones causing it.

Studies show that mental health issues alone don’t make someone violent. A big review done in 2015 found that only about 4% of violent acts in the U.S. could be linked to people with mental health disorders. So blaming mental illness for violent behavior doesn’t really add up and actually creates a lot of unfair stigma.

Plus, people with severe mental health conditions are actually at a higher risk of getting hurt themselves. Research has shown they’re more likely to be victims of violent crime compared to the general population.

It’s also worth remembering that things like drug or alcohol use, financial issues, and personal history are way bigger factors in violent behavior than mental health. Breaking down this myth is important to help reduce stigma and build a more accurate, compassionate understanding of mental health.

Myth 6: Mental Health Issues Are a Sign of Weakness

A lot of people still think that mental health struggles mean a person is weak or lacks willpower. But honestly, mental health has nothing to do with being “tough” or “weak.” Mental health conditions are just as real as physical ones, and they happen because of a whole mix of factors—genetics, environment, biology, you name it.

Imagine telling someone with a broken leg to just “toughen up” and walk it off. It sounds silly, right? Yet people say things like this about mental health all the time. Groups like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) are clear about it: mental health issues aren’t caused by a lack of character or inner strength.

Truth is, facing a mental health challenge actually takes a lot of strength. It’s not easy to ask for help, stick to treatment, and keep going, especially when things get tough. People dealing with mental health issues are often some of the strongest out there—they’re just dealing with a different kind of battle.

So let’s ditch the idea that mental health is about weakness. Getting through hard times, reaching out for help, and working on yourself takes serious courage.

Myth 7: Only People Without Friends Need Therapists

Some people think therapy is just for folks who don’t have close friends or family to lean on. But that’s not really true. Therapy is a totally different kind of support—it’s a place where you can talk openly with someone who’s trained to help you work through things without any judgment or personal ties.

Friends and family are great, sure, but they’re not exactly equipped to handle everything. Therapists, on the other hand, know how to help you get to the root of things in a way that even the best friend can’t. Plus, in therapy, you don’t have to hold back or worry about how it might affect someone else. It’s just you, figuring things out for yourself.

And here’s the thing: therapy isn’t just for people dealing with big crises. Plenty of people go just to work on self-improvement, sort through their thoughts, or get better at handling life’s ups and downs. Whether you’re looking to build confidence, manage stress, or just understand yourself a bit better, therapy can be a huge help.

So, therapy isn’t about lacking friends. It’s about taking the time to work on yourself in a way that friends or family just can’t provide.

Myth 8: Mental Health Problems Are Permanent

A lot of people think that if you’re dealing with a mental health issue, it’s something you’ll just have to live with forever. But that’s actually not true. Many people see major improvements over time, and some even reach a place where they feel completely better.

Recovery isn’t the same for everyone. For some, it means finding ways to manage symptoms well enough to enjoy life, while others might actually see their symptoms go away altogether. Things like the right treatment, a strong support system, and some lifestyle tweaks can make a world of difference.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) even says, “recovery is a process, and it’s possible for people to recover and live full and productive lives.” And research backs this up—lots of studies show that with the right help, people dealing with mental health issues often experience big changes for the better.

So, no, mental health challenges aren’t necessarily forever. With the right help and time, many people find themselves in a much better place.

Myth 9: Addiction Is a Lack of Willpower

There’s a common idea that addiction is just a lack of willpower or self-control, but it’s way more complicated than that. Addiction isn’t about being “weak”—it’s a real medical condition that affects the brain.

When someone becomes addicted, their brain chemistry actually changes, especially in areas that deal with motivation and rewards. This is why willpower alone usually isn’t enough to break the cycle. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains it well: addiction is “a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain.”

Basically, addiction rewires the brain, making it incredibly hard to quit without help. Studies back this up too, showing that people struggling with addiction benefit most from a combination of treatments—things like counseling, support groups, and sometimes medication.

So let’s throw out the idea that addiction is about a lack of willpower. It’s a complex medical issue, and people deserve understanding and proper help, not judgment.

Myth 10: People with Schizophrenia Have Multiple Personalities

A lot of people mix up schizophrenia with having “multiple personalities,” but they’re actually two completely different things. Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects how someone thinks, feels, and perceives reality, sometimes causing things like hallucinations or delusions.

The confusion likely comes from the word “schizophrenia” itself, which loosely means “split mind.” But it doesn’t mean a split personality—more like a disconnect in how emotions and thoughts align with reality. The World Health Organization (WHO) clarifies that schizophrenia is really about distortions in thinking and perception, not multiple identities.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which used to be called multiple personality disorder, is actually the condition where someone has two or more distinct identities or personality states. It’s totally separate from schizophrenia and has its own symptoms and treatments.

Understanding the difference is important, because mixing up these conditions just adds to the misunderstanding and stigma around mental health. Schizophrenia isn’t about “split personalities”—it’s a serious but manageable mental health condition that deserves empathy and accurate information.

Dispelling the Myths, Embracing the Truth

Despite the progress made in understanding mental health, misconceptions continue to fuel stigma and create unnecessary barriers for those seeking support. Recognizing the myths that surround mental health is an essential first step in fostering a more compassionate and educated society. By exploring and debunking these misconceptions, we encourage a shift in perspective, moving away from judgment and toward understanding.

Understanding that mental health challenges are common, multifaceted, and treatable—and that seeking help is a strength—helps build a supportive environment where individuals feel safe reaching out. This transformation starts with each of us, as we challenge the myths we encounter and promote a more accurate view of mental health.

With every myth dispelled, we make room for greater acceptance, empathy, and action. By embracing the truth, we help dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health, paving the way for a world where well-being is prioritized and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Reflecting recent trends in physics, my colleague Jeffrey Eischen and I have described an updated way to think about matter. We propose that matter is not made of particles or waves, as was long thought, but – more fundamentally – that matter is made of fragments of energy.

From Five to One

The ancient Greeks conceived of five building blocks of matter – from bottom to top: earth, water, air, fire and aether. Aether was the matter that filled the heavens and explained the rotation of the stars, as observed from the Earth vantage point.

These were the first most basic elements from which one could build up a world. Their conceptions of the physical elements did not change dramatically for nearly 2,000 years.

Then, about 300 years ago, Sir Isaac Newton introduced the idea that all matter exists at points called particles. One hundred fifty years after that, James Clerk Maxwell introduced the electromagnetic wave – the underlying and often invisible form of magnetism, electricity and light.

The particle served as the building block for mechanics and the wave for electromagnetism – and the public settled on the particle and the wave as the two building blocks of matter. Together, the particles and waves became the building blocks of all kinds of matter.

This was a vast improvement over the ancient Greeks’ five elements but was still flawed. In a famous series of experiments, known as the double-slit experiments, light sometimes acts like a particle and at other times acts like a wave. And while the theories and math of waves and particles allow scientists to make incredibly accurate predictions about the Universe, the rules break down at the largest and tiniest scales.

Einstein proposed a remedy in his theory of general relativity. Using the mathematical tools available to him at the time, Einstein was able to better explain certain physical phenomena and also resolve a longstanding paradox relating to inertia and gravity.

But instead of improving on particles or waves, he eliminated them as he proposed the warping of space and time.

Using newer mathematical tools, my colleague and I have demonstrated a new theory that may accurately describe the Universe. Instead of basing the theory on the warping of space and time, we considered that there could be a building block that is more fundamental than the particle and the wave.

Scientists understand that particles and waves are existential opposites: A particle is a source of matter that exists at a single point, and waves exist everywhere except at the points that create them.

My colleague and I thought it made logical sense for there to be an underlying connection between them.

Flow and Fragments of Energy

Our theory begins with a new fundamental idea – that energy always “flows” through regions of space and time.

Think of energy as made up of lines that fill up a region of space and time, flowing into and out of that region, never beginning, never ending and never crossing one another.

Working from the idea of a universe of flowing energy lines, we looked for a single building block for the flowing energy. If we could find and define such a thing, we hoped we could use it to accurately make predictions about the Universe at the largest and tiniest scales.

There were many building blocks to choose from mathematically, but we sought one that had the features of both the particle and wave – concentrated like the particle but also spread out over space and time like the wave.

The answer was a building block that looks like a concentration of energy – kind of like a star – having energy that is highest at the center, and that gets smaller farther away from the center.

Much to our surprise, we discovered that there were only a limited number of ways to describe a concentration of energy that flows. Of those, we found just one that works in accordance with our mathematical definition of flow.

We named it a fragment of energy. For the math and physics aficionados, it is defined as A = -⍺/r where ⍺ is intensity and r is the distance function.

Using the fragment of energy as a building block of matter, we then constructed the math necessary to solve physics problems. The final step was to test it out.

Back to Einstein, Adding Universality

More than 100 ago, Einstein had turned to two legendary problems in physics to validate general relativity: the ever-so-slight yearly shift – or precession – in Mercury’s orbit, and the tiny bending of light as it passes the Sun.

These problems were at the two extremes of the size spectrum. Neither wave nor particle theories of matter could solve them, but general relativity did.

The theory of general relativity warped space and time in such way as to cause the trajectory of Mercury to shift and light to bend in precisely the amounts seen in astronomical observations.

If our new theory was to have a chance at replacing the particle and the wave with the presumably more fundamental fragment, we would have to be able to solve these problems with our theory, too.

For the precession-of-Mercury problem, we modeled the Sun as an enormous stationary fragment of energy and Mercury as a smaller but still enormous slow-moving fragment of energy. For the bending-of-light problem, the Sun was modeled the same way, but the photon was modeled as a minuscule fragment of energy moving at the speed of light.

In both problems, we calculated the trajectories of the moving fragments and got the same answers as those predicted by the theory of general relativity. We were stunned.

Our initial work demonstrated how a new building block is capable of accurately modeling bodies from the enormous to the minuscule. Where particles and waves break down, the fragment of energy building block held strong.

The fragment could be a single potentially universal building block from which to model reality mathematically – and update the way people think about the building blocks of the Universe.

Republished from TheConversation.com under Creative Commons

And the resulting rabbit hole has inspired countless viral articles that accrue major page views all across the web, with the subject itself being debated on prestigious stages by some of the world’s most renowned thinkers and physicists.

Tech magnate and entrepreneur Elon Musk made headlines in recent years when he openly stated he believed we live in a simulation. He was quoted saying he thinks there’s “a one in billion chance we’re living in base reality.” In other words, he thinks it’s astronomically more unlikely that we’re not living in a simulation. He said the game No Man’s Sky further convinced him of this reality. To him, the question is “What’s outside the simulation?”

In a 2017 interview, Musk expanded on his views with a tweet to the Twitter account belonging to the show Rick and Morty:

“The singularity for this level of the simulation is coming soon. I wonder what the levels above us look like.”

The singularity for this level of the simulation is coming soon. I wonder what the levels above us look like.

Good chance they are less interesting and deeper levels are better. So far, even our primitive sims are often more entertaining than reality itself.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 5, 2017

Where did such technomanic confidence in a real-life Matrix come from? The original Simulation Argument was penned by Nick Bostrum in 2003, though he started speculating on the end result of a Technological Singularity in 2001. He projected, that with our current rate of technological advancement, it is likely that advanced simulations will be increasingly common in the future, and thus it is likely we are actually in one of those simulations.

When the Simulation Argument first came out I was in college, around the time I already felt like I was living in some kind of dystopian movie in which war criminals could be re-elected to a second term as president and an unstoppable corporatocracy could suck the life and data out of a complacent populace.

Now, 15 years later, it seems we’re at enough inflection point, although this time it’s not just about one issue: with climate change looming, economic collapse imminent, and mindless nationalism seeping back into the global order, it’s as if we’ve hit a cultural singularity of destruction and apocalypse fetishism.

It makes total sense that such a hypothesis would become so popular in this environment. How could this reality be real? It almost makes more sense that this is a simulation. It’s soothing to think this is all some sick experiment by a sadistic posthuman AI or an extraterrestrial youth on higher-dimensional amphetamines and hallucinogens.

But it was hard to predict that such an outlandish concept could become so mainstream that actual scientists were subscribing to it—and actually running experiments to prove it.

However, in recent years, that’s exactly what has happened. A team of German physicists used a field called lattice quantum chromodynamics to create a mini-simulation of a sliver of the universe to see if it has the same kind of arbitrary constraints, such as high energy particles seen in the Greisen–Zatsepin–Kuzmin or GZK cut off.

Theoretical physicist S. James Gate claims to have found a surprising and highly unusual code in his research into string theory. He says that, embedded deep within the most fundamental equations that outline our cosmos, he found self-dual linear error-correcting block code. Essentially, he says there are error correcting 1s and 0s bound up inside the superstrings that constitute the core of our reality. Though Gate was a skeptic on the simulation idea, this discovery shook him.

A new book by Rizwan Virk expands upon Bostrum’s original idea and then takes it to the next level, as he wonders about the nature of our existence within the simulation.

“Probably the most important question related to this is whether we are NPCs (non-player characters) or PCs (player characters) in the video game,” Virk said in an interview with Vox.

“If we are PCs, then that means we are just playing a character inside the video game of life, which I call the Great Simulation.”

Virk argues that the mysterious findings in quantum mechanics—namely that the universe seems to be largely quantum potential and not fixed reality until a human observes it—are consistent with video game rendering logic. “The cardinal rule,” he says, “is the universe renders only that which needs to be observed.”

The cultural influence is significant, too. As we careen toward a frighteningly uncertain future, the temptation to engage in newer, proto-technologist forms of escapism grows stronger. The downstream effects of the Simulation Argument are becoming more clearly defined as a traditional religious psuedo-science, with YouTube videos of people claiming you can hack reality and reprogram your mind to live in the universe of your choosing.

One hacker, George Hotz, is so convinced we’re living in a simulation that he’s created a church for it, his goal being to figure out how to hack the simulation and escape into a new reality.

“It’s easy to imagine things that are so much smarter than you and they could build a cage you wouldn’t even recognize,” George stated, adding that the solution is to “jailbreak the simulation,” and either meet our makers or destroy them.

It’s hard to say whether such ideas are productive or dangerous. It’s unlikely Bostrom—who claims he had not seen The Matrix before writing his seminal paper on the hypothesis—could have ever imagined his idea would become so firmly embedded in the zeitgeist. He also likely could not have imagined the all-encompassing, dystopian nature of the surveillance grid we would live in nearly twenty years later.

People increasingly feel like they’re losing control of not only their own realities, but the collective, consensus reality we live in. It’s enticing to believe there’s a larger mystery governing the laws of this insanity. It’s enticing to view consciousness as some kind of reality-hacking, non-biological buzzsaw slicing through the quantum ether.

But at the end of the day, perhaps our minds are just the unlikely interfaces between chaos and energy. Given the unlikeliness of existing at all, maybe that should be enough.

By Jake Anderson | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com

“Highly evolved people have their own conscience as pure law.” ~Lao Tzu

If we heed these wise words by Lao Tzu, then it stands to reason that we focus more on developing highly evolved people capable of honoring universal laws, rather than waste our energy bludgeoning people with invalid laws that violate the golden rule, the nonaggression principle, and the universal laws that dictate health.

But what constitutes a highly evolved person? What might a highly evolved person’s character look like? How do we define such a broad concept? In Five Counterintuitive Traits of Highly Evolved Humans, I broke down the emotional disposition of highly evolved people. In this article we’ll break down the political disposition of highly evolved people.

Choose a courage-based lifestyle over a fear-based lifestyle:

“A government which will turn its tanks upon its people, for any reason, is a government with the taste of blood and a thirst for power and must either be smartly rebuked or blindly obeyed in deadly fear.” ~John Salter

Does your government have a taste for blood and a thirst for power? A highly evolved person, with their own conscience as pure law, would choose smart rebuking over fearful obsequiousness.

Don’t allow such a government to have its way. Question its authority. Practice strategic civil disobedience. Count coup on overreaching power constructs. Challenge outdated, immoral, and unjust laws. Be the personification of checks and balances. Dare to be a courageous David facing down the Goliath of the state.

We don’t need more people who blindly obey in deadly fear. That’s already the vast majority of people. We need more people who are highly evolved enough to smartly rebuke any and all governments that use violence to “solve” problems.

Choosing a courage-based lifestyle over a fear-based lifestyle is choosing to no longer be a victim. It’s choosing, instead, to become a hero. It’s choosing courage over fear, self-sacrifice over comfort and security, adventure over banality, fierceness over obsequiousness, and ruthless skepticism over blind faith.

Understand that the vast majority of people are still willing to live fear-based lifestyles. Sympathize with them for having not woken up yet, but do not pity them. It’s not their fault they were brainwashed, conditioned and indoctrinated into living fear-based lifestyles, but it is their responsibility to educate themselves and to break themselves of their conditioning.

You can lead people to knowledge, but you can’t make them think. You can, however, remain ruthless with your courage-based lifestyle. Become a beacon of courageous hope. Especially for those who are still living fear-based lifestyles. Call it tough love. As Derrick Jensen said, “Love does not imply pacifism.”

Choose heart-centeredness over political divisiveness:

“We want to abolish the state and create a world free of oppression and suffering, but we must not lose sight of ourselves in the pursuit of this goal. Remain heart-centered no matter how violent the state becomes or how divisive the political climate. Every revolutionary through history who chose violence became a monster and a shadow of what they pursued. Remember, we are after an evolution of hearts and minds.” ~Derrick Broze & John Vibes

Bipartisan politics is old hat. It’s high time you toss that hat in the fire. Highly evolved people have already done so. They have gone Meta with politics. They’ve gone beyond the outdated, codependent divisiveness of bipartisanism and graduated into an updated, interdependent metamorality.

Metamorality, coined by Joshua Greene, is based on a common ground that all humans can agree upon while proposing a utilitarian deep pragmatism that empathically broadens the mind and compassionately opens the heart to the plight of us all as interdependent beings on an interconnected planet. Highly evolved humans use this strategy, along with the Astronaut Overview Effect, to go big-picture.

Going big-picture helps us change our minds. Or, at least be more flexible and open in our thinking. It puts things into proper perspective. It helps us feel more empathic and less psychopathic toward each other. We’re better able to see the world as one, without borders.

We’re better able to narrow our highfalutin politics down to a single concept we can all agree on: freedom. We’re better able to see through all the red herring cognitive biases of the climate debate and realize that our problem is a single problem we can all agree on: pollution. We’re better able to cut straight through the divisiveness of religion and narrow it down to a single concept that we can all agree on: love. Especially love for our children, and creating a healthy environment for them to grow up in. And suddenly there are not so many differences between us.

Choosing heart-centeredness over political divisiveness puts a compassionate spin on our conscience. Indeed, it puts the “conscience” in having our own conscience as pure law. For pure law is universal law, based upon the healthy interconnectedness of all things.

Choose self-improvement over self-preservation and create a better world:

“You are personally responsible for becoming more ethical than the society you grew up in.” ~Eliezer Yudkowsky

When it comes down to it, becoming a highly evolved human is about spitting out the unhealthy blue pill of comfort, safety, and security based on outdated laws, and having the courage to swallow the healthy red pill of curiosity, questioning, and skepticism that questions bad laws in order to create healthy laws that align with universal laws.

It’s about becoming the personification of checks and balances. It’s about putting in the hard and difficult work of becoming a highly evolved person who has the wherewithal to “use their own conscience as pure law.” And to teach others how to do the same.

The answer is not creating more bad laws to shove down people’s throats. The answer is creating people smart enough to question the authority that seeks to shove bad laws down people’s throats. Indeed. The answer is teaching people how to become bigger than the law, how to gain the capacity to have their own conscience as pure law, and how to become a more valuable human. As Niels Bohr said, “Every valuable human being must be a radical and a rebel, for what he must aim at is to make things better than they are.”

If, as Plato famously said, “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws,” then it stands to reason that we should focus more on teaching people how to act responsibly and less on creating laws. Especially since humans are so terrible at making good laws. And especially-especially since humans are even more terrible about abusing their power regarding those ill-conceived laws.

As Edward Abbey wisely suggested, “Since few men are wise enough to rule themselves, even fewer are wise enough to rule others.” The few seeking to rule others do so through the enforcement of bad laws.

So, it is incumbent upon anyone with their own conscience as pure law to ruthlessly interrogate such bad laws and then mercilessly check and balance any authority seeking to enforce such bad laws. We do ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren a disservice when we decide not to.

There is no greater cause than becoming more ethical than the society you grew up in. Will you defend outdated unethical laws and merely turn a blind eye to those who unjustly enforce them? Or will you defend the people’s right to ruthlessly challenge unethical laws and those who unjustly enforce them? The choice is yours. As William James said, “We are all ready to be savage in some cause. The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of the cause.”

“The snake which cannot cast its skin has to die. As well the minds which are prevented from changing their opinions; they cease to be mind.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche

If you would be alive –if you would choose to live an examined life, a fulfilled life, a self-actualized life, a life well-lived– then don’t fearfully choose the safe road, what Jung called “The Road of Death.” Choose instead the courage to face the trials and tribulations of an adventurous road, a road full of danger and risk.

On the bridge from Man to Overman, there is no place for half-assed lifestyles and herd instincts. There’s no place for fear-based perspectives and cowardly excuses. There’s no place for play-it-safers and goodie-two-shoes clinging to comfort and light. The bridge is too narrow for narrow-mindedness. It’s too shadowy for those who have not reconciled their own shadows. It’s too full of dark nights for anyone who hasn’t experienced a Dark Night of the Soul. It’s too painfully real for those who have not overcome the Matrix and embraced the Desert of the Real.

The bridge is only for courageous self-actualizers and heroic self-overcomers. If your intent is not self-actualization and self-overcoming, then simply get out of the way. Don’t block those with a full heart just because your heart is empty. Better yet: fill your heart with courage. Join the ranks of healthy progressive evolution. “I teach you the Overman,” writes Nietzsche. “Man is something that should be overcome. What have you done to overcome him?”

Taking the leap of courage:

“Every valuable human being must be a radical and a rebel, for what he must aim at is to make things better than they are.” ~Niels Bohr

Can you feel the constriction of your comfort zone? Like a heavy life-jacket weighing you down? Like a too-safe straight-jacket keeping you out of harms way?

Can you feel the warm glow of contentedness quietly stagnating you? Causing you to feel like you’ve made it somehow? Can you feel the secure pressure of the status quo keeping you in line? Causing you to blindly accept, to myopically believe that you’ve somehow got it all figured out?

Taking a leap of courage is daring yourself to escape these feelings. It’s encouraging yourself to step outside your comfort zone. It’s having the audacity to think rather than believe, to take things into consideration rather than rely on conviction. It’s inspiring yourself to be heroic despite fear.

Look, I get it. Inside the comfort zone everything is safe and warm, solved and unriddled. But there’s also no adventure there. There’s no risk. There’s no challenge. There is everything in there to help you heal, it’s a great place to lick your wounds, but there’s nothing there to help you grow.

Healthy growth, the kind of growth that builds resilience and robustness, can only be achieved outside the comfort zone. There’s got to be risk. Like Nietzsche said, “Man is a rope, tied between beast and Overman – a rope over an abyss. A dangerous across, a dangerous on-the-way, a dangerous looking-back, a dangerous shuddering and stopping.”

Inside the comfort zone there’s placation, pacification and pity. There’s everything that keeps us appeased and satisfied. There’s God with his shiny promises and glossy platitudes keeping us pampered and coddled and giving us that warm fuzzy feeling. But there’s no growth. There’s no questions. There’s no humor. There’s no furthering of evolution.

Outside of the comfort zone God is dead. Or, at least, God is a garden. A vast and vital garden filled with the compost of every man-made God to ever have existed, rotting like deified fertilizer for the future fertilization of ever-improved and ever-updated Gods.

Alas, the bridge from Man to Overman can only be built outside our comfort zones. Building the bridge is building adventure. It’s building something to grow into. It’s rebuilding God. It’s building a path into godhood and creative evolution. Indeed, we stand upon the corpse of God in order to self-actualize our place as Gods in the making.

Building the bridge out of the bones of God (and Giants):

“We are all Mothers of God, for God is always needing to be reborn.” ~Meister Eckhart

The bridge is a symbol for revivification, a creative renaissance, a spiritual rebirth, an existential resurgence. The bridge is a path, but it’s also a crossroads –a snarling juxtaposition. It’s built out of the outdated bones of God toward the updated end of creative evolution. It’s fixed into place with existential glue. It’s sturdier than any bridge ever created, but it’s surrounded by an angry abyss, and it’s never completed.

We are all architects of this bridge to some extent. Some of us are aware of it, but most of us are not. Most of us are cluttered and stuck in stopgap ideologies. We’re clustered and bottlenecked before the crossroads. Unable to self-actualize. Unable to self-overcome. Unable to see how everything is connected to everything else. Like pre-enlightened Rumis, we’re incapable of seeing that the door to our prison is wide open. And always has been.

Building the bridge from Man to Overman is proactively engaging and leveraging open-mindedness through self-actualization and self-overcoming. It’s inflicting awareness. It’s launching existential flares. It’s highlighting creative evolution through courageous interdependence.

The bones of God are sturdy and steadfast. Solid ground upon which to keep moving, ever-forward, ever-overcoming, ever-evolving. It takes the Newtonian notion of “standing on the shoulders of giants” to the next level. It’s Meta-perceptual. We stand on the bones of God in order to see further than God did. In order to perpetually propel human imagination and ingenuity. In order to grow and keep growing, despite creature comforts, herd instincts, and psychosocial hang-ups.

Building the bridge begins with each of us taking personal responsibility for our contribution to human evolution. Indeed. We all carry the bones of God. Self-overcoming is taking the reins of our life into our own hands, and proactively going about improving upon who we were yesterday. It’s a personalized Fibonacci sequence (self-improvement) striving toward Phi (enlightenment), where our own development is predicated upon an individualized progressive evolution that will ultimately contribute to the evolution of the species.

If you meet Nietzsche on the bridge, kill him:

“If you meet The Buddha on the road, kill him.” ~Linji

As Zen master Shunryu Suzuki wrote in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, “Kill the Buddha if the Buddha exists somewhere else. Kill the Buddha, because you should resume your own Buddha nature.” Similarly, we should kill our notion of self-mastery in order to continue improving our mastery. Think of it as a kind of recycled mastery, where we recycle the mastery of yesterday into the remastered mastery of today.

This applies to the concept of deification itself. So as not to get stuck in a particular state of growth, it is vital that we “kill” the notion that we have “arrived.” That our evolution is somehow “complete.” That there is nothing further to grow into, nothing to question, nothing to overcome. For there will always be something to grow into, to question, and to overcome. There will always be a vast infinity toward which our limited finitude must strive. Indeed. The bridge from Man to Overman is built ever-finitely into the infinite future.

Killing Buddha (God) on the road and killing Nietzsche (Godhood) on the bridge is vital to keep creative evolution in perspective, so as not to get hung-up on any particular notion of Truth. The bridge from Man to Overman is filled with the outdated bones of dead Gods and the burnt-out husks of outdated truths. As James Russel Lowell said, “Time makes ancient good uncouth.”

Those who are proactively and courageously building the bridge understand that Truth is a fickle beast. Almost as fickle a beast as human fallibility. It’s for both reasons that those who are building the bridge consistently recycle their own mastery.

At the end of the day, the bridge from Man to Overman is a process of self-actualization and self-overcoming. It’s the collective personification of creative evolution. We build the bridge to provide a flexible and malleable path toward godhood. We keep building, destroying and rebuilding so that past growth adds to, without subtracting from, the healthy and progressive evolution of the species. We stand and face the Abyss, honoring each other… “Overmaste: the (r)evolutionary potential in me honors the (r)evolutionary potential in you.”

Image: Source

In these moments, you need a fast, effective method to chill the heck out. This simple exercise can calm you down and eliminate stress in three minutes or less.

A Stealth Breathing Technique Used by Navy Seals and First Responders

The best thing about this breathing technique is that no one will even know you’re doing it.

It is used by first responders, Navy Seals, and people who are regularly under massive amounts of stress because it has a direct, palpable, and positive effect on the way their nervous systems function.

If you were to pick someone up in an ambulance from one of those LA traffic pile-ups, you don’t have time to freak out. Maybe they won’t live. You have seconds sometimes, to make smart choices that could possibly keep them breathing long enough to get them to a hospital.

Every fiber of your being has evolved over time to signal danger. This is part of your body’s fight-or-flight response.

Counter-Acting the Fight or Flight Response   

When faced with danger or any perceived threat, you instinctively default to two choices: run or fight.

A cascade of chemical reactions occurs the minute a stressful situation presents itself. This is how the body mobilizes its resources to deal with a threat. It doesn’t matter if it is a lion about to pounce on you – as our ancestors had to deal with – or that one last email that finally breaks you. Your natural response to stress will be the same – until you learn how to interrupt it.

The sympathetic nervous systems will trigger the adrenal glands to release catecholamines, which include adrenaline and noradrenaline. This causes your heart to pound, your blood pressure to rise, you’re your breathing rate to speed up.

Your pupils may dilate, and your skin may flush. In extreme stress, your muscles tense up – literally preparing you to run away from the dangerous trigger.

Modern-day triggers are so varied and pervasive, we are almost never in a state of calm.

After a stressful event, it can take up to 45 minutes for your body to return to homeostasis.

That’s why a simple breathing exercise can literally save your life, and retrain you to face stressful situations like a seasoned, meditating monk instead of a raging lunatic.

Cynthia Stonnington, chair of the department of psychiatry and psychology at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, says she introduces people to breathwork because “many people find benefit, no one reports side effects, and it’s something that engages the patient in their recovery with actively doing something.”

Breathwork is in fact, so useful, that one study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2017 found that patients with major depression who practiced deep breathing methods for three months had significantly reduced symptoms as compared to those who did not.

Another study found that our breathing is so closely linked to our emotional state, that changing it can practically negate anxiety completely.

How it Works

Sometimes called box-breathing, you can really use any form of deep, present and conscious breathing to change your physiological response to stress.

Most of us breathe in an unconscious, stress-promoting way. Here’s what happens when you breathe deeply, and correctly for just a few minutes:

• An exhale that is longer than your inhale (deep breathing) causes the vagus nerve which runs from the neck down through your diaphragm to relay a message to your brain to turn up your parasympathetic nervous system and turn down your sympathetic nervous system – the part of your nervous system responsible for rest, relaxation, peace, and digestion.
• This counter-acts the adrenal-dump and flight or fight response.
• Your brain is freed to make smart choices based on relaxed concentration, a state known as Alpha that is seen on EEG scans as neural oscillations in the frequency range of 5–12.5 Hz arising from synchronous and coherent (in phase or constructive) brain activity.
• Alpha waves caused by a deep-breathing pattern create a positive feedback loop that restores harmony between your mind and body.
• This brainwave state is also indicative of those “aha” or “eureka” moments of a compelling new idea, or insane creativity. They allow you to literally create something out of nothing. And when do you need to do that most often? When you are faced with a challenging or stressful situation!

How to Do It

You can start with a box breath and expand into larger inhale-exhale ratios.

A box breath is a simple inhale to the count of four, using your diaphragm. You then exhale for a slow count of four.

Be sure you expand your lungs completely, and fill them as much as you can. If your shoulders are shrugging into your ears, you are likely doing a “stress-breath” which only keeps you in the fight-or-flight stage. This is a shallow breath that we normally do when we are agitated or depressed.

Your stomach should expand, not just your lungs. This is because your diaphragm is moving down into your belly to allow your lungs to expand more fully.

Once you can do this, you will change the ratio. You will start with a 4:8 inhale to exhale ratio, and then move to 8:16, 10:20, 22:44, or even 30:80 etc.

If you want some real inspiration for deep breathing, check out this video of the famous yogi, B.K.S. Iyengar, conducting one of the longest exhales ever.

You don’t have to be this advanced to get all the benefits of deep breathing, though. Simply have enough awareness to take control of your breath the next time a stressful situation arises, and you’ll be feeling less anxious, and calmer.

It’s that simple. You can breathe yourself into peace, in three minutes or less.