Discover the secrets of science and technology. Read about breakthroughs, innovations, and mysteries. Uncover the truth behind these topics and explore the unknown.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not only a feature of computers and smartphones, but also of physical robots that can sense, act and interact with the world around them. These robots, known as Physical AI, are designed to look and behave…
Rich Terrill, a computer scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, believes that our universe could very well be a simulation with artificially intelligent inhabitants who believe in their world. “We live in one generation from those gods who create these…
Life on Earth owes its existence to photosynthesis – a process which is 2.3 billion years old. This immensely fascinating (and still not fully understood) reaction enables plants and other organisms to harvest sunlight, water and carbon dioxide while converting…
Are we living in a computer simulation? This is the question that some scientists and philosophers have been asking for decades. The idea was popularized by the movie The Matrix, which depicts a dystopian future where humans are enslaved by…
By Thomas Hertog, Professor of physics, KU Leuven The late physicist Stephen Hawking first asked me to work with him to develop “a new quantum theory of the Big Bang” in 1998. What started out as a doctoral project evolved…
Imagine a civilization so advanced that it can harness the power of an entire star. A civilization that can build a colossal structure around a star and capture its energy output for its own use. A civilization that can create…
PLUS+
One of the most popular philosophical theories says that the reality around us is an illusion. Most often, they refer to Buddhism and other Eastern teachings, but similar views are present in other philosophical traditions. How likely is it that…
Imagine you sit down and pick up your favorite book. You look at the image on the front cover, run your fingers across the smooth book sleeve, and smell that familiar book smell as you flick through the pages. To…
If you’ve ever had the eerie sensation there’s a presence in the room when you were sure you were alone, you may be reluctant to admit it. Perhaps it was a profound experience that you are happy to share with…
Imagine a scenario where your boss could read your mind and know what you are thinking at any moment. Sounds like a nightmare, right? Well, this could soon become a reality thanks to advances in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which are…
