Is Our Understanding Of Light Completely Wrong? Two Consciousness Theories Go Head-to-head; Decoding Dolphin Whistles The World, The Universe And Us podcast

Content provided by New Scientist. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by New Scientist or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

The world, the universe and us »
Is our understanding of light completely wrong? Two consciousness theories go head-to-head; decoding dolphin whistles

22h ago 28:45

MP3•Episode home

Episode 301

Our understanding of the nature of light might be completely wrong. The double-slit experiment is one of the most famous experiments in physics and is how we’ve understood light for over 200 years. But a team is now suggesting we’ve got the interpretation all wrong - that light is in fact not a wave and is only made up of particles. If true, this is major. The authors of this study were left scrambling as “all hell broke loose” when they made the discovery. And the best part? Dark photons may be involved.

A 7 year study into the nature of consciousness has reached its conclusion - pitting two major theories against one another. Integrated information theory suggests levels of consciousness exist in any system, including rocks and fetuses. Global neuronal workspace theory claims specific brain regions are responsible for consciousness. After 256 brain scans - are we any closer to an answer?

A decades-long study involving 170 wild dolphins has allowed biologists to decode their whistles. Hear dolphins recorded in the waters of Sarasota, Florida, which show how the animals communicate in various ways - and even give themselves names.

Chapters:

(00:45) Dark photons and our understanding of light

(11:07) Major theories of consciousness go head-to-head

(21:05) Decoding whale language

Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Chelsea Whyte, Celso Villas-Boas, Gerhard Rempe, Christof Koch, Anil Seth and Laela Sayigh.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

368 episodes

#News #New Scientist #Technology #Space #Physics #Environment #Magazine #Science #Podcasting Education #Health and Well-Being #Math #Biology #Chemistry