Ontic Structural Realism (OSR) holds that structure is ontologically fundamental, yet it lacks a precise metaphysical account of structure. Returning to the insight that originally motivated structural realism, I develop a new basis for OSR grounded in the metaphysical foundations of mathematics. This approach draws on the principles of ante rem structuralism and their formal axiomatizations to define Structure Theory (ST), the view that structures exist sui generis and constitute the subject matter of mathematics. ST compels OSR to confront its “collapse problem” of distinguishing physical from mathematical structure. I argue for embracing the collapse by adopting the Mathematical Universe Hypothesis (MUH), which identifies our physical universe as an ante rem structure.
Scientists have directly watched angular momentum move through a crystal for the very first time — and discovered a bizarre twist along the way. Using ultra-powerful terahertz laser pulses, researchers triggered tiny atomic rotations inside a quantum material and found that the direction of rotation can unexpectedly flip as momentum is transferred. The strange reversal happens because of the crystal’s underlying symmetry, creating an almost impossible-sounding effect where two rotations combine into one spinning the opposite way.
If your mind could be copied perfectly into a machine, would the uploaded version still be you?
Roman Yampolskiy argues that even a flawless digital upload would only create a copy rather than preserve the original self — raising deeper questions about personal identity, continuity, and whether virtual immortality truly preserves the person who entered the machine.
0:08 Why Uploading Creates a Copy Instead of You. 1:11 The Problem of Personal Identity. 2:27 Why Continuity Matters More Than Duplication. 4:12 Internal Observation and the Sense of Self. 5:11 Why Personal Identity Is Always Changing.
Roman V. Yampolskiy is a tenured Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering, where he founded and directs the Cyber Security Lab. Widely credited with coining the term \.
Scientists are exploring in vitro gametogenesis a technology that could potentially turn skin or fat cells into sperm and egg cells. If successful, it could fundamentally change fertility, IVF, and reproductive possibilities for millions of people. https://www.matter.bio/
University of Cincinnati structural biologists are the first in the world to visualize a key cell protein as part of newly published research from the College of Medicine. The Seegar Lab has become the first to visualize the structure of a regulator protein, iRhom1, bound to the ADAM17 enzyme, using cryogenic electron microscopy housed in UC’s Center for Advanced Structural Biology research facility.
ADAM17 enzyme activity is essential in humans for proper tissue development and immune response, and regulating its activity is a drug target in treating chronic inflammatory diseases. Ectodomain shedding is the fundamental biological process in which enzymes, such as ADAM17, rapidly cleave and release other protein targets from the cell surface, altering cell-to-cell communication.
Artificial lights are blotting out the moon and stars, harming human health, and disrupting the natural world. Why is this a problem? And how can we stop it without sitting in the dark?
In the summer of 2013, I traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona to visit the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, the world’s leading cryonics organization, founded in 1972. CEO Dr. Max More gave me a full tour of the facilities and walked me through the entire process: from the moment clinical death is declared, through controlled cooling and vitrification, to the cryo-tanks holding (at the time) 117 patients in long-term storage.
I also asked him, somewhat selfishly, whether my big bald head would fit comfortably in a neuro-patient container.
After the tour, Max sat down with me for a 25-minute conversation that covered:
Affordability and the real cost of membership Why minimizing cooling delays after clinical death is critical, and what long-distance members do about it Preserving pets, because of course people ask Chemical brain preservation as an alternative path The importance of protecting the neuron’s microtubules The case for an X Prize style competition to reduce tissue damage Where cryonics sits inside the broader transhumanist project.
My favorite line from Max, the one I still come back to:
Anthropic Co-Founder Chris Olah warned that artificial intelligence could displace human labor “at very large scale” as he addressed the Vatican during the presentation of Pope Leo’s first encyclical on AI. The Anthropic co-founder urged stronger oversight from governments, religious leaders, and civil society, while raising concerns about AI’s growing power, global inequality, and mysterious internal behaviors observed in advanced systems.
Anthropic Co-Founder Warns AI Could Replace Human Jobs “At Very Large Scale” Chris Olah Sounds Alarm Over AI Risks During Major Vatican Address. “AI Could Displace Human Labour” — Anthropic Founder Issues Stark Warning.
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Live from Vatican City: Pope Leo participates in the presentation of his first major encyclical focused on the rise of artificial intelligence, marking a rare break from papal tradition. Real-time coverage of this significant Vatican event with DRM News.
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Many promising therapies fail because of poor patient selection; Harris warns that only about one third of tumors are truly hypoxic, underscoring the need for precise biomarkers in trials.
