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Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll.
Blog post with audio player, show notes, and transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025/04/14/311-…ndamental/

Questions about consciousness range from the precise and empirical — what neurons fire when I have some particular experience — to the deeply profound — does consciousness emerge from matter, or does matter emerge from consciousness? While it might be straightforward to think that consciousness arises from the collective behavior of atoms in the brain, Annaka Harris and others argue that consciousness could be the fundamental stuff from which matter arises. She talks with a variety of experts in her new audio series, Lights On: How Understanding Consciousness Helps Us Understand the Universe.

Annaka Harris received a BFA from New York University. She is the author of Consciousness: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind. She is a co-founder of Project Reason.

Mindscape Podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrxfgDEc2NxY_fRExpDXr87tzRbPCaA5x.
Sean Carroll channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/seancarroll.

#podcast #ideas #science #philosophy #culture

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In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, we’re joined by Nathan Piland, CEO of Nunex, a consulting firm that specializes in helping MedTech companies navigate the complex journey from concept to commercialization. With over two decades of experience across regulatory strategy, product development, and market access, Nathan shares invaluable insights into the critical steps for MedTech startups and established companies looking to succeed in today’s competitive landscape. Tune in as we discuss the unique challenges of the neurotech industry, strategic consulting for MedTech ventures, and how Nunex is helping companies grow and scale through a holistic, tailored approach.

Top 3 Takeaways:

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In this video I explore how Sam Altman’s hints about GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 are reshaping the AI landscape. You’ll discover the key differences between GPT-4.5 and GPT-5, learn why OpenAI’s next release could unify “fast” and “thoughtful” AI models, and find out how chain-of-thought reasoning could change everything from creative writing to complex problem-solving. I also discuss the biggest challenges OpenAI has faced during GPT-5’s development—from massive data requirements to persistent engineering snags—and why this model might feel closer to AGI than any chatbot yet.

LEARN AI:
🎓 Ultimate Generative AI Course — https://aimaster.me/generative-ai-course.
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📚 AI Essentials Library — https://aimaster.me/ai-essentials-library.

Chapters:
0:00 — Introduction.
0:24 — Timeline.
3:20 — Release date.
3:38 — Why the Wait?
5:01 — More problems.
7:25 — The Big & The Bigger.
8:41 — A solution.
9:38 — New Architecture.
11:32 — Deeply Multimodal Interaction.
12:34 — Built-in Operator & Scheduling Features.
13:23 — Personalization & Persistent Memory.
14:11 — Larger Context Windows.
14:56 — Visual Planning & Collaboration (Canvas)
16:13 — Will GPT-5 Feel Like AGI?
17:31 — Why GPT-5 Matters.
18:35 — It’s Almost Here

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When a pregnant woman had her blood sampled back in 1972, doctors discovered it was mysteriously missing a surface molecule found on all other known red blood cells at the time.

After 50 years, this strange molecular absence finally led to researchers from the UK and Israel describing a new blood group system in humans. In 2024, the team published their paper on the discovery.

“It represents a huge achievement, and the culmination of a long team effort, to finally establish this new blood group system and be able to offer the best care to rare, but important, patients,” UK National Health Service hematologist Louise Tilley said last September, after nearly 20 years of personally researching this bloody quirk.

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) latency represents a significant hurdle in finding a cure for HIV-1 infections, despite tireless research efforts. This challenge is partly attributed to the intricate nature of HIV-1 latency, wherein various host and viral factors participate in multiple physiological processes. While substantial progress has been made in discovering therapeutic targets for HIV-1 transcription, targets for the post-transcriptional regulation of HIV-1 infections have received less attention. However, cumulative evidence now suggests the pivotal contribution of post-transcriptional regulation to the viral latency in both in vitro models and infected individuals.

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Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has emerged as a pivotal gaseous transmitter in the central nervous system, influencing synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory by modulating various molecular pathways. This review examines recent evidence regarding how H2S regulates NMDA receptor function and neurotransmitter release in neuronal circuits. By synthesizing findings from animal and cellular models, we investigate the impacts of enzymatic H2S production and exogenous H2S on excitatory synaptic currents, long-term potentiation, and intracellular calcium signaling. Data suggest that H2S interacts directly with NMDA receptor subunits, altering receptor function and modulating neuronal excitability. Simultaneously, H2S promotes the release of neurotransmitters such as glutamate and GABA, shaping synaptic dynamics and plasticity.

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“Surgery means extensive recovery time and can significantly impact patient health. Our system doesn’t require surgery because we use a conventional stent, the catheter, as a delivery vehicle,” said W. Hong Yeo, the Harris Saunders Jr. Endowed Professor and an associate professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.

Made from ultra-thin, flexible silicone, these nanosensors can be embedded in almost anything, from pacifiers to catheters. But size was just one element the researchers needed to consider when developing this device; accuracy was just as important.

Hong Yeo holds an in-stent nanomembrane sensor that can detect intracranial pressure.

A car accident, football game, or even a bad fall can lead to a serious or fatal head injury. Annually, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) cause half a million permanent disabilities and 50,000 deaths. Monitoring pressure inside the skull is key to treating TBI and preventing long-lasting complications.

Most of these monitoring devices are large and invasive, requiring surgical emplacement. But Georgia Tech researchers have recently created a sensor smaller than a dime. The miniature size offers huge benefits.

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