We're immensely proud of @MitchWaldrop's review of our cosmological origins. What happened before the Big Bang? Do we live in a multiverse, a mirror cosmos, or one with 'rainbow gravity’? Did the universe begin with a bounce, rather than a bang?

https://twitter.com/templeton_fdn/status/1460693657468772358

Mitch Waldrop walks us through the history of cosmology, beginning by explaining Einstein’s theories of relativity, how astronomers established the universe is expanding, and evidence for the Big Bang: templeton.org/discoveries/co…

A new quantum experiment published in Nature Physics puts the “Wigner’s friend” thought experiment to the test. It could tell us more about the role that consciousness plays in quantum physics (if any)—and even whether quantum theory must be replaced: scientificamerican.com/article/this-t… Loved writing this. Some of my fave quotes: Team member Howard Wiseman on a possible future version w/ an AI 'friend' on a quantum computer, to test if consciousness causes collapse: “I don’t think I will live to see an experiment like this...But that would be revolutionary.”

Congratulations to Professor Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (@IBJIYONGI) on the publication of her FQXi-funded research, in the journal "Signs": journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.10… @IBJIYONGI CPW was funded through our “Physics of the Observer” program. She investigates “who is allowed to be an observer in physics, & who is fundamentally denied the possibility” -- introducing the concept of “white empiricism,” & its negative impact on black women scientists & physics.

Interested in the origins of time, life, consciousness & free will? Or the AI singularity and transhumanism? Audio from the talks at FQXi's "Mind Matters" meeting in Tuscany is being added each day, along with slides: fqxi.org/community/podc…. Videos will appear soon (promise). @seanmcarroll @carlorovelli @quantummoxie @gmusser @FrancesVidotto @SimonDeDeo @okw Memory, Causality and Cats. Cosmologist @seanmcarroll
searches for a mathematical description of why causes precede effects & asks what makes our memories of the past special & different from calculations of what went before: fqxi.org/community/foru… Audio of talk from #FQXi2019

Next, Scott Aaronson riles things up with “Lessons from the Failure of Integrated Information Theory.” #FQXi2019 Aaronson: Had been smack talking about IIT at a previous FQXi meeting, and @tegmark challenged me to do a calculation to back it up. Argument continued on blog: scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=1799

Panel: Will we hit an AI Singularity? #FQXi2019 Michael Vassar: What is the singularity? Earlier meaning: There would be feedback as AI makes ever more sophisticated AI we could reach a point where AI take over. Expected between 2005 and 2030, a switch between human intelligence as the driver of history to AI as the driver.

Now panel “Intelligence + Agency = Free Will” moderated by Jennan Ismael #FQXi2019 Do we have free will?

Now, a panel asking “What will quantum computers be good for?” Thoughts? What will quantum computers be useful for? And when? #FQXi2019 Scott Aaronson: Uses are more specialised than popular articles suggest. But amazing there are applications at all: (1) simulating chemistry and physics (Feynman's original idea in '80s). Useful for material science, designing high-temp superconductors, better batteries...

Now, panel “Is Time Real?” #FQXi2019 Bernard Carr: Conscious experience exists over a very narrow timescale ('specious present'). But we know perception of time can change.