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Why Some People Don’t ‘See’ Mental Imagery: Aphantasia

Neuroscience research into people with aphantasia is now revealing how imagination works and demonstrating the sweeping variety in our subjective experiences.


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2020’s Biggest Breakthroughs in Biology

January 5, 2021

In 2020, the study of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was undoubtedly the most urgent priority. But there were also other major breakthroughs in the life sciences.

2020’s Biggest Breakthroughs in Math and Computer Science

January 5, 2021

For mathematicians and computer scientists, 2020 was full of discipline-spanning discoveries and celebrations of creativity.

2020’s Biggest Breakthroughs in Physics

January 5, 2021

This year, two teams of physicists made profound progress on ideas that could bring about the next revolution in physics. Another has identified the source of a longstanding cosmic mystery.

New Clues in the Age-Old Question of the ‘Male’ and ‘Female’ Brain

December 14, 2020

Catherine Dulac of Harvard University discusses the roots of “male” and “female” parenting behaviors in mammalian brains.

This Computer Scientist’s Streaming Algorithms Shrink Big Data

December 7, 2020

Jelani Nelson explains how his streaming algorithms answer questions about big data without having to remember everything they’ve seen.

Inside Dynamical Systems and the Mathematics of Change

November 17, 2020

Bryna Kra explains how to describe complex systems in symbols.

The Extraordinary Math Hidden in Everyday Life

October 26, 2020

L. Mahadevan describes how he approaches science and where he finds his ideas.

The Bold Quest to Launch the Internet in Space

October 21, 2020

Vinton Cerf discusses the challenges of creating an interplanetary internet.