Biological Evolution and Information Acquisition

A few weeks ago we looked at a simulation of technological evolution by economist Brian Arthur, in which he was able to start with simple building blocks (such as a NAND gate) and evolve surprisingly complex circuits (such as a 12-way AND gate or a 4-bit adder) by randomly combining increasingly useful existing components.

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Appolonia: the story of an African kingdom that resisted the Atlantic slave trade

Why did Appolonia trade so few enslaved people? Short answer: unique economy and sacred beliefs.

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The high cost of undiagnosed and untreated ADHD: Unequal mental-health access and the care economy

Mental health disorders such as ADHD are among the top five causes of disability in Canada, yet spending on mental-health care is often viewed as an economic drain.

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In the Reality Lab

"Your body's data was only valuable once."

Brendan Fitzgerald·Jun 10, 2026

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Turning the Psychedelic Experience into a Math Problem

Extended DMT trips could help scientists probe a new theory of reality that puts consciousness first The post Turning the Psychedelic Experience into a Math Problem appeared first on Nautilus.

Kristen French·Jun 11, 2026

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Why Robots Still Can’t Do Science

AI can read the literature in an afternoon and design molecules a chemist never would. So why can't a robot hold a pipette? The post Why Robots Still Can’t Do Science appeared first on Nautilus.

Grigori Guitchounts·Jun 12, 2026

Canary Media

AI firms are getting creative as they scramble for energy

Desperate for power, companies are pursuing new strategies to run data centers, from repurposing jet engines to beaming solar energy down from space.

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