Big Think

• Do we actually live in a multiverse? | Dr. Ethan Siegel

  "Welcome to the multiverse. Or should I say our one universe within a multiverse of possibilities?" Do we have proof of a multiverse? Our idea of the multiverse stems from the notion of quantum mechanics: The idea that every time we enter a situation there are potentially infinite possibilities to arise as the outcome. But when we make a decision, we only get one of these outcomes. Science fiction as well as our media and films are bewitched by the concept of the multiverse. But what can science tell us about its legitimacy? Dr. Ethan Siegel explores. Chapters for easier navigation:- 0:00 Is there a multiverse? 3:32 The “many worlds” interpretation 4:43 The notion of infinity 8:45 Types of infinity 10:16 Degrees of freedom 17:01 Quantum mechanical spreading 19:22 The universe beyond our universe 21:46 How fast do universes get created? 27:15 The hope of the multiverse The idea of the Multiverse suggests that every quantum possibility—every outcome that could happen—does happen, in a different universe. From choices we make to random atomic events, reality may split endlessly. Cosmic inflation—a rapid expansion after the Big Bang—might have created countless "bubble universes." Each one with different physical laws or histories. These bubbles never touch, separated by ever-expanding space. But here's the twist: Quantum mechanics produces a combinatoric explosion of outcomes—far more than the exponential growth from cosmic inflation. So, can the inflationary Multiverse actually contain all quantum possibilities? Only if inflation has been going on forever, into the infinite past and future. Otherwise, the full-blown sci-fi-style Multiverse? It's just in our minds. About Ethan Siegel: Ethan Siegel is a Ph.D. Astrophysicist and author of "Starts with a Bang!" He is a science communicator, who professes physics and astronomy at various colleges. He has won numerous awards for science writing since 2008 for his blog, including the award for best science blog by the Institute of Physics. His two books "Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive" and "Beyond the Galaxy: How humanity looked beyond our Milky Way and discovered the entire Universe" are available for purchase at Amazon. --------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• How to see clearly through deceptive emotions | Kristen Lindquist

  **🌍 Emotions Are Not Universal — They’re Cultural Lenses Shaping Reality** We often think emotions are hardwired facts — but in truth, they’re deeply shaped by the culture we live in. Emotions *feel* like objective reality, but they’re more like tinted glasses that color our perception. 🧠 **Kristen Lindquist**, professor of psychology and neuroscience, explains how emotion is both *biological* and *cultural*. While our brains come with the machinery to feel, *what* we feel — and *how* we interpret those feelings — is learned through culture, like language or art. For example: - In the U.S., anger = drawing a boundary. In Japan, anger = disrupting harmony. - Westerners under stress may see threats (like misidentifying objects as guns) — a bias driven by intense emotion. - Emotions aren’t even linguistically universal: only 22% of languages have a word for “fear” like English does. "Surprise" appears in just 13%. 👀 Even facial expressions — long thought to be universal emotional signals — are perceived differently depending on your cultural lens. What looks like anger in the UK may be read as something else in China. “Resting bitch face”? A cultural misinterpretation layered on gender norms. 💬 Gender norms, too, shape how emotions are interpreted. Women’s distress may be dismissed as anxiety. Men are expected to show anger, not sadness. This misalignment leads to real-world consequences — from misdiagnosed heart attacks to internalized shame. 🌏 *Emotions, then, are predictions*, filtered through past experiences, learned behaviors, and societal values. Recognizing that others may see, feel, and react differently — not wrongly — is key to reducing bias and creating connection. > **The takeaway?** Emotions are not truths — they are interpretations. And when we treat them as such, we become more open, less reactive, and better able to connect across divides. --------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The science of effortlessness: How to activate flow | Steven Kotler: Full Interview

  “Flow states have triggers: these are preconditions that lead to more flow. 22 of them have been discovered.” What if peak performance wasn’t a mystery, but a state you could wire your brain to enter on-demand? This isn’t about "getting in the zone." It’s about specific brain circuits, chemicals, and triggers that anyone can learn to activate. Backed by science, stripped of fluff, Steven Kotler explains the science of flow, from the inside out. 00:00 Introducing Steven Kotler 00:11 Chapter 1: The biology of our brains 00:35 Psychology’s “outside-in” blind spot 03:45 The brain works in networks 06:35 Making biology your ally: the four performance pillars 07:40 Finding flow’s sweet spot 08:49 Chapter 2: What is flow? 09:55 Six signs you're in flow 12:15 A brief history of flow 15:00 22 triggers that spark flow 19:00 The golden rule of flow: challenge-skills balance 21:47 What do we mean by "challenge" and "skills"? 24:16 How to harness intrinsic motivation 26:28 Why purpose is better than passion 31:50 Flow is a focusing skill 32:35 What is your primary flow activity? 37:39 Chapter 3: Flow and peak performance 37:50 We are all wired for flow 39:05 How flow impacts creativity and happiness 40:50 Group flow: empathy, cooperation and innovation 41:55 Physical boosts and evolution’s logic 43:00 The brain’s internal drug store 49:30 Using flow to rewrite PTSD 52:00 From chemicals to habits 56:15 Final takeaways: The 6 basics 1:02:20 Support Big Think and explore further ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Steven Kotler: Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. He is the author of ten bestsellers (out of thirteen books total), including The Art of Impossible, The Future Is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abundance. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 40 languages, and appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, TIME and the Harvard Business Review. Steven is also the cohost of Flow Research Collective Radio, a top ten iTunes science podcast. Along with his wife, author Joy Nicholson, he is the cofounder of the Rancho de Chihuahua, a hospice and special needs dog sanctuary. --------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Peter Singer: Are we prepared for AI to become conscious?

  "If we did create beings that were more like non-human animals, we ought to treat them much better than we now treat non-human animals." What happens when AI becomes conscious? Philosopher Peter Singer explores the ethical dilemma that could follow the creation of sentient machines. If AI can feel pain or experience pleasure, do we have a moral obligation to protect it? Singer argues that governments, scientists, and ethicists must prepare now for the rights and protections conscious AI may require. 0:00 Will we create conscious AI? 1:30 The ethical dilemma of sentient AI 1:56 Does AI deserve rights? 2:48 How we treat sentient AI 3:42 Experts in AI ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Peter Singer: Peter Singer has been described as the world’s most influential philosopher. Born in Melbourne in 1946, he has been professor of bioethics at Princeton University since 1999. His many books include Animal Liberation - often credited with triggering the modern animal rights movement - Practical Ethics, The Life You Can Save, The Most Good You Can Do, and Ethics in the Real World. In 2023, he published Animal Liberation Now, a fully revised and updated version of the 1975 original. Singer’s writings have also inspired the movement known as effective altruism, and he is the founder of the charity The Life You Can Save. In 2021 he was awarded the $1 million Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, which he donated to nonprofit organizations working for the causes he supports. In 2023 he received the Frontiers of Knowledge Prize for the Humanities, from the Spanish BBVA Foundation. --------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The cracks in my powerhouse life: Cult Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin

  **How do you rise when life keeps burying you in grief?** Before her 30th birthday, Tunde Oyeneyin lost her brother, her father, and her mother—half her immediate family. She wasn’t just at rock bottom. She was *cemented* in it. But instead of staying buried, she rose. 🌅 Grief taught her that none of her emotions could bring her loved ones back—and in that painful truth, she found freedom. She discovered her purpose: *to lead*. Through pain, she stepped into her power. Now a Peloton instructor, Nike athlete, and bestselling author, Tunde’s life changed with one cycling class and a five-second flash of clarity. But self-doubt followed fast. That inner voice—echoing childhood bullying—told her she wasn’t good enough. Didn’t sound right. Didn’t look the part. She believed it… until she didn’t. With the help of two friends, she decided to try. To *attempt*. That choice became her turning point. Today, Tunde embraces every version of herself—the makeup artist, the trainer, the writer, the dreamer. Her journey proves you don’t have to be perfect to lead. You just have to show up, scars and all. **Because power doesn’t come from avoiding pain—it comes from moving *through* it.** 🔥 --------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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