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HARMAN To Acquire ZF’s ADAS Business
Secures HARMAN’s strategic foundations in ADAS and centralized automotive electronics platforms to define the fast-growing SDV market
Vogue Business’s Top 10 Words of the Year
The terms that influenced and defined culture in 2025 across fashion, beauty, sustainability and tech.
Party politics: Defining ‘conservative’
Re: “Partisanship: ‘Elections have consequences’ ” (Dec. 18, Northwest Voices): I question the boilerplate use of the label “conservative” as the opposite of “progressive” in articles and opinion pieces discussing party politics. “Regressive” would be a more accurate label in most...
From Kimmel to Kendrick, pop culture moments that defined 2025
With another year of pop culture news is in the books, we're looking back on the stories that defined the year, from Superman to Sydney Sweeney.
Transition, conflict and adversity defined Missouri and Illinois politics in 2025
St. Louis Public Radio’s politics team and editors picked the top stories that defined 2025 for Missouri, Illinois and St. Louis politics.
The art of the hook: How Simon Squibb redefines influence
British entrepreneur Simon Squibb made his fortune — then amassed legions of followers by giving away sharp business advice for free.
Stanley Black & Decker Announces Agreement to Sell Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing Business to Howmet Aerospace for $1.8 Billion
/PRNewswire/ -- Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing...
Stanley Black & Decker Announces Agreement to Sell Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing Business to Howmet Aerospace for $1.8 Billion
Stanley Black & Decker(NYSE: SWK) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing ("CAM") business to Howmet Aerospace for $1.8 billion in cash. CAM provides critical fasteners, fittings, and other engineered components for the aerospace and defense industries.
Politics Is Fandom; Fascism Is Fanfic
From Zohran Mamdani’s campaign to the US government’s “Halo” memes, fandom has become the defining language of US politics.
Politics Is Fandom; Fascism Is Fanfic
From Zohran Mamdani’s campaign to the US government’s “Halo” memes, fandom has become the defining language of US politics.
Vance refuses to set red lines over bigotry at Turning Point USA's convention
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the controversies that dominated the Turning Point conference, but he did not define any boundaries for the conservative movement besides patriotism.
Patriots vs. Ravens: Drake Maye rallies New England from 11-point deficit in fourth quarter to clinch playoff berth
Maye had 380 yards and two touchdowns. Whether or not Maye wins the MVP award this season, it was certainly his MVP moment.
Algeria bill seeks to criminalise French colonial rule: What to know
Algerian parliament is set to vote on Wednesday on the draft law, which speaker calls a 'defining milestone'.
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
At the movies this fall, Josh O’Connor plays a hot priest with a complicated past, Keanu Reeves is an angel who lost his wings and Elizabeth Olsen has a romantic
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
LOS ANGELES – At the movies this fall, Josh O’Connor plays a hot priest with a complicated past, Keanu Reeves is an angel who lost his wings, and Elizabeth Olsen has a romantic dilemma in the afterlif...
Slot: “[Liverpool] Definitely Not Perfect Yet”
Liverpool’s coach believes the team are headed in the right direction.
High school sports roundup for Dec. 19, 2025
Boys Basketball Meadowdale defeated Mountlake Terrace 57-55 The Meadowdale Mavericks overcame a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Mountlake
High school sports roundup for Dec. 19, 2025
Boys Basketball Meadowdale defeated Mountlake Terrace 57-55 The Meadowdale Mavericks overcame a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Mountlake Terrace Hawks, 57-55. Khalil Botley shot 5 for 6 from the […]
Interview: Aspyr on bringing Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition to Nintendo Switch 2 / Switch and future possibilities
There’s been a lot going on within the world of Tomb Raider recently, including the arrival of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch. Ports for both systems were announced and released last month. To learn more about what went into the launch of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, we spoke with producer manager Jordon Reese from Aspyr....
KQED Politics Team Looks Back at the Defining Political Stories of 2025 and Ahead to 2026
The politics team reviews the biggest political stories of 2025 and makes predictions for 2026.
HOFFMANN FAMILY TO ACQUIRE CONTROLLING INTEREST IN PITTSBURGH PENGUINS FROM FENWAY SPORTS GROUP
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and Hoffmann Family of Companies today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for the Hoffmanns to acquire a controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Headquartered in Chicago, Ill., the Hoffmann family have built a diverse portfolio of operating businesses and commercial real estate
Legacy Health tells striking workers they will lose health coverage on Jan. 1
A small number of highly trained clinicians at Legacy are on indefinite strike over wages.
Some Republicans defied Mike Johnson on Obamacare subsidies. How will he respond?
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson’s usual calm expression hardened last week after learning that a handful of Republicans had joined a Democratic effort to force a vote on extending
NFL Week 16, College Football Playoff get underway for definitive sports weekend
It's a huge football weekend and the NFL already delivered big news with Seahawks vs. Rams
Lauryn Massic defines her future in public health science
UNR Med Ph.D. candidate, Lauryn Massic M.S., is engaged in work around antimicrobial resistance, genetics and infectious disease. She's also a student-athlete.
7 moments that defined UCLA sports in 2025
Read about the standout performances, major transitions and alumni who made headlines on the biggest stages in sports.
The top 10 game industry trends of 2025
Generative AI, reshaping company structures, and far-right bigotry are among the most defining trends of 2025.
Famous Astrophysicist Defied The Odds To Become Science Star
Odds didn't favor a successful career in science for Neil deGrasse Tyson. But he had a key edge: parents who set no limits.
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood
As more movies and TV series about Biblical characters crop up, defining what counts as 'faith-based' can be a challenge.
Meet the 4 Republicans who defied House Speaker Mike Johnson on ACA subsidies
Four moderate House Republicans have broken ranks with Speaker Mike Johnson by supporting a Democratic petition to extend health care subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.
Ohio head coach Brian Smith fired for cause after administrative review revealed 'serious professional misconduct'
Brian Smith was placed on indefinite leave from Ohio on Dec. 1.
House advances GOP health care package that doesn’t include ObamaCare subsidy extension
The House advanced a GOP health care bill Wednesday, even as moderate Republicans signed a Democratic discharge petition to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies in an act of defiance against le…
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest. Angel Studios' animated biblical film "David" has already exceeded $14 million in pre-sale tickets. "The Chosen," a popular drama about Jesus, has grossed over $116 million domestically since Fat...
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest.
How Sovato and AT&T Business are Redefining Access to Healthcare
AT&T helps Sovato unlock life-changing medical innovations, expanding access to top surgical, interventional and diagnostic expertise.
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
LOS ANGELES — At the movies this fall, Josh O’Connor plays a hot priest with a complicated past, Keanu Reeves is an angel who lost his wings, and Elizabeth Olsen has a romantic dilemma in the afterlife. Hollywood, it seems, has found God. But it’s not just starry big-budget Netflix
How business leaders can adapt and thrive when uncertainty is a certainty
In an economic landscape defined by uncertainty, resilience is now an imperative for business success. Here's what organizations must do to foster that.
"MicroProse and Geoff Crammond Reunite to Revive a Racing Legend"
MicroProse is excited to announce its renewed partnership with legendary game developer Geoff Crammond, creator of some of the most influential racing simulation games of the 1990s and early 2000s. Together, we are bringing back his groundbreaking racing game engine in a re-release of the original game technology, enhanced with updates, new tools, and Steam Workshop support, through the upcoming Geoff Crammond Racing series: GCR1, GCR2, GCR3, and GCR4, scheduled to release in 2026. These titles are being reintroduced under new names to reflect our independent direction and to ensure full separation from any official motorsport licensing. While the names are new, the core simulation engine, physics systems, and pioneering gameplay features developed by Geoff Crammond remain at the heart of each release. Geoff Crammond’s original work helped define the foundations of modern racing games, introducing innovations such as advanced real-time physics, highly configurable driving assists (including the ideal racing line, steering help and auto braking), realistic AI driver behaviour, deep telemetry analysis, comprehensive car setup systems, extensive wet weather system, and the list goes on. The GCR series proudly carries this legacy forward. Steam Workshop support will enable the community to create and share custom tracks, cars, liveries, teams, drivers and more. This reunion marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between MicroProse and Geoff Crammond, with further announcements in the series to come. MicroProse is officially back on the track at full speed. GCR1 Steam Page GCR2 Steam Page GCR3 Steam Page GCR4 Steam Page -- MicroProse, founded in 1982, is a world-famous simulation software company known for developing groundbreaking classics and new blockbuster titles such as Falcon, HighFleet, B-17 The Mighty Eighth, Ground Branch, Gunship and many more! Today, MicroProse is not only remaking select classics from its past but also paving the road to next-generation, state of the art games that will create the memories and experiences of new generations of gamers.
The Most Underrated Movie Santa Claus Is...
Who is the best movie Santa Claus? Lots of people will say Tim Allen, Ed Asner or even Jack Skellington. But the most underrated movie Santa of all time? Definitely Kurt Russell from 'The Christmas Chronicles' on Netflix.
NASA’s Webb Observes Exoplanet Whose Composition Defies Explanation
Scientists using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have observed a rare type of exoplanet, or planet outside our solar system, whose atmospheric composition
Household air pollution
WHO fact sheet on indoor air pollution: includes key facts, definition, impact on health, impact on health equity, WHO response.
Scott Evans' 'House Guest' redefines the interview show by putting the vibe first, cameras second
Scott Evans House Guest Q&A
Pentagon "escalating" its review of Sen. Mark Kelly over video urging defiance of illegal orders
The Pentagon says it is "escalating" a probe into Sen. Mark Kelly, one of six Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to "refuse illegal orders."
The *Evening* Bee: More Questions than Answers
Good evening, Fear the Wall. Apologies for the timing on today’s Bee, I was rather busy yesterday evening and didn’t have a chance to get my writing done. Shame on me. Dortmund’s tie draw in Freiburg is definitely hanging heavily in the air, with some sour commentary coming out of the dressing room and the […]
To control costs, State Health Plan leaders look to invest in members’ health
As NC Treasurer Brad Briner trims a massive budget deficit, he says part of the puzzle will be addressing the health of the workforce.
Banking and Finance Quarterly: BMO Cementing its role - Los Angeles Business Journal
As we prepare to bid adieu to 2025 – a year defined by economic uncertainty, high interest rates and fear of a possible recession – mark your calendars
Trumpism’s racial turn: From civilisation to whiteness
In its second phase, Trumpism has evolved into a racialised political project — a 21st century reinterpretation of Aryanism — redefining American identity not through ideological conflict, as in the Cold War, but through a rigid racial ordering, argues academic Ma Haiyun.
Nutrient deficiency linked to heart disease risk for millions, new study warns
Global omega-3 deficiency affects 76% of people worldwide, significantly increasing risks for heart disease, cognitive decline and chronic inflammation.
I write about ultraprocessed foods, yet I still can’t tell you how to avoid them. Here’s why
“Ultraprocessed” has become a bad word in our food supply, but regulators are struggling with how to define the term to help consumers. Here’s why that’s so hard to do.
Exclusive: Is America ready for a woman president? Nancy Pelosi's surprising take.
Exit interview: After four decades, the most powerful woman in the history of the United States heads home. She's still defiant.
Aspyr explains how it approached the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, patches planned
In a recent interview with Nintendo Everything, Aspyr explained how it approached the recently-released Nintendo Switch 2 version of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. There’s been a lot of talk about the port since the launch last month. Especially given that there’s also a version for the original Nintendo Switch, some have speculated that the Switch 2 version is based on...
The Best Games of 2025 — The Windows Central team ranks our favorite titles across Xbox and Windows PC
Hey gang, Jez here with a round-up of our favorite Xbox and PC games for 2025, alongside some strong honorable mentions you should definitely check out.
Best Packers vs Broncos Same Game Parlay for Week 15
Between Jordan Love & Bo Nix, there'll definitely be plenty of offense in the Mile High City as we dish on it all in our Packers vs. Broncos same-game parlay for Sunday, December 14.
Kirby Air Riders team will disband after one final patch, says director Masahiro Sakurai, and you're on your own after that: "Please enjoy the balance of the game as a definitive version"
So… Smash Bros. 6 next?
Business school grad 'rebuilt' himself throughout ASU journey
W. P. Carey School of Business graduate David De Sousa wants future students to know that his ASU journey is proof that your past does not define your future.
‘Bit by the Research Bug’ Defense Health Employee Recognized for Contributions to Science, Love for Supporting the Warfighter
From her first steps into the world of research as an intern to her current role as a principal investigator, Danielle Zimmerman has built a career defined by curiosity, dedication, and commitment to protecting those who serve.
Which blockbuster movies defined 2025's year in film?
A year of daring originals and audience-favorite franchises top the list of 2025's most memorable films of the year.
Lawmakers move to phase out health-specific retirement benefit
Lawmakers may instead bulk up Hoosier START, the state's defined benefit plans. They say that would offer retirees and current staff greater flexibility.
From classroom to community: Student’s journey exemplifies ‘public health in action’
When Waveney Brooks transferred to the University of Kentucky as a sophomore, she never imagined that a classroom experience would open the door to real-world public heath practice across Kentucky. What started as a broad introduction to the many disciplines of well-being soon grew into a purposeful public health career path defined by mentorship, community engagement and purpose.
Chandler's Will Mencl named ALL-USA Football Team QB finalist
Chandler's Will Mencl is the definition of a dual-threat quarterback, and he has been named an ALL-USA Football Team finalist after a huge season.
Fulfillment by Amazon and the Definition of Doing Business in California: An Analysis of In the Matter of the Appeal of Diet Standards LLC — Current Federal Tax Developments
The California Office of Tax Appeals (OTA) recently issued an opinion in In the Matter of the Appeal of Diet Standards LLC ( OTA Case No. 230613542 ), decided on October 7, 2025. This case serves as a critical reminder to tax practitioners regarding the scope of "doing business" in Cal
What defines a league-leading management team? Win today AND tomorrow: MoneyCall
Read the cheat sheet of all of the biggest sports-business stories in The Athletic's free newsletter, MoneyCall
What does Apollo CEO Marc Rowan want for Christmas? To define private credit
Apollo CEO Marc Rowan is planning to gift the definitive book on private credit to clarify risks and myths.
The Never-Seen-Before First Stars In The Universe Might Have Finally Been Spotted
They’re the very definition of live fast and die young!
Finland Needs More Reforms to Pay for Health Care, Report Says
Finland needs to fine tune how it provides basic health-care services in the midst of deeper budget deficits, according to a report assessing an overhaul carried out two years ago.
Safran Agrees to Sell In-Flight Entertainment Unit to Kingswood
French aircraft engine maker Safran SA, which supplies Airbus SE and Boeing Co., entered into a definitive agreement to sell its in-flight entertainment and connectivity business to private equity firm Kingswood Capital Management LP.
7 Media Trends That Will Redefine Entertainment In 2026
Learn how AI-driven video, synthetic talent, immersive experiences, and new IP protection technologies will transform the industry and influence global audiences.
Baldur's Gate 3 dev Larian says "There aren't currently any plans" for a Divinity: Original Sin 3 — but a new Definitive Edition for 2 just got leaked
Larian's next game may not be Divinity: Original Sin 3, but a new version of 2 may be on the way.
Vitable Health and DirectShifts Partner to Expand Clinicians’ Access to Care and Coverage
PHILADELPHIA, December 09, 2025--Vitable Health, an all-in-one health benefits platform redefining care for the American workforce, today announced a new partnership with DirectShifts, a leading clinician staffing platform, to make it easier for clinicians nationwide to access everyday healthcare and insurance coverage.
S.F. business tax revenue could jump 11% with tech boom — but city deficit may still hit $1 billion
S.F.'s business tax revenue is projected to jump in the next fiscal year, but the city’s budget deficit could still top $1B due to cuts by the Trump administration, according to Mayor Lurie’s...
Health Care Workforce: A System Under Pressure, Poised for Reinvention
AHA's 2026 Workforce Scan highlights six pressures that will define workforce strategy in the coming years: financial stress that limits flexibility; demographic shifts that increase demand; rapid technological transformation; changing worker expectations; the urgent need for new pipelines; and geographic disparities that threaten access.
Marjorie Taylor Greene defiant since announcing resignation after falling-out with Trump
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stood defiant in her first interview since announcing her resignation from Congress, making clear she’s not afraid to speak out on the issues that made President Donald Trump “furious” with her, including her support for releasing all files related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Fingernail-sized fish species discovered has an organ that is new to science
Scientists reveal Priocharax rex, a tiny Amazonian fish with a strange skin “wing” that redefines evolution in miniature.
What was the loudest sound ever recorded?
Determining the "loudest recorded sound" depends on how you define sound and on which measurements you choose to include.
Column | Anger is a defining character trait for both parties, new study shows
An updated Pew study shows that, with the change in administrations and party power in Congress, Democrats are now at record levels of anger toward government.
What the heck is going on at Apple?
Apple for decades has been known for a consistent string of design-forward, tech-defining consumer products that have shaped how people use technology.
Analysis: Trump’s retribution campaign is going poorly — and could backfire
President Donald Trump’s retribution campaign has long suffered from a very significant and important deficit — and that’s the actual evidence.
Top 5 Entertainment News: From Ranveer Singh's 'Dhurandhar' receiving praise to Nandamuri Balakrishna's 'Akhanda 2' getting postponed indefinitely, here are the buzzworthy highlights of the day | - The Times of India
On December 5, 2025, audiences were captivated by Ranveer Singh's 'Dhurandhar,' which triumphed at the box office and left fans raving about its lengt
Life On Arsenic? Why Some Science Just Won’t Die - And Why It Matters For Real Discovery
Remember when a small bacterium from California’s Mono Lake was supposed to rewrite the very definition of life? Headlines screamed: NASA finds “alien” life on Earth! The organism reportedly swapped out precious phosphorus - one of life’s six essential building blocks - for arsenic, the toxic villain in murder mysteries.
We The People: Sphere celebrates second anniversary with continued innovation in Las Vegas entertainment
The Sphere marked its second anniversary by continuing to redefine entertainment through immersive experiences that transport audiences beyond traditional viewing.
Warriors epic comeback vs. Sixers falls short in heartbreaking fashion
Despite erasing a 24 point deficit, the Warriors' thrilling comeback in Philadelphia came up short in heartbreaking fashion.
Winter Meetings could define the Tigers’ future with Tarik Skubal
Detroit must decide whether to build around Skubal or risk losing its window.
Horror game Horses removed from multiple storefronts as censorship scare continues
The horror game Horses has been banned from multiple digital storefronts, like Steam, for vague, ill-defined reasons.
Middleby to Sell 51% Stake in Residential Kitchen Business to 26North in Transaction Valuing the Business at $885 Million
ELGIN, Ill., December 04, 2025--The Middleby Corporation ("Middleby") (NASDAQ: MIDD) today announced entry into a definitive agreement under which it will sell a 51% stake in its Residential Kitchen business to affiliates of 26North Partners LP ("26North") in a transaction valuing Residential Kitchen at $885 million. Following this transaction, Middleby will own a 49% non-controlling interest in a new standalone joint venture holding the Residential Kitchen business, while receiving upfront cash
Year in Search MENA 2025: AI, education & sports
With the year drawing to an end, we explore the moments, people, and trends that sparked curiosity across the Middle East and North Africa. The year 2025 was defined by …
Dolby and NFM Debut First-Ever Dolby Home Experience Redefining How Consumers Discover Home Entertainment
Today, Dolby and NFM (Nebraska Furniture Mart) announced the launch of the first-ever Dolby Home Experience.
Hims & Hers to Acquire YourBio Health, Pioneer Behind Advanced, Pain-Free Blood Sampling Technology
Acquisition Combines Hims Hers’ Leading Wellness Platform with YourBio’s Patented, Virtually Painless Micro-Needle Technology to Redefine the Future of Blood Sampling Hims Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS), the leading health and wellness platform, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire YourBio Health, Inc., a Boston-based pioneer in capillary whole blood sampling technology. Powered by YourBio’s advanced blood sampling devices, the acquisition will help accelerate efforts to redefine and modernize the overall blood collection experience, making pain-free blood sampling the new standard. YourBio Health develops technologies designed to simplify the process and expand when, where, and how blood samples can be collected—including beyond traditional clinic settings. Its TAP® device, built on HALO™ technology, uses bladeless microneedles thinner than an eyelash to produce high-quality capillary blood samples in seconds, without the pain or
Clippers part ways with Chris Paul as franchise struggles continue
The Los Angeles Clippers abruptly parted ways with veteran point guard Chris Paul late Tuesday night, ending the 12-time All-Star’s brief and emotional return to the franchise where he became one of the defining players of the Lob City era.
How Data Science Will Change the World
Newly appointed Dean Rajesh Gupta shares his thoughts on data science, AI and how UC San Diego’s newest school is poised to redefine academia.
AMPS Achieves HITRUST e1 Certification, Solidifying Commitment to Data Security in Healthcare
PHOENIX, Dec. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AMPS, a healthcare technology solutions company serving self-insured employer groups, payors, healthcare brokers and consultants, and third-party administrators, announced today that its enterprise systems have earned HITRUST e1 Assessment Certification for cybersecurity and information protection. The HITRUST e1 Certification demonstrates that AMPS has met requirements defined by leading cybersecurity and regulatory frameworks, confirming that foundati
Elden Ring Nightreign's DLC is "definitely a little bit harder" than the main game, "but it's not ridiculous", says director
The Forsaken Hollows, the forthcoming DLC for Elden Ring spin-off Nightreign, is "definitely a little bit harder" than the main game, its director has admitted.
27 Science Words That Only People With Above-Average Intelligence Know The Definitions Of
Welcome back to science class. Take a seat.
Limiting Professional Education Loans Is an Attack on Women, Science, and Healthcare
Why is the Trump administration redefining "professional" degrees, and whom will this affect?
Science must move from materialism to mystery
Theoretical physicist and neuroscientist Àlex Gómez-Marín argues that modern science has become trapped in a framework that mistakes matter for the whole of reality. In this wide-ranging interview, Gómez-Marín challenges the foundations of materialism, defends the scientific study of near-death experiences, and calls for a new type of science grounded in mystery and a renewed sense of the sacred. He suggests that abandoning materialism could open the door to a deeper understanding of consciousness, death, and the purpose of human existence. Simon Custer: You are both a theoretical physicist and a neuroscientist, and you have also been fiercely critical of materialist theories of mind and consciousness. What do you think the ultimate nature of reality is?Àlex Gómez-Marín: I don't know what the ultimate nature of reality is, but what I try to first assess is whether the stories that they [mainstream science] have told us about it are right, or maybe whether there are other alternatives. That's why I've been a fierce critic of materialism. As a scientist, I realized that they had sold us this idea that to be a good scientist you also had to subscribe to many other -isms, like materialism, reductionism, and even secularism. And so first I think one needs to unmount these -isms, and then, as is happening today in consciousness studies, we have a huge landscape where there isn't only one game in town, the idea that matter is the only thing that really exists. But because we are studying the hard problem of consciousness, it may be the case that other views of reality, like idealism, or even dualism, or other theories like dual aspect monism... these are philosophical ideas that now, I think, have room in science to be taken seriously. How does something like materialism relate to dualism or idealism? What is materialism in the first place?Well, materialism is the philosophical position that matter is the only really ‘real’ thing in the universe. And I think that worked kind of well because science started 400 years ago and Galileo made that split, I call it the foundational wound. It was a great business move.He said, let's start doing science on that portion of reality that lends itself more easily to mathematization and measurement. So, for some reason, the solidity of this table or the movement of planets lend themselves very well to this foundational idea of science. But as time went on, 400 years later, we realized that we had forgotten the other side, which is what really matters.What really matters is pain, is love, is feelings, sensation, consciousness, which is very hard to define, but very intimate. We all know what it is. It's that thing that disappears when we go into deep sleep and comes back in the morning. SUGGESTED VIEWING On the edges of knowledge With Michael Shermer, Rupert Sheldrake, Güneş Taylor It's what it is like to be, as Nagel said. It's the feeling of being alive. So, materialism is good to study certain things, but then when it ossifies into this ideology and then is dressed like science, now it's preventing us from understanding these key questions that are really that everybody wants to know.Why are we here? Why do we feel reality? Where do we go when we die? And so we need other ways. We need pluralism. I'm only asking for having more options on the table and taking them seriously. Why does materialism fail to explain consciousness? For example, if you were to lobotomize me, I would not be a functional human being. What do you say to someone who might think that materialism adequately explains the mind?Well, here we could speak about different things. We could talk about physics or about neuroscience. I happen to have training with both.For instance, for neuroscientists, 99% of them, I'm not included in that portion, believe that the brain can only be a productive organ. It's an organ that somehow, somewhere, consciousness emerges. It's like a lamp. And then something happens, magic happens, and then consciousness emerges.That's the position you need to be if you're a materialist because if the only really ‘real’ thing is matter, then you need to say, just give us some more time and money and we'll figure out how mind emerges or is produced from matter. There are many philosophically sophisticated ways of criticizing this.Now there's another option, which is the brain as a permissive organ. This was said by William James more than 100 years ago.Now then the brain wouldn't be like this machine, like for instance, a heat engine whose smoke is consciousness, which is what we would have in the first big model, the productive model. But in the permissive model, the brain would be a kind of a filter. And so the brain would still have a very important role in consciousness, but it wouldn't be a productive role.It would be permissive, much like a filter or much like a prism which would receive light. And - I'm speaking metaphorically - it would receive the light of the mind and then it could reflect it and refract it.Now, with these two big options on the table, I think we can make progress into what I call the edges of consciousness, which are all these experiences, weird experiences that many people have, but we don't talk about enough, like near-death experiences, precognitive dreams, synchronicities. These experiences are very important for humans and they have a place in the permissive hypothesis and they are literally impossible in the productive hypothesis. So that's yet one more reason to explore alternatives to materialism. There may be anecdotal evidence for near-death experiences, but is there robust evidence that would be accepted by the majority of scientists who subscribe to the scientific method?Sure. And the plural of anecdotes, someone said, is data.And there's a lot of data. Actually, this year is the 50th anniversary, half a century, since Dr. Raymond Moody realized that we have two ears and one mouth and started listening to what his patients had to say about their experiences while they were clinically dead.The heart had stopped, breathing had stopped in these patients. These patients would come back and tell him these amazing stories that some people may say are hallucinations, but for the patients were hyper-real, like seeing light at the end of the tunnels, seeing deceased family members waiting for them, feeling bliss.___I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain.___And so he and others started taking them seriously and writing their accounts down. And then you can do a science based on that material of experience that people have. Now, on the more objective side, more recently people have started to measure what's going on in the brain when people are clinically dead and brought back. This has opened a proper field of study, which is near-death studies.Evidence is a difficult word, because sometimes people think that when you say evidence, this is just the final proof. Evidence is like in a jury. You bring testimony, you bring pieces of data that point in one direction or another.I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain. When brains are broken or shut off, there can still be mind going on. And that's revolutionary.That would entail that when we die, it's not game over, which, by the way, is the thesis of materialism. If consciousness survives, materialism dies. It's game over for materialism if something of us continues after we die. Do you think that there is mental continuity after death?Well, I think so, and I believe so, and I could also say I may have experienced it myself, because four years ago I had a near-death experience. I was in the hospital, I lost a lot of blood, and I saw those beings at the end of the tunnel, three beings, and there was yellow light. I was in a well, I was looking upwards, and I hadn't read about NDEs by then, but when I came back from this experience, I decided I would try to integrate this also in my professional life. Not just my personal life, of course, but my professional life as a physicist and as a neuroscientist. So I may have had the experience of glimpses of what an afterlife would be, and I'm not ashamed to say it in this way, and then one can do science of it, and then one can do philosophy of it.One can think about what -isms we were discussing, what views on reality would allow those experiences to be really ‘real,’ as opposed to, well, poor guy, the brain was kind of broken, it must have been a hallucination. Do you have a view about whether individuality or “the ego” persists after death, or whether we sort of merge into some sort of cosmic consciousness instead?I don't know, but my view would be along those lines you're suggesting. I think we could speak about a kind of universal mind, and then the problem is not how we emerge from matter, but how we fragment from a more holistic consciousness into these individual eddies and then when we die, this kind of dissipates.But I'm not sure. For instance, idealism would promote that view, but then what would survive of us after these eddies just vanish and become again the big Consciousness, I'm not sure what that would be. I don't know for sure, but I would tell you I believe something of us survives.And there are other lines of research, not just near-death experience, that can address this really hard question of survival. For instance, there are children who remember previous lives. This was studied by Ian Stevenson at the University of Virginia for more than 50 years.___Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.___It's amazing research. He went all over the world, especially in the East, and collected all these case studies, all these stories. In plural, these were data of kids, very young age, who would describe up to 40 items that then he could go and verify.There was no internet. There was really no way the kid could know. Why would the kid say that when I was living in this other body and I was a woman and that's how my house would look like or that's how I would die, right? Again, there is evidence, not proof, but there's evidence not only that something weird and interesting is happening as we cross the threshold, but also when we come back to this life.Scientists should not be afraid of studying this, but they are because there's stigma. There's usually stigma upon the enigma, and this is so unfortunate. And one of the reasons is because of the ideology of materialism, because those things cannot be possible. What is wrong with the politics of science such that they have generated this stigma?So many things. Science is a human activity to begin with.So it falls prey to all our passions and ego and greed. That's one thing. Science is a job for the good and for the bad.You need to get a salary. You need to get grants. Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.And then, we didn't have time to unpack this, but science for many years become entangled, as I was suggesting before, to other -isms, materialism, secularism. So anything that smells like the afterlife, people may think has to do with God, and then they freak out.Anything that suggests that there's something about the mind that may not need a physical material substrate to exist, it smells like non-materialism. So, all these -isms are ideologically blocking that kind of research, and then there are all these sociopolitical constraints as to what should be studied and what shouldn't be studied.I call it the backstage of science. Sometimes we scientists or science communicators seem to speak as if the data is the only thing that matters. We say, well, data and theory.But then there's a third leg of this stool, which is all the politics that goes behind the scenes. And we often don't speak about this, and it's quite vicious and petty, and it's very real. Why is materialism so attractive to most scientists?Well, an easy answer is because we've grown up with it.It's what the educational system promotes, and that's what you hear when you go to university. So it's like growing in a culture. It feels like the air in which you breathe.So it's very hard to begin with to detect, well, maybe there's another alternative. Maybe there are other ways of doing science, other environments in which one could do science. That's one reason.And other reasons maybe are more profound, and I'm not qualified to explain them, but I could say, looking at this 400-year history of science, since it started around 1623 with Galileo's book The Assayer, that science went and coupled with all what's going on in the West.And so the fall of religion, you could say, and science presented us this new alternative that then could be coupled very well with other -isms, and this idea of growth, and then science losing its good twin brother, which was philosophy. There's a whole natural history of science starting as philosophy, kind of emancipating or breaking out from philosophy, and then marrying technology, and then marrying other social systems.From that point of view, materialism is a very convenient idea to propose. There were attempts, like the German idealists tried to do a more romantic science. But no, the idea prevailed, like Francis Bacon said: You should pursue nature through all her corners, he said, and make her spill her secrets.Our attitude towards nature in the science that dominates is very much reflecting how we treat nature in our society, in our culture, like a resource to extract secrets by force and then dominate it. How is materialism related to the notions of growth and progress? What's wrong with having a productive citizenry?This is another very interesting and very difficult question to answer.But there's this recent book coming out by Paul Kingsnorth. In it, he explains this idea of the machine and this idea of progress. And this, again, this conflation of more is better, of we need to go forward always, and convincing us that the way to do that is to continually extract more from nature. But because we don't have the religious context anymore, because God is dead, then what do we have? We have what we can do as humans with our own gadgets.It's kind of the story of the Promethean fire. We will just build anything to make ourselves God.A good example today is transhumanism. Transhumanism is this pseudo-religion dressed in technoscientific language whose goal is very religious. They promise immortality, they promise redemption, they promise transformation of the entire natural world, but it's done by human means through technology. Are you suggesting that we can't have ethics without religion?Well, we should have ethics with or without religion. That's another pruning that has happened in science. We say, forget about aesthetics, although some physicists still think that beautiful means probably true, and forget about politics. We pretend there's no backstage of science, and even let's forget about ethics.___Science needs to be in the service of mankind.___Scientists, when they become more like engineers, they're just thinking how to make things work so that they can go to the moon, go to Mars, make machines that think, but they don't think whether that's a good idea.And also consider metaphysics. Many scientists for a long time pretended, and maybe that comes from the stream of positivisms, that really one doesn't need metaphysics at all, except that materialism is always the metaphysics running the system.You see, it's not just ethics. It's the pruning of all of these, you could say, five main legs of philosophy that just makes a kind of unconscious science, a science that doesn't really know what it's doing. It's doing it very well locally, but it just doesn't know what it's doing globally. Do you think science has to have an ultimate vision and purpose behind it for it to be effective or for it to be meaningful and transformative?Yes, a way I would say that is that science needs to be in the service of mankind. And it hasn't been that. And we can see it through, you know, when we discovered the secrets of the atom, and all of a sudden, the Manhattan Project, and then we create nuclear weapons.And now we're trying to crack how machines may think, and now we're creating this mess, right? So science needs to be in service of mankind, not in service of a few ideas that maybe want to make more money or just dominate upon nature. What about planes, trains, automobiles, and modern medicine? Hasn't science served mankind by helping us develop those technologies?Yes and no. I see where you're going, and it's fair.I came here by plane, and it's a blessing. When I almost died, the surgeons did their job, and they saved my life. But these two forced choices between Luddites and Silicon Valley types, I think, of course, it's a false dichotomy.Progress, in a way, it's good, but we often don't speak about the dark side of the moon. We say the great things that progress has brought, and we don't speak about the disasters, the side effects that it has come with, and the same when we promise new technologies. We tend to think that any technology is great, that email is going to save us so much time because we don't need to write letters and send them anymore.Is that true? I spend so many hours a week writing emails. Let's just say there are great things about it and bad things about it. People like Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, for example, argue that we've made moral progress over time because of the Enlightenment. Do you think that's totally wrong-headed?I think he's emphasizing a side of the moon, and he does that very well, and you can find tons of plots where there's a slope going up and say it's great. But I think he should also tell the not-so-friendly story.But if your ideology is just to resist and continue to explain that the Enlightenment is the best thing ever and reason is the best thing ever… this feels to me like you're worshipping these abstractions.I'm very critical of it and also of these, again, science communicators and scientists that say, Oh, science says, in the name of science, experts say. It's like, come on, let's be careful because we can shoot ourselves in the foot by putting forth to the people an image of science that we know is not really true. Recently there's been a resurgence of spirituality and of people who say that they're spiritual but not religious, especially in the United States. If materialism is going away, what is going to fill that gap? Are we going to return to traditional religion? Do you see that being connected with the rise of the political right?I'm not a fortune teller, so I don't know what's going to happen. But, yeah, we could say we're in this post-materialist age and even post-secular age. One cannot come back to the past, but maybe just to contact with the roots is a good idea.What do I mean by that? I think we need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method. We need to do so in a culture where we realize humans cannot thrive in a vacuum where there's this idea that the sacred has to be removed.Now, how do we do that without bringing in back all the vices of religion? I don't know. I'm from a Catholic country.Here we are in England, so there are differences and interreligious dialogue has always been a challenge. But I think maybe a way of putting it is: after all these conflicts and branchings I was quickly alluding to, science from philosophy and then also from religion, now there's a time of reconciliation perhaps and maybe debates in the proper sense, like exchange of ideas in service of learning and getting into something higher than both poles. We need science to talk to religious people and it's interesting when people say they're spiritual and not religious.I think this is just a way of saying, no, I don't want to go back, I want to go forward. But at the end of the day, religions have offered us practices and grounding that we now desperately need. Everybody can and should just meditate or pray or do whatever they want, but we're in a crisis and it's time for reconciliation. What do you say to critics that say you are merely projecting our need for meaning onto a fundamentally indifferent universe?Yeah, I know that the typical science communicator says something like this. But we're not projecting. Human beings feed on meaning.It's the other way around. If you're a materialist, because the only thing that there is is matter, all that comes next, free will, consciousness, meaning, this is a kind of illusion that we need to explain.They're just craving for meaning, but there isn't really for them. I would also like to remind my materialist friends that for decades, if not centuries, they've said in the name of science, we know that this and this and this doesn't really exist. I think now they sense they're forced to say, well, actually, we don't know. We've been saying, for instance, that there's nothing after you die, and now probably they need to admit that they don't know the answer.___We need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method.___So it's a moment to open up possibilities and also to gently but fiercely critique these claims that I think harm society. If you say in the name of science, get on with it, when your father dies, you'll never see him again. Well, what the F do you know about it? You haven't studied the literature, you haven't had any of those experiences, and basically what you're doing is you're just doing marketing on ideology. This needs to stop. Do you think that it's scarier for some people to entertain the thought that there might be life after death, compared to a materialist worldview where you just die, given that there might be consequences for unsavory behaviour?Well, death and dying is scary. It's maybe the ultimate ending. It's a limit on life, and when we're in this conquest mode, we don't like limits.And it also has, there's a shockwave backwards, so I think if you change your notion of what death is or may be, you live differently. It also has consequences, as you're saying, for the future because this is not our only goal here and we come back in whatever form. And again, different religions would say different things. I the East, they are more happy with the idea of reincarnation, and here in the West, there are other preferences. But in any case, it changes how we live, and that's really what matters.It's not about just projecting or imagining what we'll be after, but how we live now and also how we treat those who are dying. So it goes from the individual to the families, to the hospitals.Now in the near-death research I do, this has ramifications at all these levels, all the way to society.But our society is thanatophobic. It has a phobia of death. We don't want to hear about death, and this is another thing we need to put on the table and be willing to talk about it. Do you think that we might get closer to answering ultimate questions like why is there anything at all if we jettison materialism?That’s an excellent question, Simon. Two things: we should stop treating reality, I believe, as a great sudoku, as an enigma, as something that with intelligence, money, and time that we will crack and instead treat reality more like a mystery. And what you do for in front of a mystery is not to be the clever guy in a class and say “I’ll solve you” but more like “I will bow and you will transform me.”I know this sounds a bit like a scientist speaking like a mystic. But I think this reorientation is needed. In the end, we won’t crack the big questions, but they will transform us. If we free ourselves from this prison of materialism, the way we will explore these questions will be freer, more creative, and in service of mankind. Do you think exploring mystery is the reason why we are here?I think we are here because, and this pseudo-theological argument I’m making off the cuff, But the One, the Absolute, if there is such a thing, had everything except limitation. We are that absolute experiencing that contingency. It’s like an act of divine proprioception. It’s a wonderful adventure, it’s just incredible to be alive. Perhaps we have forgotten why we are here and the whole point is to experience the flesh.Let me end by saying this. I criticize materialism harshly. I bang on this dead horse, because I think it’s dead. But matter is a great mystery. So maybe my invitation is as follows: hey materialist friends, come here, let’s work on materialism 2.0! Consciousness is a mystery, but matter is also a mystery. The fact that we can have an intersubjective experience consensus, the fact that we can apply mathematics, that we can measure things... the physical world we take for granted, but it is a great mystery too.Maybe that’s related to your last question: why are we here? Why did spirit decide to incarnate? Being in the flesh may be a great thing if spirit decided to do so.Àlex Gómez-Marín, thank you very much.My pleasure.
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With funding from the European Commission, three cities—Split, Brest (in France) and Kiel (in Germany)—plan more than 1,000 public events, workshops and competitions for citizens of all ages, researchers, businesses and policymakers. The year-long project kicks off in Spilt on 20 January with a conference involving partner institutions, community representatives and European policymakers. The three cities may be geographically far apart, but they share much in common. All are located on coasts and are home to top regional research institutions that are part of SCTT. Among the project's partners, the University of Western Brittany in Brest, Kiel University and the University of Split belong to the SEA-EU university alliance, uniting nine European coastal academic institutions to advance research, student exchanges and sustainable development. “These universities have a very strong connection between gown and town,” explains Marušić, who is one of Split’s SCTT ambassadors. “It's very important that these universities are there for the community so that we can learn from each other and grow together.”Tackling Europe’s STEM shortagesSCTT will also reinforce efforts to address Europe’s widening gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Studies show that nearly eight out of ten small- and medium-sized businesses cannot find enough workers with the skills required in advanced computing and artificial intelligence (AI)—hindering initiatives to boost European innovation and competitiveness. 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With experience in the classroom and in clinical epidemiology—a discipline involving monitoring and controlling public health problems—Marušić sees the potential risks of over-reliance on AI and chatbot answers for both research and learning. “AI is a very good tool, but one has to be very critical about it,” she adds. “Delegating brain activities will definitely diminish your neural capacities because you are not developing the circuitry that is important for higher-level cognitive engagement.” She stresses the importance of critical thinking and encourages students to use AI as a researcher’s tool to reinforce rather than supplant human discretion and brainpower.The power of outreachSplit’s experience in bringing scientists and the public together has provided a platform for discussing research ethics and explaining science in simple terms. Local efforts to expand health literacy and awareness have helped reduce cardiovascular disease among women, according to Marušić’s research. The city’s university also hosts events to introduce schoolchildren to science, using hands-on experiments to spark curiosity.Marušić’s own love of science began with an interest in studying molecular biology. “But my parents told me, why don't you study medicine?” she recalls. “I said, OK, why not? And that was the best decision that I made.” Marušić is not a practicing physician, but teaches anatomy and public health. She also co-edits ST-OPEN, an overlay university journal that works on capacity building for research publishing among students and their supervisors. 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