CTT Chats

David Chalmers, Professor of Philosophy at New York University where he is co-director of the Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, discusses his important new book, Reality+. The book takes readers on a mind-bending journey through virtual worlds, illuminating the nature of reality and our place within it. Chalmers' book, Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy, is available for purchase now.

Anil Seth, professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, discusses his new theory about how we experience the world and the self. He talks about the "real problem" of consciousness, measuring consciousness, and the brain as a Predictive Perception Machine.  Seth will speak more in-depth about these issues during a live event with New Scientist on Thursday, Sep. 9 at 1 p.m. ET. Book your tickets using the promo code CTT0909 to receive a 10% discount.

Celia Deane-Drummond talks the evolution of wisdom, COVID-19 and the boundary between natural and moral evil, Christian theology, and redeeming sin. She also discusses her book, Shadow Sophia, the second volume in her Evolution of Wisdom series.

Mario Livio talks Galileo, the Hubble Telescope, modern and historical science denial, and the far future of life in the universe. He also discusses his book, Galileo and the Science Deniers, which provides a fresh interpretation of the life of Galileo Galilei, one of history's greatest and most fascinating scientists, that sheds new light on his discoveries and how he was challenged by science deniers.

Philosopher Michael Ruse talks about the philosophy of biology, evolution, the concept of human superiority, and why there is anything at all. Ruse's new book, A Philosopher Looks at Human Beings, is now available for purchase.

Daniel Dennett discusses the nature of consciousness, if consciousness is an illusion, artificial intelligence and virtual immortality, and how he covers all of this in his book, Just Deserts: Debating Free Will, co-authored with Gregg D. Caruso.

Gregg Caruso discusses the philosophy of free will, if free will is an illusion, free will and moral responsibility, consciousness, libertarian free will versus compatibilism, and how he covers all of this in his new book Just Deserts: Debating Free Will, co-authored with Daniel Dennett.

Given the remarkable advances in precision cosmology over the past few decades, can we forecast what we might discover in 10 or 20 years or even 30 years at mid-century? What are the categories of human destruction and what are the odds of each? What is the far far future of life and sentience in the cosmos? The UK's Astronomer Royal discusses these questions and more. 

Daniel Dennett discusses the philosophy of biology, evolutionary causation, the importance of evolution, and why there is anything at all.

Astronomer Wendy Freedman sits down with Closer To Truth to discuss her work on the Hubble Constant, Standard Candles, the expansion of the universe, and the Giant Magellan Telescope.

Theoretical physicist Leonard Mlodinow, who spent nearly two decades collaborating with Stephen Hawking, joined Robert for a live discussion about his new book, Stephen Hawking: A Memoir of Friendship and Physics. Click here to buy the book. 

What if there is a single theory that can explain the physical universe? Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku discusses his new book, The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything.

Jill Tarter, former Director of the Center for SETI Research discusses the search for alien life, alien technology and technosignatures, the Fermi Paradox, risks from encountering alien civilizations, and the future of SETI and mankind.

Why, when most laws of physics allow for it to flow forward and backward, does it only go forward? What if time moves in two directions? Julian Barbour discusses his new book, The Janus Point: A New Theory of Time.

What will humanity look like 1,000 years? 10,000 years? One million years? Futurist and science fiction author David Brin discusses the future of humanity.

Roger Walsh, Professor of Psychiatry and Philosophy at UC Irvine talks consciousness, the search for wisdom, the science of meditation, the mystery of the universe and reality, and the merging of Eastern and Western philosophy.

Astrophysicist George Smoot discusses the history of precision cosmology, his work in gravitational lensing, the existence of dark matter, and the future of astrophysics.

Ken Olum, Research Professor at Tufts University talks cosmic inflation, gravitational waves, string theory, and the mystery of the Hubble Constant versus the measurements science has taken of our local universe.

Is free will an illusion? If not, how does this impact moral responsibility? Philosopher Daniel Dennett discusses his new book, Just Deserts: Debating Free Will, co-authored with Gregg D. Caruso.

Why do we dream? What is the purpose of sleep? Neuroscientist Robert Stickgold discusses his new book, When Brains Dream: Exploring the Science and Mystery of Sleep.

Donald Hoffman discusses the nature of reality, what is real, his theory of consciousness, and how this theory affects everything from artificial intelligence to alien life and the Fermi Paradox.

Rebecca Goldstein discusses the meanings of "matter", philosophy in science, the hard problem of consciousness, and her decades of experience as a fiction and non-fiction writer.

Charles Tart reflects on the last six decades of parapsychology, the study of alleged psychic phenomena. He also talks altered states, ESP, telepathy, consciousness, and the future of studying areas beyond traditional science.