How to Use Discoveries From the Past More Than Other Scientists

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How do you use discoveries from the past more than other scientists? I read a lot of things that might be forgotten, cause i think that there's a lot of treasure hiding in plain sight. So with optogenetics, people were trying to control brain cells with light going back to 19 71. And i was actually reading some earlier papers, there were people playing around with controlling brain cells withLight going back to the 19 forties. The same is true in economics. You find in adam smith and pigo, who are centuries old. To advance science, whir wou almost need is a search engine for the most important, unpopular things.

Ed Boyden builds the tools and technologies that help researchers think about and treat the brain, an organ we still know surprisingly little about. When it comes to how our brains make decisions, form emotions, and exhibit consciousness, there is still a lot we can learn.

But just as fascinating as the tools Boyden and his team build is the way in which they build them. Boyden employs a number of methods to design more useful tools, such as thinking backwards from the problem, hiring eclectic talent, practicing a particular type of meditation, waking long before dawn, or just trying the opposite of what’s already been attempted.

Would emulating the brain require emulating the entire body? Is consciousness fundamental to the universe, or is it actually just an illusion? Does a certain disharmony in thought lead to creativity? Why don’t people feel comfortable talking about their brains? And why is it so hard for us to be empathetic with one another? Listen to this engaging and brain-stimulating conversation with Tyler to hear his perspective.

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.

Recorded February 5th, 2019 Other ways to connect

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