Science Quickly From the Internet’s Beginnings to Our Understanding of Consciousness, This Editor Has Seen It All
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Apr 18, 2025 Gary Stix, the recently retired senior mind and brain editor at Scientific American, shares his remarkable journey through 35 years of science journalism. He discusses the transformative rise of the Internet and the evolution of neuroscience, focusing on brain mapping and cognitive enhancement. Stix highlights groundbreaking innovations like mini-brains in research and the ethical dilemmas they pose. He also dives into brain-machine interfaces for ALS patients and the potential of psychedelics in treating mental health, providing an insightful look at the past and future of science.
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Early Career and Pre-Internet Era
- Gary Stix started at Scientific American in June 1990, before the internet was widely accessible.
- Editing involved using floppy disks and printouts, showing a very different media landscape.
Internet's Early Promise
- Early internet was seen mainly as a tool for email and electronic communication.
- Technologies now seen as basic, like email, were then considered cutting-edge.
Organoids in Neuroscience
- Organoids are lab-grown stem cell clumps mimicking brain parts, helping neuroscience beyond mouse models.
- Researchers use organoids to study diseases like Zika and understand neurological disorders.