Phil Jaekl

A Selection of My Work

Aeon

Am I My Connectome?

Each human brain possesses a unique, intricate pattern of billions of neurons. If science can map it does immortality beckon?

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Human Magnetoreception

For centuries, people have navigated the globe using instruments. But what if the Earth itself can help us feel our way?

The Inner Voice

Science investigates the physical. Your inner voice is not part of that realm. Can science approach it?

In Cold Blood

Therapeutic hypothermia can save lives, propel interstellar travel and expand consciousness. So why the cold feet?

A New Perspective on Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking is the result of a survival mechanism gone awry.

The Atlantic

Why People Believe Low-Frequency Sound Is Dangerous

Anxiety over “wind-turbine syndrome” stems from a decades-old misunderstanding of inaudible sound.

Nautilus

The Accident That Led to Machines That Can See

The beauty of this breakthrough is serendipity.

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Humans Are One Mixed-Up Ape

Human ancestry is remarkably and splendidly messy.

Why We Hear Patterns and Voices in Random Sounds

Auditory pareidolia is phenomenon you may have experienced uneasiness about.

The Scientist

Screams Communicate Human Emotions

A group of self-styled screamologists are sifting through the noisiness of nonverbal human vocalizations and finding previously undemonstrated forms of communication.

Mysterious Brain Waves May Connect REM Sleep with Visual Experiences

New methods could propel investigation of neural “PGO” wave patterns that may underlie critical aspects of visual experience, dreaming, and even psychosis.

The Wada Test, 1948

A decades-old neurological procedure developed under unique and difficult conditions in postwar Japan remains critical to the treatment of epilepsy.

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Brain Rhythms Guide How Humans Pay Attention

A perception of sustained focus may actually be the result of cycles of fluctuating rather than continuous neural activity.

The Guardian

What is the Mysterious 'Global Hum' – Is it Simply Noise Pollution?

Up to 4% of people are said to hear a strange low-pitched noise known as the Hum, but no source has ever been found.

What is Behind the Decline in UFO Sightings?

In an age of wild claims churned out by politicians, media and advertisers, perhaps people don’t care as much any more.

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The Real Reason the Sound of Your Own Voice Makes You Cringe

Does the sound of your own voice make you want to cover your ears? You are not alone.

Mass Hysteria May Explain 'Sonic Attacks' in Cuba

Despite 22 Americans reporting symptoms, no evidence of a weapon has been found. Experts suspect a psychosomatic disorder linked to high stress in Havana.

Wired

Turns Out Near-Death Experiences are Psychedelic, Not religious

New research suggests that seemingly otherworldly sensations linked to near-death experiences may actually be rooted in brain activity associated with psychedelics.

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AI-Powered Brain Emulation is Changing Our Definition of Death

Scientists are replacing traditional definitions based on brain death with new concepts based on cryogenics and AI.

The Zombie Pig Brain Experiment Muddles Our Definition of Death

Scientists have managed to restore some function to disembodied pig brains. But does this mean that we need to rethink what we mean by "brain dead"?

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Digital Dummies

How making notes can shrink your brain.