Stories by John Horgan

A skeptical science writer critiques strings, multiverses, meditation, the Singularity and “neo-geocentrism.”

String theorist Edward Witten says consciousness “will remain a mystery”

A televised debate over the limits of science raised a legitimate objection to the claim that there will be no more “fundamental” discoveries

Transhumanist candidate Zoltan Istvan urges spending less on war and more on the scientific quest to defeat death

Clinton should seek ways to end war, which devastates those she has worked so hard to help—children and women

“Gene doping” remains unlikely, but if scientists can safely boost athletic performance by manipulating genes, that should be cause for celebration

A paleoanthropologist’s story about a famous fossil triggers a traumatic memory

The science of consciousness, far from converging on a sensible paradigm, is going backward

As more studies are called into question and researchers bicker over methodology, the field is showing a healthy willingness to face its problems 

Even judged by his era’s standards, the actions of the slave-owning founding father fell too far short of his professed ideals.

Economist envisions a world run by digital “emulations” of humans

The easy availability of guns poses a much greater threat to Americans than terrorism does

“Terror Management” Theorist Sheldon Solomon Explains How Subliminal Fear of Death Can Affect Us on a Personal and Political Level.

Once again, Barack Obama, the world’s most powerful military leader, has propagated an erroneous claim about the origins of war

Michael Shermer generously explains to occasional sparring partner how to bend spoons non-paranormally.

Debate over the goals and methods of capital-S Skepticism rages on

Skeptics react with hostility and gratitude to a critique of their movement

A science journalist takes a skeptical look at capital-S Skepticism

On his last day at a consciousness conference, a reporter spots a white rabbit and discovers the solution to the mind–body problem

A reporter struggles with derealization and paranormal claims at a consciousness conference in Tucson 

A reporter ponders free will and struggles with quantum incoherence at a consciousness conference in Tucson

A reporter travels to a legendary conference in Tucson, Ariz., seeking insights into the deepest of all mysteries

Researchers take steps to maximize benefits and minimize risks of psychedelic therapy for cancer patients

Legendary 1994 meeting featured neural, quantum, chaotic and information-based theories of consciousness, and so does 2016 meeting.