Consciousness
When does the first spark of human consciousness ignite?
We can’t ask babies what they’re feeling, but ingenious new methods are shedding light on the origins of subjective awareness
by Joel Frohlich
A woman summons a stoic calm after accidentally trapping herself in a shower
A film by Tom Schroeder
‘Nothing renders their beauty’ – can art ever capture the splendour of a flower?
A film by Miléna Trivier
How to think about consciousness
What is it like to be you? Dive into the philosophical puzzle of consciousness and see yourself and the world in new ways
by Amy Kind
What happens to the brain during consciousness-ending meditation?
Psychologists are studying a form of meditation known as ‘nirodha-samāpatti’ that reportedly ceases all mental function
by Shayla Love
The myth of machine consciousness makes Narcissus of us all
The idea that AI can be conscious is a mistake. It’s just a very shiny mirror of humanity, reflecting what we want to see
by David Bentley Hart
If animals are persons, should they bear criminal responsibility?
Were medieval trials of animal criminals not a sign of backwardness, but in fact strangely progressive?
by Ed Simon
Postcards from a Tuscan island where an unhurried pace is a way of life
Directed by Tom Schroeder
The fate of a London landmark inspires a feverish rumination on progress
Directed by Alice May Williams
After decades in prison, Jack navigates the strange, beautiful outside world
Directed by Pete Quandt
An odyssey into the Parisian night reflects the allure and anxieties of cities
Directed by Adrien Mérigeau
Engaging with an artwork leaves you and the art transformed
When you engage with an artwork, a form of cognitive coupling takes place in which your mind and the art are transformed
by Miranda Anderson
Depression is more than low mood – it’s a change of consciousness
Understanding depression as an altered state of consciousness, like a dream or drug trip, could help people awaken from it
by Cecily Whiteley & Jonathan Birch
The brain has a team of conductors orchestrating consciousness
The brain is like an orchestra: each region plays its part. But it takes a team of conductors to orchestrate consciousness
by Morten L Kringelbach & Gustavo Deco
A patchwork memoir sewn from the odd memories that flicker then fade away
A film by Avi Zev Weider and David Chartier