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Ryan Collison

I write about cool science and share it here.

Why Divination Works (Psychologically)

Why Divination Works (Psychologically)

Why Divination Works (Psychologically) In 1948, psychologist Bertram Forer gave his students a personality test. Then he gave each one a "unique" personality analysis based on their results. The analysis said things like: "You have a great need for other people to like and admire you. You

The Science of Divination

The Science of Divination

The Science of Divination Humans have been asking the future for answers since before we had writing to record the questions. Bones cracked over fire. Entrails inspected for omens. Yarrow stalks cast according to ancient algorithms. Cards shuffled and laid in spreads. Stars mapped onto personality and fate. In every

Synthesis: What Anomalies Teach Us

Synthesis: What Anomalies Teach Us

What Anomalies Teach Us: A Synthesis Series: Anomalous Cognition | Part: 9 of 9 Primary Tag: FRONTIER SCIENCE Keywords: anomalous experience, consciousness, cognition, epistemology, edge cases, synthesis We've spent eight articles examining the strange edges of human experience—telepathy, precognition, near-death experiences, mystical states, sudden insight, prophecy, synchronicity,

The Hard Problem: Consciousness and the Paranormal

The Hard Problem: Consciousness and the Paranormal

Consciousness and the Paranormal: The Hard Problem Connection Series: Anomalous Cognition | Part: 8 of 9 Primary Tag: FRONTIER SCIENCE Keywords: consciousness, hard problem, paranormal, materialism, dualism, philosophy of mind Here's something strange about the anomalous cognition debates: they keep pointing to consciousness. Telepathy implies mind-to-mind connection.

Synchronicity: Meaningful Coincidence or Apophenia?

Synchronicity: Meaningful Coincidence or Apophenia?

Synchronicity: Meaningful Coincidence or Apophenia? Series: Anomalous Cognition | Part: 7 of 9 Primary Tag: FRONTIER SCIENCE Keywords: synchronicity, Jung, meaningful coincidence, apophenia, probability, cognitive bias You're thinking about someone you haven't talked to in years. The phone rings. It's them. You dream about an

Nostradamus and Pattern-Matching: Why We See Prophecy

Nostradamus and Pattern-Matching: Why We See Prophecy

Nostradamus and Pattern-Matching: Why We See Prophecy Series: Anomalous Cognition | Part: 6 of 9 Primary Tag: FRONTIER SCIENCE Keywords: prophecy, Nostradamus, hindsight bias, confirmation bias, pattern recognition Nostradamus predicted Hitler. He predicted 9/11. He predicted the COVID pandemic. Or did he? The 16th-century French astrologer wrote nearly

Epiphany and Insight: When Solutions Appear

Epiphany and Insight: When Solutions Appear

Epiphany and Insight: When Solutions Appear Series: Anomalous Cognition | Part: 5 of 9 Primary Tag: FRONTIER SCIENCE Keywords: epiphany, insight, aha moment, neuroscience, creativity, incubation Archimedes in his bath. Newton under the apple tree. Kekulé dreaming of snakes biting their tails. The history of discovery is punctuated by sudden insights—