In his latest book A World Appears: A journey into consciousness, Pollan charts the work of scientists and philosophers, weaving in literary perspectives along the way. He spoke to New Scientist about the value of writing a book where you know less at the end than before you started.

Michael Pollan (A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness) is a science and environmental journalist. Michael returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss why choosing surrender is liberating in both psychedelics and life, what the “hard problem” of consciousness is and how we get to it, and how sentience serves homeostasis in living beings. Michael and Dax talk about asking what the world would be like without consciousness, the remarkable fact that plants can see, hear, and fight, and experimental evidence via the ginger test that disgust originates in the gut. Michael explains the qualitative redness of red, that there’s so much more going on in consciousness besides computation, and what strange places to visit our minds are.

Compared to the days of the coronavirus pandemic a few years ago, customer activity in any pharmacy in the U.S. state of Virginia appears normal. Shelves are well stocked with medications, many of them marked with discounted prices. Yet despite this calm scene, there is growing anticipation of a major crisis in what are known as global supply chains—one that could turn this quiet picture upside down.

Author Rich Schiesser and clinical therapist Frances Young discuss teen mental health, warning signs families should know, and the upcoming 92 Hours book launch event in Las Vegas.

Social media is flooded with viral walking challenges: from the 'hot girl/guy walk' to all the number-based protocols that have you wondering if you're exercising or back in math class. There's also tai chi walking, backwards walking, Nordic walking, rucking — the list goes on. If you want to add some more focused activity to your fitness routine, how should you start?

Fitness experts share the 'green' and 'red flags' to consider when trying out a viral walking trend.

Healthcare Nevada, 2026. The bad news? The state ranks at or near the bottom of healthcare rankings in terms of the number of physicians and primary care providers per 100,000 population.

Food is one of the strongest predictors of how your body and brain will function over time. Some choices steady your energy, protect your neurons, or support long-term memory. Others do the opposite: There are several common foods that, when eaten in excess, can spike blood sugar, drive inflammation, and disrupt sleep.