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Curated by: Quanta Magazine (198 videos)
What if intelligence doesn’t require a brain? Biologist Michael Levin argues that intelligence is not confined to neurons, but exists on a continuum of goal-directed behavior and problem-solving across a wide range of species and systems. Using a framework he calls the “cognitive light cone,” Levin explores diverse forms of intelligence extending all the way down to the cellular level. His research suggests that cells communicate through electrical networks, enabling them to make collective decisions and adapt to unexpected challenges, evidenced by engineered tadpoles capable of seeing through eyes located on their tails. Levin radically challenges the conventional wisdom even further, proposing that forms of intelligence may extend beyond biology to molecular systems and maybe even the weather. --------- 00:00 What is intelligence? 01:03 The field of diverse intelligence 01:33 Intelligence at the cellular level 02:08 The cognitive light cone 03:01 The intelligence of groups of cells 03:52 The bioelectric language of cells 04:20 The mind of the body 04:23 Cells that solve problems 05:17 The tadpole experiment 06:25 The cognitive spectrum 06:48 Can you train a hurricane? 07:03 A new science of intelligence 07:28 Beyond human biases --------- Quanta Magazine is an editorially independent publication supported by the Simons Foundation. We focus on developments in mathematics, theoretical physics, theoretical computer science and the basic life sciences. READ free math and science articles on the Quanta website: https://www.quantamagazine.org LEARN about the Simons Foundation: www.simonsfoundation.org FOLLOW our social channels: - Instagram: quantamag - Bluesky: @quantamagazine.bsky.social - Facebook: quantanews - X: quantamagazine