Psychedelic Retreats for Clergy: A Controversial Fusion of Faith and Altered States

A pioneering study by Johns Hopkins and NYU recently explored the impact of psilocybin-assisted experiences on religious leaders—ranging from priests to rabbis. Participants often reported profoundly transformative spiritual encounters: feelings of divine connection, heightened empathy, and renewed vocational purpose. Despite facing ethical scrutiny and concerns over funder influence, this groundbreaking research highlights emerging expertise at…

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Can the Milky Way Galaxy Explode?

zoomacademia.com  – The concept of the Milky Way galaxy exploding might sound like the plot of a science fiction movie, but it raises an interesting question about the potential fates of galaxies and the dynamic processes that occur within them. To address whether the Milky Way can explode, we must first understand what constitutes an…

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Topological Insulators, The Strange Solids with Conducting Surfaces and Insulating Hearts

In condensed matter physics, topological insulators have captivated scientists for offering a paradoxical behavior: their interiors (bulk) act as insulators, while their edges or surfaces conduct electricity with little resistance. This unusual property arises from topological protection: the conducting surface states are preserved by fundamental symmetries such as time-reversal symmetry and spin–orbit coupling. While the…

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Startups and Innovation, Driving the Future of Business

zoomacademia.com – In today’s fast-paced and dynamic economy, startups have emerged as the vanguards of innovation, fundamentally reshaping industries and creating new opportunities. From disruptive technologies to groundbreaking business models, startups are driving significant changes across the global economic landscape. This article explores the pivotal role of startups in fostering innovation, the challenges they face,…

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“Bewilderment” by Richard Powers: A Quiet Meditation on Grief and Earth’s Fragility

Richard Powers’ Bewilderment (2021) is more than a literary novel—it’s an intimate exploration of parenting, ecological despair, and the search for emotional connection in a chaotic world. The story follows Theo, an astrobiologist, and his neurodivergent son, Robin, as they navigate grief after the loss of Robin’s mother. Set in a near-future America facing environmental…

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Identical Twin Convicted After 1987 Assault, A Landmark in Forensic Science Law

In a precedent-setting case in the United States, an identical twin was convicted for a 1987 sexual assault after investigators used ultra-deep whole-genome sequencing to distinguish rare somatic mutations—minute DNA differences that twins acquire over time—to link the crime scene evidence to the defendant. This breakthrough marks the first time that such distinctive genetic profiling…

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