Embedded: An Overview of Nature's Influence on Humanity

Life Can Be Wonderful and Perplexing, but not Magical

Humans are clearly the only truly conscious beings on Earth, despite the exceptional intelligence seen in many of our vertebrate relatives, such as mammals and birds. Accepting this idea is a good starting point for understanding our impressive history of cultural development, including harnessing energy, extending lifespans, and changing the planet, but no magic was involved. The modern human brain, though quite remark...