Scientists Tried to See If Gut Feelings Could Predict the Future. What They Found Was Haunting.

Popular Mechanics

Ashley Tysiac

Mon, September 15, 2025 (Yahoo.com)

surreal portrait of a man covering his face and eyes with his hands. face shines through hands. double exposure
The Science—and Statistics—Behind Precognition IG_Royal – Getty Images

For years, the strange phenomenon of precognition–an unwavering “gut feeling” that something will happen in the future–has puzzled scientists. The eerie concept may sound far-fetched, but many studies suggest there’s statistical evidence to back up precognition’s existence.

At the center of the research is a mid-1990s study by parapsychologist Dean Radin, Ph.D. that reshaped how we understand our ability to predict the future.

Curious about your consciousness? Dive deeper into the science behind gut feelings and your mind’s brilliant capabilities.

While working at the University of Nevada, Radin, who had studied precognition for years, hypothesized that if consciousness transcended time, reactions to a stimulus would occur before the stimulus actually appeared. So, he put that hypothesis to the test, using an EEG machine to record the brain activity of study participants.

Hooked up to the EEG, the subjects reacted to prompts and images, including positive photos (like a sunrise) and negative pictures (such as a car crash). The EEG measured the subject’s brain activity during the short, five-second span between when they received the prompt and when they saw the image.

The results were astounding. When a subject predicted a positive image, they reacted very little, but they showed a spike in brain activity when they expected to see a negative image. Radin’s findings were statistically significant, and since then, researchers have replicated his study successfully nearly three dozen times.

His work proved influential enough that the CIA declassified its pre-sentiment research in 1995, and statisticians confirmed the effect was statistically reliable.

Still, questions remain about the science behind precognition. Numbers prove it exists, but why? What causes those psychic gut feelings? Is time truly linear? While Radin’s work provided a runway for substantiating precognition, the next step is finding evidence of its mechanism—and perhaps convincing others to let go of their fears of the unknown.

Still mind-boggled by the future-predicting capabilities of your consciousness? Dive deeper into the mysteries of gut feelings and foreseeing the future by reading Pop Mech’s feature on the complexity of precognition.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

(Contributed by Janet Cornwell, H.W., m.)

Desperate Kash Patel Asks Shooter’s Family If They Can Solve Any Other Cases

Published: September 15, 2025 (TheOnion.com)

WASHINGTON, UT—As he described a massive backlog of murders that continued to stump the agency he leads, desperate FBI director Kash Patel reportedly asked the family of alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson on Monday if they could solve any other cases. “You showed a real knack for catching criminals when you identified your son in those photos we released, so how about continuing your hot streak by taking a look at these open investigations?” said Patel, who then dumped a large stack of paperwork, fingerprint evidence, and DNA samples out onto the family’s kitchen table, explaining that he had a lot on his plate right now and would really appreciate their help. “I really don’t know how you cracked the Kirk case. Those pictures were so blurry! Did you guys go to school for this or something? I was honestly at the end of my rope. Have you seen the show High Potential ? This is just like that!” At press time, Patel had been spotted dining in a trendy restaurant while the shooter’s family was said to be digging into the Zodiac Killer murders.

Peace In Our Hearts, Our Country, and Our World

The greatest challenge of our times

SEP 16, 2025

How do we cultivate peace – in our hearts, our country, and our world?

Peace is not the absence of violence; violence is the absence of peace. We will be a violent society until we decide to be a nonviolent one.

What does that mean for us personally as well as societally? What changes are we challenged to make, in our hearts and in our politics? It means a lot of things, but we can begin to discuss them. Martin Luther King said, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

This matters. Let us not be silent.

Eight by Gandhi

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it–always.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Where there is love there is life.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“God has no religion.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

(Goodreads.com)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948): was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial activist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule. He inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Wikipedia

Jackson Browne, I Am A Patriot, live in San Francisco, September 29, 2022

Tim Bracken Oct 2, 2022 HERBST THEATRE Jackson Browne plays a cover of Steven Van Zandt’s song “I Am A Patriot (And The River Opens For The Righteous)” live in concert before a sold-out crowd at the Camp Winnarainbow benefit concert at Herbst Theater in San Francisco, California on September 29, 2022. I Am A Patriot appeared on the Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul album, Voice of America (1984). Jackson Browne released a cover on his World In Motion album (1989). Joining Browne in this performance were Emmylou Harris (vocals), Chris Masterson (guitar), Eleanor Whitmore (fiddle), Billy Strings (guitar), Steve Earle (vocals), and Elvis Costello (vocals). Browne performed as part of a songwriters’ circle at Toward The Fun(ds): A Concert Benefitting Camp Winnarainbow. The camp, founded by Wavy Gravy, is a kids’ summer camp focused on circus, juggling, acting, and clown performance. It provides scholarships to families in need to keep the camp open to all children. To donate in support of these efforts, please visit https://www.campwinnarainbow.org/donate/. =================

Lyrics

And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
Someday

I was walking with my brother
And he wondered what’s on my mind
I said what I believe in my soul
Ain’t what I see with my eyes
And we can’t turn our backs this time

I am a patriot
And I love my country
Because my country is all I know
I want to be with my family
The people who understand me
I’ve got nowhere else to go

And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
Someday

And I was talking with my sister
She looked so fine
I said, “Baby, what’s on your mind?”
She said, “I want to run like the lion”
Released from the cages
Released from the rages
Burning in my heart tonight, yeah

And I ain’t no communist
And I ain’t no capitalist
And I ain’t no socialist
And I ain’t no imperialist
And I ain’t no democrat
So I ain’t no republican
I only know one party
And it is freedom

I am, I am, I am
I am a patriot
And I love my country
Because my country is all I know

And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
Someday

And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous (I wanna run like the lion)
And the river opens for the righteous

And the river opens for the righteous (released from the cages)
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous (released from directions)
And the river opens for the righteous

And the river opens for the righteous (I said what I believe in my soul)
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous (it ain’t what I see with my eyes)
And the river opens for the righteous

And the river opens for the righteous (someday)
And the river opens for the righteous (someday)
And the river opens for the righteous (someday)
And the river opens for the righteous (someday)
And the river opens for the righteous (someday)

And the river opens for the righteous (someday)
And the river opens for the righteous (someday)
And the river opens for the righteous (someday)
And the river opens for the righteous (someday)

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Steven Van Zandt

I Am a Patriot lyrics © Blue Midnight Music

Grok Conversation: Did Charlie Kirk advocate for the execution of Biden?

Yes, Charlie Kirk called for Joe Biden to receive the death penalty in July 2023, describing it as punishment for “crimes against America.” During an episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, he stated: “I know what you’re thinking, we’ve got to get Joe Biden out of the way so we can run against Kammy. Oh my goodness, is she beatable. … [Biden] should be put in prison and/or given the death penalty for crimes against America.” This remark was in the context of criticizing Biden’s border policies as treasonous.The statement was widely reported and criticized at the time by media outlets and commentators, who viewed it as inflammatory rhetoric. Kirk has a history of advocating strongly for capital punishment in various contexts, including public and televised executions, but this specific instance directly targeted Biden. No evidence suggests he retracted the comment.

Zen story: Dilemma of Existence

Dilemma of Existence  


Yamaoka Tesshu, as a young student, visited one master after another. He called upon Dokuon of Shokoku.

Desiring to show his attainment, he said: “The mind and sentient beings, after all, do not exist. The true nature of phenomena is emptiness. There is no realization, no delusion, no sage, no mediocrity. There is no giving and nothing to be received.”

Dokuon, who was smoking quietly, said nothing. Suddenly he whacked Yamaoka with his bamboo pipe. This made the youth quite angry.“

If nothing exists,” inquired Dokuon, “where did this anger come from?”

Zen Story

 AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DAILY REFLECTION BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

Eclipses Beyond The Basics: Eclipse Types, Cycles And More

(Astrobutterfly.com)

In modern astrology, eclipses are usually painted with a broad “karmic” brush – sometimes along the lines of being inevitable and mysterious, but also a bit generic and one-size-fits-all.

If you have some astrology experience – or simply have been paying attention to these powerful celestial events – you know for a fact that eclipses are significant. 

Yet, the usual approach of focusing only on the sign or the aspects an eclipse makes with other planets often leaves us with half answers.

Eclipses are much more than just ‘important’ New or Full Moons.

To truly understand their meaning, we need to use techniques that are specific to eclipses – not to other types of transits.

types of eclipses and eclipse cycles

Eclipse – Key Interpretative Dimensions:

  1. Eclipses happen at the Lunar Nodes. The Nodal proximity is what gives eclipses their unique flavor. But the Nodes are not planets, and they don’t function in the same way planets do. Nodes are mathematical points, not actual celestial bodies – and unlike planets, the Nodes always move retrograde. This unique nature suggests we cannot interpret eclipses in the same way we’d treat a regular planetary transit.
  2. North Node vs. South Node eclipses. An eclipse is conjunct one of the 2 Lunar Nodes – this means we have South Node eclipses and North Node eclipses. These 2 types are fundamentally different and play out in very different ways. Without including this dimension, we might be tempted to interpret every Solar Eclipse as a new beginning, since a Solar Eclipse is a New Moon, right? But the nuance changes completely if this Solar Eclipse is a South Node eclipse
  3. Eclipse visibility matters! We have total eclipses and partial eclipses, and their totality or partiality reveals important details about how the eclipse will play out. Solar Eclipses can be total or annular, and annularity brings its own unique interpretative twist. Lunar Eclipses can be partial or penumbral, and again, this marks a subtle but important difference in how the energy is experienced.  
  4. On a personal level, not all eclipses are made equal. Some eclipses are far more important than others, in the way they trigger – or not trigger – our natal chart, but not always in the ways you might expect. 
  5. Eclipse Cycles provide a larger context. An eclipse is never a separate, isolated event; instead, it belongs to 2 very important cycles: the Metonic and the Saros. The Metonic cycle repeats an eclipse at nearly the same degree every 19 years, bringing recurring themes into focus. The Saros cycle repeats the “energy family” of an eclipse every 18 years, but at a different place in the zodiac, showing how eclipse stories move across time and space.

All these details are unique to eclipses and not applicable to generic planetary transits. When you start to include them in your analysis, the true nature of an eclipse, along with its interpretative richness and psychological meaning, begins to reveal itself.

Let’s take these points one by one. 

1. The Unique Nature Of Eclipses

The unique, defining characteristic of any eclipse is its relationship with the Lunar Nodes.

It’s the Lunar Nodes that transform a regular New Moon into a Solar Eclipse, and a regular Full Moon into a Lunar Eclipse.

But Nodes are not planets – and they don’t work in the same way planets do.

Firstly, the Lunar Nodes move in the opposite direction to the way the planets travel through the zodiac.

–> This suggests that their role is not to reinforce the regular planetary cycles, but rather to act as a ‘recalibration’ mechanism – bringing different dimensions of time and space into our awareness.

Secondly, the Lunar Nodes are not actual celestial bodies. They are mathematical points (shadows) calculated from the intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon relative to the Earth.

At the time of an eclipse, the Sun, Moon, and Earth align – but because the Lunar Node, the “shadow point,” sits in between, the natural order of the lunar cycle is reversed.

In a solar eclipse, the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun’s light from our view. For a brief moment, what is usually invisible (the New Moon) becomes visible, and the usual order – where the Sun outshines the Moon – is reversed.

In a lunar eclipse, the Earth itself stands between the Sun and Moon, turning the Moon dark and coloring it with the shadow of the world – so at a Lunar Eclipse, the Earth ‘takes over’ the Moon.

Therefore, eclipses are windows in time when “the rules” are suspended, and another order emerges. Symbolically, this is the very essence of the archetypal eclipse: a pause, a recalibration, and sometimes a reversal of roles. What is usually seen becomes hidden; what is hidden becomes visible.

People from the past seemed to understand the subtle power of these events even without modern astronomical knowledge – and this deeper meaning was captured in myths

The Indian story of the “Churning of the Ocean” is one of these central myths. The Gods obtained the elixir of immortality found at the bottom of the ocean and gathered for a banquet to drink it. 

An uninvited demon, Svarbhanu, disguised himself as a god and drank the elixir. He was then recognized by Vishnu, who decapitated him with a disc – creating Rahu and Ketu, the head and tail of the dragon, or what we call in Western Astrology the North Node and South Node

Since then, Rahu (the North Node) and Ketu (the South Node) are said to chase the Sun and Moon, causing eclipses as they try to “swallow” them.

The deeper meaning is that whenever something is not ‘invited’ into consciousness, it becomes a shadow.

And when the shadow emerges, it disrupts the natural order of things, forcing us to reckon with what has been hidden, and – ultimately – re-establishing wholeness.

2. North Node vs. South Node Eclipses

We know the Lunar Nodes create the eclipses – and since we have 2 Lunar NodesNorth and South, we have 2 types of eclipsesNorth Node eclipses and South Node eclipses, each with its own unique energy.

The Nodes are 2 ends of a polarity, each with its own psychology and evolutionary task.

The South Node is associated with the past: what is familiar, what has already been developed, the skills and patterns we bring with us, but also our attachments and unfinished stories.

Eclipses aligned with the South Node have a ‘release’ energy. Something that is in the process of ripening is brought to completion, or the next developmental stage is set in motion.

Even if they have a ‘karmic’ feel, ‘karmic’ doesn’t mean ‘pre-determined’ or ‘negative’. In fact, some of the most important accomplishments in our lives come at a South Node eclipse. 

A South Node eclipse carries that “what goes around comes around” quality. 

So if you’ve been working on a master’s thesis, or writing a book for example, a South Node eclipse can bring the payoff – a diploma, a book deal, great reviews, or some form of well-earned recognition.

Some South Node eclipses can also bring unwelcomed outcomes, like an illness or the end of a relationship – but often, these can be traced back to decisions or actions taken earlier in life, or even in past lifetimes. 

It’s usually the brave souls who embark on “clearing negative karma” missions, and while these journeys can be difficult, it’s worth remembering that eclipses – of any type – are never inherently ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ – they simply describe the dance of beginnings and endings, causes and effects.

Unlike the South Node eclipses, which focus on what’s already present, the North Node eclipses point toward the unknown. They act as cosmic invitations to stretch beyond our comfort zones and move into territory we’ve never visited. 

North Node eclipses tend to coincide with invitations or opportunities, or a sense that a new chapter is asking to be written – sometimes accompanied by a tinge of anxiety or longing.

Here, the invitation is to step up. At the same time, we want to be mindful about how we move forward, because the outcome may unfold later, at one of the next South Node eclipses.

North and South Node eclipses always succeed each other.

For example, the Pisces Lunar Eclipse we had on September 7th, 2025 was a North Node eclipse. The upcoming eclipse on September 21st, 2025 is a South Node eclipse.

The Pisces Lunar Eclipse brought unexpected developments (North Node Eclipse) that reached a culmination (Lunar Eclipse).

The upcoming Virgo Solar Eclipse will activate themes that are already present (South Node eclipse), and, as a Solar Eclipse, it will jumpstart those themes into a new trajectory.

Understanding which Node an eclipse is activating adds nuance to our interpretation.

Are we being asked to work with or develop what’s already there (South Node), or are we being asked to open up to the unfamiliar and invite new experiences (North Node)?

3. Eclipse Visibility and Type

From an astronomical/visibility perspective – not all eclipses are created equal. 

Total eclipses are, by nature, more potent and impactful, especially for those located in the regions where the eclipse can be observed. These are the “headliners” of celestial events – unpredictable, intense, and correlated with turning points.

Eclipses influence us both individually – if our chart is aligned with the eclipse (we’ll elaborate on this in Point 4) – AND at the mundane, collective level. 

The rule of thumb is that the geographic area where the eclipse is visible is usually the most impacted. Sometimes you’ll notice headlines about a particular country or region, and that’s often correlated with an eclipse that was visible from that specific location.

Total Solar Eclipses are among the most impactful, marking major initiations or fresh cycles that are set into motion for a long period of time.

That’s because Total Solar Eclipses reverse the natural order of light and darkness – the day turns into night – and last only a few minutes, making them rare and especially charged.

Total Lunar Eclipses can be seen from anywhere on Earth where it’s night (roughly half the world). Their influence is more widely distributed – these eclipses basically ‘echo’ the consequences or culmination of events initiated at a prior Solar Eclipse.

Sometimes, a single major event at a Solar Eclipse (such as a change in political regime, a new economic policy, or the start of a conflict) sends out ripples that impact many people, with further developments manifesting at a Lunar Eclipse. 

The Solar-Lunar Eclipse dance that happens every Eclipse season creates this dynamic interplay of beginnings and outcomes.

Partial eclipses are less intense, but they still bring a twist of “fate.” Because the disk of the Sun or Moon is not fully covered, these eclipses tend to be more “negotiable” and allow for more conscious participation and adjustment.

Annular eclipses (a type of Total Solar Eclipse, also called ‘a ring of fire’) occur when the Moon is slightly farther from Earth, so the Sun forms a bright ring around the Moon. This gives them their own distinct nuance – almost a “new beginning with a caveat”. 

Penumbral eclipses (a type of Partial Lunar Eclipses) are the most subtle – bringing shifts that happen quietly, beneath the surface, or only become apparent with time.

The type of eclipse matters! And its astronomical nature reveals details about its psychological or metaphysical meaning.

Altogether, the type (solar or lunar), the Node (North or South), and the visibility (total, partial, annular, penumbral) create a matrix of 12 different eclipse flavors. Each has its own quality and mode of delivery.

4. Personal Relevance: Eclipses and the Natal Chart

Despite the hype, not all eclipses are “major” – at least, not for everyone. 

In fact, eclipses only make their mark when they trigger an important point in your natal chart – especially a personal planet or an angle. These are the eclipses that coincide with important events, transitions, or inner turning points. 

Each eclipse has a particular ‘strength’ or personal impact, depending on which – and how many – areas of the chart it activates. 

Even if an eclipse doesn’t fall on a planet or angle, the house it occupies reveals which area of life will be affected. This can be relationships (7th house), career (10th house), health or daily routines (6th house), or another sphere, depending on the chart.

And because every eclipse season features 2 eclipses in opposite signs, this highlights a unique function of Eclipses in astrology: they recalibrate the axis in our natal chart represented by those opposing houses.

So we’re not only looking at the 5th house or the 11th house, for example – we are talking about a recalibration of the 5th/11th axis and how these house themes interact as a pair.

Almost always, during a particular eclipse season, there’s a process of adjustment – where energy shifts from one house to the opposite, and vice versa.

5. Eclipse Cycles in Time and Space: Metonic and Saros

Perhaps the most overlooked dimension of eclipses is their belonging to vast, repeating cycles

The Metonic cycle returns an eclipse to the same degree of the zodiac every 19 years – inviting us to revisit the same themes, sometimes with a sense of déjà vu or echoes from the past. 

The Saros cycle repeats the “energy” of an eclipse every 18 years, but at a new zodiacal location – 10 degrees further down the zodiac – showing how similar stories unfold in different areas of your life, or across generations.

If life feels ‘like a little bit of history repeating’ – sometimes with amazing synchronicity – the Metonic and Saros Eclipse cycles can explain why. 

For example, the Solar Eclipse on September 21st, 2025 belongs to the same Metonic cycle as the Eclipse 19 years ago on September 22nd, 2006, and the Eclipse on September 23rd, 1987.

This eclipse will activate the exact same area of your chart as the eclipses 19, or 38 years ago. 

And the same Solar Eclipse on September 21st, 2025, belongs to the Saros 154 cycle, being the 7th eclipse in a series of 71 eclipses. All eclipses in this family carry the energy of the original eclipse in 1917, when this Saros eclipse family was born. 

The mother Saros eclipse on July 19th, 1917 also featured a Saturn-Neptune conjunction (in Leo); back then, the Eclipse was conjunct Saturn and Neptune. This time around, in 2025, we have an Eclipse at 29° Virgo that is opposing the Saturn-Neptune conjunction. 

With the opposition and the anaretic degree (29°) we’re now challenged to discern, integrate, choose what’s real, what’s worth saving, and what new vision we want to serve as Saturn and Neptune cross into Aries.

Understanding which cycle an eclipse belongs to helps us connect the dots with the previous eclipses from the same cycle and see the bigger picture.

When we analyze eclipses not just as standalones, but as members of these great families and cycles, we get new layers of meaning we wouldn’t get otherwise. 

All these dimensions (1 to 5) – add an incredible level of detail and nuance to understanding the meaning and timing of an eclipse.

William Golding on the rape of our planet

“We need more humanity, more care, more love. There are those who expect a political system to produce that; and others who expect the love to produce the system. My own faith is that the truth of the future lies between the two and we shall behave humanly and a bit humanely, stumbling along, haphazardly generous and gallant, foolishly and meanly wise until the rape of our planet is seen to be the preposterous folly that it is.”

–William Golding

Sir William Gerald Golding (September 19, 1911 – June19, 1993) was a British novelist, playwright, and poet. Best known for his debut novel Lord of the Flies, Golding published another 12 volumes of fiction in his lifetime. Wikipedia

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