Mind Field

Oct 6, 2017 · 3m

I get candid with Grayson Brulte, autonomous vehicle expert, as we discuss the potential ethical issues associated with driverless cars.

Dec 6, 2017 · 17m

Watch as a Peruvian Shaman performs his icaro—or healing chant—in its entirety, from my Ayahuasca ceremony.

Dec 6, 2017 · 2m

With just seven days until my Ayahuasca ceremony, I fill out a recommended personality survey—which becomes a little revealing.

Dec 6, 2017 · 6m

I explore how psychedelics can improve mental health in my interview with cancer survivor Gail Thomas, as we discuss her experience in a study involving psilocybin--or mushrooms.

Dec 6, 2017 · 3m

Is there a way to experience the effects of psychedelic drugs without having to ingest anything? Watch as I test out a few of these unconventional audio and visual files to see if their claims are true.

Dec 6, 2017 · 14m

Expert Melissa Russano elicits a false confession from one of our test subjects in this fascinating, uncut session.

Dec 6, 2017 · 5m

I sit down with Jeffrey Deskovic, a real-life victim of a false confession conviction.

Dec 6, 2017 · 6m

Check out this extended cut of my challenging experience as a human lab rat in a giant, 60-foot real-world maze.

Dec 13, 2017 · 3m

I interview Shirley Dygert, a first time skydiver, and her tandem skydiving instructor, Dave Hartsock, about a treacherous skydive they both miraculously survived.

Dec 13, 2017 · 2m

In San Diego, real-life superheroes walk the streets as part of the Xtreme Justice League. I chat with Mr. Xtreme, one of the league’s most visible members, to discuss what it means to be a hero in today’s society.

Dec 20, 2017 · 5m

Check out the final stage of our power of suggestion test, where we try to convince our subjects that a brain scanner can implant a number in their minds.

Dec 20, 2017 · 1m

I go deeper into accessory-assisted placebos by discussing sham acupuncture—and getting stuck with a few needles in the process.

Dec 20, 2017 · 1m

I attempt to discuss placebos, but my furry co-star keeps stealing the scene.

Dec 27, 2017 · 1m

Let’s do a little test. I’ll play two tones and you see if you’re one of the few people who can notice a difference between them.

Dec 27, 2017 · 4m

Derek Paravicini, a blind, autistic pianist and musical savant, sits down with me at the keyboard and shows off his incredible range of musical styles.

Dec 27, 2017 · 4m

Jazz pianist Dave O’Brien and his student Derek Paravicini play an impressive piano duet for me.

Jan 3, 2018 · 1m

Research Physiatrist Marcie Bockbrader talks to me about a brain-computer interface project that is helping a paralyzed man move his arm.

Jan 3, 2018 · 5m

I interview principal research statistician David Friedenberg about his role in analyzing all the data collected in a project aimed at helping a paralyzed man move again.

Dec 5, 2018 · 13m

With the help of Cecile Sarabian, Dr. Andrew MacIntosh and some fake poop, Michael observes levels of disgust among Japanese Macaques.

Dec 5, 2018 · 4m

Kyoto University Ph.D. candidate Jie Gao shares her research involving Chimpanzees and the schoolyard game “Rock, Paper, Scissors.”

Dec 5, 2018 · 3m

Michael and Dr. Terrence Deacon discuss the connection between language and the physical brain.

Dec 5, 2018 · 1m

We edited the fake Los Angeles parks PSA from our Moral Licensing demonstration!

Dec 5, 2018 · 7m

Michael wrestles with two moral dilemmas in VR, designed by researchers Dr. Erick Ramirez and Dr. Scott LaBarge.

Dec 12, 2018 · 3m

Michael uses a series of coin flips and a large group of people to demonstrate the “wisdom of the crowd.”

Dec 12, 2018 · 3m

Michael recruits local Vsauce fans for his Brain experiment, and fields questions in a Q&A setting.

Dec 12, 2018 · 2m

Michael shares memories with his mom, who has saved everything from his childhood - from report cards to his space camp jacket.

Dec 12, 2018 · 1m

Michael takes Dr. Chris Eliasmith on a tour through his high school, including his forensics team’s wall of fame.

Dec 12, 2018 · 2m

Michael conducts his own version of the famous “jelly bean jar” experiment and reveals the statistical significance of the results.

Dec 19, 2018 · 3m

Michael learns the true story behind Stanford Prison Experiment guard Dave Eshleman’s “John Wayne” moniker.

Dec 19, 2018 · 2m

Michael learns more about Ben Blum’s cousin Alex and his personal transformation after participating in an armed bank robbery

Dec 26, 2018 · 2m

Michael meets with Caitlin Doughty and learns about a death-positive culture in Indonesia, where relatives keep their dead loved ones in their homes.

Dec 26, 2018 · 3m

Michael meets with psychologists Dr. Jeff Greenberg and Dr. Sheldon Solomon to discuss how death affects our world views.

Dec 26, 2018 · 2m

Michael visits Alcor life extension and learns about the first person to ever be frozen using cryonics.

Oct 26, 2018 · 2m

Michael visits Alcor life extension and learns about the family behind – and preserved by – cryonics.

Dec 26, 2018 · 6m

Michael discusses the philosophy of death, and its changing definition, with Dr. Max More, CEO of Alcor life extension.

Jan 2, 2019 · 3m

Michael and Dr. Douglas Vakoch discuss Barnard’s Star, the closest star to our solar system, within the context of sending messages into space.

Jan 2, 2019 · 3m

Michael and Dr. Steven Vance discuss the famous “Golden Record”, which was sent aboard NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft.

Oct 24, 2019 · 30m

Stevens talks about fear and if there exists an innate fear of which all people are afraid.

Oct 14, 2019 · 30m

I asked a group of colleagues who worked with me on the series to sit down at Vsauce HQ and watch through three entire episodes. We go behind the scenes, elaborate on topics in the episodes, and dig in to what impact working on Mind Field has had on their current research.