Science Reality

The following essays focus on consciousness, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, artificial intelligence, computer science, virtual and augmented reality, and more. Each chapter stands on its own and doesn’t require prior knowledge about the subject, though having a background in philosophical and scientific thinking is a plus. These essays, with a few exceptions, were originally published in Europe on the Integral World website during the past decade.

"What is present reality" is an incredibly profound but straightforward exposition of the "limits of science". Every scientist wishes that someone will falsify the world crafted using the present body of scientific methods one day. One such world comprises the manifold versions of relativity theories, measuring E = mc^2. Suppose one deified scientist had not mathematically derived the value of energy in this way. In that case, today's scientists will not bind their understanding to the light serviced by the deified leader scientist, traded and squared by them as a devoted follower.

When half-human Kai Schiffer steps into the Interstices—the post-creation gaps between realms—his supernatural half kicks in, and he literally disappears unless…well, don’t ask. But in a stroke (heh) of good fortune, Kai finally has a chance to show his face (and other parts, stars willing) to his long-time crush Jovan Kos—Interstitial Law Enforcement agent, wolf warrior, occasional berserker, and best man at their mutual best friends’ Imbolc wedding. Jovan is grateful his best man duties are light enough that he can focus on Kai. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

Solis created the Dawn Game, and it has captivated the world. Utilizing augmented reality, players are encouraged to explore the world in search of holographic treasure with real cash prizes as rewards. Giving away billions every month, it's widely regarded as the most generous and revolutionary act by a corporation. Individuals have quit their jobs to play the Dawn Game. The stock market has become drunk on euphoria. Ecstasy beams from every player as they win free money.

Two stones changed the course of history before; it’s time for a repeat performance...It’s a discovery of the modern age for archaeologists, Tim Adams and Evelyn Davidson, when they find two tablets in the shadows of the Great Pyramids at Giza. It’s a sign of the times...What they dust off these ancient relics is the basis of quickly unravelling governments and religions. To slot the pieces of this complicated puzzle together, Tim and Evelyn must travel back to antiquity itself, where religion and law went hand in hand.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will provide companies with billions of dollars of value over the coming decade. Whether in training, workplace tools, remote collaboration, or more, immersive tech will fundamentally change how we work. This guidebook will equip you with the knowledge you’ll need to succeed with VR and AR in your own business, serving as both an introduction and deep dive.

The Oversight of London has been sworn for millennia to prevent the natural and the supernatural worlds from preying on each other. Now, at its lowest ebb, with its headquarters destroyed and its last members scattered far and wide, this secret society will battle for survival and face the harshest foe it has ever met: itself.

Emma Bannon, forensic sorceress in the service of the Empire, has a mission: to protect Archibald Clare, a failed, unregistered mentath. His skills of deduction are legendary, and her own sorcery is not inconsiderable. It doesn't help much that they barely tolerate each other, or that Bannon's Shield, Mikal, might just be a traitor himself. Or that the conspiracy killing registered mentaths and sorcerers alike will just as likely kill them as seduce them into treachery toward their Queen.

Casi de la noche a la mañana, los deportes electrónicos y los videojuegos competitivos se han convertido en el mayor fenómeno deportivo y de entretenimiento en la historia de la humanidad; un acontecimiento social y económico del que todos quieren formar parte: marcas, anunciantes, empresas y jugadores.¿Qué son los deportes electrónicos y cómo se hicieron tan populares tan rápidamente? ¿Por qué triunfan los videojuegos como Fornite, Call of Duty o League of Legends?

Jerrell Hawkins has a plan. He’s going to marry Nadine Hartwell, study magic at University, and serve his kingdom in the ongoing war in the prestigious Orichalcum Company led by the hero of the realm. To do this, he needs to obtain a Class. When his plan to create a new, powerful spellcasting class fails, he fears all is lost. Then an enemy sleeper agent burns down his world and Nadine is infected with lycanthropy.

Microsoft Teams is a central piece in the Office 365 Collaboration Toolkit, and it comes with a great development story. A big part of which is bots. What comes to your mind when I say bots? Intelligent computers? A machine playing a violin followed by violence? Humans losing their jobs, we becoming parts of our computer overlords? Rest easy, the Microsoft Bot Framework is none of that.

Das Rennen um die Entwicklung einer superintelligenten Künstlichen Intelligenz hat begonnen. Und das Land, das gewinnt, wird den Globus beherrschen. Als Amerikas Programm zur Erschaffung einer mächtigen KI sabotiert wird, beginnt für den US-Agenten Cameron Carr eine verzweifelte Suche nach dem Schuldigen, wobei das Schicksal der Menschheit auf dem Spiel steht. In den richtigen Händen könnte eine solche KI die Zivilisation in ungeahnte Höhen führen. Aber in den falschen Händen könnte diese Technologie die größte Bedrohung darstellen, die die Menschheit je gesehen hat.

Trapped inside the game that they once loved, Iron Riot are now faced with a slow death by dehydration as their bodies in the real world are left to rot. The Masters, enigmatic creators of Strata, are willing to let anyone die so long as it preserves their perfect imaginary world. But there was one thing that they haven’t accounted for: A rat with a plan. If Iron Riot can finish the game before the timer runs out, defeat the Archdukes, beat the system, and show everyone what they are capable of, then they’ll have the attention of the whole world.

When lonely physicist Chloe Carsen discovers a parallel world, she becomes addicted to her life there with a perfect family and a perfect career. She doesn't even care that her physical body in the real world is wasting away. But, then, in the alternative world, her ideal life begins to fall apart. Her anti-gravity experiment unleashes a government manhunt for her and her family; they'll do anything to get their hands on her tech. The lives of Chloe's alternative-world husband and sons are endangered.

The new environment has mysterious connections to Earth and to his personal life. Duncan starts a journey in the stellar navy of the race that made contact with him. During his deep-space assignments and visits to trans-universal worlds, his heart is tried and his views are challenged. Duncan receives enigmatic signs with a powerful restoring message. However, he is haunted by doubts, struggles with alien love, and is eventually exposed to darkness.

This DIA report examines a resurgent Russia’s military power to foster a deeper understanding of its core capabilities, goals, and aspirations in the 21st century. The resurgence of Russia on the world stage - the Crimean Peninsula, destabilizing Eastern Ukraine, intervening on behalf of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and shaping the information environment to suit its interests - poses a major challenge to the United States. Moscow will continue to aggressively pursue its foreign policy and security objectives by employing the full spectrum of the state’s capabilities.

In Defying Reality, David M. Ewalt traces the story of virtual reality from ancient amphitheaters to Cold War military laboratories, through decades of hype and failure, to a 19-year-old video game aficionado who made the impossible possible. Ewalt looks at how businesses are already using this tech to revolutionize the world around us, and what we can expect in the future. Ewalt offers a unique perspective on VR. With firsthand accounts and on-the-ground reporting, Defying Reality shows how VR will change our work, our play, and the way we relate to one another.

Lara Crane is stuck in her mind, in an indefinite stream of timelines where her life is perfect, just the way she wants it to be. But it's not real. It's all made up to give those who want to use time travel for their own personal ambitions. To give time to finish their experiments and turn Lara into a deadly time travel assassin.

Maya, a brilliant AI developer, and Alex Harrison, a visionary VR designer, find their paths intertwined when they join forces to create "Realms Beyond", a groundbreaking VR experience that shatters the divide between the digital and the physical world. As they sculpt and code their shared vision, from the verdant forests to the soaring mountains, an undeniable connection sparks between them. In the fabricated landscapes of their shared creation, a true, palpable love blooms.

No longer living in a simulation, January Day finds herself the subject of unwanted attention. She is the first of her kind: a digital consciousness inside a human body. Haunted by memories of travelling through imagined realities, she struggles to come to terms with her new life. When a new governor of the city comes to power, his aim is to save a dying planet. He is ready to outlaw architects from creating imagined realities, including Elijah, for good.