These are a few questions or subjects I'd enjoy talking over with other people who have a deep mutual interest or strong expertise. If that's you, please email me (mn@michaelnielsen.org ), and briefly describe your interest and background, and if it seems mutually congenial we'll arrange a time to Zoom.
What is the origin of music? I'm fascinated by the Hurrian hymn to Nikkal in particular. More generally, I'm very interested in understanding the differences and similarities between humans and other animals – we have so many near-universal qualities (art, religion, music, dance, language, mathematics, and many more) that must be rooted in animal qualities, and yet seem largely absent in animals.
What was the emotional experience of the moonwalkers? Of explorers in general? Why are some people (and cultures) so strongly driven to exploration, while others are not?
How do architects and builders and artists create sacred spaces? I'm thinking of, for example, buildings like the Sagrada Familia.
What will the transition to posthumanity look like? Is a stable posthumanity possible? How to dramatically increase the supply of safety-supplying institutions? In general almost all writing on this has focused on technological or economic aspects; what can we say about the social and emotional aspects?