5 Unsolvable Mysteries of Science 

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I had a dream the other night. I went to work one day, and nobody remembered who I was. So I decided to take the day off.

Simon's videos are like the universe, constantly expanding and impossible to enumerate.

If you don't think you'd EVER fall for the placebo effect, realize that it take 10-30 minutes for the caffeine in coffee to kick in, and yet many people feel "instantly awake" at the very first sip. Similarly, Tylonal tablets take 30-45 minutes to take effect, yet I've seen many people insist they feel "much better" after about 5 minutes.

Simon, your videos play a huge part in drowning out my inner monologue that throws relentless obstacles in my way 😂 thank you for your melodious tone and cadence!

I used to keep a dream diary where I would write down as much as I could remember of the dream and then afterwards analyze it. While there were a few "What the heck was that all about" dreams, for the majority of them I could figure out this came from something that happened a few days ago, that came from something I read, this came from something I saw on TV, etc. So I am of the belief dreams are just our brains sorting through memories.

I'm one of those people that feels that their mind is in their brain/head. When I think, I feel it from my brain, when I move, I feel it from my brain, wheni get hurt, sure, I feel it at the point of pain, but I feel it in my brain. As I type this, I feel it being thought in my brain. Ugh. So profound Simon, you're killing me!!

If my dreams have any meaning... uh, they don't. My dreams are so bonkers there's no way there's a meaning or value to them.

It’s very comforting to think of areas of knowledge unfathomable to humans, I think

Also, the answer to the placebo question is that “perception is reality”. If you believe in something enough, it can be exactly what you want it to be.

I dreamed that I was able to finally watch all of Simon's videos and was caught up.... turned into a nightmare when there were no more Simon videos!

1:05 - Chapter 1 - What are dreams 2:40 - Mid roll ads 4:10 - Chapter 2 - What is consciousness 6:10 - Chapter 3 - What's out there 7:45 - Chapter 4 - How do animal migrate 10:00 - Chapter 5 - What is the placebo effect

About the placebo: It can actually affect some biological processes. In a randomized trial, balding men began growing their hair back after being treated with a placebo. It's very strange.

I find comfort in the idea that there is a limit to human knowledge. We can never know everything.

Placebos are crazy! The fact that they can tell you it's a placebo and it works is weird!

I wonder if placebos would have any effect on paralysis?

"A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities." -- J.R.R. Tolkien

If the human mind were simple enough for us to understand it, we wouldn't be sufficiently intelligent to understand it.

The biggest question I have about dreams is why I have no visual imagination or memory when awake but I definitely see all the weird shit that happens in my dreams

To quote Douglas Adams "Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly hugely mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space."

Whats crazy is the people who say they dont have an inner monologue. How is that possible? How do they read or write if they cant talk in their head?

Im sure we could talk for hours if not days on these subjects Mr Whistler. I find intellectual stimulation to be the finest wine.

Loving the Side Projects Simon, keep it up!

I think dreams.. our other selves in the multiverse/dimension etc that’s why they are so weird but feel comfortable

Are you suggesting that coconuts are migratory?

loving your work and the level you go to.

Some people don't remember their dreams when they wake up. They only remember 5-10 mins of nothingness and then it's the morning.

I've never had a dream I can remember where I was using a cell phone or on social media

I had a dream that legitimately haunts me a couple years after having it. My first born was 3 months old. About a week after starting to let her sleep in the nursery, I had a dream where I awoke in the middle of the night to footsteps and voices. The week before our daughter was born we had an attempted home invasion and so fears were still understandably high about another. Anyways, I looked in the baby monitor and I saw a large male form, I launched out of bed. I did not grab any weapons I just ran as fast as I could. I burst through the door to her nursery and there stood my Best Friend! He had my infant daughter by the throat, dangling in the air and he said "I can't wait to hear your last breath". I jumped on to his back and immediately put all of my weight and energy into a sleeper hold but I couldn't grip hard enough to have and effect so I grabbed him by the chin and around the back of his head, I twisted as hard as I could and when I say I was using all my strength I mean it. Finally I heard the snap and knew instantly what I had done. After all that I was still unable to save my daughter. Thankfully I woke up to see her sleeping soundly in her crib and I was exhausted, every muscle in my body was aching as if what just happened was real. It was not real but I will never forget that dream.

Fantastic video and subject, Simon! Love your work! Also, I may have an answer for your question 'What came before the Big Bang?' Answer: The Chicken. 🐔 Then *BOOM!*💥The Universe was born!

I have a nightmare disorder that stems from childhood PTSD. The vast majority of them involve real life characters and, generally, places I've been or lived. They are extremely vivid and I will remember some for days. Sure, some weird things happen or that are only plausible in dreams - like being chased by people that are zombies. But they are repetitive, over and over, but the places change ever so slightly over time to become a totally distinct place that is only recognizable in my dreams. I don't believe in any weird symbolism. They're just repressed memories or replays of trauma that my brain is trying to sort out. I can even see spikes in my heart rate taken by my watch. I take Clonidine every night for it (because I can't afford the cost of Prazosin even with insurance). But its half life wears off so fast that I start to have dreams when it wears off. As a result, I can only sleep 3 or 4.5 hours at a time. And then I wake up. (Yes, I've been professionally diagnosed)

Every time Simon says “placebo,” I think of how he misread his friend’s shirt in his school days

Genetic memory has to exist in some form. It's the only thing that would explain consistent migration across generations. I remember reading about how a bird species would avoid a specific area while migrating and scientists could understand why. They eventually realized millions of years ago a mountain would've existed in that area and the birds must've been following an ancient instinct to avoid it.

How do we know these mysteries are unsolvable? They are only unsolved at the moment.

I keep coming across the idea that dreams have meaning, that they're symbolic or metaphorical or somesuch. And there are plenty of collections of dream tropes and their associated meanings. But that never really seemed to work for understanding my dreams, or at least the few I could remember. Not that my dreams are particularly bizarre, just that there doesn't seem to be any way in which they're about anything.

I didn't know Carabou were such good swimmers.

Weird that monarch butterflies in any other country just flutter round until they die but born in only one specific location will migrate

Dreams are sometimes i think links to parallel universe which has other versions of you. Because it feels so real, and sometimes u even feel dezavu in some scenarios and because most dont remember their dreams. Because for you to remember brain has to experience or have emotion attached to it, but seeing/being in same place might bring dezavu because you probably dreamed of it before, u just sont remember other you being in that same spot soing something.

Dreams are you seeing your life in an alternate reality. That’s what I think. Mostly. Okay, I just want to. But it’s just as good as anyone else’s idea and more fun. 😂

The placebo effect works more effectively if a person receives it via injection rather than oral medication. As we perceive injections as more serious.

Fascinating as always!

The only thing I definitively know about dreams is that there is nothing more boring than someone telling you about their dream.

I'm a biomedical researcher for a huge pharmaceutical corporation. I've documented so so so many medical trials. And, I've also designed many more experiments than I will ever remember. I have more first-hand experience with the placebo effect than damn near anyone. What I've observed is that the efficacy of a placebo is so intrinsically linked to the individual, it could never be harnessed and utilized practically.

Simon your videos on all ur channels are a blessing, you and your team do good work

5:51 the eye of a NEG Blood Type...

What's going on, Simon??? No "your momma" jokes any longer?! That's why I subscribed to your channels. It's okay though, as your videos are quite interesting and I learn something new with every video. Keep up the great reading and personal interjections!

I thought the placebo effect only worked if you didn't know it was a placebo. Like in drug testing. That's interesting if it still works even while knowing

Dreams counteract the harmful side effects of life. It's "insanity" which keeps us sane (or reasonably-so).

I had no idea how rare it was to hear music during a dream. I had a dream I was at a BBQ party and the song "Simply Irresistible" was playing. I remember it because I was woke up about half way through it and the song was still in my head as I woke up and wanted to sing it. I heard that some people have hearing problems who dream of music but I don't. The funny thing is I have had plenty of songs in my dreams all my life. I remember there was music even if I don't usually remember the songs that played. Oh, and fyi, Idk all the words to that song but somehow it sounded complete in my dream. I'm guessing I must have filled in what words I thought was in the song.

Which begs the question of why we do not dream of our phones but we use them 24 hours a day

Ive only had certain parts of dreams stick with me in memory but ive never been able to understand them

Dreams are great; the most special, important, meaningful thing in the world to you. And even your family and best friend couldnt care less about it. Magical.

Really good vid Simon.

Something that I miss from my binge drinking days is the crazy dreams I would have for a day or two afterwards.

Who am I to disagree?

If the medicine is a Pink Pill, an Orange Liquid or Fizzes when dropped in water... it works for me. Seriously! I know this is just an example of the placebo effect but it really does work!... mostly! Obviously when I broke my thigh I just wanted more of that ole laughing giggle gas 🙂

My dreams are always the wildest after a weekend of drinking.

Consider doing a video on Dual Brain Psychology.

I often dream that I am tired and sleepy and I really want to finally fall asleep but something always disturbs me and prevents me from sleeping. I also often dream that I need to go to the toilet to pee, but there are always circumstances that prevent me from doing so. The best dreams are those in which I have mastered the techniques of swimming in the air. I can then carefully rise in the air and move high. The most disturbing dreams are those about the death of oneself or loved ones. Several times I dreamed that I was preparing for my impending death. I rarely have nightmares. Usually only when sick. Then I count numbers all night, do calculations. I'm endlessly puzzled over a lot of math problems. I'm working hard towards some goal that I don't even understand.

I have questioned my dreams. How I am able to fix a wiring problem on a vehicle , even getting the wire colour correct. This made me think,and hear me out. I would love to believe in parallel universes. Maybe when you dream, your conscience leaves your body and you view yourself in a parallel universe somewhere. Don't know, but it makes me excited going to sleep and escape this messed up world.

The recent spate of accidental placebo overdoses is alarming.

Never ever have my dreams made sense. A wise person once told me dreams are mental garbage. No more or less. Yep.

The brain doesn’t like loose ends (Gestalt). I’ve always looked at dreams as the brain running through all the input, deciding what is worth keeping and what is not. Like defragging a hard drive.

consciousness might only be one note in the overtone system of the mind- there might be a symphony going on in the mind

I hardly ever ever remember my dreams, I'll go months or a year between dreams

Before I start watching this video, here is my take on this: We are always dreaming, well almost. Every conscious experience is a dream. By day this dream is fed by sensors input from eyes, ears or whatever and by night in your sleep by the brains internal input like memories, feelings and creative associations.

My dreams often reflect errors in my past work or ridiculous work situations, big or small. I retired 12 years ago. Why am I dreaming this?

AFAIK I have aphantasia, yet my dreams seem to have much more fully realised imagery than my awake imagination.

A hypothesis that can neither be tested nor falsified, is not science....

Dreams are where we'd hope to go when we die

"Where does the purple toad come from?" would only ever make sense in a Simon Whistler video

Weird fact about the placebo, even when made aware that they have the placebo the brain believing there's a chance this is a lie and they may actually infact have a slight chance of having the drug THE EFFECT STILL HAPPENS AT "FULL EFFECT"

I am very interested in the possibility that our dreams are windows to other universes aka multiverse theory. That would explain why we cannot recognise ourselves in dreams, because in different universe you would develop differently as person. Looks like you but is not you. It would explain very lot why I dream of things I have never seen in real life or things happening I never have even thought about.

Did you ever wake up with them bullfrogs on your mind?

LIFE AFTER DEATH?!?!

12:34 What’s even weirder is reverse placebo effect, where a person can get a legitimate medicine, but it won’t work because the person strongly believes that it won’t. Just like the regular placebo effect, I’m sure there are limits, but it’s much more relatable or understandable to have a sort of confirmation bias where you tell yourself you’re feeling better, even if it hasn’t improved. I don’t get how taking a legitimate chemical would be rendered inert just out of disbelief.

Well done Simon. I read some place that the gut has 40% of all neurons, but only communicates with the brain by 9 connections. That just makes sooooo much sense.

Another banger from posh waluigi

All of our selves are quantum entangled. Dreams are just glimpses into our other selves lives.

What goes on in the visual part of the visual cortex when people who have blind from birth dream?

Thanks.

Finally acknowledges the UFO phenomenon as real! 🎉

Dreams are about being too hot, too cold, wanting the toilet, or being stressed. 🎉

Just realized Simon didn't show his legs since ogbb

11:47 interesting bonus to this is that the Placebo effect will still work (at least partially) when you tell someone they are taking a placebo. Like bro the fuel is gone why does it still work?

I submit also the possibility that placebo groups do well or better than the actual test subjects because it is their brain making them feel better and not a chemical and also they don’t suffer negative side effects or interactions from placebo that the test subjects can and often do suffer. 🦋

Please God - let me dream of Monarch Butterflies. Nice job Simon.

Research about dreams about being out of jail and currently waking up in jail plz... Im really about learning

0:21 Did you say Metzen? 😥😥 I miss him writing the warcraft story

Want to hurt your brain some more? There are more ways that a regular deck of 52 playing cards can be shuffled than there are grains of sand, if every grain of sand was an earth covered in grains of sand that were also earths covered in sand.

The biggest unknowable scientific mystery: what happens to our consciousness after we die?

I am almost at the point of not watching videos with embedded ads. I pay for ad free.

"We like to think that we are in control" The only thing that we are in control over is our decisions in life, everything else is in the lap of the gods.

We all have an inner monolog, well most people do. We hear it in our native language. The question is, we're early humans and human ancestors who had not developed language also able to have such a monolog?

My degree is in Cell and Molecular Biology…which is fascinating to me. However I wish I would have studied astrophysics instead. Astronomy is one of the few disciplines that readily acknowledges that the current body of knowledge is incomplete, and it may be totally incorrect. They easily accept new discoveries and the possibility of having to rewrite the entire accepted model of knowledge. It’s a field that is open to change and modification. Many other fields are less open to new ideas and the acceptance of newly discovered evidence that may require a complete overhaul of the current theories. Anthropology is one of the worst when it comes to accepting new discoveries…

Before discussing dreams it might be important to mention that scientists don't even know why animals need sleep 😊

I hope we can find the answers to these questions.

I watch my dreams like I'm thinking about them but they're happening milliseconds before I think about them. At least that's what it feels like. If that makes any sense

Our understanding of the human brain is so vast that it could fill a thimble.

Dreams are the screensavers of the mind.