Even in modern secular societies, there’s a persistent belief that death may not be the end of something resembling a conscious human experience. So what has kept the idea of an ‘afterlife’ churning throughout human history? Featuring insights from the frontiers of evolutionary psychology, philosophy and a healthy dose of gallows humour, this short from BBC Reel sets out to understand why, starting from a young age, we seem to be so eager to project consciousness beyond its apparent end. Further, the video investigates whether the contemporary notion that we could potentially upload our ‘selves’ to become immortal is based on science or is just another expression of our seemingly immortal desire to outlive death.
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Chemistry
Why do the building blocks of life possess a mysterious symmetry?
12 minutes
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Cosmology
Tiny, entangled universes that form or fizzle out – a theory of the quantum multiverse
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Rituals and celebrations
A beginner’s guide to a joyful Persian tradition of spring renewal and rebirth
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Astronomy
The history of astronomy is a history of conjuring intelligent life where it isn’t
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Metaphysics
Simple entities in universal harmony – Leibniz’s evocative perspective on reality
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Biography and memoir
Passed over as the first Black astronaut, Ed Dwight carved out an impressive second act
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Engineering
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Biography and memoir
The unique life philosophy of Abdi, born in Somalia, living in the Netherlands
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Cognition and intelligence
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