Mind Field — Specials

Oct 20173m

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

Dec 201717m

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

Dec 20172m

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

Dec 20176m

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 20173m

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 201714m

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

Dec 20175m

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

Dec 20176m

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

Dec 20173m

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

Dec 20172m

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 20175m

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 20171m

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

Dec 20171m

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

Dec 20171m

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 20174m

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 20174m

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

Jan 20181m

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

Jan 20185m

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 201813m

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

Dec 20184m

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

Dec 20183m

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

Dec 20181m

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

Dec 20187m

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

Dec 20183m

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

Dec 20183m

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

Dec 20182m

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

Dec 20181m

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

Dec 20182m

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

Dec 20183m

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

Dec 20182m

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

Dec 20182m

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 20183m

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

Dec 20182m

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

Oct 20182m

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

Dec 20186m

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

Jan 20193m

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 20193m

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

Oct 201930m

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

Oct 201930m

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.