For example, scientific projects on research methodology and altered states of consciousness in the Synergy program might provide new methodologies, tools and neurocognitive frameworks for how to best proceed with anomalies research, such as the Ganzfeld Multi-Laboratory (GML) project in the Nexus program.

Related projects

Essay Contest on Quantum Biology in Partnership with the Foundational Questions Institute (FQxI) 

To stimulate new thinking at the frontiers of science, the Foundational Questions Institute (FQxI) has successfully conducted an influential series of essay contests. In partnering with FQxI, the Paradox Science Institute now seeks to accelerate progress at the frontiers of biology and neuroscience by supporting an essay contest on quantum biology. Evidence emerging from theoretical and experimental physics, computational chemistry, and experimental biology suggests that certain processes within living organisms exploit quantum phenomena, such as long-lived quantum coherence, entanglement, and quantum tunneling. Some examples are the quantum effects seen in photosynthetic light harvesting and magnetoreception in bird navigation. Yet, decisive advancements in understanding the role of quantum physics in biology necessitate the development of innovative tools, methodologies, and conceptual frameworks at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and biology. This essay contest explores the following questions: If quantum physics plays a role in biology, how does this happen, and at what level? How can we experimentally investigate these effects? For example , do light-activated biochemical processes make use of long-lived quantum coherence? If so, how is the process of decoherence delayed in the cellular environment? Can advances in the new field of quantum thermodynamics help to explain this? At a higher level, considering that biology, particularly the physiology of the brain and the emergence of consciousness, is rooted in underlying physical interactions involving quantum bases, what role does quantum physics play in understanding the brain and consciousness? Biological processes exhibit extraordinary complexity, yet a unanimous consensus on defining this complexity remains elusive. How can we quantify and measure correlations between quantum features, complexity, and entropy within living systems? Can novel tools and methodologies be proposed to explore these correlations effectively? This essay contest encourages authors to delve deeper into unravelling the role of quantum mechanics in living matter, including our brain and consciousness, and to investigate the intricate interplay between quantum physics and biology. For specific instructions on how to participate in the essay contest, please click the following link.

RAVA: An Open Hardware True Random Number Generator Based on Avalanche Noise 

This project of the Synergy program developed a true random number generator for use in diverse research projects requiring a reliable source of randomness, including projects on anomalous cognition as carried out in the Nexus program. From the abstract of the publication in the journal IEEE Explore (Guerrer, 2023): “Entropy is a crucial resource in the domains of cryptography, artificial intelligence, and science. This paper introduces RAVA, a true random number generator based on avalanche noise. RAVA is an open-source device designed to offer a transparent and customizable platform, making auditable and high-quality entropy accessible to a wider audience. The device employs a differential design, which involves comparing two similar noise sources to mitigate the impact of environmental factors. Furthermore, RAVA incorporates a dual entropy core architecture featuring two independent entropy channels that generate random bytes simultaneously. A stochastic model is theoretically derived and empirically confirmed, offering valuable insights into the entropy extraction mechanism and allowing the estimation of the minimum bias attainable. An implementation is presented as a discrete circuit with an ATmega32U4 microcontroller including a USB interface, achieving an unbiased throughput of 136.0 Kbit/s without the necessity of post-processing algorithms. The generated random bytes are evaluated for bias and serial correlation, their entropy is assessed using NIST SP 800-90B estimators, and the randomness quality is verified using the NIST 800-22R1a test suit. For comparison, the same tests are applied to a commercial device based on quantum optical phenomena, revealing similar distributions for both devices across the studied metrics.” 

Reference: Guerrer (2023)