Membership promo placeholder

Newest

Members Only

Please login or join to view

video

Can Mathematics Elucidate Evolution?

Episode 9

Season 22

26:52

Watch

Members Only

Please login or join to view

video

Can Mathematics Explain Biology?

Episode 8

Season 22

26:52

Watch

Members Only

Please login or join to view

video

Why do Power Laws Work so Widely?

Episode 7

Season 22

26:52

Watch

Cover image for Terrence Deacon on the Noosphere

Neuroanthropologist and co-chair of the N2 Conference Terrence Deacon discusses the noosphere, biological evolution, and the upcoming N2 conference hosted by scientific...

video

Terrence Deacon on the Noosphere

Classic Chats, CTT Chat

50:55

Watch

Members Only

Please login or join to view

video

What is the Deep Meaning of Probability?

Episode 6

Season 22

26:52

Watch

Cover image for Philip Goff on the Purpose of the Universe

Why are we here? What’s the point of existence? Philosopher and consciousness researcher Philip Goff tackles these questions and more in this discussion of his new...

video

Philip Goff on the Purpose of the Universe

Authors Series, CTT Chat

1:15:43

Watch

SEASON 22

Mathematical Beauty & Breakthroughs

Closer To Truth members get early access to brand new episodes from our latest season.

WATCH NOW

Recent News

Perspective

Humanity’s Quantum Leap: 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics

Host Robert Lawrence Kuhn on the 2023 winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Perspective

Letter From London: Thoughts from CTT on Location

Host Robert Lawrence Kuhn reflects on an enlightening experience in London while on location.

Perspective

Contemplating “Oppenheimer”

Robert Lawrence Kuhn reflects on the life and legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Announcement

Closer To Truth Partners with IAI Live for Virtual Debate

Get 50% off tickets to IAI LIVE's virtual debate on July 3 with code CLOSERJULY50.

Book Excerpt

Neil Theise: Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being

The following is an excerpt from the book Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being by Neil Theise.

Book Excerpt

Nicholas Humphrey: Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness

The following is an excerpt from the book Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness by Nicholas Humphrey.

Curated Playlists

Cover image for The Philosophy of the Barbie Universe

The new Barbie movie explores the difficulties and terrors of being human, parallel universes, and questions of life after death. Here, we examine the same big questions of...

playlist

The Philosophy of the Barbie Universe

Curated

9 videos

1:14:52

Watch

Cover image for Contemplating Oppenheimer

In anticipation of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer movie premiere, Closer To Truth has curated this video playlist featuring discussions related to the life and work of...

playlist

Contemplating Oppenheimer

Curated

9 videos

1:34:09

Watch

Explore our vast universe: its size, scope, beginning, expansion, ending. How did it all happen? How does it all work? Where is it all going? We target the mysteries.

playlist

Best of Cosmology

Curated

10 videos

4:27:45

Watch

Cover image for Asking Ultimate Questions

Push boundaries. Discern the deep essence of existence. Search the foundations of reality. Imagine all that may exist in physical realms beyond current understanding. Seek to...

playlist

Asking Ultimate Questions

Topic Series

12 videos

1:29:44

Watch

Cover image for Exploring Human Nature: Free Will, Personal Identity, Life after Death

What are the fundamental dispositions and traits of all humans? What sets us apart from animals? Do we really have free will or is it all an illusion? What happens when we...

playlist

Exploring Human Nature: Free Will, Personal Identity, Life after Death

Curated

13 videos

5:54:03

Watch

Cover image for Secrets of Brain and Mind

Everything we know comes from the brain. Are brains our window to reality, showing us what truly exists? How can we know? Can consciousness derive from something beyond the...

playlist

Secrets of Brain and Mind

Curated

13 videos

5:48:02

Watch

Cover image for Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

Did the universe have a beginning? What was it like? Will our universe end? How? How big is the cosmos? Does it go on forever, and what would that mean? How many universes...

playlist

Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

Curated

5:48:03

Watch

Cover image for Ultimate Questions of Existence

What is real? What is nothing? Why is there “something” rather than “nothing”? Does the nonphysical world exist? These are the ultimate questions of reality, the...

playlist

Ultimate Questions of Existence

Curated

12 videos

5:21:15

Watch

Cover image for The Mystery of Consciousness

How can we understand consciousness? Is our consciousness an illusion? Can it be measured scientifically or tied to the brain? Why is consciousness so difficult to explain?

playlist

The Mystery of Consciousness

Curated

13 videos

5:48:03

Watch

Cover image for Featured Videos from IAI.tv

Our partners at The Institute of Art and Ideas (IAI) aim to rescue philosophy from technical debates about the meaning of words and return it to big ideas and putting them at...

playlist

Featured Videos from IAI.tv

Curated

4:04:51

Watch

Cover image for Philosophical Questions I

Explore philosophical questions that address fundamental issues and beliefs including the meaning of truth; the philosophy of science, cosmology, and biology; metaphysics...

playlist

Philosophical Questions I

Curated

5:48:17

Watch

Cover image for Philosophical Questions II

Explore more philosophical questions that seek insights into the fundamental features of existence including the limits of science, the existence of God, discerning the deep...

playlist

Philosophical Questions II

Curated

13 videos

5:48:10

Watch

1 of 2

What are you interested in?

Cosmos

Questions like:
Why is there something rather than nothing? What exists? How vast is the cosmos? Are there multiple universes (multiverse)?

Consciousness

Questions like:
What is consciousness? Can brain explain mind? What are persons? Do persons have souls? Life after death? What is free will?

Meaning

Questions like:
What is God? Does God exist? Does God make sense? Is God a person? What are God’s traits? Alternative concepts of God?

2 of 2

Which formats do you prefer?

Episodes

Complete Closer To Truth TV episodes as broadcast on PBS stations nationwide in the U.S.

Topic Series

Intimate discussions with leading scientists, philosophers, and creative thinkers on hundreds of topics related to cosmos, consciousness, and meaning.

Curated Playlists

Collections of the best videos selected by the Closer To Truth team.

CTT Chats

Informal, free-flowing conversations with leading scientists, philosophers, and creative thinkers.

Seasons

All seasons of the acclaimed television series.

To seek the foundations of reality we look through the prism of mathematics. Mathematics is the universal language anyone, anywhere, can appreciate. We ask profound...

playlist

Season 22

Season

2:14:20

Watch

Science explores how the world works. Breakthroughs drive science, challenging conventional wisdom, changing ways of thinking. What are Breakthroughs in science?

playlist

Season 21

Season

13 videos

5:48:11

Watch

Art Seeking Understanding: Art delights us, but how and why? Explore art and cognitive science, philosophy, history, theology, and more.

playlist

Season 20

Season

10 videos

4:27:50

Watch

Philosophical inquiries including the anthropic principle; fine-tuning in physics and cosmology; and atonement, salvation, and incarnation.

playlist

Season 19

Season

13 videos

5:48:24

Watch

Are there multiple universes? What is extended mind? What causes consciousness? Challenges of analytic theology? If God, what’s evolution?

playlist

Season 18

Season

13 videos

Watch

How did the universe begin? What exists? What are the risks of scientific knowledge? Can metaphysics discern God, and what or who is God?

playlist

Season 17

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Doomsday argument? Philosophy & science? Consciousness: Brain alone? Brains go bad? Language? Meaning: How miracles? God fallacies?

playlist

Season 16

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Reason? Implications? Consciousness: ESP mean? ESP work? Dualism? Ultimate reality? Meaning: Speculating about God? God intervenes?

playlist

Season 15

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Information? Truth? Multiverse? Consciousness: Science of consciousness? Mind heal body? Meaning: Blame God for evil? God not free?

playlist

Season 14

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Ever end? Ultimate reality? Consciousness: Death final? Free will for moral responsibility? Meaning: What causes religious belief?

playlist

Season 13

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Beginning? What is Nothing? Why anything? Consciousness: Personal identity persist? Sleep? Human uniqueness? Meaning: New atheism?

playlist

Season 12

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: What is time? Infinite cosmos? Consciousness: How brains work? Free will illusion? Meaning: Alternative Gods? Resurrection? Hell?

playlist

Season 11

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Religiously ambiguous? General principles? Consciousness: Illusion? Dreams? Belief systems? Meaning: What is God? Arguing God?

playlist

Season 10

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Life inevitable? Inflation? Complexity? Consciousness: Alien intelligence? Meaning: Creator God? God all powerful? God fallacies?

playlist

Season 09

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Beyond physics? Cosmic purpose? Consciousness: ESP clues? Keep identity? Souls? Meaning: God’s nature? Evil necessary? Immortality?

playlist

Season 08

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: SpaceTime? Science limits? Consciousness: How brains conscious? Survive death? Meaning: God vs science? Miracles? God & free will?

playlist

Season 07

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Cosmic structure? Quantum strange? Consciousness: ESP spirit? Brain free will? Meaning: God all knowing? Necessary? Agnosticism?

playlist

Season 06

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Far future? Ultimate Questions? Consciousness: Human brains? Mind? Personal identity? Meaning: God a Person? Religion without God?

playlist

Season 05

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Expanding universe? Extra dimensions? Laws? Consciousness: All material? Angels/demons? Meaning: God’s judgment? God create evil?

playlist

Season 04

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Something/Nothing? Final Theory? Consciousness: Fundamental? Aliens? Meaning: God knows future? Eternal life? Science-religion?

playlist

Season 03

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: Many universes? Time Travel? Consciousness: Life after death? Mind? Free will? Meaning: Evil disprove God? Time? Arguing Atheism?

playlist

Season 02

Season

13 videos

Watch

Cosmos: How vast? Fine-tuned? Fake? Consciousness: Mystery? Brain structure? Souls? ESP? Meaning: God make sense? Arguing God’s existence?

playlist

Season 01

Season

13 videos

Watch

Featured Topic Series

Cover image for Mind, Art, Transcendence (Part 1)

What is the three-way relationship among mind, art, and transcendence? What is it about art that can elicit the sense of transcendence, going beyond the self, bursting the...

playlist

Mind, Art, Transcendence (Part 1)

Topic Series

6 videos

47:25

Watch

Cover image for Women in Philosophy and Physics/Cosmology

Closer To Truth is highlighting remarkable women in philosophy and physics/cosmology.

playlist

Women in Philosophy and Physics/Cosmology

Curated, Topic Series

11 videos

1:38:00

Watch

Cover image for The Global Philosophy of Religion Project

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project, in partnership with the University of Birmingham, aims to make the philosophy of religion a truly global field by promoting the...

playlist

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project

Project

24 videos

22:46:58

Watch

Push boundaries. Discern the deep essence of existence. Search the foundations of reality. Imagine all that may exist in physical realms beyond current understanding. Seek to...

playlist

Asking Ultimate Questions

Topic Series

12 videos

1:29:44

Watch

Did the universe have a beginning? What was it like? Will our universe end? How? How big is the cosmos? Does it go on forever, and what would that mean? How many universes...

playlist

Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

Curated

5:48:03

Watch

Cover image for What is Philosophy of Biology?

We ask the broadest and most fundamental questions about biology, seeking meaning, purpose and implications of biological phenomena and systems. Questions include: life,...

playlist

What is Philosophy of Biology?

Topic Series

5 videos

39:46

Watch

How Brain Scientists Think About Consciousness

Topic Series

9 videos

1:40:08

Watch

Cover image for What are Breakthroughs in Science? (Part 1)

What is the nature of scientific breakthroughs? What are common characteristics among all the sciences? What are specific signs of breakthroughs in physics and biology?...

playlist

What are Breakthroughs in Science? (Part 1)

Topic Series

6 videos

1:01:52

Watch

Cover image for Can Consciousness be Non-Biological? (Part 1)

If consciousness is 100% physical, we would have to conclude that the same kind of consciousness that we experience as humans can be generated by non-biological entities...

playlist

Can Consciousness be Non-Biological? (Part 1)

Topic Series

7 videos

52:31

Watch

Cover image for Quantum Physics of Consciousness

Are quantum events required for consciousness in a very special sense, far beyond the general sense that quantum events are part of all physical systems? What would it take...

playlist

Quantum Physics of Consciousness

Topic Series

10 videos

1:22:52

Watch

Cover image for How are Brains Conscious?

Brains are conscious. The heart is not. What does the brain do that the heart does not do? How does it come to be that brains generate inner subjective experience, the movies...

playlist

How are Brains Conscious?

Topic Series

10 videos

1:29:04

Watch

Cover image for Where Do the Laws of Nature Come From?

What’s real? What’s fundamental? There are regularities in nature, things that are or work the same—always, everywhere, across the universe just like across...

playlist

Where Do the Laws of Nature Come From?

Topic Series

9 videos

1:24:26

Watch

Featured Contributors

Roger Penrose

Nobel Prize in Physics; Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, University of Oxford

Sabine Hossenfelder

Physicist and Science Writer, Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy

Sean Carroll

Research Professor of Physics, Caltech

Michio Kaku

Professor of Physics, City College of New York; Futurist; Author

David Chalmers

Professor of Philosophy and Co-director, Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, New York University

Sarah Coakley

Norris-Hulse Emeritus Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge; Anglican priest

V.S. Ramachandran

Distinguished Professor; Director, Center for Brain and Cognition, UC San Diego

Paul Davies

Regents' Professor, Arizona State University

The greatest thinkers. The deepest questions.

Cosmos. Consciousness. Meaning.

Closer To Truth: The Podcast

Contemporary Conversations

Newest

Can Mathematics Elucidate Evolution?

Can Mathematics Explain Biology?

Why do Power Laws Work so Widely?

Terrence Deacon on the Noosphere

What is the Deep Meaning of Probability?

Philip Goff on the Purpose of the Universe

Mathematical Beauty & Breakthroughs

Recent News

Humanity’s Quantum Leap: 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics

Letter From London: Thoughts from CTT on Location

Contemplating “Oppenheimer”

Closer To Truth Partners with IAI Live for Virtual Debate

Neil Theise: Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being

Nicholas Humphrey: Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness

Curated Playlists

The Philosophy of the Barbie Universe

Contemplating Oppenheimer

Best of Cosmology

Asking Ultimate Questions

Exploring Human Nature: Free Will, Personal Identity, Life after Death

Secrets of Brain and Mind

Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

Ultimate Questions of Existence

The Mystery of Consciousness

Featured Videos from IAI.tv

Philosophical Questions I

Philosophical Questions II

What are you interested in?

Which formats do you prefer?

Seasons

Season 22

Season 21

Season 20

Season 19

Season 18

Season 17

Season 16

Season 15

Season 14

Season 13

Season 12

Season 11

Season 10

Season 09

Season 08

Season 07

Season 06

Season 05

Season 04

Season 03

Season 02

Season 01

Featured Topic Series

Mind, Art, Transcendence (Part 1)

Women in Philosophy and Physics/Cosmology

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project

Asking Ultimate Questions

Universe: Beginning, Vast Size, End

What is Philosophy of Biology?

Featured Topics

Deep Laws of Nature

Mystery of Existence

Free Will

Mind-Body Problems

Philosophy of Religion

Art Seeking Understanding

Vast Cosmos

Life After Death?

Time and Space-Time

Arguments Against God

Cosmic Fundamentals

Popular

How Brain Scientists Think About Consciousness

What are Breakthroughs in Science? (Part 1)

Can Consciousness be Non-Biological? (Part 1)