How teaching molecules to think is revealing what a 'mind' really is
Summary
New Scientist reports that even simple cellular networks can display goal-directed behavior and learning-like properties, using gene regulatory networks and autocatalytic systems as models. The piece argues that agency and cognition may exist on a continuum from simple chemical networks to complex brains, with implications for understanding life’s origins and potential medical applications. It also cautions against over-interpreting simulations as proof of inner mental states.