[tortoise]

I suspect that what happens in and between those synapses that you're pretty fascinated with tortoise, has greater complexities than galaxies (yes, in topological and systemic senses). But... the jury is out as to how much of this complex occurs in the physical realm, now isn't it?

The lovely thing is that we do have good metrics of true complexity. Every test ever done that I am aware of on the human brain gives strong evidence that it is a complex but nonetheless finite state mechanism. The structural and operational complexity is reasonably similar to many of the other more complex systems in the body. This is true even of the output of our minds as well, which show a very high level of finite state regularity in all aspects. The Kolmogorov complexity of the brain IS very high, arguably substantially more so than our current computers, but is otherwise achievable without invoking magic.

Heck, it is this which tantalizes the people who work on these things. We can definitely measure and see that we could construct such a thing in theory, making it a grand puzzle to unravel. Scientists don't waste their time on problems we know we can't solve; there is no value or glory in it. Powered flight attracted human scientists for centuries for the same reason before it was finally solved.

[unspun]

The Kolmogorov complexity of the brain IS very high, arguably substantially more so than our current computers, but is otherwise achievable without invoking magic.

Then good, one wouldn't want to make deals with devils. Hope to look into Kolmogrov complexity, tort. Probabilities was the 'higher math' subject that I actually enjoyed. Point is of course that this as we know it is not, by observations and testimonies of them, likely to be the only complexity out there.

Scientists don't waste their time on problems we know we can't solve; there is no value or glory in it. Powered flight attracted human scientists for centuries for the same reason before it was finally solved.

Salutes to them, in this 100th year of powered flight (well, also the 101st year, depending on how you look at it). Without wasting time though, I wholeheartedly suggest that every scientist invests time regarding problems they cannot solve on their own. Mostly outside their comp. time, I suppose.

Always leave room for what one may know one doesn't know (in our incompetence, unconsciously or consciously manifest).

BTW, is not an attempt at a 'forced' study (double-blind or otherwise) of 'extra'-psychic phenomena similar in effect to the intrusive effects one finds by the scientist's blunt force applied to our study of physical quanta? (Corrupting influence by the very presence of test and measurement.)

And who was it that said that that particle testing is like shooting two finely made clocks or watches at each other and studying their identifying functions by the pieces which fly apart?