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1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 93 (from laksa074)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa093.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://bigthink.com/thinking/life-after-death/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://bigthink.com/thinking/life-after-death/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/bigthink.com\/thinking\/life-after-death\/","crawl_time":1776290713,"first_indexed_time":1695301222,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,bigthink!\/thinking\/life-after-death\/ s443","src_root_hash":"11001312780336798293","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"We asked Big Thinkers: “Is there life after death?” - Big Think","meta_descriptions":["In 2020, Big Think asked some big names in academia about their views on life after death. This is what they said."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"You will die. No\nmatter how powerful you are, how hard you pray, or how sophisticated nanotechnology becomes, you will die. The vast majority of people can see their death approaching. We have a lot of time to think about it. Yet, death remains a great mystery — the veil behind which no one can peek.\nGiven how terrifying and unknown death is, it’s no wonder we talk about it a lot. It’s not too ridiculous to suppose that almost all the world’s religions are, to some degree, a response to death. Most of our philosophies are, too. In 2020,\nBig Think interviewed some big names in academia\n. They gave us their answers to the “What happens after we die?” question.\nHere, we explore some of their responses.\nExistential uncertainty\nBertrand Russell, an atheist, was once asked what he would say if, when he died, he came face to face with God. Russell replied, “[I would say] ‘Sir, why did you not give me better evidence?’”\nIf you’re coming at religion from a scientist’s mindset, there’s not much to say. There’s really no evidence either way. We have neither verifiable testimony nor falsifiable claims. When you’re entirely stuck on a physical plane, you cannot say much about the metaphysical one. As Sam Harris says, “I don’t know what happens after the physical brain dies…I don’t think anyone does know.”\nThe only fact we do know is that we will die. And it’s this fact that, for Bill Nye, is so important. Because we do not know what happens after death, and because we’re faced with the possibility it might be nothing, we turn to life with a kind of vital energy. Death’s approach gives impetus to our mortal existence. As Nye puts it, “It’s what makes us go. And it’s what makes you try to accomplish things … All of [our decisions] are driven by the limited length of life we have.”\nFor Nye, Rob Bell, and Michael Shermer, life after death is a mystery, but with that comes an existential rush to get things done. It lets you appreciate the time you have more.\nTime is a landscape\nAstronomer Michelle Thaller uses Einstein to give us a screenplay that’s just waiting for Christopher Nolan. For Thaller, you are already dead. At least, you’re dead from a certain point of view. As she puts it, “Einstein believed that you, right now, had been dead for trillions of years; that you haven’t been born yet; that everything that’s happened to you, if you could get the right perspective on the universe, you could see all at once.”\nAlthough it’s old news to anyone inside physics departments, time isn’t linear. It’s not even a thing, really. Time is all about your location and the speed of light. If you alter those two variables, you can look at the past and see the future. Einstein believed that space-time was a substance created at the Big Bang, and every point along that continuum is just as real as the “present.” You, reading this, happen to exist on one point on that surface. But that’s no more real than any other.\nSo, from one point of view, you’re already dead. You haven’t been born. Or you have to relive this minute over and over and over again like some\nNietzschean nightmare.\nLife is not biology\nThe third category is either techno-optimism or techno-dystopia, depending on your preferences. This idea might sound like science fiction: Imagine uploading yourself to the immortal cloud (and hoping no unfortunate intern accidentally unplugs the power supply).\nFor theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, in the near future, “Everything known about you can be digitized.” Your memories, your personality, your quirks, and your entire neural network can be uploaded or saved somewhere forever. Your body will age, your organs will stop working, and your body will break down. But in this new digital afterlife, you can talk with your descendants. You can live digitally.\nThere are a lot of problems with this. There are just as many unknowns as death itself. We still don’t know what consciousness is, let alone if we can reproduce it. What’s more, as the French philosopher Merleau-Ponty knew, our bodies are not fleshy tools to dispose of at will. Our existence is embodied. Our entire being exists only in a physical body. It’s hard to imagine what Kaku’s immortality would look like. As Bill Nye asks, “Do you want to be stuck in an Apple product the rest of your life, or do you want to be stuck in a Microsoft product? It’s a tough call.”\nI’m not sure it’s that tough, Bill. I’ll take Thaller’s version of\nGroundhog Day\n, I think.","attrs_markdown":"# We asked Big Thinkers: “Is there life after death?” Here’s what they said.\n[Big Think Home](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/)\n\nOpen search\n\nOpen main menu\n\n- [Search](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/)\n  Popular Searches\n  \n  [Critical thinking](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/search\/?q=critical+thinking)[Philosophy](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/search\/?q=philosophy)[Emotional Intelligence](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/search\/?q=emotional+intelligence)[Free Will](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/search\/?q=free+will)\n  \n  [Latest Videos](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/videos\/)\n  \n  [Latest Articles](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/latest-articles\/)\n- [Topics](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/about)\n  ## [Philosophy](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/philosophy\/)\n  - [Ethics](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/t\/ethics\/)\n  - [Religion](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/t\/religion\/)\n  - [Flourishing](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/t\/flourishing\/)\n  - [Knowledge](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/t\/knowledge\/)\n  - 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Mark Cartwright \/ Wikimedia Commons\n\nKey Takeaways\n\n- Death is inevitable. Given how universal, absolute, and terrifying death is, it’s no wonder humans have been talking and writing about it for millennia.\n- Here we explore how several Big Think guests think about the question of life after death.\n- Their answers range from existentialist to Einsteinian to a potential future that sounds like science fiction.\n\n[Get the Big Think newsletter on Substack](https:\/\/bigthinkmedia.substack.com\/)\n\n*You will die. No* matter how powerful you are, how hard you pray, or how sophisticated nanotechnology becomes, you will die. The vast majority of people can see their death approaching. We have a lot of time to think about it. Yet, death remains a great mystery — the veil behind which no one can peek.\n\nGiven how terrifying and unknown death is, it’s no wonder we talk about it a lot. It’s not too ridiculous to suppose that almost all the world’s religions are, to some degree, a response to death. Most of our philosophies are, too. In 2020, [Big Think interviewed some big names in academia](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/thinking\/is-there-life-after-death\/). They gave us their answers to the “What happens after we die?” question.\n\nHere, we explore some of their responses.\n\n## **Existential uncertainty**\nBertrand Russell, an atheist, was once asked what he would say if, when he died, he came face to face with God. Russell replied, “\\[I would say\\] ‘Sir, why did you not give me better evidence?’”\n\n[![Eight open magazines are displayed in two rows, with a headline above reading \"A NEW HOME FOR CURIOUS MINDS\" and a yellow \"JOIN TODAY\" button below.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/generic-ad-wide-sm.jpg)](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/membership\/)\n\nIf you’re coming at religion from a scientist’s mindset, there’s not much to say. There’s really no evidence either way. We have neither verifiable testimony nor falsifiable claims. When you’re entirely stuck on a physical plane, you cannot say much about the metaphysical one. As Sam Harris says, “I don’t know what happens after the physical brain dies…I don’t think anyone does know.”\n\nThe only fact we do know is that we will die. And it’s this fact that, for Bill Nye, is so important. Because we do not know what happens after death, and because we’re faced with the possibility it might be nothing, we turn to life with a kind of vital energy. Death’s approach gives impetus to our mortal existence. As Nye puts it, “It’s what makes us go. And it’s what makes you try to accomplish things … All of \\[our decisions\\] are driven by the limited length of life we have.”\n\nFor Nye, Rob Bell, and Michael Shermer, life after death is a mystery, but with that comes an existential rush to get things done. It lets you appreciate the time you have more.\n\n## **Time is a landscape**\nAstronomer Michelle Thaller uses Einstein to give us a screenplay that’s just waiting for Christopher Nolan. For Thaller, you are already dead. At least, you’re dead from a certain point of view. As she puts it, “Einstein believed that you, right now, had been dead for trillions of years; that you haven’t been born yet; that everything that’s happened to you, if you could get the right perspective on the universe, you could see all at once.”\n\nAlthough it’s old news to anyone inside physics departments, time isn’t linear. It’s not even a thing, really. Time is all about your location and the speed of light. If you alter those two variables, you can look at the past and see the future. Einstein believed that space-time was a substance created at the Big Bang, and every point along that continuum is just as real as the “present.” You, reading this, happen to exist on one point on that surface. But that’s no more real than any other.\n\nSo, from one point of view, you’re already dead. You haven’t been born. Or you have to relive this minute over and over and over again like some [Nietzschean nightmare.](https:\/\/philosophybreak.com\/articles\/eternal-recurrence-what-did-nietzsche-really-mean\/)\n\n## **Life is not biology**\nThe third category is either techno-optimism or techno-dystopia, depending on your preferences. This idea might sound like science fiction: Imagine uploading yourself to the immortal cloud (and hoping no unfortunate intern accidentally unplugs the power supply).\n\nFor theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, in the near future, “Everything known about you can be digitized.” Your memories, your personality, your quirks, and your entire neural network can be uploaded or saved somewhere forever. Your body will age, your organs will stop working, and your body will break down. But in this new digital afterlife, you can talk with your descendants. You can live digitally.\n\nThere are a lot of problems with this. There are just as many unknowns as death itself. We still don’t know what consciousness is, let alone if we can reproduce it. What’s more, as the French philosopher Merleau-Ponty knew, our bodies are not fleshy tools to dispose of at will. Our existence is embodied. Our entire being exists only in a physical body. It’s hard to imagine what Kaku’s immortality would look like. As Bill Nye asks, “Do you want to be stuck in an Apple product the rest of your life, or do you want to be stuck in a Microsoft product? It’s a tough call.”\n\nI’m not sure it’s that tough, Bill. I’ll take Thaller’s version of *Groundhog Day*, I think.\n\n[Jonny Thomson](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/people\/jonnythomson\/)\n\nAuthor and philosopher\n\n[Full Profile](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/people\/jonnythomson\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Photo-of-Jonny-for-BT.png?w=160&h=160&crop=1)](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/people\/jonnythomson\/)\n\nMonthly Issue    March 2026\n\n##### [The Roots of Resilience](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/collections\/the-roots-of-resilience\/)\nIn this monthly issue, we look at resilience not as a buzzword or a self-help prescription, but as a property — one that shows up, or doesn’t, at every scale.\n\n2 videos    14 articles\n\n[![Illustration of five humanoid figures with green bodies, root-like veins, and tree branches growing from their heads, holding hands against a yellow and red background.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/resilience-cover-sq.jpg?w=512&h=512&crop=1)](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/collections\/the-roots-of-resilience\/)\n\nFeatured Classes\n\n[![A person smiling in a stylized collage with a keyboard, hands, and orange diagonal stripes in the background.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3-challenges-AI-must-overcome.jpg?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 8 videos Cultivating the Conditions for Innovation Martin Gonzalez](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/my-classes\/cultivating-the-conditions-for-innovation\/)\n\n[![A grayscale photo of a woman with hoop earrings, set against an orange background and overlaid on a black and white abstract digital pattern.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/daphne.jpg?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 6 videos Transform Your Organization with AI Daphne Koller Founder and CEO of insitro.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/my-classes\/transform-your-organization-with-ai\/)\n\n[![A middle-aged man with short gray hair and a receding hairline is smiling, wearing a dark t-shirt against a light blue background.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oliverburkeman.png?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 8 videos Productivity for Mortals Oliver Burkeman Author, “Meditations for Mortals”](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/my-classes\/productivity-for-mortals\/)\n\n[![A woman with long hair and glasses wearing a blazer, posed with her hand under her chin, looks at the camera. The photo is overlaid with a semi-transparent colored square.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/kim.jpg?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 12 videos Radical Respect at Work Kim Scott Co-Founder, Radical Candor, and Author, *Radical Respect: How to Work Together Better*](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/my-classes\/radical-respect-at-work\/)\n\n[![A middle-aged man with short light hair, a trimmed beard, and a light green shirt under a dark jacket, smiling at the camera against a plain background.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/emotional-wisdom.png?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 5 videos Practicing Emotional Wisdom Chip Conley Founder & CEO, Modern Elder Academy, Bestselling Author](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/my-classes\/practicing-emotional-wisdom\/)\n\n##\n## Related Content\n[Neuropsych](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/neuropsych\/)\n\n### [Do near-death experiences prove that an afterlife exists?](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/neuropsych\/michael-shermer-heavens-on-earth-the-scientific-search-for-the-afterlife-immortality-and-utopia\/)\nThe scientific quest for immortality is predicated on the belief that evidence may already exist in the form of Near-Death Experiences and reincarnation.\n\nby [Michael Shermer](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/people\/michael-shermer\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/origin-150.jpg?w=2171)](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/neuropsych\/michael-shermer-heavens-on-earth-the-scientific-search-for-the-afterlife-immortality-and-utopia\/)\n\n[The Future](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/the-future\/)\n\n### [The Singularity: When will we all become super-humans?](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/the-future\/ray-kurzweil-singularity\/)\nAre we really only a moment away from \"The Singularity,\" a technological epoch that will usher in a new era in human evolution?\n\nby [Jonny Thomson](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/people\/jonnythomson\/)\n\n[![singularity](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/AdobeStock_162632787.jpeg?w=1536)](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/the-future\/ray-kurzweil-singularity\/)\n\n[Thinking](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/thinking\/)\n\n### [Psychopomps: Gods of the liminal who wait for you when you die](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/thinking\/psychopomps\/)\nDeath is the great and terrifying unknown, awaiting us all at the end of this life. Giving it a personality makes it easier to gaze upon.\n\nby [Jonny Thomson](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/people\/jonnythomson\/)\n\n[![psychopomps](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/AdobeStock_445096468.jpeg?w=1536)](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/thinking\/psychopomps\/)\n\n[Neuropsych](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/neuropsych\/)\n\n### [Can near-death experiences prove the afterlife?](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/neuropsych\/near-death-experience\/)\nMillions of people have had a near-death experience, and it often leads them to believe in an afterlife. Does this count as good proof?\n\nby [Jonny Thomson](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/people\/jonnythomson\/)\n\n[![A silhouette of a person experiencing a near-death encounter in front of a fire.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/neardeath.jpg?w=2500)](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/neuropsych\/near-death-experience\/)\n\nLearn from the world's biggest thinkers.\n\n- Videos\n  - [Latest](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/videos\/)\n  - [The Big Think Interview](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/series\/the-big-think-interview\/)\n- Columns\n  - [Mini Philosophy](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/mini-philosophy\/)\n  - [Starts with a Bang](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/starts-with-a-bang\/)\n  - [Big Think Books](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/books\/)\n  - [The Long Game](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/the-long-game\/)\n  - [Strange Maps](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/strange-maps\/)\n  - [13\\.8](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/13-8\/)\n  - [The Well](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/the-well\/)\n  - [Rethinking Possible](https:\/\/rethinkingpossible.com\/)\n- Sections\n  - [Philosophy](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/philosophy\/)\n  - [Mind & Behavior](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/mind-behavior\/)\n  - [Science & Tech](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/science-tech\/)\n  - [Business](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/business\/)\n  - [History & Society](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/history-society\/)\n- Classes\n  - [Class Library](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/my-classes\/)\n- Subscribe\n  - [Membership](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/membership\/)\n  - [Free Newsletters](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/subscribe\/)\n- Partner\n  - [Big Think+ Learning](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/plus\/)\n  - [Creative Studio](https:\/\/freethinkmedia.com\/creative-studio)\n  - [Advertise with Us](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/advertise-with-big-think\/)\n  - [Events](https:\/\/events.bigthink.com\/)\n- More\n  - [About](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/our-mission\/)\n  - [Careers](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/careers\/)\n  - [Contact](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/contact\/)\n  - [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n  - [Terms of Sale](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/terms-of-use\/)\n  - [Accessibility](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/accessibility\/)\n\n[View our Twitter (X) feed](https:\/\/twitter.com\/bigthink)\n\n[View our Youtube channel](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/bigthink)\n\n[View our Instagram feed](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bigthinkers\/)\n\n[View our Substack feed](https:\/\/bigthinkmedia.substack.com\/)\n\n[View our Spotify feed](https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/7KRYoRD1NdF2aoQcBMyPlb?si=74108a1c8cd64970)\n\n© Copyright 2007-2026 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved.","attrs_readable_markdown":"*You will die. No* matter how powerful you are, how hard you pray, or how sophisticated nanotechnology becomes, you will die. The vast majority of people can see their death approaching. We have a lot of time to think about it. Yet, death remains a great mystery — the veil behind which no one can peek.\n\nGiven how terrifying and unknown death is, it’s no wonder we talk about it a lot. It’s not too ridiculous to suppose that almost all the world’s religions are, to some degree, a response to death. Most of our philosophies are, too. In 2020, [Big Think interviewed some big names in academia](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/thinking\/is-there-life-after-death\/). They gave us their answers to the “What happens after we die?” question.\n\nHere, we explore some of their responses.\n\n## **Existential uncertainty**\nBertrand Russell, an atheist, was once asked what he would say if, when he died, he came face to face with God. Russell replied, “\\[I would say\\] ‘Sir, why did you not give me better evidence?’”\n\n[![Eight open magazines are displayed in two rows, with a headline above reading \"A NEW HOME FOR CURIOUS MINDS\" and a yellow \"JOIN TODAY\" button below.](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/generic-ad-wide-sm.jpg)](https:\/\/bigthink.com\/membership\/)\n\nIf you’re coming at religion from a scientist’s mindset, there’s not much to say. There’s really no evidence either way. We have neither verifiable testimony nor falsifiable claims. When you’re entirely stuck on a physical plane, you cannot say much about the metaphysical one. As Sam Harris says, “I don’t know what happens after the physical brain dies…I don’t think anyone does know.”\n\nThe only fact we do know is that we will die. And it’s this fact that, for Bill Nye, is so important. Because we do not know what happens after death, and because we’re faced with the possibility it might be nothing, we turn to life with a kind of vital energy. Death’s approach gives impetus to our mortal existence. As Nye puts it, “It’s what makes us go. And it’s what makes you try to accomplish things … All of \\[our decisions\\] are driven by the limited length of life we have.”\n\nFor Nye, Rob Bell, and Michael Shermer, life after death is a mystery, but with that comes an existential rush to get things done. It lets you appreciate the time you have more.\n\n## **Time is a landscape**\nAstronomer Michelle Thaller uses Einstein to give us a screenplay that’s just waiting for Christopher Nolan. For Thaller, you are already dead. At least, you’re dead from a certain point of view. As she puts it, “Einstein believed that you, right now, had been dead for trillions of years; that you haven’t been born yet; that everything that’s happened to you, if you could get the right perspective on the universe, you could see all at once.”\n\nAlthough it’s old news to anyone inside physics departments, time isn’t linear. It’s not even a thing, really. Time is all about your location and the speed of light. If you alter those two variables, you can look at the past and see the future. Einstein believed that space-time was a substance created at the Big Bang, and every point along that continuum is just as real as the “present.” You, reading this, happen to exist on one point on that surface. But that’s no more real than any other.\n\nSo, from one point of view, you’re already dead. You haven’t been born. Or you have to relive this minute over and over and over again like some [Nietzschean nightmare.](https:\/\/philosophybreak.com\/articles\/eternal-recurrence-what-did-nietzsche-really-mean\/)\n\n## **Life is not biology**\nThe third category is either techno-optimism or techno-dystopia, depending on your preferences. This idea might sound like science fiction: Imagine uploading yourself to the immortal cloud (and hoping no unfortunate intern accidentally unplugs the power supply).\n\nFor theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, in the near future, “Everything known about you can be digitized.” Your memories, your personality, your quirks, and your entire neural network can be uploaded or saved somewhere forever. Your body will age, your organs will stop working, and your body will break down. But in this new digital afterlife, you can talk with your descendants. You can live digitally.\n\nThere are a lot of problems with this. There are just as many unknowns as death itself. We still don’t know what consciousness is, let alone if we can reproduce it. What’s more, as the French philosopher Merleau-Ponty knew, our bodies are not fleshy tools to dispose of at will. Our existence is embodied. Our entire being exists only in a physical body. It’s hard to imagine what Kaku’s immortality would look like. As Bill Nye asks, “Do you want to be stuck in an Apple product the rest of your life, or do you want to be stuck in a Microsoft product? It’s a tough call.”\n\nI’m not sure it’s that tough, Bill. I’ll take Thaller’s version of *Groundhog Day*, I think.","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://bigthink.com/thinking/life-after-death/
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Boilerpipe Text	You will die. No matter how powerful you are, how hard you pray, or how sophisticated nanotechnology becomes, you will die. The vast majority of people can see their death approaching. We have a lot of time to think about it. Yet, death remains a great mystery — the veil behind which no one can peek. Given how terrifying and unknown death is, it’s no wonder we talk about it a lot. It’s not too ridiculous to suppose that almost all the world’s religions are, to some degree, a response to death. Most of our philosophies are, too. In 2020, Big Think interviewed some big names in academia . They gave us their answers to the “What happens after we die?” question. Here, we explore some of their responses. Existential uncertainty Bertrand Russell, an atheist, was once asked what he would say if, when he died, he came face to face with God. Russell replied, “[I would say] ‘Sir, why did you not give me better evidence?’” If you’re coming at religion from a scientist’s mindset, there’s not much to say. There’s really no evidence either way. We have neither verifiable testimony nor falsifiable claims. When you’re entirely stuck on a physical plane, you cannot say much about the metaphysical one. As Sam Harris says, “I don’t know what happens after the physical brain dies…I don’t think anyone does know.” The only fact we do know is that we will die. And it’s this fact that, for Bill Nye, is so important. Because we do not know what happens after death, and because we’re faced with the possibility it might be nothing, we turn to life with a kind of vital energy. Death’s approach gives impetus to our mortal existence. As Nye puts it, “It’s what makes us go. And it’s what makes you try to accomplish things … All of [our decisions] are driven by the limited length of life we have.” For Nye, Rob Bell, and Michael Shermer, life after death is a mystery, but with that comes an existential rush to get things done. It lets you appreciate the time you have more. Time is a landscape Astronomer Michelle Thaller uses Einstein to give us a screenplay that’s just waiting for Christopher Nolan. For Thaller, you are already dead. At least, you’re dead from a certain point of view. As she puts it, “Einstein believed that you, right now, had been dead for trillions of years; that you haven’t been born yet; that everything that’s happened to you, if you could get the right perspective on the universe, you could see all at once.” Although it’s old news to anyone inside physics departments, time isn’t linear. It’s not even a thing, really. Time is all about your location and the speed of light. If you alter those two variables, you can look at the past and see the future. Einstein believed that space-time was a substance created at the Big Bang, and every point along that continuum is just as real as the “present.” You, reading this, happen to exist on one point on that surface. But that’s no more real than any other. So, from one point of view, you’re already dead. You haven’t been born. Or you have to relive this minute over and over and over again like some Nietzschean nightmare. Life is not biology The third category is either techno-optimism or techno-dystopia, depending on your preferences. This idea might sound like science fiction: Imagine uploading yourself to the immortal cloud (and hoping no unfortunate intern accidentally unplugs the power supply). For theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, in the near future, “Everything known about you can be digitized.” Your memories, your personality, your quirks, and your entire neural network can be uploaded or saved somewhere forever. Your body will age, your organs will stop working, and your body will break down. But in this new digital afterlife, you can talk with your descendants. You can live digitally. There are a lot of problems with this. There are just as many unknowns as death itself. We still don’t know what consciousness is, let alone if we can reproduce it. What’s more, as the French philosopher Merleau-Ponty knew, our bodies are not fleshy tools to dispose of at will. Our existence is embodied. Our entire being exists only in a physical body. It’s hard to imagine what Kaku’s immortality would look like. As Bill Nye asks, “Do you want to be stuck in an Apple product the rest of your life, or do you want to be stuck in a Microsoft product? It’s a tough call.” I’m not sure it’s that tough, Bill. I’ll take Thaller’s version of Groundhog Day , I think.
Markdown	# We asked Big Thinkers: “Is there life after death?” Here’s what they said. [Big Think Home](https://bigthink.com/) Open search Open main menu - [Search](https://bigthink.com/) Popular Searches [Critical thinking](https://bigthink.com/search/?q=critical+thinking)[Philosophy](https://bigthink.com/search/?q=philosophy)[Emotional Intelligence](https://bigthink.com/search/?q=emotional+intelligence)[Free Will](https://bigthink.com/search/?q=free+will) [Latest Videos](https://bigthink.com/videos/) [Latest Articles](https://bigthink.com/latest-articles/) - [Topics](https://bigthink.com/about) ## [Philosophy](https://bigthink.com/philosophy/) - [Ethics](https://bigthink.com/t/ethics/) - [Religion](https://bigthink.com/t/religion/) - [Flourishing](https://bigthink.com/t/flourishing/) - [Knowledge](https://bigthink.com/t/knowledge/) - [Philosophy of Science](https://bigthink.com/t/philosophy-of-science/) - [Philosophy of Art](https://bigthink.com/t/philosophy-of-art/) - [Language](https://bigthink.com/t/language/) - [Political Theory](https://bigthink.com/t/political-theory/) - [Identity](https://bigthink.com/t/identity/) - [Meaning & Purpose](https://bigthink.com/t/meaning-purpose/) ## [Science & Tech](https://bigthink.com/science-tech/) - [Physics](https://bigthink.com/t/physics/) - [Biology](https://bigthink.com/t/biology/) - [Aerospace](https://bigthink.com/t/aerospace/) - [Health](https://bigthink.com/t/health/) - [Geology](https://bigthink.com/t/geology/) - [Computing](https://bigthink.com/t/computing/) - [Engineering](https://bigthink.com/t/engineering/) - [Energy](https://bigthink.com/t/energy/) - [Biotechnology](https://bigthink.com/t/biotechnology/) - [Astronomy](https://bigthink.com/t/astronomy/) ## [Mind & Behavior](https://bigthink.com/mind-behavior/) - [Psychology](https://bigthink.com/t/psychology/) - [Neuroscience](https://bigthink.com/t/neuroscience/) - [Decision-Making](https://bigthink.com/t/decision-making/) - [Mental Health](https://bigthink.com/t/mental-health/) - [Consciousness](https://bigthink.com/t/consciousness/) - [Emotional Intelligence](https://bigthink.com/t/emotional-intelligence/) - [Personality](https://bigthink.com/t/personality/) - [Relationships](https://bigthink.com/t/relationships/) - [Parenting](https://bigthink.com/t/parenting/) ## [Business](https://bigthink.com/business/) - [Entrepreneurship](https://bigthink.com/t/entrepreneurship/) - [Leadership](https://bigthink.com/t/leadership/) - [Finance](https://bigthink.com/t/finance/) - [Marketing](https://bigthink.com/t/marketing/) - [Innovation](https://bigthink.com/t/innovation/) - [Strategy](https://bigthink.com/t/strategy/) - [Management](https://bigthink.com/t/management/) - [Artificial Intelligence](https://bigthink.com/t/ai/) - [Startups](https://bigthink.com/t/startups/) - [Economics](https://bigthink.com/t/economics/) ## [History & Society](https://bigthink.com/history-society/) - [History](https://bigthink.com/t/history/) - [Literature](https://bigthink.com/t/literature/) - [Art](https://bigthink.com/t/art/) - [Music](https://bigthink.com/t/music/) - [Film](https://bigthink.com/t/film/) - [Progress](https://bigthink.com/t/progress/) - [Culture](https://bigthink.com/t/culture/) - [Sociology](https://bigthink.com/t/sociology/) - [Policy](https://bigthink.com/t/policy/) - [Geopolitics](https://bigthink.com/t/geopolitics/) - [Latest](https://bigthink.com/latest/) - [Videos](https://bigthink.com/thinking/life-after-death/) Latest Videos [![An older woman with long gray hair wearing a dark jacket and shirt sits against a plain, light background, looking slightly toward the camera.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/C1-Web-Beard.jpg?w=256&h=256&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/roman-triumph-mary-beard/) [Rome’s triumph was the ancient world’s most effective piece of propaganda](https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/roman-triumph-mary-beard/) with [Mary Beard](https://bigthink.com/people/mary-beard/) [![A man sits on a chair in front of a white backdrop in a modern room with brick walls, large windows, bookshelves, and minimal decor.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-11.24.37-AM-1.png?w=256&h=256&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/series/full-interview/excellence-stulberg/) [Over-optimizing your life is making you fragile, not better](https://bigthink.com/series/full-interview/excellence-stulberg/) with [Brad Stulberg](https://bigthink.com/people/brad-stulberg/) [![A woman in a black suit sits on a stool in a white room, gesturing with one hand. 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[![An older man with a beard sits on a chair in front of a white backdrop, with yellow neuron-like patterns on a black background surrounding the scene.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/A1-Web-Linden.jpg?w=256&h=256&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/series/full-interview/linden-biological-phenomena/) [The science behind the strangest biological phenomena](https://bigthink.com/series/full-interview/linden-biological-phenomena/) Neuroscientist David Linden sheds light on the biology behind phenomena that medicine has long struggled to explain, from voodoo death... [![A middle-aged man in a navy suit and light blue shirt gestures with his right hand while sitting against a plain light background.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/A1-Web-Herjavec.jpg?w=256&h=256&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/robert-herjavec-mentorship/) [The hidden reason smart people stop growing](https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/robert-herjavec-mentorship/) Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec breaks down why the traditional idea of mentorship is not only outdated, but actively getting in... [![A bald man wearing glasses and a peach-colored button-up shirt sits facing the camera against a plain white background, holding his right hand slightly raised.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/B1-Web-Cytowic.jpg?w=256&h=256&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/cytowic-synesthesia/) [The neuroscience behind synesthesia](https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/cytowic-synesthesia/) Neurologist Richard Cytowic has spent decades studying synesthesia, the phenomenon where one sense involuntarily triggers another. - [Columns](https://bigthink.com/thinking/life-after-death/) [Back](https://bigthink.com/thinking/life-after-death/) Columns [![Text "MINI PHILOSOPHY" on a black torn paper background, surrounded by sketches, handwritten notes, and artwork fragments.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mini-philosophy.jpg?w=256&h=256&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/mini-philosophy/) [Mini Philosophy](https://bigthink.com/mini-philosophy/) A philosophy column for personal reflection. [![Text "STARTS WITH A BANG" in bold white letters over a background of stars and colorful nebulae in outer space.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SWAB.jpg?w=256&h=256&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/) [Starts With A Bang](https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/) An astrophysics column on big questions and our universe. [![A woman lies down reading a book, with the word "BOOKS" in large white letters and a stylized open book icon replacing the letter "O.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/books.jpg?w=256&h=256&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/books/) [Books](https://bigthink.com/books/) A literature column to feed your curiosity. 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[![Two astronauts stand on a rocky, pinkish-purple surface in space with the number 13.8 in large white font across the center of the image.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/13.8.jpg?w=256&h=256&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/13-8/) [13\.8](https://bigthink.com/13-8/) A column at the intersection of science and culture. - [Classes](https://bigthink.com/thinking/life-after-death/) [Back](https://bigthink.com/thinking/life-after-death/) Featured Classes [![A stylized portrait of a man with glasses, viewed through overlapping green and yellow filters giving a graphic, duotone effect.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/antifragile.png?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 6 videos How to Become Antifragile Tal Ben-Shahar Positive psychologist](https://bigthink.com/my-classes/building-your-antifragile-systems-the-spire-model/) [![An older man with gray hair, glasses, and a beard gestures towards himself, standing in front of a background featuring a black and white anatomical diagram.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/understandingtrauma.jpg?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 7 videos Understanding Trauma Bessel van der Kolk Psychiatrist and neuroscientist](https://bigthink.com/my-classes/understanding-trauma/) [![Abstract geometric design featuring concentric circles, quartered background, and scattered solid and outlined dots in blue, green, and white hues.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Frame-34.png?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 9 videos The 6 Disciplines of Strategic Thinking Michael Watkins Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change, IMD Business School, and Author, “The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking”](https://bigthink.com/my-classes/the-6-disciplines-of-strategic-thinking-1/) [![A woman with long hair and glasses wearing a blazer, posed with her hand under her chin, looks at the camera. 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Mark Cartwright / Wikimedia Commons Key Takeaways - Death is inevitable. Given how universal, absolute, and terrifying death is, it’s no wonder humans have been talking and writing about it for millennia. - Here we explore how several Big Think guests think about the question of life after death. - Their answers range from existentialist to Einsteinian to a potential future that sounds like science fiction. [Get the Big Think newsletter on Substack](https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/) You will die. No matter how powerful you are, how hard you pray, or how sophisticated nanotechnology becomes, you will die. The vast majority of people can see their death approaching. We have a lot of time to think about it. Yet, death remains a great mystery — the veil behind which no one can peek. Given how terrifying and unknown death is, it’s no wonder we talk about it a lot. It’s not too ridiculous to suppose that almost all the world’s religions are, to some degree, a response to death. Most of our philosophies are, too. In 2020, [Big Think interviewed some big names in academia](https://bigthink.com/thinking/is-there-life-after-death/). They gave us their answers to the “What happens after we die?” question. Here, we explore some of their responses. ## Existential uncertainty Bertrand Russell, an atheist, was once asked what he would say if, when he died, he came face to face with God. Russell replied, “\[I would say\] ‘Sir, why did you not give me better evidence?’” [![Eight open magazines are displayed in two rows, with a headline above reading "A NEW HOME FOR CURIOUS MINDS" and a yellow "JOIN TODAY" button below.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/generic-ad-wide-sm.jpg)](https://bigthink.com/membership/) If you’re coming at religion from a scientist’s mindset, there’s not much to say. There’s really no evidence either way. We have neither verifiable testimony nor falsifiable claims. When you’re entirely stuck on a physical plane, you cannot say much about the metaphysical one. As Sam Harris says, “I don’t know what happens after the physical brain dies…I don’t think anyone does know.” The only fact we do know is that we will die. And it’s this fact that, for Bill Nye, is so important. Because we do not know what happens after death, and because we’re faced with the possibility it might be nothing, we turn to life with a kind of vital energy. Death’s approach gives impetus to our mortal existence. As Nye puts it, “It’s what makes us go. And it’s what makes you try to accomplish things … All of \[our decisions\] are driven by the limited length of life we have.” For Nye, Rob Bell, and Michael Shermer, life after death is a mystery, but with that comes an existential rush to get things done. It lets you appreciate the time you have more. ## Time is a landscape Astronomer Michelle Thaller uses Einstein to give us a screenplay that’s just waiting for Christopher Nolan. For Thaller, you are already dead. At least, you’re dead from a certain point of view. As she puts it, “Einstein believed that you, right now, had been dead for trillions of years; that you haven’t been born yet; that everything that’s happened to you, if you could get the right perspective on the universe, you could see all at once.” Although it’s old news to anyone inside physics departments, time isn’t linear. It’s not even a thing, really. Time is all about your location and the speed of light. If you alter those two variables, you can look at the past and see the future. Einstein believed that space-time was a substance created at the Big Bang, and every point along that continuum is just as real as the “present.” You, reading this, happen to exist on one point on that surface. But that’s no more real than any other. So, from one point of view, you’re already dead. You haven’t been born. Or you have to relive this minute over and over and over again like some [Nietzschean nightmare.](https://philosophybreak.com/articles/eternal-recurrence-what-did-nietzsche-really-mean/) ## Life is not biology The third category is either techno-optimism or techno-dystopia, depending on your preferences. This idea might sound like science fiction: Imagine uploading yourself to the immortal cloud (and hoping no unfortunate intern accidentally unplugs the power supply). For theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, in the near future, “Everything known about you can be digitized.” Your memories, your personality, your quirks, and your entire neural network can be uploaded or saved somewhere forever. Your body will age, your organs will stop working, and your body will break down. But in this new digital afterlife, you can talk with your descendants. You can live digitally. There are a lot of problems with this. There are just as many unknowns as death itself. We still don’t know what consciousness is, let alone if we can reproduce it. What’s more, as the French philosopher Merleau-Ponty knew, our bodies are not fleshy tools to dispose of at will. Our existence is embodied. Our entire being exists only in a physical body. It’s hard to imagine what Kaku’s immortality would look like. As Bill Nye asks, “Do you want to be stuck in an Apple product the rest of your life, or do you want to be stuck in a Microsoft product? It’s a tough call.” I’m not sure it’s that tough, Bill. I’ll take Thaller’s version of Groundhog Day, I think. [Jonny Thomson](https://bigthink.com/people/jonnythomson/) Author and philosopher [Full Profile](https://bigthink.com/people/jonnythomson/) [![](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-of-Jonny-for-BT.png?w=160&h=160&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/people/jonnythomson/) Monthly Issue March 2026 ##### [The Roots of Resilience](https://bigthink.com/collections/the-roots-of-resilience/) In this monthly issue, we look at resilience not as a buzzword or a self-help prescription, but as a property — one that shows up, or doesn’t, at every scale. 2 videos 14 articles [![Illustration of five humanoid figures with green bodies, root-like veins, and tree branches growing from their heads, holding hands against a yellow and red background.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/resilience-cover-sq.jpg?w=512&h=512&crop=1)](https://bigthink.com/collections/the-roots-of-resilience/) Featured Classes [![A person smiling in a stylized collage with a keyboard, hands, and orange diagonal stripes in the background.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3-challenges-AI-must-overcome.jpg?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 8 videos Cultivating the Conditions for Innovation Martin Gonzalez](https://bigthink.com/my-classes/cultivating-the-conditions-for-innovation/) [![A grayscale photo of a woman with hoop earrings, set against an orange background and overlaid on a black and white abstract digital pattern.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/daphne.jpg?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 6 videos Transform Your Organization with AI Daphne Koller Founder and CEO of insitro.](https://bigthink.com/my-classes/transform-your-organization-with-ai/) [![A middle-aged man with short gray hair and a receding hairline is smiling, wearing a dark t-shirt against a light blue background.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Oliverburkeman.png?w=335&h=335&crop=1) Members 8 videos Productivity for Mortals Oliver Burkeman Author, “Meditations for Mortals”](https://bigthink.com/my-classes/productivity-for-mortals/) [![A woman with long hair and glasses wearing a blazer, posed with her hand under her chin, looks at the camera. 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Readable Markdown	You will die. No matter how powerful you are, how hard you pray, or how sophisticated nanotechnology becomes, you will die. The vast majority of people can see their death approaching. We have a lot of time to think about it. Yet, death remains a great mystery — the veil behind which no one can peek. Given how terrifying and unknown death is, it’s no wonder we talk about it a lot. It’s not too ridiculous to suppose that almost all the world’s religions are, to some degree, a response to death. Most of our philosophies are, too. In 2020, [Big Think interviewed some big names in academia](https://bigthink.com/thinking/is-there-life-after-death/). They gave us their answers to the “What happens after we die?” question. Here, we explore some of their responses. ## Existential uncertainty Bertrand Russell, an atheist, was once asked what he would say if, when he died, he came face to face with God. Russell replied, “\[I would say\] ‘Sir, why did you not give me better evidence?’” [![Eight open magazines are displayed in two rows, with a headline above reading "A NEW HOME FOR CURIOUS MINDS" and a yellow "JOIN TODAY" button below.](https://bigthink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/generic-ad-wide-sm.jpg)](https://bigthink.com/membership/) If you’re coming at religion from a scientist’s mindset, there’s not much to say. There’s really no evidence either way. We have neither verifiable testimony nor falsifiable claims. When you’re entirely stuck on a physical plane, you cannot say much about the metaphysical one. As Sam Harris says, “I don’t know what happens after the physical brain dies…I don’t think anyone does know.” The only fact we do know is that we will die. And it’s this fact that, for Bill Nye, is so important. Because we do not know what happens after death, and because we’re faced with the possibility it might be nothing, we turn to life with a kind of vital energy. Death’s approach gives impetus to our mortal existence. As Nye puts it, “It’s what makes us go. And it’s what makes you try to accomplish things … All of \[our decisions\] are driven by the limited length of life we have.” For Nye, Rob Bell, and Michael Shermer, life after death is a mystery, but with that comes an existential rush to get things done. It lets you appreciate the time you have more. ## Time is a landscape Astronomer Michelle Thaller uses Einstein to give us a screenplay that’s just waiting for Christopher Nolan. For Thaller, you are already dead. At least, you’re dead from a certain point of view. As she puts it, “Einstein believed that you, right now, had been dead for trillions of years; that you haven’t been born yet; that everything that’s happened to you, if you could get the right perspective on the universe, you could see all at once.” Although it’s old news to anyone inside physics departments, time isn’t linear. It’s not even a thing, really. Time is all about your location and the speed of light. If you alter those two variables, you can look at the past and see the future. Einstein believed that space-time was a substance created at the Big Bang, and every point along that continuum is just as real as the “present.” You, reading this, happen to exist on one point on that surface. But that’s no more real than any other. So, from one point of view, you’re already dead. You haven’t been born. Or you have to relive this minute over and over and over again like some [Nietzschean nightmare.](https://philosophybreak.com/articles/eternal-recurrence-what-did-nietzsche-really-mean/) ## Life is not biology The third category is either techno-optimism or techno-dystopia, depending on your preferences. This idea might sound like science fiction: Imagine uploading yourself to the immortal cloud (and hoping no unfortunate intern accidentally unplugs the power supply). For theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, in the near future, “Everything known about you can be digitized.” Your memories, your personality, your quirks, and your entire neural network can be uploaded or saved somewhere forever. Your body will age, your organs will stop working, and your body will break down. But in this new digital afterlife, you can talk with your descendants. You can live digitally. There are a lot of problems with this. There are just as many unknowns as death itself. We still don’t know what consciousness is, let alone if we can reproduce it. What’s more, as the French philosopher Merleau-Ponty knew, our bodies are not fleshy tools to dispose of at will. Our existence is embodied. Our entire being exists only in a physical body. It’s hard to imagine what Kaku’s immortality would look like. As Bill Nye asks, “Do you want to be stuck in an Apple product the rest of your life, or do you want to be stuck in a Microsoft product? It’s a tough call.” I’m not sure it’s that tough, Bill. I’ll take Thaller’s version of Groundhog Day, I think.
Shard	93 (laksa)
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