Transformations
Monsters — Never Tell Me the Odds
Phil spent some time at Loch Ness last week where he and his kids came up with little in the way of evidence in support of the existence of Nessie. In light of those disappointing […]
Transformations
Accelerating Tech
Closer Than We Think
Are breakthrough technologies progressing faster than we think? Phil and Stephen review three recent news items that indicate they may be. Sucking carbon dioxide from air is cheaper than scientists thought https://go.nature.com/2JhnFLT Siphoning carbon dioxide […]
Fast Forward
Beyond MoneyBall: Sports Analytics and the Real World
In this edition of FastForward, Dave Schrader talks with us about the unexpected relationship between business analytics and sports analytics. What does the world of sports have to teach us about doing business in the […]
Exploring Possibilities
Yanny, Laurel, and the Mandela Effect
Why would the the Yanny-Laurel phenomenon tell us anything about the Mandela Effect? They have nothing in common! Or do they? Let’s start with a quick recap: Mandela Effect Yanny-Laurel Of course, Yanny-Laurel relates to […]
Artificial Intelligence
Is AI the Biggest Thing Ever?
Google CEO Sundar Pichai certainly seems to think so. Artificial intelligence could be our saviour, according to the CEO of Google AI is probably the most important thing humanity has ever worked on. I think […]
Artificial Intelligence
Five Myths About A.I.
Even when he’s not on the show with us, futurist Thomas Frey provides us with lots of interesting subject matter for discussion. His folks at Impact Labs have published an interesting essay on Five Myths […]
Exploring Possibilities
What Can We NOT Rule Out?
Is humanity the first technological species to exist in this solar system (or even on this planet?) The quick and easy answer is yes, but maybe we don’t know that for sure. Prior Indigenous Technological […]
Podcasts
Turn Up the Funny
Flipping our emotional switches, Part 2 We are getting closer to identifying the individual emotional switches in the brain. What might this imply for future strategies for managing our emotions? If we are now getting […]
Exploring Possibilities
Turn off the Fear
Flipping the emotional switches, Part 1 We are getting closer to identifying the individual emotional switches in the brain. What might this imply for future strategies for managing our emotions? Researchers Find Fear and Courage […]
Abundance
Universal Basic Super Powers
Universal Basic Happiness, Part 3 (Plus geekout Avengers review!) VR puts us in the digital world, where scarcity doesn’t exist. It is one way of getting to post-scarcity and will probably play an important role […]
Abundance
Universal Basic Reality
Universal Basic Happiness, Part 2 As we continue our discussion of possible solutions to various inequalities, Phil outlines one possible way e could make everybody — that’s EVERYBODY — completely happy. Wireheading: This Strange Experiment from […]
Abundance
Universal Basic Sex
Universal Basic Happiness, Part 1 Last Weekend, Robin Hanson stirred things up by inquiring why the people concerned about income inequality aren’t worried about other forms of inequality: Those w/ less access to sex plausibly […]
Life Extension
Immortality: So Far So Good
Who Wants to Live Forever? Part 3 We conclude our three-part discussion with futurist Thomas Frey by looking into when and how a cure for aging might be found. Is immortality just around the bend? […]
Life Extension
Live Long and Prosper
Who Wants to Live Forever? Part 2 This time out we look at the upside of not dying. (Shouldn’t be too hard to find now, should it?) Is Death Our Only Option? 1.) Improved Health […]
Life Extension
The Trouble with Immortality
Who Wants to Live Forever? Part 1 If we could extend human life indefinitely, would it be a good idea? What are the downsides? Futurist Thomas Frey joins us for part 1 of a 3-part […]
Podcasts
Shifting Stories, Shifting Realities
Shifting Realities, Part 3. Phil and Stephen attempt to reverse-engineer the Mandela effect by looking at news stories and trying to figure out which narrative best explains them. Can we change our reality by changing […]
Exploring Possibilities
All Good Things…
Shifting Realities, Part 1 The end of two paranormal and conspiracy-affirming institutions from the 90’s may have something to say about how differently we shape our reality today than we did in years past. Radio […]
Podcasts
A New Kind of Space Race
What are the implications of Vladimir Putin’s recent statement that he wants Russia to make a big move in space? Vlad’s New Land Grab Vladimir Putin announces mission to MARS next year followed by manned […]
Podcasts
Should You Trust Your Computer?
Phil and Stephen discuss the new film by Chris Paine, director of “Who Killed the Electric Car?” Do You Trust This Computer? This new documentary about the dangers and benefits of artificial intelligence (mostly the […]
Entertainment
Historical Fantasy (and Other Geeky Topics)
It’s a good old fashioned World Transformed Geekout as Phil explains how shows like Vikings and The Frankenstein Chronicles are blending history and fantasy in a new and fun way. (UPDATE: and you can add […]
Exploring Possibilities
50 Life-Saving Breakthroughs
Phil and Stephen take a look at The 50 Most Important Life-Saving Breakthroughs in History. Some of these a big medical breakthroughs that you would immediately think of like treatments for malaria, others are less expected […]
Exploring Possibilities
Will Mind-Reading Computers Replace Human Speech?
Phil and Stephen discuss scenarios for the future of brain-computers interfaces and how they might alter human communication. Worldwide AI consciousness may replace human speech In just 32 years, humans won’t speak to each other […]
Exploring Possibilities
Self-Driving Cars: Answering the Objections
We have covered the safety risks of autonomous vehicles as well as potential privacy risks and risks to our personal freedom. Now let’s answer some of those objections. It turns out that most of the […]
Exploring Possibilities
Will Autonomous Vehicles End Our Way of Life?
Safety may not be the only problem with autonomous vehicles. Is it possible that they theaten our privacy and our way of life? And with what we’re learning about Facebook and others, do we really […]
Accelerating Tech
Time to Abandon Self-Driving Cars?
In Arizona, a pedestrian has been killed by a self-driving car. What went wrong? Was it the Uber system? Uber’s Self-Driving Cars Were Struggling Before Arizona Crash Disgraceful Dashcam Video Proves Uber Is the Theranos […]