The World Transformed

Latest Episodes:

Youth: Wasted on the Wrong People Jul 26, 2017

Show notes

Phil and Stephen review recent anbti-aging news from the standpoint of the elderly. Is This the Anti-Aging Pill We’ve All Been Waiting For? A drug derived from an Easter Island bacterium extends the life of lab animals. People could be next. Cellular Reprogramming Rejuvenates Old Mice and Boosts Lifespans 30% Using a process designed to “reprogram” normal adult cells into pluripotent stem cells—cells that can transform into many different kinds of cells—researchers have managed to boost the life spans of mice by up to 30% and rejuvenate some of their tissues. Amplicell Stem Cell Banking What if you knew that you could store your own cells so that one day, if you ever needed them, they would be available to repair such common things as joint pain, heart disease, stroke, respiratory conditions, bladder and pelvic inflammatory conditions, erectile dysfunction, renal failure, deadly untreatable neurologic conditions, fibromyalgia, results from athletic or military trauma including concussions, and perhaps even extend life by slowing the aging process. Trials are starting soon that use a person’s own stem cells to carry cancer killing biologic agents directly into cancer tissue to destroy the tumors. Movies mentioned: 18 Again It's a Wonderful Life WT 329-638

The Social Singularity, Best of TWT Jul 25, 2017

Show notes

Phil and Stephen discuss the role that Internet technologies have played in changing society and speculate about what is coming next. Are we in for a Social Singularity? Future currency for everyone will be credibility and transparency. Indeed, that is even now becoming the 'currency' for us all. That credibility is predicated upon accountability. If we do not tell the truth, if we do not strive for accuracy in our spoken and written words, we will be held accountable. If we are not willing to accept correction or admit to our mistakes and immediately correct them, we lose credibility. The future will not be about ideology, ambition or agenda. It will be credibility. This is called a "Social Singularity." [First aired October 20 2008.]

The Comeback of Nanotechnology Jul 24, 2017

Show notes

Phil and Stephen discuss recent progress towards the original model of Nanotechnology as described by K. Eric Drexler in his book Engines of Creation. Eric Drexler’s Vision of Nanotechnology is Making a Comeback In 2016 the concept of advanced molecular machines received a significant boost in its public image when Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart, and Bernard Feringa were awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the design and synthesis of molecular machines.” Makers of World’s Smallest Machines Awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry Molecular machines, the world’s smallest mechanical devices, may eventually be used to create new materials, sensors and energy storage systems, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in announcing the prize. New Funding Opportunity from U.S. DOE USDA Announces $4.6 Million for Nanotechnology Research The Reluctant Visionary (Phil's review of Drexler's book Radical Abundance.) WT 328-637

Hyperloop Coming Soon? Jul 21, 2017

Show notes

Elon Musk says he has a green light to build a NY–Philly–Baltimore–DC hyperloop Elon Musk just tweeted that his Boring Company tunnel project has received “verbal [government] approval” to build a hyperloop connecting New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Feeding Cows diet with 2% seaweed can eliminate 2-4 billion tons of CO2 per year A 2016 study that claims feeding cows small amounts of seaweed along with their normal diet of grass can reduce methane emissions by up to 99 per cent. Scientists Have Reversed Brain Damage in a 2-Year-Old Girl Who Drowned in a Swimming Pool Researchers in the US have reported what they believe is a first-of-its-kind reversal of brain damage, after treating a drowned and resuscitated toddler with a combination of oxygen therapies. China has pulled off a 'profound' feat of teleportation that may help it 'dominate the way the world works' In early July, scientists in China revealed they had used a "spooky" property of the universe to pull off teleportation between the ground and space for the first time. OTHER GEEK 'Doctor Who': The 13th Doctor is a woman, Jodie Whittaker WT 327-636

What Will $700 Billion Buy You? Best of TWT Jul 20, 2017

Show notes

Phil, Stephen, and Michael D. discuss better options for spending the $700 billion bailout money that went to “solving” the 2008 financial crisis. Seven Apollo programs?70 Large Hadron Colliders?Nuclear fusion?Cure for aging?Friendly artificial general intelligence?Space elevator?Bussard reactor?Universal assembler? What would you do with $700 billion?

Breakthroughs in Life Extension (with Aubrey de Grey) Jul 19, 2017

Show notes

Phil and Stephen continue their discussion with Dr. Aubrey de Grey, reviewing some of the very encouraging life extension research currently taking place How does the treatment of other conditions (cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc) ultimately contribute to the first generation of anti-aging medicine?Will devices such as those created for the Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize be a game-changer for treating aging? What role will CRISPR technology play in helping us to live longer?Metformin -- miracle youth drug or a lot of hype?Of the seven kinds of cell damage that constitute aging, which are we gaining on with the current research?And which is the most challenging? About Our Guest: Dr. Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist who researched the idea for and founded the SENS Research Foundation. SENS stands for “Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence,” an idea that Aubrey outlined in his 2007 book, Ending Aging. Aubrey has a BA in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Cambridge. He is Editor-in-Chief of Rejuvenation Research, is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the American Aging Association, and sits on the editorial and scientific advisory boards of numerous journals and organizations. He is also a contributor to our book Visions for a World Transformed. WT 327-636

FastForward Radio Anniversary Special, Best of TWT Jul 18, 2017

Show notes

Phil, Stephen, Michael D. and PJ Manney review the show’s first year on Blog Talk Radio. Topics: The glitch of the week A clip from our first show from May of 2005. It was 100% scripted. Robert Zubrin interview Ben Goertzel interview 11 things the president should do for science Jim Elvidge interview A GI Bill for STEM? Carbon nanotube update [This show first aired October 6, 2008.]

Living to 1,000 (with Aubrey de Grey) Jul 17, 2017

Show notes

Phil and Stephen welcome life extension researcher and visionary Dr. Aubrey de Grey to discuss the sometimes puzzlingly negative views much of the public seem to have about efforts to fight aging. Topics: A question Aubrey raises in Visions for a World Transformed: What possesses people to defend the existence of the phenomenon that is far and away the most likely thing to kill them – and not only that, but to do so slowly and painfully? How is it that the elderly are themselves guilty of ageism? Glenn Reynolds in USA Today What is the pro-aging trance? Methuselah Mouse project as proof of concept for fighting aging Is life extension becoming more mainstream? Is the first human being who will live to the age of 1,000 already among us? About Our Guest: Dr. Aubrey de Grey is a biomedical gerontologist who researched the idea for and founded the SENS Research Foundation. SENS stands for “Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence,” an idea that Aubrey outlined in his 2007 book, Ending Aging. Aubrey has a BA in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Cambridge. He is Editor-in-Chief of Rejuvenation Research, is a Fellow of both the Gerontological Society of America and the American Aging Association, and sits on the editorial and scientific advisory boards of numerous journals and organizations. He is also a contributor to our book Visions for a World Transformed. WT 326-635

Checking in on the Future Jul 14, 2017

Show notes

Phil and Stephen check in on some positive future-related stories that we’ve been tracking for a while now. Good News, Despite What You’ve Heard Just since 1990, more than 100 million children’s lives have been saved through vaccinations and improved nutrition and medical care. Every day, another 250,000 people graduate from extreme poverty, according to World Bank figures. Fusion Energy on Grid by 2030, Says MIT Scientist "I think fusion energy on the grid by 2030 is certainly within reach by this point," Marmar said. "2030 is probably aggressive, but I don't think it's wildly out of range." Forget the Blood of Teens. This Pill Promises to Extend Life for a Nickel a Pop The drug in question, metformin, costs about five cents a pill. Metformin-takers tended to be healthier in all sorts of ways. They lived longer and had fewer cardiovascular events, and in at least some studies they were less likely to suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s. OTHER GEEK Planet of the Apes -- Whatever Happened to the Fun Apocalypse? Grail games -- You got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to...sell ‘em for a big pile of money. WT 325-634

A World Gone Right, Best of TWT Jul 13, 2017

Show notes

Topics: Breaking News! About an hour-and-a-half prior to the show SpaceX put the Falcon 1 into orbit.The Chinese got into orbit and performed a space walk. Another "Long Shot Future." The Chinese think that they can get the Emdrive operational. The adoption of cell phones in developing countries. In some places laying phone lines is prohibitively expensive. Cell towers are much cheaper.New way to control protein activity could lead to cancer therapies12-year-old William Yuan has made a revolutionary improvement in 3D solar cells.The Japanese are giving serious attention to the idea of a space elevator. [First aired Sept 28, 2008]

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