The World Transformed

Latest Episodes:

Predictions in Complex Systems, Best of the World Transformed Jan 13, 2017

Show notes

[This show first aired 10/15/2007.] Phil and Stephen discussed the difficulty predicting the future of anything in a complex system. Whether it be the fall of communism in the late 80's or technological development in the next twenty years. The show included discussion on the parallel universe theory, quantum mechanics, quantum computers, quantum immortality, and quantum suicide. And Phil's Amazing Exponentials and Stephen's Spock's Chessboard make an appearance. The guys finished by talking about our Sun's twin. The music can be found at Magnatune.com. The front bumper was a sampling of Marginal Prophets' "The Difficult Song" and they exited to "In The Middle" by Beight.

The Next Big (Did We Mention Amazing?) Things Jan 12, 2017

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss current news stories that speak to how rapidly and thoroughly the world is changing. Amazing things appear to be happening all the time -- what does this tell us about the world we will soon be living in? Six-year-old girl's cancer VANISHES after world-first gene therapy treatment The audacious plan to bring back supersonic flight — and change air travel forever Amazon patents blimp warehouse and billboards that use gliding drones for near instant fulfillment of sales Why the Cost of Living Is Poised to Plummet in the Next 20 Years And these stories only scratch the surface! Join us. WT 252-560

Tobias Buckell Discusses Ragamuffin, Best of the World Transformed Jan 11, 2017

Show notes

[This show first aired October 8, 2007.] Phil and Stephen had a great time catching up with Sci-Fi author Tobias Buckell. The last time we spoke with Tobias he had just published his first novel Crystal Rain. Now he has published his second novel, Ragamuffin, and is completing a third, Sly Mongoose, for publication next summer. You'll want to hear all about it - including the surprising inspiration for his latest novel. Be sure to also check out Tobias' website where you can read the first 1/3 of both Crystal Rain and Raggamuffin! Enjoy the show!

How the World Got Better in 2016 Jan 10, 2017

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss the 10 Tech Trends That Made the World Better in 2016 as outlined by futurist Peter Diamandis: 1. We Are Hyper-Connecting the World 2. Solar/Renewables Cheaper Than Coal 3. Glimpsing the End of Cancer and Disease 4. Progress on Extending Human Life 5. Amazing Successes With Stem Cells 6. The Year of Autonomous Vehicles 7. Here Come Drones and Flying Cars 8. The March of Artificial Intelligence 9. Physics and Exploration 10. Conquest of Commercial Space Many of these stories were covered on The World Transformed, but there are a few surprises as well. Join Us WT 251-560

Best of WT: Why the Pessimists Are Wrong (and They Are) Jan 06, 2017

Show notes

[This week we are revisiting favorite shows from last year.] A recent Motley Fool essay by Morgan Housel raises a question we have asked many times before: Why Does Pessimism Sound So Smart? (Especially when things are so good.) Housel suggests several possible reasons: 1. Optimism appears oblivious to risks, so by default pessimism looks more intelligent. 2. Pessimism shows that not everything is moving in the right direction, which helps you rationalize the personal shortcomings we all have. 3. Pessimism requires action, whereas optimism means staying the course. 4. Optimism sounds like a sales pitch, while pessimism sounds like someone trying to help you. 5. Pessimists extrapolate present trends without accounting for how reliably markets adapt. Generally, pessimism benefits from being both more serious than optimism and way cooler. But that doesn't mean it's the right way to look at things! Hosts Phil Bowermaster and stephen Gordon provide numerous examples of how the pessimists get it wrong time after time, and why optimism is the most realistic and, yes, serious way to approach the world.

More Proof We Live in the Matrix: Jim Elvidge on Digital Reality Jan 06, 2017

Show notes

[This week we are replaying favorite shows from last year.] Jim Elvidge returns to The World Transformed to discuss his ideas about the digital nature of reality and the possibility that consciousness is separate from the brain and an influencer, if not the creator of reality. Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss the implications of these ideas with Jim, including such far-reaching topics as: Quantum Physics Transhumanism Reincarnation The Nature of Matter And, of course... The Berenstain Bears About Our Guest Jim Elvidge holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University. He has applied his training in the high-tech world as a leader in technology and enterprise management, including many years years in executive roles for various companies and entrepreneurial ventures. He also holds 4 patents in digital signal processing. Beyond the high-tech realm, however, Elvidge has years of experience as a musician, writer, and truth seeker. He merged his technology skills with his love of music, developed one of the first PC-based digital music samplers, and co-founded RadioAMP, the first private-label online streaming-radio company. Jim has spent many years researching the fields of quantum mechanics, cosmology, ancient history, consciousness, anomalous occurrences, and future technologies. He explored the interrelationship of these factors in his first book, The Universe Solved and is currently working on a second book that digs deeper into the possibility of digital consciousness.

The Best Time Ever to Be Alive (2016) Jan 05, 2017

Show notes

(First Broadcast January 2016) Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss a recent article in the Atlantic claiming that 2015 was The Best Year in History for the Average Human Being. A few highlights: In the US, 600,000 fewer than violent crimes in 2014 in 1995—that’s a 35 percent decline over the period 6.7 million fewer kids under the age of five are dying each year compared to 1990 The number of kids not in school has fallen from 100 million in 2000 to a projected 57 million in 2015. The World Bank declared in September that, for the first time ever, less than 10 percent of the global population lived in extreme poverty, on less than $1.90 per day. What Does it All Mean? Why doesn’t it feel like the best time to be alive? Why is everyone so upset all the time? What is the likelihood that these trends will continue / accelerate? Plus: Phil and Stephen provide a list of 25 more things that it is the best time ever to to do. Join us.

10 Years Out: Predictions for 2027 Dec 30, 2016

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon layout the landscape of change between now and the year 2017. We will have regular treatment for aging. We will be driven by our cars for almost all of our transportation needs. Our devices will be everywhere, linked to us, more powerful, and unplugged. Many entities have some form of Moon missions planned AI will be inescapable. Attacking all disease via data mining, instant diagnostics, etc. will have made significant strides. Multiple new solutions for dealing effectively with the post scarcity will be introduced alongside basic income. Join us. WT 250-559

New Year Predictions: What's in Store for 2017? Dec 28, 2016

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon predict significant developments for the year 2017: Routine news of individuals seriously treating aging as a disease.A backlash against self-driving cars.The year of the battery? Electric cars continue to grow as a percent of the transportation market. Japan pushing forward in Space. The virtual reality industry grows significantly. There will be improved understanding about their potential… and some understanding about their limitations too.Effort to attack all disease will get some good newsOur show will require a regular… “So What’s Musk up to?” Segment.Major breakthroughs with stem cell treatments will be recorded for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's or other degenerative diseases ...and others. Join us! WT 249-558

World Transformed Year in Review: Best Shows of 2016 Dec 23, 2016

Show notes

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon recap the best shows of 2016. The Best Time Ever to Be Alive Secrets Revealed: Think You Know the Whole Story? More Proof We Live in the Matrix: Jim Elvidge on Digital Reality The Universe is Full of Surprises Imagination: The Critical Future Skill 500 Shows and Going Strong! Why We Do It Signs of the Times 3: We’re Living in A Sci-Fi Story! Why the Pessimists Are Wrong...and They Are Lighting up the Universe What will We Do with all the Old people? The Future and Unlimited Possibilities Keeping up with the Kardashevs Thomas Frey Interview Part 1: The Next Ten years Surprising New, Crazy Questions 2 The Quantum Computer: the machine that Fixes Everything WT 248-557

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