The World Transformed

Latest Episodes:

Answering the Unanaswerable Questions: Part One Oct 11, 2016

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Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon begin a 3-part exploration of futurist Thomas Frey’s “10 Unanswerable Questions that Neither Science Nor Religion Can Answer.” Frey: Comments: …[W]hen we dive into the “why” topics of how time and space began, and even the size of the universe, I find myself struggling to even formulate good questions. Perhaps this is nothing more than a form of therapy for me, but I’d like to take you along on a rare inner personal journey into how I think about the biggest of all big picture issues. And it all starts with one simple question. “Why are there exceptions to every rule?” 1.) Why are there exceptions to every rule? 2.) Why do logic and reason fail to explain that which is true? 3.) Is the universe finite or infinite? 4.) Why does anything exist? 5.) Why does time exist? Join Us WT 217-526

Sci-Fi Becomes Reality 3: Controlling Climate Managing Carbon Levels Oct 08, 2016

Show notes

Phil and Stephen conclude their three-part exploration of real-world projects currently in the news that would have been the stuff of science fiction stories not long ago. In Part 3, they discuss Phil’s plan to control climate through direct management of carbon levels in the atmosphere. Phil wrote recently on Facebook: “Nothing else is working. Why isn't there a push for massive geo-engineering projects? Why isn't there an X-Prize style competition for technologies to remove carbon from the atmosphere? All of the treaties and regulations requiring that carbon emissions be cut could be replaced by rules requiring that so much carbon be physically REMOVED from the atmosphere. It would create a whole new industry and, potentially, tons of jobs. And it might work, as opposed to everything else that is being done.” Goodbye World: We've Past the Carbon Tipping Point for Good Seeding the Ocean with Iron Phil and Stephen review: What's the idea -- what how when? What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? How likely is this idea to be implemented--within the stated time frame or ever? OTHER GEEK New Adam West Batman movie See it in theaters! Join us! WT 216-525

Sci-Fi Becomes Reality 2: Elon Musk’s Plans for Mars Oct 06, 2016

Show notes

Phil and Stephen continue their three-part exploration of real-world projects currently in the news that would have been the stuff of science fiction stories not long ago. In Part 2, they discuss Elon Musk’s bold plans to colonize Mars. Check out this five-minute cut of the speech. Here's the full speech. Wired Magazine coverage of the story The Verge coverage of the story Phil and Stephen review: What's the idea -- what how when? What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? How likely is this idea to be implemented--within the stated time frame or ever? Join us. WT 215-524

Sci-Fi Becomes Reality 1: the Zuckerbergs’ Plan to Eliminate Disease Oct 04, 2016

Show notes

Phil and Stephen begin a three-part exploration of real-world projects currently in the news that would have been the stuff of science fiction stories not long ago. In Part 1, they discuss Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan’s $3 billion initiative to eliminate all diseases. Story from the Gaurdian Story from Motherboard Related Story from Popular Science Phil and Stephen review: What's the idea -- what how when? What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? How likely is this idea to be implemented--within the stated time frame or ever? Join us! WT 214-523

The Chocolate that Makes You Younger Oct 01, 2016

Show notes

Phil and Stephen discuss how a new chocolate can actually make you look younger. Plus other astounding stories about the future. And Other Geek! Physicists Are Close to Producing Metallic Hydrogen, And It Could Change Everything Anti-ageing chocolate which reduces wrinkles developed by Cambridge University spin-off Mind-Controlled Nanobots Used to Release Chemicals in Living Cockroaches Battery invented by accident has the ability to last for 400 years OTHER GEEK Sci-Fi TV Shows that Need Reboots Was the Summer of 2016 the worst Summer ever for movies? WT 213-522

The Public Library: Books, Music, and Replacement Limbs to Go Sep 29, 2016

Show notes

Phil and Stephen discuss how 3D printers make libraries a place to go for resources we would never have imagined. Plus other amazing stories about the future. A 5-year-old girl needed a prosthetic hand. So a public library used its 3-D printer. The mathematics of history Fatigue Is All in Your Head Part Nano-Tech, Part Living Cells: Scientists Build A First-Ever Artificial Kidney Theory Suggests That Our Galaxy Could Be One Big Universal Travel Tunnel Join us! WT 212-521

Not Turtles: It’s Simulations All the Way Down Sep 27, 2016

Show notes

Phil and Stephen explore some of the unexpected implications of living in a computer simulation. Is being part of a simulation more dangerous than we realize? Plus other intriguing stories about the future. Pluto's Liquid Water Ocean Might Be Insanely Deep ( Compare that with the Mariana Trench) Our Simulated Universe Is Just One Piece of a Matryoshka Doll of Annihilation Researchers discover a cell in spinach that uses sunlight to produce electricity and hydrogen 'Hangover-free alcohol’ could replace all regular alcohol by 2050, says David Nutt Expanding universe may render time travel impossible Join Us! WT 211-520

Still More Big Questions About the Future of Humanity Sep 24, 2016

Show notes

Phil and Stephen compare their answers to big questions about the future of humanity with a panel of experts interviewed by Scientific American. (Past one of this series is here; part two is here.) 15. Will we use wearable technologies to detect our emotions? 16. Will we ever figure out what dark matter is? 17. Will we get control of intractable brain diseases like schizophrenia or autism? 18. Will technology eliminate the need for animal testing in drug development? 19. Will gender equality be achieved in the sciences? 20. Do you think we will one day be able to predict natural disasters such as earthquakes with warning times of days or hours? OTHER GEEK Stephen talks about Viticulture - a game where players run competing vineyards. Mor exciting than it sounds? Join us! WT 210-519

7 More Big (and Amazing!) Questions About the Future of Humanity Sep 21, 2016

Show notes

Phil and Stephen compare their answers to big questions about the future of humanity with a panel of experts interviewed by Scientific American. (Part one of this series is here.) 8. Will sex become obsolescent? 9. Could we one day replace all of the tissues in the human body through engineering? 10. Can we avoid a “sixth extinction”? 11. Can we feed the planet without destroying it? 12. Will we ever colonize outer space? 13. Will we discover a twin Earth? 14. Will there ever be a cure for Alzheimer’s? Join us! WT 209-518

7 Big Questions About the Future of Humanity Sep 20, 2016

Show notes

Phil and Stephen compare their answers to big questions about the future of humanity with a panel of experts interviewed by Scientific American. 1. Does humanity have a future beyond Earth? 2. When and where do you think we will find extraterrestrial life? 3. Will we ever understand the nature of consciousness? 4. Will the entire world one day have adequate health care? 5. Will brain science change criminal law? 6. What is the chance Homo sapiens will survive for the next 500 years? 7. Are we any closer to preventing nuclear holocaust? Join us! WT 208-517

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