The World Transformed

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Games Conquer the Universe Sep 05, 2013

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What's more fun than playing games? One possible answer: systems that let you build your own games! Especially if you have to become something of a hacker to get the games going. How about building your own computer for playing games? There's an interesting connection between gaming, education, and learning to build one's own technology. What does this connection have to say about the future of work (and play)? Tune in to explore. (WT031)

Living with the Shocking Truth Aug 29, 2013

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Last week's show about the Shocking Truth opened up some interesting discussion. Are things really getting better? This week we review the good news (or not so good news) concerning: Sexual assault statistics Forest growth The national debt Let's say things are getting better. What does that tell us? Plus -- Last Year in Space AND -- Paul Victor Vasquez joins us with a special announcement. UPDATE: Information on the event Paul described can be found here. (Facebook page here.) (WT030)

The Return of the Shocking Truth Aug 22, 2013

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Can you handle the truth? Most people can't. When we face the facts, the world is different than a lot of us expect it to be. A LOT different. Take the quiz and then tune in. And prepare to be shocked. [In case you're wondering: here's why it's the return of the shocking truth.] (WT029)

The Men Who Sold the Moon Aug 16, 2013

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A recent piece in the Financial Times explores the role that billionaire entrepreneurs are playing in pursuing world-transforming technologies and business models: The futuristic ideas that have been pouring lately from the fertile imaginations of some of the wealthiest US technology entrepreneurs – and which, in a few cases, are being funded out of their own billions – have started to sound almost outlandish. Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon review some of these outlandish plans, including: Elon Musk Hyperloop Mars Colonization Sergey Brin Vat Meat Self-Driving Cars Peter Diamandis Asteroid Mining Jeff Bezos Private Space Development Which of these ideas, if any, are feasible? Which are most likely to come to fruition? And are some of these projects better done by entrepreneurial tycoons or government agencies? Tune in and explore! (WT 028)

Infinite Universes Aug 08, 2013

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New findings suggest that our universe is not the only one. It may be one of many, or one of an infinite number of universes. Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss the implications. Does it matter if there's more than universe? If so, how? And why? (WT027)

The Future of ISMs Part 2 Aug 03, 2013

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Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon continue working their way through a list of 100 isms. Which isms will be more relavent in the future, which less? Which isms will be confirmed? And which have no future at all? Tune in and explore! (WT026)

Dumb Movies, Smart Futures Jul 27, 2013

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Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss the future of humanity as portrayed in some of the summer's biggest movies as well as some older films. How have movies from years past accurately reflected the future -- and how have they gotten it wrong? (WT025)

Mind-Blowing Technologies Jul 24, 2013

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Futurist George Dvorsky joins hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon to discuss his recent io9 piece: 10 Mindblowingly Futuristic Technologies that Will Appear by the 2030's. Are we really just a couple of decades away from self-directed killer robots, invisible computers, and a Star Trek style replicator in every home? The guys discuss George's list, plus a couple of additional contributions from Phil and Stephen. About Our Guest George Dvorsky is a Canadian bioethicist, transhumanist, and futurist. He is a contributing editor at io9 and producer of the Sentient Developments blog and podcast. Dvorsky currently serves as Chair of the Board for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) and is the founder and chair of the IEET's Rights of Non-Human Persons Program, a group that is working to secure human-equivalent rights and protections for highly sapient animals.

The Future of Isms Jul 18, 2013

Show notes

The future isn't just about technological change. Some of the biggest changes we have ever seen and can expect ever to see occur in the realm of ideas. With that in mind, hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon contemplate the future of some of the mostly dearly held and hotly debated of all ideas. Which isms will be more relavent in the future, which less? Which isms will be confirmed? And which have no future at all? Tune in and explore! (WT024)

Mind Blowing Technologies Jul 11, 2013

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