All good things must come to an end. The podcast crew bids you farewell in this final episode. Peek behind the scenes at the Fw:Thinking podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe and Lauren share their favorite predictions about the future while Jonathan makes lots of jokes. What predictions rank among the team's favorites? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The podcast crew talks about some of their favorite predictions about the future, from evolving language to 20th century French postcards. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will we ever find a cure for diabetes? Are there technologies that will help people manage diabetes more easily? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will we ever find a cure for diabetes? Are there technologies that will help people manage diabetes more easily? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has the 3D printer craze fizzled out? What are the trends in consumer 3D printers? Is this technology doomed to obscolescence? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Stanford teach monkeys to transcribe Hamlet using only their monkey brains? And how could this technology benefit us in the future? We revisit computer-brain interfaces. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we destined for an AI arms race? Why would nations race to develop AI? And will we ever create superintelligent AI? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is artificial intelligence? What's the difference between weak, strong, narrow and general AI? And what's state of the art today? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbon capture sequestration is all about removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Can we convert the greenhouse gas into solid rock? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you could make the world a better place by removing the ability for people to make selfish choices, would you do it? We continue the conversation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you could make the world a better place by removing the ability for people to make selfish choices, would you do it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voting technology is tricky. It's outdated in many jurisdictions but the next step might have big security problems. What is the future of voting? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How could haptic feedback motors improve the boots astronauts wear? And what are some other applications? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By 2021, we won't be able to shrink transistors down any further. What does this mean for Moore's Law? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2014, we talked about how the Solar Impulse aircraft would fly around the globe using solar energy to create electricity. Two years later, that journey is over. How did it do? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year, programmers write more than a trillion lines of code. How could automated cybersecurity systems help our technology stay safe from malicious hackers? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the wonderful, terrifying world of combining technology and organic material. From robots with slug muscles to an artificial stingray, what's up with cyborgs? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if your building could think? Cognitive buildings are an integrated approach to the Internet of Things concept. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in the 1930s, engineers suggested we build floating airports on the water to work around space constraints. Is it finally time to build one? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robot security guards have been around for a couple of years. What role do they fill? Are we creating the robot army destined to overthrow us? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A draft report for the EU suggests ways we should prepare for a new industrial revolution powered by robots. Is it time to make them electronic persons? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the International Space Station orbiting on borrowed time, what's the future of space stations? Are private companies going to launch their own stations into orbit? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look again at the building materials of the future. Could timber replace concrete? And what about synthetic bone? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does it take so much computing power to forecast the weather? And how could a weather study help one billion people? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Biosimilar drugs have the potential to change the medical landscape. We talk about what biosimilar drugs are and their pros and cons. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Society's concepts of sex and gender are mutable. How have those concepts changed throughout history? Could future changes help alleviate social issues affecting us today? Raquel Willis joins the team to discuss the past, present and future of gender. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Society's concepts of sex and gender are mutable. How have those concepts changed throughout history? Could future changes help alleviate social issues affecting us today? Raquel Willis joins the team to discuss the past, present and future of gender. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new genetic technology called a gene drive could help eradicate deadly pests, like invasive rats in the Galápagos or malaria-carrying mosquitoes. But exactly how hazardous could accidental consequences be? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making supercapacitors out of the same stuff you'd buy for a barbecue seems strange, but edible electronics could change the medical industry for the better. Tune in to learn how (and what they'll taste like). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pain is both a physical and emotional experience, which makes it hard to treat. Today's therapies (like opioid drugs) come with dangerous side effects. How could new research change the ways we treat pain? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new type of clock might require a new definition of what a second is. Is time about to turn upside down? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we close to creating all-new life forms? What are the scientific challenges? Should we be concerned about ethics? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can a computer create art from scratch? How will Google's Magenta project actually work? And can a machine be truly creative? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA researchers announced the Kepler telescope had verified 1,284 new exoplanets. How did they do that and what does it mean? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hands are awesome. They're also difficult to replicate. What's the state of the art of robotic hands? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we think of the future, we don't often consider our common appliances. But what will the oven of the future be like? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is e-waste? How big a problem is it? And what can we do to fix it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Livestreaming has really taken off. What's the future of livestreaming? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would cryogenics put you into suspended animation or would it just kill you? The crew looks into what happens when you're put on ice. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists are worried that we could contaminate other planets or bring back something to contaminate our own. How real is the risk and what can be done to prevent it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drone racing is catching serious attention. Could this become a major sport in the future? And what about other non-traditional, futuristic sports? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that we know all about DNA, let's talk about how we can use it in technology. From diodes to computer storage, we explore the uses of DNA. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is DNA and where did it come from? We'll take a look at what we know about the building blocks for life as we know it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could the future of electronics be the human body? We explore efforts to turn your body into a technological interface. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What causes water acidification? Why should we be concerned? And how might we fix the problem? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no scientific consensus on the causes of aging and that has led to some spirited debates. We explore the arguments and learn a little something about ourselves in the process. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why face the ravages of time if you can stave off the effects of aging? We look at ways to cheat the clock! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will the buildings of the future be made out of? Could you end up living in a house of blood? We explore the potential of biomaterials. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are robots poised to take over the kitchen? We look at the opportunities and challenges in the future of kitchen automation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recently Microsoft created a chatbot intended to develop an online personality through social media interactions. What could go wrong? Well, it turns out the internet can be a pretty sinister place and that Microsoft may have bitten off more than it could chew with the disastrous Tay project. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do rocket launches have a significant environmental impact? And if our future has a lot more space travel in store, what does that mean for us? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the novella The Little Prince inspire a planetary defense strategy? How does NASA plan to put an asteroid in lunar orbit? And can we stop a catastrophic event? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan and Lauren were in Austin for SxSW 2016. What were the big topics of discussion and will our future really be an intelligent one? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Universal Basic Income? Does it make financial sense? Will it become a necessity? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the Twin Study? What does NASA hope to learn from Mark and Scott Kelly? And how might it help us get to Mars? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will the cemeteries of the future be like? Will we bury our dead in skyscrapers? Or in forests? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is solar power finally a reasonable option for the average person? And how do solar towers work? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time to take a look at some of the most forward-thinking skyscraper designs. Would you visit a skyscraper that has multiple ecosystems inside it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the future, will our cities grow upward rather than outward? We look at skyscrapers and what it takes to build a vertical civilization. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that we've detected gravitational waves, what comes next? We look at the science and fiction of what gravitational waves mean for our future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are gravitational waves and how did LIGO detect them? We take a close look at space-time to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who was Marvin Minsky and what was his influence on the field of artificial intelligence research? We look back on the life and career of this forward thinker. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could future contact lenses detect diseases, environmental hazards and give us augmented reality vision? We explore how companies are hoping to bring a new vision of the future to life. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's get real: Are there any serious weather modification technologies on the horizon? Julie Douglas joins Lauren and Joe in the second part of this discussion about weather control. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the future have in store for the way we interact with and potentially even harness weather? Julie Douglas joins Lauren and Joe to discuss what the future of weather might look like. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What vaccines are currently in development and what is the future of vaccines? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do vaccines come from and how do they work? In this episode, we explore the origin and mechanics of vaccination. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major VR headsets are to debut in 2016. What's the state of VR and will it ever be more than just a gimmick? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was operation Plowshare? And are there peaceful applications for nuclear explosions? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Blue Origin to SpaceX, the hottest topic in the private space industry is the reusable rocket. Why is it such a big deal and what does it mean for the future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan attended CES 2016 and talks about some of the technological trends that will shape the future, from connected cars to crazy exoskeletons. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could we solve the radio frequency spectrum crunch by switching from radio to light? How does Li-Fi actually work and in which situations is it suitable? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may have heard that NASA discovered evidence of flowing water on Mars. We take a look at previous discoveries involving H2O and the Red Planet as well as ask what does this new discovery mean? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two of this two-part episode about the computerization of cars, Scott and Ben return as guest co-hosts to help Lauren and Joe figure out how some computerized cars of the future could serve purposes their owners never intended. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part one of this two-part episode about the computerization of cars, Lauren and Joe are joined by CarStuff hosts Scott Benjamin and Ben Bowlin to discuss the Volkswagen emissions "defeat device" scandal. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren and Jonathan explore three ways 3D printers could change medicine. From printing drugs to regenerating nerves, we explore what happens when doctors work with additive manufacturing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The crypto-currency Bitcoin has weathered many storms lately. Is there a future for this digital currency or will it disappear in a puffs of 0s and 1s? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that someone has created 3D models of TSA master keys, TSA luggage locks are no longer secure. What is the future of locks? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the future of games? Which games have been "solved?" And are there any games humans will always be better at than computers? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will climate change impact hurricane formation in the future? We explore the science behind some of the most powerful storms and how they may be getting worse in the future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do bacteria communicate with one another? And how could understanding that help us fight superbugs that have developed resistance to antibiotics? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How could a video camera pick up sound without a microphone? We look at the science of sound and how any object could become a mic. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there are aliens out there, is there any way to know where we should be looking? The team talks about a mathematical model that might give us some direction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The team talks about an experiment in the UK in which a robotic arm built, tested and redesigned other robots. Will machines take over the manufacturing world? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a new heavy-hitting laser in Japan. What will it be used for? We explore the use of lasers in science, industry and the future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time to look at a science fiction technology: teleporters. Could teleportation ever work? Will it allow for faster-than-light travel? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do sewers work? How many people today don't have access to a reliable sewer infrastructure? And what can we do to improve them? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could something as simple as a search results page affect a major political election? It turns out the answer is yes. We look at how search rankings can influence public opinion. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology has us more plugged in and connected than ever before but it also creates endless opportunities for interruptions. What effect do notifications have on productivity and anxiety? And how could technology help solve a problem it created? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can computers get creative in the kitchen? From robot cooks to an AI application that invents new recipes, we look at how technology may change cooking forever. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We may be in the middle of the sixth mass extinction on Earth. What are we doing to help preserve the species that are endangered today? We explore the tech, policies and debates in conservation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a computer infer your mood based upon the text you type? We look at the Tone Analyzer, an IBM tool that aims to alert you if an email is too snarky or your next text message is coming across as rude. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What have we learned from the New Horizons spacecraft so far? How has Pluto surprised us? And what's next? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two, we look at how keeping information accessible to future generations is a big challenge. From digital obsolescence to outdated hardware, how can we keep information alive? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the United States, we have a lifestyle that leans toward the disposable. How might we build and care for things so that future generations will be able to access, enjoy and learn from them? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Google's DeepDream project all about? And how are people using it to create surreal art? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uber's CEO plans to replace human drivers with robots. What would such a future look like, and what happens to all those drivers? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will roads ever change in the future? Learn about self-healing materials, smart highways and whether or not it makes sense to turn roads into a giant solar farm. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does NASA test equipment and strategies for deep space here on Earth? Sometimes, they take the plunge underwater. Learn about the NEEMO program and what it means to be an aquanaut. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Star Wars, the capital of the empire is Coruscant, a planet covered by an enormous city. Is such a thing possible? And how crowded would a planet with one trillion people be? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are megacities? Why are they so difficult to define? We explore the future of cities with 10 million people or more in them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA has given the thumbs up to six research projects that could revolutionize aeronautics. We look at each one and talk about what the results could mean to the rest of us. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know that an airplane is really just a flying germ machine, right? And our office buildings can often seem like little more than disease incubators. The podcast team investigates how we can redesign our physical environments to prevent illnesses from spreading. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do memories work? Can technology read memories? Is a memory-detecting algorithm foolproof? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a solar sail and how does it work? We explain the technology and talk about current and future uses of solar sails. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It sure would be great to not use fossil fuels but are biofuels the answer? We look at the complicated case for biofuels. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In early June, teams competed to control a robot that could respond to a simulated emergency situation. What did the robots have to do and who won? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will we ever be able to predict earthquakes? If not, how can we better prepare for them? We delve into the past, present and future of seismic detection and protection. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special guest Holly Frey of Stuff You Missed in History Class joins the podcast team to talk about futuristic fabrics, cutting-edge casual wear and the haute couture of tomorrow. Spoiler: The future is sweat pants. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Web is an enormous treasure trove of data. But how can you find the information you're looking for? We explore web crawlers and big data. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is social intelligence and can a robot possess it? We take a look at an emerging field of robotics and how challenging it is to make a machine that can socially interact with humans. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the future, will advertising be everywhere? And will you mind? We look at how ads could evolve over the next few years. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is helium-3 and what does it have to do with fusion? Will we turn the Moon into a giant helium-3 mine? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes a supervolcano so super? How likely is an eruption? And what would actually happen? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Radar is a cool technology. We explain how it works and what radar has in store in the future! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a high tech engine violate the laws of physics? What is a reactionless drive? We examine the claims and criticisms of the EmDrive. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the Tesla Powerwall? Does it make sense for people to buy one? We take a look. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is DARPA all about? We take a look at some of the R&D projects overseen by the organization. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Russian man plans to be the world's first head transplant patient. Is such a thing possible? We look at the story and the future of transplants. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a continuation of our discussion about sound, we look at non-medical applications of sonic technology. From smartphone controls to levitation, we explore the future of sound. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sound is pretty amazing. In this episode, we look at ways scientists, engineers and doctors will use sound in the future to transform our world. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The flip side of artificial intelligence is that it will be harder for us to be sure the person we're talking to is actually a person. Are there tricks to spotting a bot on the web? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nuclear power is used for giant vehicles like aircraft carriers or stealthy ones like submarines, but why isn't it everywhere? Could you have a nuclear-powered car? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prompted by a listener message, the crew takes a look at vending machines. Could it be that vending machines will take the place of brick and mortar stores? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the CRISPR technique? How might it revolutionize genetic alteration? And why are some scientists urging caution before it gets widely used? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for Mind Control: The Return to Mind Mountain. The podcast crew focuses on persuasive technology, environmental influences and moral enhancement in part two of this two-part episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mind control is a pervasive fear in dystopian science fiction. What is there to say about the real-life science of manipulating people's thoughts, emotions, opinions and behavior? The podcast crew focuses on propaganda and advertising in part one of this two-part episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan, Joe and Lauren answer a listener mail request. Could we use robots as avatars while we explore distant locations, even across the galaxy? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night, the Singularity arrived! Joe, Lauren and Jonathan talk about what we got right, what we got wrong and when to expect your next software patch. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a new Barbie doll coming out that has created a bit of a controversy. We talk about the Internet of Things, privacy and toys. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the future of wireless data? Will 5G leave everything else in the dust? And what do all those Gs mean? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The team responds to a listener request and talks about random number generation. Why is it so hard? Could it be impossible? And what's in store for the future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is NASA's Dawn mission all about? What are they learning from Vesta and Ceres? And could Ceres have habitable oceans? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artificial light is one of the most fundamental of all human technologies. What will the future of light look like? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are balloons the next step in space tourism? We look at companies trying to get off the ground in the industry. And how high is space, anyway? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vision and hearing get all the glory, but humans might be more controlled by our sense of smell than we realize. The podcasters examine some smelly science and discuss how smells figure in to future tech. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As machine intelligence becomes more complex, our machines will increasingly behave in ways that surprise us. What happens when one of them does something that we find socially, legally or even morally unacceptable? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will the movies of the future be built according to market research with big data? We look at how the movie industry relies on digital information. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One day in the far future, we may have to abandon our home and set out to colonize a new part of the galaxy. But is it possible to take the entire solar system with us on the journey? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Venom is one of the most fascinating things in the animal kingdom. But what role does it play in contemporary and future medicine? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will we consume media in the future? Could we harness the Earth's core for energy? How do astronomers indicate celestial positions? The team answers some listener mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Creative Commons to corporations' ownership of intellectual property, we conclude our discussions on the future of creativity, possession and the law. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where did the concept of copyright come from? Why does it last so long? We look at where copyright comes from in an effort to guess at where it's going. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Microsoft's new augmented reality goggles change computing forever? We look at the HoloLens and why people are so excited about it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the future of smart home technology? Will our houses take care of all our chores for us? And what are the downsides? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How likely is an alien invasion in our future and what would our options be if it happened? We explore this science fiction idea and debate our best course of action. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will future American city-dwellers live in Bike Heaven, or will the car remain king? The podcast crew addresses an excellent listener question about the future of bicycles in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists have been investigating ways to mix human biology with that of other life forms. How far can we go? How far SHOULD we go? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're at the dawn of the 4K ultra-high-definition TV era. What does resolution really mean? And is there a limit? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gang continues to discuss the tech seen in the future segment of Back to the Future II. Were they right on target or totally wrong? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time to go back in time to the future of the past! It's 2015, the year Marty McFly traveled forward to in Back to the Future II. How does it stack up? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we have the ruins of ancient Rome, Persia and Egypt. What will the remains of modern civilization look like when our present becomes ancient history? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Animals like squid, octopuses and jellyfish use strange, fascinating limbs to interact with the world. How can we take inspiration from the natural designs of these arms and tentacles to create robots, synthetic materials and even medicine? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where's my jetpack? Where's my jetpack? Where's my jetpack? Where's my jetpack? Where's my jetpack? Where's my jetpack? Where's my jetpack? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wish you could copy, share and edit 3D objects like you can with a Google doc? We take a close look at several visions of programmable matter, including ideas like claytronics: the robotic goop that could change our lives in weird and awesome ways. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there any way we could create an actual working lightsaber? The podcast crew undergoes Jedi training to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Passwords are a pain and they're edging towards becoming obsolete. What's next? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In some science fiction universes, a quick scan from your EVA suit is all you need to determine if the planet you're visiting is safe. Can we do that in real life? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Star Trek, humans no longer use money. Is this really in our future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Orion space vehicle recently passed a major flight test. How will Orion fit into NASA's plans for the future of space exploration? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are robots going to take our jobs? Will we just get new jobs? And will it be a smooth transition? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building robots is hard. What if we just created an army of cyborg cockroaches? Guess what? We are! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you could own a big robot made up of thousands of smaller robots, and it was able to change its shape in order to complete various tasks? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it so hard to teach a computer to understand complex scenes in pictures? We look at the problem and how computer scientists are solving it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we found intelligent alien life, how would we communicate with it? We explore the challenges of chatting with someone out of this world. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We can't carry everything we need for long space missions. Could synthetic biology help us produce stuff like biopolymers, drugs or even food? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Distributed computing not only helps researchers analyze data more efficiently, but also lets you take part in scientific research! We look at examples of distributed computing and how you can get involved. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've looked at the original X-Men, but what about other mutants? From Wolverine to Magneto, we discuss which mutants have the most realistic powers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could technology or genetic engineering give us powers similar to those possessed by the X-Men? We evaluate the starting lineup of Marvel's superhero team. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If time travel is possible, then surely someone from the future has visited our present. How would we know it happened? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists have discovered hundreds of exoplanets. How do you detect something that far away? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the future, will we be able to reanimate the dead? Or is Frankenstein's monster doomed to be fictional forever? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are there monsters in our future? Or have technology and science advanced to a point that we can dismiss them entirely? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is MAVEN and what is it looking for? We take a close look at NASA's spacecraft and what it might tell us about the red planet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest Robert Lamb joins Joe and Lauren to talk a bit more about psychology, technology, our fears and what the monsters of our future will look like. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's in the future for telescopes? Fw:Thinking looks at some of the telescopes that will soon be searching the skies for signs of other planets, the birth of galaxies and even the earliest moments of our universe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fw:Thinking takes a long look at the history of the telescope and how facilities around the world (and in space) are getting a closer look at our universe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxieties about technological trends have had a profound influence on the history of the horror genre and the creatures that populate it. In preparation for Halloween season, the Fw:Thinking podcast investigates the future of your nightmares. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology is changing the way we play and watch sports. From tracking a player's every move to keeping them safe during games, we explore sports technology. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facial recognition technology is pretty incredible. But it's not infallible. We learn how it works and why it's a challenging AI problem. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisibility cloaks - are they just an element in fiction and folklore or will they become a reality? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A news story from March 2014 needs an update -- could space dust invalidate the discovery of gravitational waves? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to be happy? What's going on biologically, and how can we improve humanity's overall happiness in the future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are science and technology helping us contain pandemics? How might they help us prevent outbreaks entirely in the future? We examine the strategies used to keep disease at bay. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bandwidth is a finite resource. What happens when we reach the limit? And how close are we now? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Star Trek, the tricorder is an all-purpose sensor array that can diagnose a person in moments. Is a real tricorder part of our near future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the film Minority Report, we see Tom Cruise's character use gestures similar to today's touchscreen commands. What's the story behind the film's technology? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it in science fiction films you never see people struggle to operate consumer tech? Will the tech of the future really be flawlessly simple? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a start-up company challenge the university system? We look at why higher education is so expensive and the goals of the Minerva Project. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blood: the liquid that we are large sacks of. Join the podcast team for a look at the future of artificial blood, rejuvenating transfusions and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ants can ruin a picnic, sure, but they might also inspire some of the most interesting materials technology and computer science of tomorrow. Your hosts take a look at these swarming, six-legged collective geniuses in this podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you put your thinking cap on in the future, will it be a literal hat that boosts your intelligence? We look at tech that promises to make you smarter. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are there safe, effective ways to boost brain power? Will the humans of the future be popping smart pills and leaving us all in the intellectual dust? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could an emerging technology eliminate the need for animal testing in pre-clinical trials? We examine the potential of the organ-on-a-chip. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The inventor of the laser turned 99 in 2014. We look at emerging, cutting-edge uses for one of the coolest types of tech out there. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How have art and technology worked together in the past? Should art always be low tech? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do 3D printers have a place in art? We look at the process of creating a 3D printed object and whether artistry is involved. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA says the first humans to land on Mars are already walking around on Earth today. How does NASA propose we get there? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should we bury nuclear waste? Recycle it? Shoot it into space? We talk about the pros and cons of various solutions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nuclear power has a lot of advantages but one big disadvantage is the nuclear waste. Why is it such a problem? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the field of photonics really about? We examine how light could change computing forever. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should we come up with an alternative to the Turing Test for machine intelligence? We take a look at the test and what it means to AI. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is consciousness and have researchers found the on/off switch? We look at what we know so far. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are airships and how might they come back in a big way? We take a look at the history and future of this type of aircraft. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is technology transforming kitchens into the communal cooking space of the future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do particle accelerators work and what are they good for? We take a look at particle physics. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the secret of flexible electronics? What are the applications of tech that can bend around curves and corners? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spiders are fascinating creatures. They play a crucial role in most of the world's ecosystems, and they could even teach us a lot about how to make new biomimetic technologies. Join the podcast team for a look at our creepy crawly future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at how the laws of quantum physics could allow us to communicate in perfect secrecy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans can create some pretty astounding technologies, but it's hard to beat the R&D provided by 4 billion years of evolution. How do modern humans look to nature for inspiration in engineering and design? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How reliable is your memory? What if you could make it stronger? Or even erase memories you don't want anymore? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Science fiction takes us tens of thousands of years into the future but sometimes imagines the range of human physical appearance will be about the same. Will humans look different in the future? Will we be 15 feet tall, or have heads like the grey aliens? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a common belief that video games rot your brain, but some studies have shown that video games might actually improve cognitive capabilities. How can we use video games to boost our brains, teach counter-intuitive concepts and even learn about ourselves? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will humans in the future talk like we do today? Or is the perfect English of a Jean-Luc Picard merely a convenience for sci-fi writers? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plastics have changed the world in good and bad ways. Could bioplastics give us the benefits of plastic without the nasty downsides? We explore the future of plastic. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Science isn't free - it costs money to fund research. Could crowdfunding be the next revolution in funding scientific research? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a connectome? Why is a worm's neural system so important? How difficult is it to make a complete neural map? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inspired by a wonderful message from a fan, we take a look at what bees mean to you and me. Are bee populations in decline? Could we survive without them? And how can bee-powered technology save lives in the future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We tend to take Earth's gravity for granted. But without it, our bodies go on a long, sad journey of decline. Is there any way to create fake gravity so we can survive, thrive and even reproduce in space? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Computers and brains don't work the same way but that hasn't stopped us from trying to make computers that can "think." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Futurists often talk about computers and brains as if they were interchangeable. Your hosts explore the many ways that computers and brains are fundamentally different, as well as what each machine is best and worst at. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're old hands at making predictions but history is filled with inaccurate (and hilarious) guesses that were way off the mark. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time to talk about 3D printing again. What are some of the advances we've seen over the last year? From houses to medical casts, we cover it all. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to get off the grid? From electricity to water to just getting by, we take a look at how challenging it is to disconnect. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we limited by the senses we've evolved or can we extend them? From sensing magnetic fields to seeing in the dark, we look at how humans in the future may have a better idea of what's going on. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why has battery technology lagged behind other advancements? Are we doomed to have batteries hold us back? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are solar vehicles practical? We look at how solar-powered vehicles are teaching us new lessons in engineering. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can we create a friendly artificial intelligence? Is such a thing impossible? We look at the best and worst case scenarios. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the concept of the Singularity? What are the different pathways? Is it really only a couple of decades away? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recently launched project called Human Longevity Inc. intends, as co-founder Peter Diamandis put it, to "make 100 years old the new 60." How do they plan to get us there? And will it work? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the perfect way for rovers to get around? Why settle on the wheel? We look at the challenges of designing rover mobility systems. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've seen replicators feed the crew of Star Trek, but will real humans ever be able to press a button and zap an entire meal into existence? If so, are we anywhere close to that today? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are robots used in medical procedures today? We look at the history, present and future of robotic surgery. Is it effective? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is antigravity possible? From impractical flying machines to cities in the clouds, we take a look at science fiction technology that allows us to slip the bonds of Earth. Is any of it possible? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the future of sleep? Sleep is an important biological function - but could we engineer a way to eliminate it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is thorium the answer to our energy needs? We discuss the benefits and drawbacks of thorium as an energy source. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seriously, is time travel possible? We take a look at the philosophy and physics of time travel. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does science fiction often depict a (literally) sanitized future? How has the need for clean environments evolved with science and technology? Is it dangerous to be TOO clean? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it possible to bring extinct species back to life? We look at the science and controversy around de-extinction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How could antibiotic misuse lead to catastrophic results? We look at the way antibiotics work and how mismanagement is a bad idea. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do machines have so much trouble understanding natural language? We look at how machines process information and the challenges of making natural language processing a reality. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will robots and humans ever marry each other? We examine human-robot relationships and the ethical problems associated with them. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is the world of nanotechnology different from the macro scale? We look at how nanotech could shape the future of everything from computing to medicine. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will robots one day look after our children? What's the future of robotic servants and will we trust them with the care of kids? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will your next dog be a purebred puppy, a mutt or a robot? We take a look at the history and future of robotic pets. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How would microgravity affect a baby's development in space? We look at what science has to say about it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What risk does cosmic radiation pose to the future of humanity and space travel? Would it be safe to conceive a baby in space? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the purpose of HAARP, the mysterious facility in Alaska? We sort the truth from the fiction in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are computer algorithms changing global finance? Machines make and lose fortunes in less time than it takes to blink your eyes. Is it a brave new financial world? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could our future be powered wirelessly? We examine the possible ways we might harness and transmit power in the future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the low down on powered exoskeletons? Could a powersuit be the next step toward cyborgs or is it an engineering nightmare? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If private space travel is in our future, how can we make it affordable? We explore the proposals and projections. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will space tourism become a reality for more than a handful of rich people? We look at the history and future of space travel for regular folks like you and me. But, you know, with more money. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rise of "non-permanent" social media like Snapchat might be changing the way we envision digital permanence. How do our online personalities affect our future selves? What will it be like to live in a world where past decisions are always with us? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could fuel cells be the future of energy? We look at how fuel cells work, their benefits and the challenges we face to make them a bigger part of the energy picture. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even if you're a nature lover, you have to admit mosquitoes pose a big problem for our species. Will we ever claim victory over these notorious spreaders of disease? What tools will we have in our arsenal? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While CES wraps up, we look at some of the gadgets, trends and failed experiments. Which gadgets will shape our future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does the Kardashev scale classify hypothetical extraterrestrial civilizations? We look at the relationship between energy, technology and the search for intelligent life. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's up with flying cars? It's time to talk about the challenges of bringing a real flying car to the consumer market. Will we ever see one? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What were the big science stories of 2013? Join the podcast crew as they talk about their favorite science stories from the past year. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the future of clothing? From self-cleaning outfits to a suit that recharges your electronics, the crew takes a look at the clothing of the future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does quantum computing work? From superposition to quantum entanglement, we tackle the concepts behind quantum computers and explain what they'd be used to do. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can a computer be aware of what it's doing? We look at the famous Chinese Room thought experiment and the possibility of smart AI. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How could augmented reality change our world? From video games to exploration, augmented reality has the potential to change the way we view our world. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are drones the pizza delivery guys of the future? We look at companies that are experimenting with drone delivery. Is it hype or will we be tipping in WD-40 from now on? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is the idea of an indestructible material so attractive? Is there actually such a thing? What are some materials that, while not indestructible, might have very special properties? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After so many bad incarnations over the years, is virtual reality dead? How does virtual reality potentially enhance a gameplay experience? What new innovations in VR are making the technology more attractive? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there a safe way to stun? In Star Trek, setting phasers to stun was a way to incapacitate a threat safely. Where are we on stun technology today? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the future of air travel? The team takes a look at aircraft designs that could get you there faster, cheaper and more efficiently. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can we make biospheres work? Colonizing the galaxy is going to require some tricky technology. Could we take our environment with us? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the future of cloning? The podcast team discusses the scientific breakthroughs, the barriers and the ethical questions about cloning. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How would a warp drive work? Does warp drive violate Einstein's theory of relativity? Is it really possible to make one? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does wind power work? What's the future of wind power? What are the pros and cons of wind power? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was the DARPA Grand Challenge? When did Google begin working on autonomous cars? Are robots better drivers than humans? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there intelligent life outside of our solar system? What is the Drake equation? What is Fermi's paradox? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is space junk? Where did it come from? Why is it a problem? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is in the power of a name? What's the dispute on the social effects of names? Does naming your possessions create an emotional bond? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As robots become more sophisticated, will we give them rights? Why did Jonathan vote against robot rights in a game? Who benefits from robot rights? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the trends in office spaces? Is the open office floor plan effective? How has teleworking affected the office? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are there so many theories about how to get fit? How can you separate fitness fact from fiction? What's the real deal with barefoot running, performance enhancers and other fads? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do fitness trackers work? How can console games and mobile apps help you get fit? What's the future of fitness gamification? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will owning property in space work? What does the 1967 space treaty say? What are some proposed solutions to the problem? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do dating sites match people up? How have social networks changed dating? Is it easier to find your perfect match online? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can we do to mitigate climate change? Will technology fix the problem? What are carbon caps? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the difference between global warming and climate change? What's the evidence to support the anthropogenic nature of climate change? What is a scientific consensus? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How have we used computers to compose music? Will we ever have an AI that can write music the average person would enjoy? How can data turn into music? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the history of musical instruments? How have developments in musical instrument tech changed music itself? What are some cutting-edge instruments out now? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do aliens in science fiction films look like us more often than not? Is it likely we'll find aliens that look humanoid? Will alien life be carbon-based? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does collaboration affect innovation? What are some examples of multidisciplinary approaches? Why is collaboration important? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the Turing Test? Why is a computer-written novel a non-trivial problem? Will computers ever be able to copy the style of deceased authors? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is interactive storytelling? What are the challenges of interactive storytelling? Can technology let us tell the largest story ever told? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How expensive was the world's first lab-grown burger? What are the benefits to growing meat in the lab? What are other alternatives to beef? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the deal with transgenic crops? Are these crops inherently dangerous? What are the pros and cons? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we determine a vehicle's mpg rating? How have engineers improved fuel economy over the years? How do vehicles like EVs and hybrids stack up? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is 4D printing? What are programmable materials? What's the potential for 4D printing? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are gene therapy and gene doping? How do researchers reprogram viruses to carry human genes? Will messing with our genes make us less human? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are genes? What roles do they play in making us who we are? How much do we know about the human genome? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's our current plan should an asteroid come hurtling toward Earth? Is the Armageddon scenario feasible? What are alternatives? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do companies like Planetary Resources plan to mine asteroids? What will happen with the mined material? What's the timeline like for asteroid mining? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are some of the gimmicks used by movies to get you in the theater? Was there really a Smell-O-Vision? Who was William Castle and what did he do? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is what we see in the movies possible, can you really zoom and enhance? What are some of the ways we manipulate digital photos and video? What is light field capture and what can it do? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does the United States depend so heavily on landfills? What are alternative methods of dealing with trash? Why not just blast it into space? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the numbers behind recycling? Which materials are more easily recycled? What else can we do besides recycle? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does it make sense to colonize the Moon? Should Mars be our first off-world colony? What are the challenges of space colonization? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the risks of manned space exploration? What are the limitations of unmanned missions? Is this the end of manned space missions? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does more data increase our stress levels? Is it true that the more choices you have the harder it is to make a decision? What is the Semantic Web? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is stress's effect on the body? What are some long-term effects of stress? What are some ways to deal with stress? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Maker Faire? How does Arc Attack make music with Tesla Coils? What are some examples of crazy Maker Faire creations? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who are some of the most famous tinkerers in history? Did a nuclear engineer really invent a water gun? What was the original purpose of Silly Putty? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is big data being used today? How can big data predict flu outbreaks? Could law enforcement use big data to predict crimes? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much data do we generate on a daily basis? Are we storing all that data indefinitely? How can you possibly search through that much information? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was the first documented use of the term 'tractor beam?' What can tractor beams do in science fiction? How many geeky references can the team make in this one show? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can light pull microscopic objects? What are the different ways scientists can use light to move stuff? What are some applications of these tractor beams? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are online educational courses as effective as traditional classes? What are the different options for distance learning? What is the future of online education? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will we ever be able to beam information directly to our brains? Is there something fundamental about learning a concept that tech can't replace? How will we learn in the future? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is emergence? Why is it so difficult to predict emergent behavior? How could emergence determine social media's role in our lives? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are services like Facebook and Twitter rewiring kids' brains? Has social media had a measurable impact on how we make friends? Can social media actually help people make more meaningful connections? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who is Aubrey de Grey? What are de Grey's principles of aging? How realistic are his goals? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we could achieve immortality, what would happen? How would societies change if people stopped aging? How might we achieve immortality? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we keep diaries? What is lifecasting? Will we one day have a full record of our lives we can share with whomever we like? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the history of the closed circuit television camera? Are cameras actually an effective means of preventing accidents and crime? How can we expect to maintain privacy in a world covered in cameras? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a space elevator? How would a space elevator work? Why might we never be able to build a working space elevator? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is torque? How do torque and speed relate to each other? Why is torque important? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the pancake problem? What is the Hamiltonian path problem? How can bacteria solve these problems? Tune in and learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can bacteria produce chemicals like isoprene? What is gold chloride and how can bacteria turn it into pure gold? What are some applications of genetically-modified bacteria? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the logical problems around faster-than-light communication? What is quantum entanglement? What are tachyons? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the difference between data speed and throughput? How does the US stack up against other countries when it comes to data speeds? Where are the data bottlenecks that keep transfer speeds low? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are there medical applications of holograms? How can holograms help us observe cellular activity? Can holograms help firefighters see through flames? Join the conversation as Jonathan, Lauren and Joe delve into the world of holograms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are holograms made? Why is the typical science fiction portrayal of holograms unrealistic? What are some other 3-D visualization techniques? Join Jonathan, Lauren and Joe as they take a closer look at the nuts and bolts of 3-D visualization. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the historical roots of speech recognition? Why is spoken language difficult for a machine to decode, from phonetics to grammar and syntax? Why do we still call tech support to speak to humans, and will computers ever be able to replace them? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a brain-computer interface? How are EEGs used in brain-computer interfaces? What are other ways to have a brain communicate directly with a computer? Learn more with Jonathan, Lauren and Joe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is digital currency? Is digital currency safe? What makes a currency legitimate? Join the conversation in this episode of Fw:Thinking. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we have cash in the first place? What are the hurdles a society must overcome to go cashless? What is the future of cash? Learn more about the future of cash with Joe, Lauren and Jonathan. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a plasma waste converter? How can a virus generate electricity? What does the Waste Annihilating Molten Salt Reactor do? Join Jonathan, Joe and Lauren as they explore some unorthodox methods of energy production. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the difference between fission and fusion? What are the drawbacks to fission power? Why is fusion power so challenging? Join Jonathan, Joe and Lauren as they explore the ins and outs of fusion power. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean for a building to be net-zero energy? What does passive solar mean? What techniques can architects use to reduce energy consumption? Join the conversation with Jonathan, Joe and Lauren. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a vertical farm? What would be the benefit of a vertical farm? What are the challenges of making vertical farms work? Join Jonathan, Lauren and Joe as they dig into the potential benefits and challenges of vertical farming. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If robotic limbs become superior to human ones, will people opt to upgrade through amputation? Is it ethical for a doctor to perform an amputation that isn't medically necessary? What would it take for the hosts to consider getting a robotic limb? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How have prosthetic interfaces evolved over time? Is it possible to control an artificial limb through thought alone? What is the future of prosthetics using brain-computer interfaces? Join the conversation with Jonathan, Joe and Lauren. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the water cycle? When we waste water are we really losing it? Why is conservation so important? Join Lauren, Joe and Jonathan for the second part of their series on water. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is desalination? What are the two main desalination techniques? Why is desalination not an idea solution for water shortages? Learn more about desalination with Jonathan, Joe and Lauren. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What exactly is time? Why is time difficult to define? How did Einstein define time? Learn more about time as Jonathan, Lauren and Joe nail down the interpretations, descriptions and definitions of this notoriously difficult-to-define concept. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the theory of relativity have to do with time? Why would it be hard to synchronize time between Earth and space travelers? Is it even possible to have a standard time once you leave Earth? Learn more about time with Joe, Jonathan and Lauren. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do self-driving cars represent a threat to the automotive culture so many people enjoy? Will autonomous cars always have a manual override function? How will these vehicles change the way we think about transportation in general? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could autonomous cars save lives? How will autonomous cars protect against malfunctions, viruses and cyber-attacks? Will we be able to retain autonomy and privacy in an age of computerized vehicles? Listen in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How might we exchange 3D designs in the future? What happens when I try to copy a company's product using my 3D printer? Could we see some form of DRM attached to physical things? Join Joe, Jonathan and Lauren as they dive into the future of 3D printing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How could 3D printers eliminate the need for organ donors? What are the benefits of printing human tissue? What progress has been made so far? Join Jonathan, Lauren and Joe as they explore the future of printed organs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the Internet of Things more than just customizable environments? How will it impact the efficiency of civic and industrial systems? What will these changes mean for you and me? Listen in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Fw:Thinking all about? What topics will the show cover? What future tech are you looking forward to? Join Lauren, Jonathan and Joe as they introduce the concept behind Fw:Thinking. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.