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Future Tense

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A critical look at new technologies, new approaches and new ways of thinking, from politics to media to environmental sustainability.

#244

Dark sky at night, everyone's delight

It's estimated that by 2030 more than 100 thousand satellites are likely to be buzzing around in low-Earth orbit – and the implications of that for our dark skies is potentially significant. We hear from the Executive Director of the non-profit network Dark Skies International. Also, is our environmental future written in the past? Paleo-conservation could be the answer to how we adapt to the adverse effects of climate change; and in Stockholm, engineers and builders are hard at work creating an entire city district in wood – from apartments to office towers. So, what's the advantage to building in timber? ... Read more

18 Apr 2024

29 MINS

29:08

18 Apr 2024

#243

Nobel-Prize laureate Abhijit Banerjee on the world's largest UBI experiment

The world's largest Universal Basic Income trial is currently underway in Kenya. It involves 295 villages and more than 20,000 families. The trial has just reached the two-year mark and Nobel-Prize winning economist, Abhijit Banerjee, joins us to talk about its progress – both economic and social. Also, why it's counterproductive to talk about "screentime" and people being "addicted" to their phones; and speech writer, Lucinda Holdforth, who worries that we've supplanted old fashioned values that emphasised community responsibility with a new array of virtues that are all about personal wants and a focus on self. ... Read more

11 Apr 2024

29 MINS

29:09

11 Apr 2024

#242

The manufacturing of "natural food" and how tech can demystify what we eat

Most people want to eat better. And many of us have embraced the trend toward "natural" foods and conscious eating. We equate "natural" with healthy, nutritious and virtuous, but that can often be way off the mark. New research shows many healthy alternatives are anything but. And our embrace of the term natural is more about expressing identity and morality rather than healthy eating. Empowering people to understand what and how they should eat is what it should be about – and one way to do that is by using a food labelling app. ... Read more

04 Apr 2024

29 MINS

29:08

04 Apr 2024

#241

Self-destructive behaviour — the enemy within

Why do otherwise sensible people continue to do things that are bad for them, that impact negatively on their personal future? Also, what happens in the brain when you're trying to make or break a habit?  Temptation, addiction and habit formation – mapping the pathways to self-destruction and how to navigate a better course.  ... Read more

28 Mar 2024

29 MINS

29:08

28 Mar 2024

#240

Fear and anger – the complicated emotions that govern our world

Authoritarians rule through fear. We can clearly see that from China to the Middle East to eastern Europe. But why do we constantly overlook the way in which fear also shapes democratic societies? It's fuelling populism and distorting our future focus. Then there's anger. It's inspired generations to man the barricades and right society's wrongs. But anger is increasingly becoming a driver of commerce. There's billions to be made in getting you riled up and keeping you that way. Fear fuels anger, and anger blinds you to recognise that your fear might be misguided. A truly vicious cycle. ... Read more

21 Mar 2024

29 MINS

29:09

21 Mar 2024

#239

Algorithmic homogeny – why everything looks and feels the same

Algorithmic feeds are meant to personalise our online experiences, but increasingly they're flattening our culture and fostering a dull conformity, according to best-selling author Kyle Chayka. And the influence they exert on our lives is increasingly physical not just digital. Also, data scientist Gloria Mark who has crunched the numbers on how our attention spans have fared over the past decade or so. If you can keep focused, you might find it fascinating. ... Read more

17 Mar 2024

29 MINS

29:08

17 Mar 2024

#238

The weaponisation of nostalgia; and has culture come to a standstill?

Nostalgia triggers our emotions and that in turn makes us vulnerable to manipulation. We speak with RICHARD KING about the commodification and weaponisation of nostalgic sentiment. Also, New York Times critic-at-large, Jason Farago, on why he believes our cultural age might be the least innovative in half a millennium. ... Read more

10 Mar 2024

29 MINS

29:08

10 Mar 2024

#237

Are we really becoming more isolated and less community minded?

Social cohesion is under strain. The result, researchers say, of economic, political and work-based pressures. At the same time levels of volunteering are falling and people are showing far less willingness to take part in community-based activities. Some even fear our "cultural evolution" has been disrupted. That is, the process by which our interactions shape future cultural norms. It's complicated. ... Read more

03 Mar 2024

29 MINS

29:08

03 Mar 2024

#236

TikTok's superstar economy – how live-streaming is turning social media into a game played for money

Fans are spending thousands of dollars a month to support their favourite streamers on TikTok Live, but most of the money is going to TikTok itself. ... Read more

25 Feb 2024

29 MINS

29:08

25 Feb 2024

#235

Conversing with aliens and 'decentering' the human

Cambridge University has a new institute dedicated to understanding extraterrestrial languages. It's about being prepared for the possibility that intelligent life exists beyond our galaxy. Also, the dangers of being overly dramatic when talking about climate change; the link between indigenous language and health; and the researchers who say it's time for human being to wake up to the fact that it's not all about us. ... Read more

18 Feb 2024

29 MINS

29:09

18 Feb 2024

#234

Does AI show we overestimate our human creativity? And what does creativity mean anyway?

Among the angst over the creative potential of Artificial Intelligence, some researchers and academics are now turning the spotlight back onto humans. If AI can be as imaginative as your average human being, they ask, what does that say about traditional notions of human creativity? Have we long overestimated our own smarts? It's also prompted a discussion about what "creativity" actually means and why the term only came into common usage during the second half of the last century. ... Read more

11 Feb 2024

29 MINS

29:08

11 Feb 2024

#233

Growing houses and running computers with help from bacteria — the future of synthetic biology

Scientists are changing the genetics of cells so that they can be used for a whole range of purposes never before imagined. Think building a biocomputer with a processor powered by bacteria or re-engineering microbes to make environmentally-friendly concrete. The potential is enormous, but there are warnings from within the field, not to let the hype get ahead of reality. ... Read more

04 Feb 2024

29 MINS

29:08

04 Feb 2024

#232

Building a new social contract

There’s a growing public sense that the current model of the social contract is broken, due in large part to rising inequality and the pursuit of profit over social progress. The “social contract” defines the relationship between citizens, their government and business. Its modern form emerged after WWII and, in western democracies, was largely structured around the principles of the welfare state. It’s about equity, order and trust. So, does the essence of the social contract still have value? And if so, how can it make fit for purpose in the 21st century? ... Read more

28 Jan 2024

29 MINS

29:08

28 Jan 2024

#231

The Great Regression and the "kidification" of adulthood

Many commentators bemoan the adolescent nature of modern society. Adults, they suggest, are acting like juveniles and thereby eroding our culture and destroying our politics. We hear two arguments to the contrary. Also, philosopher William MacAskill on his new book “What We Owe The Future”. ... Read more

21 Jan 2024

28 MINS

28:53

21 Jan 2024

#230

Research productivity and innovation is declining

Our modern understanding of innovation isn't modern at all, it turns out. Historian, Iwan Rhys Morus, says we're being held back by Victorian-era notions of the future as a land to be conquered; and the lone-genius inventor as the standard bearer of technological advance. Which might explain why research productivity is now sharply declining, despite a substantial rise in research investment.. ... Read more

14 Jan 2024

29 MINS

29:04

14 Jan 2024

#229

Managerialism ... and what it means for work

Exploring new ideas, new approaches, new technologies — the edge of change. ... Read more

07 Jan 2024

28 MINS

28:57

07 Jan 2024

#228

Turning our back on alcohol

Are attitudes towards drinking changing as we learn more about the impact alcohol can have on our bodies? Drinking has been part of our social and cultural activities for centuries. But cultural norms appear to be shifting. So, could alcohol go the way of cigarettes and become socially unacceptable? ... Read more

31 Dec 2023

28 MINS

28:53

31 Dec 2023

#227

Who are the beneficiaries of climate change?

It might be an uncomfortable idea for many, but in the short term climate change will produce "winners" as well as losers. Some countries, companies, communities and species will actually benefit from a warming world. But in what ways and for how long? ... Read more

24 Dec 2023

28 MINS

28:57

24 Dec 2023

#226

The Great Plunder – curbing human creativity through mass theft

Technology companies aren’t just stealing your intellectual property – your creative content - they’re making vast profits out of selling it back to you. AI-powered apps like ChatGPT are trained on vast amounts of stolen data. What’s worse, it’s all justified as a public good. They call it “efficient infringement”. So, why are they allowed to get away with it? And what can be done about it? Also, the Living Building Challenge – it’s about building better construction and healthier communities; and a call for greater focus on prevention in dealing with domestic violence. ... Read more

17 Dec 2023

29 MINS

29:08

17 Dec 2023

#225

Sweltering Cities – the cost of exponential urbanisation

It's estimated that by 2050 more than 70 per cent of the world's population will live in cities. Urbanisation carries many benefits, but it also threatens to intensify the climate crisis. So, how do we better design our cities to minimise the "urban heat island" effect? The solutions are out there, but do we have the will to put them into practice? ... Read more

10 Dec 2023

29 MINS

29:08

10 Dec 2023

#224

Technology churn versus digital Inclusion

The constant upgrading of technology is wearing people down — one in five Australians now saying they feel "overwhelmed" by technological change, according to a recent report. Those at greatest risk of falling further behind include the elderly, the indigenous and migrant and refugee communities. In both health and education there's a push underway to improve access to vital technologies and create a more inclusive digital environment ... Read more

03 Dec 2023

29 MINS

29:08

03 Dec 2023

#223

How ancient trees could help in the fight against climate change

Unlike animals, trees don't have a biological clock, under ideal conditions they can live for thousands of years. Scientists say understanding how ancient trees have survived could help us protect forests from the ravages of climate change. But working out how to propagate them is the tricky part. ... Read more

26 Nov 2023

29 MINS

29:08

26 Nov 2023

#222

Why knowing when to finish is as important as getting started

In this episode of Future Tense – why charities should have a limited future… getting academics and researchers to think about the end of their research, not just the beginning… and a thoughtful take on the outsourcing of our intelligence –what do we lose when we let machines think for us? ... Read more

19 Nov 2023

29 MINS

29:08

19 Nov 2023

#221

The great scan — mapping below Earth's surface

Austrian archaeologist, Immo Trinks, has a grand ambition – to map the entire landscape of Europe, below ground! The 3D scanning technology he's using won't just uncover hidden archaeological treasures, it can also be used to check below our cities and major transportation routes for geological faults. Also, why mucking about with subatomic particles could help scientists develop a form of underground GPS. ... Read more

12 Nov 2023

29 MINS

29:08

12 Nov 2023

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#244

Dark sky at night, everyone's delight

#243

Nobel-Prize laureate Abhijit Banerjee on the world's largest UBI experiment

#242

The manufacturing of "natural food" and how tech can demystify what we eat

#241

Self-destructive behaviour — the enemy within

#240

Fear and anger – the complicated emotions that govern our world

#239

Algorithmic homogeny – why everything looks and feels the same

#238

The weaponisation of nostalgia; and has culture come to a standstill?

#237

Are we really becoming more isolated and less community minded?

#236

TikTok's superstar economy – how live-streaming is turning social media into a game played for money

#235

Conversing with aliens and 'decentering' the human

#234

Does AI show we overestimate our human creativity? And what does creativity mean anyway?

#233

Growing houses and running computers with help from bacteria — the future of synthetic biology

#232

Building a new social contract

#231

The Great Regression and the "kidification" of adulthood

#230

Research productivity and innovation is declining

#229

Managerialism ... and what it means for work

#228

Turning our back on alcohol

#227

Who are the beneficiaries of climate change?

#226

The Great Plunder – curbing human creativity through mass theft

#225

Sweltering Cities – the cost of exponential urbanisation

#224

Technology churn versus digital Inclusion

#223

How ancient trees could help in the fight against climate change

#222

Why knowing when to finish is as important as getting started

#221

The great scan — mapping below Earth's surface