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Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas podcast

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Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

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  Sean Carroll | Wondery  

Ever wanted to know how music affects your brain, what quantum mechanics really is, or how black holes work? Do you wonder why you get emotional each time you see a certain movie, or how on earth video games are designed? Then you’ve come to the right place. Each week, Sean Carroll will host conversations with some of the most interesting thinkers in the world. From neuroscientists and engineers to authors and television producers, Sean and his guests talk about the biggest ideas in science, philosophy, culture and much more.

Ever wanted to know how music affects your brain, what quantum mechanics really is, or how black holes work? Do you wonder why you get emotional each time you see a certain movie, or how on earth video games are designed? Then you’ve come to the right place. Each week, Sean Carroll will host conversations with some of the most interesting thinkers in the world. From neuroscientists and engineers to authors and television producers, Sean and his guests talk about the biggest ideas in science, philosophy, culture and much more.

 

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Duration

Release Date

#350

296 | Brandon Ogbunu on Fitness Seascapes and the Course of Evolution

Biological evolution via natural selection is a simple idea that becomes enormously complicated in its realization. Populations of organisms are driven toward increased "fitness," a measure of how successfully we reproduce our genetic information. But fitness is a subtle concept, changing with time and environment and interactions with other organisms around us. We talk with biologist Brandon Ogbunu about the best mathematical and conceptual tools for thinking about the messy complexities of evolution, and how modern technology is changing our way of thinking about it. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/11/18/296-brandon-ogbunu-on-fitness-seascapes-and-the-course-of-evolution/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/11/18/296-brandon-ogbunu-on-fitness-seascapes-and-the-course-of-evolution/) Brandon Ogbunu received his Ph.D. in Genetics and Microbiology from Yale University. He is currently Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale, and External Faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. He has been awarded a Fullbright Fellowship and was the Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Professor at MIT. He has contributed to a number of publications, including [Wired] (https://www.wired.com/author/c-brandon-ogbunu/) , [Undark] (https://undark.org/undark-author/c-brandon-ogbunu/) , and [Quanta] (https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/c-brandon-ogbunu/) . --- [Lab web site] (https://ogbunulab.yale.edu/) --- [Yale web page] (https://eeb.yale.edu/people/faculty/c-brandon-ogbunu) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rHUzZs0AAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Ogbunu) --- [Public talk: What is Lyfe? Towards a Biology of Context & Complexity] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rRNbiYg7fs&ab_channel=SantaFeInstitute) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

18 Nov 2024

1 HR 15 MINS

1:15:42

18 Nov 2024

#349

295 | Solo: Emergence and Layers of Reality

[Emergence] (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/properties-emergent/) is a centrally important concept in science and philosophy. Indeed, the existence of higher-level emergent properties helps render the world intelligible to us -- we can sensibly understand the macroscopic world around us without a complete microscopic picture. But there are various different ways in which emergence might happen, and a tendency for definitions of emergence to rely on vague or subjective criteria. Recently Achyuth Parola and I wrote a paper trying to clear up some of these issues: [What Emergence Can Possibly Mean] (https://philarchive.org/rec/CARWEC-6) . In this solo podcast I discuss the way we suggest to think about emergence, with examples from physics and elsewhere. Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/11/11/295-solo-emergence-and-layers-of-reality/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/11/11/295-solo-emergence-and-layers-of-reality/) Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

11 Nov 2024

1 HR 34 MINS

1:34:59

11 Nov 2024

#348

AMA | November 2024

Welcome to the November 2024 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by [Patreon supporters] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good -- and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy! Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with AMA questions and transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/11/04/ama-november-2024/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/11/04/ama-november-2024/) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

04 Nov 2024

3 HR 50 MINS

3:50:29

04 Nov 2024

#347

294 | Addy Pross on Dynamics, Stability, and Life

Erwin Schrödinger said that the important characteristic of life is that it "goes on doing something... for a much longer period than we would expect an inanimate piece of matter to keep going under similar circumstances." Living organisms are in constant motion inside; so where does this stability and persistence come from? Addy Pross points to a novel kind of chemical phenomenon -- "dynamic kinetic stability" (DKS), a feature that enables a chemical "fountain" to persist in the presence of an energy source. This suggests an interesting perspective on the question of life's origin, and perhaps on the origin of consciousness. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/28/294-addy-pross-on-dynamics-stability-and-life/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/28/294-addy-pross-on-dynamics-stability-and-life/) Addy Pross received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Sydney. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Ben-Gurion University. He has held visiting positions inthe University of Lund, Stanford University, Rutgers University, University of California at Irvine, University of Padova, the Australian National University Canberra, and the University of Sydney. He is the author of [What Is Life? How Chemistry Becomes Biology] (https://global.oup.com/academic/product/what-is-life-9780198784791?cc=us&lang=en&) . --- [Web page] (https://tzin.bgu.ac.il/~pross/) --- [Amazon author page] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Addy-Pross/author/B001HPOVA2) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=iERuab8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

28 Oct 2024

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:33

28 Oct 2024

#346

293 | Doyne Farmer on Chaos, Crashes, and Economic Complexity

A large economy is one of the best examples we have of complex dynamics. There are multiple components arranged in complicated overlapping hierarchies, out-of-equilibrium dynamics, nonlinear coupling and feedback between different levels, and ubiquitous unpredictable and chaotic behavior. Nevertheless, many economic models are based on relatively simple equilibrium principles. Doyne Farmer is among a group who think that economists need to start taking the tools of complexity theory seriously, as he argues in his recent book [Making Sense of Chaos:] (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/284357/making-sense-of-chaos-by-farmer-j-doyne/9780241201978) A Better Economics for a Better World. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/21/293-doyne-farmer-on-chaos-crashes-and-economic-complexity/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/21/293-doyne-farmer-on-chaos-crashes-and-economic-complexity/) J. Doyne Farmer received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is currently Director of the Complexity Economics program and Baillie Gifford Professor of Complex Systems Science at the University of Oxford, External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute, and Chief Scientist at [Macrocosm] (https://www.macrocosm.group/) . He was the founder of the Complex Systems Group in the Theoretical Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and co-founder of The Prediction Company. --- [Web site] (https://www.doynefarmer.com/) --- [Oxford web page] (https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/people/doyne-farmer) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Rk7g1U0AAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Amazon author page] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Doyne-Farmer/author/B0CZTTWQ7K?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Doyne_Farmer) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

21 Oct 2024

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:17

21 Oct 2024

#345

292 | Jonathan Birch on Animal Sentience

It's not immoral to kick a rock; it is immoral to kick a baby. At what point do we start saying that it is wrong to cause pain to something? This question has less to do with "consciousness" and more to do with "sentience" -- the ability to perceive feelings and sensations. Philosopher Jonathan Birch has embarked on a careful study of the meaning of sentience and how it can be identified in different kinds of organisms, as he discusses in his new open-access book [The Edge of Sentience] (https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-edge-of-sentience-9780192870421?cc=us&lang=en&) . This is an example of a question at the boundary of philosophy and biology with potentially important implications for real-world policies. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/14/292-jonathan-birch-on-animal-sentience/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/14/292-jonathan-birch-on-animal-sentience/) Jonathan Birch received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Philosophy Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is one of the authors of the [New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness] (https://sites.google.com/nyu.edu/nydeclaration/declaration) , and has advised the British government on matters of animal cruelty and sentience. --- [Web site] (https://personal.lse.ac.uk/birchj1/) --- [LSE web page] (https://www.lse.ac.uk/cpnss/people/jonathan-birch) --- [Google scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uUFuYvYAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [PhilPeople profile] (https://philpeople.org/profiles/jonathan-birch) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Birch_(philosopher)) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

14 Oct 2024

1 HR 10 MINS

1:10:42

14 Oct 2024

#344

AMA | October 2024

Welcome to the October 2024 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by [Patreon supporters] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good -- and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy! Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with questions and transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/07/ama-october-2024/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/10/07/ama-october-2024/) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

07 Oct 2024

4 HR 29 MINS

4:29:35

07 Oct 2024

#343

291 | Venki Ramakrishnan on the Biology of Death and Aging

Aging and death happen to the best of us, but there are increasing efforts to do something about it. That effort requires that we have some reasonable understanding of why aging happens, and what processes are involved. You will be unsurprised to learn that it's complicated. Venki Ramakrishnan, who won the Nobel Prize for his work on the ribosome, investigates what we know about aging in his book [Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality] (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/why-we-die-venki-ramakrishnan?variant=41074404098082) . We talk about aging and death, and manage to get some thoughts in about ribosomes. Venki and many other great communicators will be speaking at [New Scientist Live] (https://newscientist.com/pr) , which takes place at ExCeL London between 12 - 14 October 2024, and is also streamed live as well as on-demand. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/30/291-venki-ramakrishnan-on-the-biology-of-death-and-aging/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/30/291-venki-ramakrishnan-on-the-biology-of-death-and-aging/) Venkatraman (Venki) Ramakrishnan received his Ph.D. in physics from Ohio University. He is currently Group Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, England, and is a Fellow of Trinity College. He previously served as President of the Royal Society of London. He shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work uncovering the structure of the ribosome. --- [Lab web page] (https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/groups/ribo/) --- [Nobel citation] (https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2009/ramakrishnan/facts/) --- [Google scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=oTI5BjIAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venki_Ramakrishnan) --- [Amazon author page] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Venki-Ramakrishnan/author/B07G3FJ93V) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

30 Sep 2024

1 HR 20 MINS

1:20:36

30 Sep 2024

#342

290 | Hahrie Han on Making Multicultural Democracy Work

It's a wonder democracy works at all -- a collection of people with potentially different interests have to agree to abide by majority vote even when it goes against their desires. But as we know, it doesn't always work, and racial and ethnic tensions are one of its biggest challenges. Hahrie Han studies the ground-up workings of democracy, how people can come together to successfully enact change. In her new book [Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/669326/undivided-by-hahrie-han/) , she investigates an example where democracy apparently has worked remarkably well, and asks what lessons we can draw from it. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/23/290-hahrie-han-on-making-multicultural-democracy-work/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/23/290-hahrie-han-on-making-multicultural-democracy-work/) Hahrie Han recieved her Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University. She is currently the Director of the [SNF Agora Institute] (https://snfagora.jhu.edu/) , the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Professor of Political Science, and Faculty Director of the [P3 Research Lab] (https://www.p3researchlab.org/) at Johns Hopkins University. She was named the Social Innovation Thought Leader of the Year by the World Economic Forum, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and gave the 2024 Tanner Lectures on Human Values at Harvard University, among other awards. --- [Web site] (https://www.hahriehan.com/) --- [Johns Hopkins web page] (https://politicalscience.jhu.edu/directory/hahrie-han/) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zzFtUvAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao) --- [Amazon author page] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Hahrie-Han/author/B00L3OIK40) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

23 Sep 2024

1 HR 15 MINS

1:15:33

23 Sep 2024

#341

289 | Cari Cesarotti on the Next Generation of Particle Experiments

As an experimental facility, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva has been extraordinarily successful, discovering the Higgs boson and measuring multiple features of particle-physics interactions at unprecedented energies. But to theorists, the results have been somewhat frustrating, as we were hoping to find brand-new phenomena beyond the Standard Model. There is nothing to do but to keep looking, recognizing that we have to choose our methods judiciously. I talk with theoretical physicist Cari Cesarotti about what experimental results the modern particle physicist most looks forward to, and how we might eventually get there, especially through the prospect of a [muon collider.] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muon_collider) Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/16/289-cari-cesarotti-on-the-next-generation-of-particle-experiments/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/16/289-cari-cesarotti-on-the-next-generation-of-particle-experiments/) Cari Cesarotti received her Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow at MIT. Her research is on particle phenomenology theory, with an eye toward experimental searches. Among her awards are the Sakurai Dissertation Award in Theoretical Physics from the American Physical Society and the Young Scientist Award at the 14th International Conference on the Identification of Dark Matter. --- [Web site] (http://caricesarotti.com/index.html) --- [MIT web page] (https://physics.mit.edu/faculty/cari-cesarotti/) --- [Publications at inSpire] (https://inspirehep.net/authors/1793525?ui-citation-summary=true) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

16 Sep 2024

1 HR 21 MINS

1:21:40

16 Sep 2024

#340

288 | Max Richter on the Meaning of Classical Music Today

It wasn't that long ago, historically speaking, that you might put on your tuxedo or floor-length evening gown to go out and hear a live opera or symphony. But today's world is faster, more technologically connected, and casual. Is there still a place for classical music in the contemporary environment? Max Richter, whose new album [In a Landscape] (https://maxrichter.lnk.to/InALandscape) releases soon, proves that there is. We talk about what goes into making modern classical music, how musical styles evolve, and why every note should count. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/09/288-max-richter-on-the-meaning-of-classical-music-today/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/09/288-max-richter-on-the-meaning-of-classical-music-today/) Max Richter trained in composition and piano at Edinburgh University, at the Royal Academy of Music, and with Luciano Berio in Florence. He was a co-founder of the ensemble [Piano Circus] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Circus) . His first solo album, "Memoryhouse," was released in 2002. He has since released numerous solo albums, as well as extensive work on soundtracks for film and television, ballet, opera, and collaborations with visual artists. --- [Web site] (https://maxrichtermusic.com/) --- [YouTube] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-n5eIZ0AecwjWyXYeSwXkA) --- [Spotify] (https://open.spotify.com/artist/2VZNmg4vCnew4Pavo8zDdW) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Richter) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

09 Sep 2024

1 HR 06 MINS

1:06:26

09 Sep 2024

#339

AMA | September 2024

Welcome to the September 2024 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by [Patreon supporters] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good -- and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy! Blog post with AMA questions and transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/02/ama-september-2024/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/02/ama-september-2024/) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

02 Sep 2024

3 HR 50 MINS

3:50:29

02 Sep 2024

#338

287 | Jean-Paul Faguet on Institutions and the Legacy of History

One common feature of complex systems is sensitive dependence on initial conditions: a small change in how systems begin evolving can lead to large differences in their later behavior. In the social sphere, this is a way of saying that history matters. But it can be hard to quantify how much certain specific historical events have affected contemporary conditions, because the number of variables is so large and their impacts are so interdependent. Political economist Jean-Paul Faguet and collaborators have examined one case where we can closely measure the impact today of events from centuries ago: how Colombian communities are still affected by 16th-centuryencomienda,a colonial forced-labor institution. We talk about this and other examples of the legacy of history. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/08/26/287-jean-paul-faguet-on-institutions-and-the-legacy-of-history/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/08/26/287-jean-paul-faguet-on-institutions-and-the-legacy-of-history/) Jean-Paul Faguet received a Ph.D. in Political Economy and an M.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics, and an Master of Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He is currently Professor of the Political Economy of Development at LSE. He serves as the Chair of the Decentralization Task Force for the Initiative for Policy Dialogue. Among his awards are the W.J.M. Mackenzie Prize for best political science book. --- [Web page] (https://www.lse.ac.uk/international-development/people/jean-paul-faguet) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=UTamcO4AAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Paul_Faguet) --- [Amazon author page] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jean-Paul-Faguet/author/B0070GOP8U?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true) ---" [Encomienda, the Colonial State, and Long-Run Development in Columbia] (https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/122257/1/Encomienda_in_Colombia_v12_small.pdf) ," J.P. Faguet, C. Matajira, and F. Sánchez. See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

26 Aug 2024

1 HR 32 MINS

1:32:35

26 Aug 2024

#337

286 | Blaise Agüera y Arcas on the Emergence of Replication and Computation

Understanding how life began on Earth involves questions of chemistry, geology, planetary science, physics, and more. But the question of how random processes lead to organized, self-replicating, information-bearing systems is a more general one. That question can be addressed in an idealized world of computer code, initialized with random sequences and left to run. Starting with many such random systems, and allowing them to mutate and interact, will we end up with "lifelike," self-replicating programs? [A new paper] (https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.19108#) by Blaise Agüera y Arcas and collaborators suggests that the answer is yes. This raises interesting questions about whether computation is an attractor in the space of relevant dynamical processes, with implications for the origin and ubiquity of life. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/08/19/286-blaise-aguera-y-arcas-on-the-emergence-of-replication-and-computation/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/08/19/286-blaise-aguera-y-arcas-on-the-emergence-of-replication-and-computation/) Blaise Agüera y Arcas received a B.A. in physics from Princeton University. He is currently a vice-president of engineering at Google, leader of the Cerebra team, and a member of the Paradigms of Intelligence team. He is the author of the books [Ubi Sunt] (https://hatandbeard.com/products/ubi-sunt-by-blaise-aguera-y-arcas) and [Who Are We Now?] (https://hatandbeard.com/products/who-are-we-now-by-blaise-aguera-y-arcas) , and the upcomingWhat Is Intelligence? --- [Website] (https://linktr.ee/blaiseaguera) --- [Google web page] (https://research.google/people/106776/?&type=google) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=NQ8iI3cAAAAJ&hl=en) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

19 Aug 2024

1 HR 20 MINS

1:20:35

19 Aug 2024

#336

285 | Nate Silver on Prediction, Risk, and Rationality

Being rational necessarily involves engagement with probability. Given two possible courses of action, it can be rational to prefer the one that could possibly result in a worse outcome, if there's also a substantial probability for an even better outcome. But one's attitude toward risk -- averse, tolerant, or even seeking -- also matters. Do we work to avoid the worse possible outcome, even if there is potential for enormous reward? Nate Silver has long thought about probability and prediction, from sports to politics to professional poker. In his his new book [On The Edge: The Art of Risking Everything] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/529280/on-the-edge-by-nate-silver/) , Silver examines a set of traits characterizing people who welcome risks. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/08/12/285-nate-silver-on-prediction-risk-and-rationality/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/08/12/285-nate-silver-on-prediction-risk-and-rationality/) Nate Silver received a B.A. in economics from the University of Chicago. He worked as a baseball analyst, developing the PECOTA statistical system (Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm). He later founded the [FiveThirtyEight] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FiveThirtyEight) political polling analysis site. His first book, [The Signal and the Noise] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/305826/the-signal-and-the-noise-by-nate-silver/) , was awarded the Phi Beta Kappa Society Book Award in Science. He is the co-host (with Maria Konnikova) of the [Risky Business podcast] (https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/risky-business-with-nate-silver-maria-konnikova) . --- [Substack] (https://www.natesilver.net/) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_Silver) --- [Amazon author page] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nate-Silver/author/B00A3X7J2Q) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

12 Aug 2024

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:15

12 Aug 2024

#335

AMA | August 2024

Welcome to the August 2024 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by [Patreon supporters] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good -- and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy! Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/08/05/ama-august-2024/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/08/05/ama-august-2024/) Support Mindscape on Patreon: [https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

05 Aug 2024

3 HR 37 MINS

3:37:21

05 Aug 2024

#334

284 | Doris Tsao on How the Brain Turns Vision Into the World

The human brain does a pretty amazing job of taking in a huge amount of data from multiple sensory modalities -- vision, hearing, smell, etc. -- and constructing a coherent picture of the world, constantly being updated in real time. (Although perhaps in discrete moments, rather than continuously, as we learn in this podcast...) We're a long way from completely understanding how that works, but amazing progress has been made in identifying specific parts of the brain with specific functions in this process. Today we talk to leading neuroscientist Doris Tsao about the specific workings of vision, from how we recognize faces to how we construct a model of the world around us. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/29/284-doris-tsao-on-how-the-brain-turns-vision-into-the-world/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/29/284-doris-tsao-on-how-the-brain-turns-vision-into-the-world/) Doris Tsao received her Ph.D. in neurobiology from Harvard University. She is currently a professor of molecular and cell biology, and a member of the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, at the University of California, Berkeley. Among her awards are a MacArthur Fellowship, membership in the National Academy of Sciences, the Eppendorf and Science International Prize in Neurobiology, the National Institutes of Health Director’s Pioneer Award, the Golden Brain Award from the Minerva Foundation, the Perl-UNC Neuroscience Prize, and the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience. --- [Web page] (https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/doris-tsao) --- [Lab web page] (https://tsaolab.github.io/people/doris.html) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=SejsFgkAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doris_Tsao) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

29 Jul 2024

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:52

29 Jul 2024

#333

283 | Daron Acemoglu on Technology, Inequality, and Power

Change is scary. But sometimes it can all work out for the best. There's no guarantee of that, however, even when the change in question involves the introduction of a powerful new technology. Today's guest, Daron Acemoglu, is a political economist who has long thought about the relationship between economics and political institutions. In his most recent book (with Simon Johnson), [Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity] (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/daron-acemoglu/power-and-progress/9781541702530/?lens=publicaffairs) , he looks at how technological innovations affect the economic lives of ordinary people. We talk about how such effects are often for the worse, at least to start out, until better institutions are able to eventually spread the benefits more broadly. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/22/283-daron-acemoglu-on-technology-inequality-and-power/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/22/283-daron-acemoglu-on-technology-inequality-and-power/) Daron Acemoglu received a Ph.D. in economics from the London School of Economics. He is currently Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Econometric Society. Among his awards are the John Bates Clark Medal and the Nemmers Prize in Economics. In 2015, he was named the most cited economist of the past 10 years. --- [Web page] (https://economics.mit.edu/people/faculty/daron-acemoglu) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=l9Or8EMAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daron_Acemoglu) --- [Amazon author page] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Daron-Acemoglu/author/B001H6IPC6?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

22 Jul 2024

1 HR 17 MINS

1:17:43

22 Jul 2024

#332

282 | Joel David Hamkins on Puzzles of Reality and Infinity

The philosophy of mathematics would be so much easier if it weren't for infinity. The concept seems natural, but taking it seriously opens the door to counterintuitive results. As mathematician and philosopher Joel David Hamkins says in this conversation, when we say that the natural numbers are "0, 1, 2, 3, and so on," that "and so on" is hopelessly vague. We talk about different ways to think about the puzzles of infinity, how they might be resolved, and implications for mathematical realism. Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/15/282-joel-david-hamkins-on-puzzles-of-reality-and-infinity/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/15/282-joel-david-hamkins-on-puzzles-of-reality-and-infinity/) Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Joel David Hamkins received his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently the John Cardinal O'Hara Professor of Logic at the University of Notre Dame. He is a pioneer of the idea of the [set theory multiverse] (https://arxiv.org/abs/1108.4223) . He is the top-rated user by reputation score on [MathOverflow] (https://meta.mathoverflow.net/a/1902) . He is currently working on [The Book of Infinity] (https://www.infinitelymore.xyz/s/the-book-of-infinity) , to be published by MIT Press. --- [Web site] (https://jdh.hamkins.org/) --- [Notre Dame web page] (https://philosophy.nd.edu/people/faculty/joel-david-hamkins/) --- [Substack] (https://www.infinitelymore.xyz/) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=MHLQDYQAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [PhilPeople profile] (https://philpeople.org/profiles/joel-david-hamkins) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_David_Hamkins) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

15 Jul 2024

1 HR 18 MINS

1:18:23

15 Jul 2024

#331

Ask Me Anything | July 2024

Welcome to the July 2024 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by [Patreon supporters] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good -- and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy! Blog post with questions and transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/08/ama-july-2024/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/08/ama-july-2024/) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

08 Jul 2024

3 HR 21 MINS

3:21:50

08 Jul 2024

#330

281 | Samir Okasha on the Philosophy of Agency and Evolution

Just like with physics, in biology it is perfectly possible to do most respectable work without thinking much about philosophy, but there are unmistakably foundational questions where philosophy becomes crucial. When do we say that a collection of matter (or bits) is alive? When does it become an agent, capable of making decisions? What are the origins of morality and altruistic behavior? We talk with one of the world's leading experts, Samir Okasha, about the biggest issues in modern philosophy of biology. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/01/281-samir-okasha-on-the-philosophy-of-agency-and-evolution/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/07/01/281-samir-okasha-on-the-philosophy-of-agency-and-evolution/) Samir Okasha received his D.Phil. in Philosophy from the University of Oxford. He is currently Professor of the Philosophy of Science at the University of Bristol. He is a winner of the Lakatos Award for his book [Evolution and the Levels of Selection] (https://academic.oup.com/book/3059) , and is a Fellow of the British Academy. --- [University of Bristol web page] (https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/samir-okasha) --- [PhilPeople profile] (https://philpeople.org/profiles/samir-okasha) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=DgX1tEUAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Amazon author page] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Samir-Okasha/author/B001IXTTP0) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samir_Okasha) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

01 Jul 2024

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:46

01 Jul 2024

#329

280 | François Chollet on Deep Learning and the Meaning of Intelligence

Which is more intelligent, [ChatGPT or a 3-year old] (https://x.com/fchollet/status/1804637653880733761) ? Of course this depends on what we mean by "intelligence." A modern LLM is certainly able to answer all sorts of questions that require knowledge far past the capacity of a 3-year old, and even to perform synthetic tasks that seem remarkable to many human grown-ups. But is that really intelligence? François Chollet argues that it is not, and that LLMs are not ever going to be truly "intelligent" in the usual sense -- although other approaches to AI might get there. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/06/24/280-francois-chollet-on-deep-learning-and-the-meaning-of-intelligence/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/06/24/280-francois-chollet-on-deep-learning-and-the-meaning-of-intelligence/) François Chollet received his Diplôme d'Ingénieur from École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées, Paris. He is currently a Senior Staff Engineer at Google. He has been awarded the Global Swiss AI award for breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. He is the author of [Deep Learning with Python] (https://www.manning.com/books/deep-learning-with-python-second-edition) , and developer of the [Keras] (https://keras.io/) software library for neural networks. He is the creator of the [ARC (Abstraction and Reasoning Corpus) Challenge.] (https://arcprize.org/blog/launch) --- [Web site] (https://fchollet.com/) --- [Github] (https://github.com/fchollet) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VfYhf2wAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Chollet) --- ["On the Measure of Intelligence"] (https://arxiv.org/abs/1911.01547) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

24 Jun 2024

1 HR 41 MINS

1:41:49

24 Jun 2024

#328

279 | Ellen Langer on Mindfulness and the Body

For those of us who are not dualists, the mind arises from our physical bodies -- mostly the brain, but the rest of the body has a role to play. And yet it remains tempting to treat the mind as a thing in itself, disconnected from how the body is doing. Ellen Langer is a psychologist who is one of the foremost researchers on the idea of mindfulness -- the cognitive skill of paying to one's thoughts, as well as to one's external environment. Her most recent book is [The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705365/the-mindful-body-by-ellen-j-langer/) . We talk about how our state of mind can effect the functions of our body, sometimes in surprising ways. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/06/17/279-ellen-langer-on-mindfulness-and-the-body/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/06/17/279-ellen-langer-on-mindfulness-and-the-body/) Ellen Langer received her Ph.D. in Social and Clinical Psychology from Yale University. She is currently a professor of psychology at Harvard University. She is also an artist with multiple gallery exhibitions. Among her awards are a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Liberty Science Center Genius Award. --- [Web site] (https://www.ellenlanger.me/) --- [Harvard web page] (https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/ellen-langer) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C21&q=ellen+langer&btnG=) --- [Amazon book page] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ellen-J.-Langer/author/B000APFZIW) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Langer) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

17 Jun 2024

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:51

17 Jun 2024

#327

278 | Kieran Healy on the Technology of Ranking People

We claim to love all of our children, friends, and students equally. But perhaps deep down you assign a ranking to them, from favorite to not-so-favorite. Ranking and quantifying people is an irresistible human tendency, and modern technology has made it ubiquitous. In this episode I talk with sociologist Kieran Healy, who has co-authored (with [Marion Fourcade] (http://www.marionfourcade.org/) ) the new book [The Ordinal Society] (https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674971141) , about how our lives are measured and processed by the technological ecosystem around us. We discuss how this has changed how relate to ourselves and the wider world. Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/06/10/278-kieran-healy-on-the-technology-of-ranking-people/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/06/10/278-kieran-healy-on-the-technology-of-ranking-people/) Kieran Healy received his Ph.D. in sociology from Princeton University. He is currently a professor of sociology at Duke University, and a member of the Kenan Institute for Ethics. As an undergraduate at University College Cork he won the Irish Times National Debating competition. He has a longstanding interest in [data visualization] (https://kieranhealy.org/publications/dataviz/) . --- [Web site] (https://kieranhealy.org/) --- [Duke web page] (https://sociology.duke.edu/kieran-healy) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YWEuPuIAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kieran_Healy) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

10 Jun 2024

1 HR 15 MINS

1:15:56

10 Jun 2024

#326

AMA | June 2024

Welcome to the June 2024 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by [Patreon supporters] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good -- and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy! Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with show notes, questions, and transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/06/03/ama-jun-2024/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/06/03/ama-jun-2024/) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

03 Jun 2024

3 HR 58 MINS

3:58:45

03 Jun 2024

#325

277 | Cumrun Vafa on the Universe According to String Theory

String theory, the current leading candidate for a theory of quantum gravity as well as other particles and forces, doesn't connect directly to the world we see. It's possible that there is a large [landscape] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory_landscape) of possible states of theory, with the hope that one of them represents our universe. The existence of a landscape implies the existence of a corresponding [swampland] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swampland_(physics)) -- universes that arenotcompatible with string theory. I talk with Cumrun Vafa, a respected physicist and originator of the swampland program, about how we might use constraints on what kinds of physics are compatible with string theory to make predictions about cosmology and other experimental regimes. In the conversation we refer to a famous diagram representing different ten-dimensional string theories, as well as 11-dimensional M-theory, as different limits of an [underlying fundamental theory] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-theory) . Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/05/27/277-cumrun-vafa-on-the-universe-according-to-string-theory/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/05/27/277-cumrun-vafa-on-the-universe-according-to-string-theory/) Cumrun Vafa received his Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University. He is currently [Hollis Professor of Mathematicks] (https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/3073) and Natural Philosophy, and Chair of the Physics Department, at Harvard University. He has done fundamental work on the dynamics of superstrings, the entropy of black holes, F-theory, and other topics. Among his awards are the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, the Dirac Medal, and the Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. He is the author of the book [Puzzles to Unravel the Universe] (https://www.amazon.com/Puzzles-Unravel-Universe-Cumrun-Vafa-ebook/dp/B08D75KNDP/) . --- [Web site] (https://www.cumrunvafa.org/) --- [Harvard web page] (https://www.physics.harvard.edu/people/facpages/vafa) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=LJQ0k-AAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumrun_Vafa) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

27 May 2024

1 HR 22 MINS

1:22:25

27 May 2024

#324

276 | Gavin Schmidt on Measuring, Predicting, and Protecting Our Climate

The Earth's climate keeps changing, largely due to the effects of human activity, and we haven't been doing enough to slow things down. Indeed, over the past year, global temperatures have been higher than ever, and higher than most climate models have predicted. Many of you have probably seen plots like [this] (https://berkeleyearth.org/march-2024-temperature-update/) . Today's guest, Gavin Schmidt, has been a leader in measuring the variations in Earth's climate, modeling its likely future trajectory, and working to get the word out. We talk about the current state of the art, and what to expect for the future. Support Mindscape onP [atreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/05/20/276-gavin-schmidt-on-measuring-predicting-and-protecting-our-climate/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/05/20/276-gavin-schmidt-on-measuring-predicting-and-protecting-our-climate/) Gavin Schmidt received his Ph.D. in applied mathematics from University College London. He is currently Director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and an affiliate of the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University. His research involves both measuring and modeling climate variability. Among his awards are the inaugural Climate Communications Prize of the American Geophysical Union. He is a cofounder of the [RealClimate blog] (https://www.realclimate.org/) . --- [NASA web page] (https://www.giss.nasa.gov/staff/gschmidt/) --- [Columbia web page] (https://people.climate.columbia.edu/users/profile/gavin-schmidt) --- [Google Scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TKPXa3UAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Wikipedia] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Schmidt) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

20 May 2024

1 HR 19 MINS

1:19:48

20 May 2024

#323

275 | Solo: Quantum Fields, Particles, Forces, and Symmetries

Publication week! Say hello to [Quanta and Fields] (https://www.amazon.com/Quanta-Fields-Biggest-Ideas-Universe/dp/0593186605/) , the second volume of the planned three-volume series [The Biggest Ideas in the Universe] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/biggestideas/) . This volume covers quantum physics generally, but focuses especially on the wonders of quantum field theory. To celebrate, this solo podcast talks about some of the big ideas that make QFT so compelling: how quantized fields produce particles, how gauge symmetries lead to forces of nature, and how those forces can manifest in different phases, including Higgs and confinement. Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/05/13/275-solo-quantum-fields-particles-forces-and-symmetries/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/05/13/275-solo-quantum-fields-particles-forces-and-symmetries/) Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

13 May 2024

2 HR 12 MINS

2:12:27

13 May 2024

#322

AMA | May 2024

Welcome to the May 2024 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by [Patreon supporters] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good -- and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy! Blog post with questions and transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/05/06/ama-may-2024/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/05/06/ama-may-2024/) Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Here is the [memorial to Dan Dennett at Ars Technica] (https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/04/philosopher-daniel-dennett-dead-at-82/) . See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

06 May 2024

3 HR 35 MINS

3:35:08

06 May 2024

#321

274 | Gizem Gumuskaya on Building Robots from Human Cells

Modern biology is advancing by leaps and bounds, not only in understanding how organisms work, but in learning how to modify them in interesting ways. One exciting frontier is the study of tiny "robots" created from living molecules and cells, rather than metal and plastic. Gizem Gumuskaya, who works with previous guest [Michael Levin] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2021/02/01/132-michael-levin-on-growth-form-information-and-the-self/) , has created anthrobots, a new kind of structure made from living human cells. We talk about how that works, what they can do, and what future developments might bring. Blog post with transcript: [https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/04/29/274-gizem-gumuskaya-on-building-robots-from-human-cells/] (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/04/29/274-gizem-gumuskaya-on-building-robots-from-human-cells/) Support Mindscape on [Patreon] (https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll) . Gizem Gumuskaya received her Ph.D. from Tufts University and the Harvard Wyss Institute for Biologically-Inspired Engineering. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Tufts University. She previously received a dual master's degree in Architecture and Synthetic Biology from MIT. --- [Web site] (https://www.gizemgumuskaya.com/home) --- [Google scholar publications] (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9_717CsAAAAJ&hl=en) --- [Anthrobots web site] (https://www.anthrobots.info/) See Privacy Policy at [https://art19.com/privacy] (https://art19.com/privacy) and California Privacy Notice at [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info] (https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info) . ... Read more

29 Apr 2024

1 HR 10 MINS

1:10:09

29 Apr 2024