Promise

We’ve largely steered clear of AI advancements in recent episodes, mostly because the news around them seems relentless. This episode though, we cover everything from generalist AI models for everyday robots, to AI-generated privacy masks, to the AI-powered robots that can build you anything, to our preference for AI-generated content. We’ve got it all.We even get into a heated

In this episode, we cover everything from restoring vision, creating synthetic olfactory systems, making protein out of thin air, 3D-printing organs with light and sound, artificial magnetic muscles, and so much more.All these breakthroughs have a pretty clear convergence around creating a synthetic human: if not in its entirety, then definitely restoring full physical ability to s

The highlight of this episode is a breakthrough out of UC Riverside, where researchers have managed to grow plants in total darkness. Obviously, there could be implications to this advancement, as there always are. We try and pull apart these unknown unknowns.We also talk about extracting water out of even the driest of air, learned about mosquito’s preferred tastes, surmised abo

This episode, we look at how the dream-sharing tech of Inception is now real. Yes, we think it is as crazy as it sounds with equally crazy potential! We also talk about the developments in anti-aging from a variety of angles, from mitochondrial recharging to centromere manipulation.We also look into the de-extinction of animals like the Thylacine or Tassie Tiger, how we might shoot

We start with probably the most mind-bending concept we’ve covered on the show: that of observable time travel. We don’t quite know what to do with that yet, but we did cover a lot of other ground with bio-concretes, building things by shooting clay, synthetic milk, mining and manufacturing on the moon, as well as Meta Ray Bans and their privacy nightmares.We also talk about hu

Ladies and gentlemen we did it, for the first time we got a prediction right! Hot on the heels of the rogue wave predictor, we suggested earthquakes might be next. Lo and behold. This ties in quite nicely with AI being able to predict group human behavior better than humans can which we cover this episode. Besides that, we also look into exponential cost reductions in space explora

In this episode, we discuss all kinds of advancements from rogue wave prediction to better ways we can use our current batteries. We try to answer the following questions. What could we achieve by storing DNA in Jurassic Park-esque amber resin? How do we solve a labor shortage in chip design? What do we need to grow plants in zero gravity, and would they even look the same? Do we r

In this episode, Ben and I delve into the latest fascinating articles. As a taster for the conversation, we emerged with a few questions: How might water-powered electro-bandages accelerate wound healing? What role do heat-absorbing bricks play in the clean energy transition? What is the potential of air-powered analog computers? How is a new brain-computer interface transforming c

Welcome back to Season 6!We have new mics for this season, so please forgive some teething issues with the sound quality in this episode.In this edition, Ben and I look into how robots might physically adapt to their surrounding environments. Could we control the world around us with a thought? Why might we need universal basic income? What would omni-use reconfigurable furniture l

We are releasing this episode a couple days after a former US president had an attempt on his life. Without getting political, I believe it emphasizes the gravity of the question that we always try to pose: what is the future that you would like to build?We wrap up Season 5 by covering breakthroughs in passive insulation and cooling, self-powering blood monitors, and how AI has dev