Synopsis
A podcast of stories, ideas, and speculations from the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination. Each month, we'll bring you into a conversation between visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, humanities, engineering, and medicine on the nature of the imagination and how, through speculative culture, we collaborate to create the future.
Episodes
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Perspectives on the Theory of Everything with Eric Weinstein, Sabine Hossenfelder, & Lee Smolin
08/08/2024 Duration: 01h26minAre we any closer to understanding the fundamental nature of reality? Experimental evidence for any current Theory of Everything is, at best, inconclusive. This is perhaps the greatest fundamental challenge facing physics. That lack of progress has opened up a sea of controversy. In this thought-provoking episode, I joined forces with Matt O’Dowd to debate some of the brightest minds in theoretical physics on the complexities surrounding the quest for a Theory of Everything. We were joined by Eric Weinstein, Sabine Hossenfelder, and Lee Smolin, We discussed the historical context and current challenges of unifying quantum mechanics with gravity, and the need for fresh perspectives and a broader range of approaches. Tune in! — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction to the quest for a theory of everything 03:35 Lee Smolin explains different meanings of "theory of everything" 07:22 Sabina Hossenfelder discusses approaches to quantum gravity 18:38 Eric Weinstein critiques the current state of theoretical physic
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The MASSIVE STEM Graduate Exodus - What’s Going Wrong? | John Skrentny
04/08/2024 Duration: 01h04minDid you know that most STEM graduates don't end up working in STEM fields? This surprising fact isn’t due to a lack of demand—tech companies dominate our landscape, from AI to smartphones, yet up to 70% of STEM graduates choose different paths. Why is that? Are we failing our STEM graduates? I sat down with John Skrentny, a renowned sociologist and professor at UCSD. John recently explored this issue in his thought-provoking book Wasted Education. We unpack why many STEM graduates feel undervalued and unfulfilled in their jobs, leading them to leave the field entirely. John shares his thoughts on the cultural and systemic problems within the tech industry that contribute to this attrition. From poor employer treatment to the toxic work culture, we discuss what needs to change to retain our brightest minds in STEM. How can we better support them? Tune in to this thought-provoking episode to find out. — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:07 Realities of STEM education and employment 12:18 The leaky pipeline in S
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Sean Carroll: Quantum Mechanics and the Many Worlds Interpretation
01/08/2024 Duration: 01h07minIn this episode, I interview renowned theoretical physicist Sean Carroll to discuss his book Something Deeply Hidden. Sean breaks down complex ideas in quantum mechanics and cosmology in his popular science books. His research involves theoretical physics and astrophysics, especially cosmology, field theory, and gravitation. Sean takes us on a journey through the Many Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, a theory that suggests every possible outcome of a quantum event actually occurs in its own separate universe. He explains how this theory changes our understanding of reality by connecting to other areas like gravity and cosmology. We discuss experiments that could test this mind-bending theory and why abandoning classical assumptions is key for scientific advancement. Listen to this episode now and expand your understanding of the universe. Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction and background 01:30 New ideas and theories in Carroll's latest book 02:51 Structure of the book and its focus 0
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Accidental Discoveries That Shaped Astronomy | Chris Lintott
28/07/2024 Duration: 01h18minScience might seem opposed to chance discoveries due to its focus on meticulous methods. But surprisingly, serendipity, the art of fortunate accidents and happy discoveries, plays a big role, especially in astronomy. Some of the greatest cosmic discoveries were accidental. Unexpected findings have greatly shaped our understanding of the universe. In this episode, I had the pleasure of getting into the fascinating world of serendipitous astronomy with Chris Lintott, astrophysicist, professor, and host of BBC's "The Sky at Night." We discuss the delicate balance between speculation and scientific rigor, famous cases like the cosmic microwave background, and recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope. Chris opens up about the role of citizen science in modern astronomy and how it's changing the way we approach cosmic mysteries. This episode might just change how you think about scientific discovery. Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:09 Many cosmic discoveries came about by accident 02:16 I
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Terrence Howard and Candace Owens: The Wildly Unhinged World of Celebrity Science
25/07/2024 Duration: 56minIs Terrence Howard onto something, or is he completely off the rails with his wild theories? In this episode, I was privileged to appear on Piers Morgan Uncensored, alongside Eric Weinstein and Tom Bilyeu to dissect the viral phenomenon of Terrence Howard's unconventional theories on Joe Rogan's podcast and their impact on public perception of science. The conversation touches on the impact of social media in amplifying non-expert voices and the need for scientists to better communicate with the public. We also highlight the tension between established scientific methods and popular skepticism, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in now and join the conversation! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 00:24 Trust in science challenged post-COVID pandemic 00:54 Terrence Howard's unconventional scientific theories go viral 04:07 Eric Weinstein analyzes Howard's claims, finding some merit 08:07 Debate on peer review's role in scientific validation 11:35 Eric Weinstein's interaction with Terrence Howa
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Brian Keating on the Israel-Gaza Conflict, Campus Politics & Podcasting w/ James Altucher
23/07/2024 Duration: 44minPlease join my mailing list here
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Your Phone Is A Government Spy! | Andrew Bustamante [Ep. 442]
21/07/2024 Duration: 01h52minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Don Lincoln: Did Einstein Waste The Last 30 Years of His Life? [Ep. 439]
14/07/2024 Duration: 01h48minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Keating Goes to Congress: Combating Antisemitism in Universities
11/07/2024 Duration: 29minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Can Science and Religion Coexist? w/ Danny Miranda (2021)
09/07/2024 Duration: 01h31minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Addressing the Biggest Controversies in Modern Cosmology with George Efstathiou [Ep. 436]
07/07/2024 Duration: 59minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Terrence Howard & Eric Weinstein Drop Bombshells on Joe Rogan Experience: Part 1
04/07/2024 Duration: 41minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Exploring the Mysteries of the Expanding Universe with Adam Riess
04/07/2024 Duration: 59minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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What Elon Musk Isn't Telling You About Colonizing Mars w/ Zach Weinersmith [Ep. 434]
30/06/2024 Duration: 01h04minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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David Albert: Einstein Was Right About Quantum Mechanics! [Ep. 433]
28/06/2024 Duration: 01h29minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Are Aliens Artificial Intelligence? w/ Chris Sweat
25/06/2024 Duration: 43minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Rajendra Gupta On Tired Light and the REAL Age of the Universe [Ep. 431]
23/06/2024 Duration: 47minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Astrophysicist Exposes UFO Whistleblower David Grusch
20/06/2024 Duration: 01h32minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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This New Method of Teaching Physics Changes EVERYTHING! w/ Eric Mazur [Ep. 428]
16/06/2024 Duration: 49minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA
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Adam Frank: Are We About to Discover Alien Life? [Ep. 425]
09/06/2024 Duration: 01h11minJoin my mailing list https://briankeating.com/list to win a real 4 billion year old meteorite! All .edu emails in the USA