Kpcw Cool Science Radio

Blaise Agüera y Arcas, a Vice President and Fellow at Google, explores the concept of intelligence in his new book, “What Is Intelligence? Lessons from AI About Evolution, Computing, and Minds.” Then, Richard Herbert, a machine learning and artificial intelligence engineer for the past 10 years, shares his insights with respect to the future of AI and how it will become a colleague and not a competitor.

Award-winning winemaker Lisa Bishop Forbes reveals the science behind what makes a wine truly exceptional. She discusses grape quality, fermentation techniques, her fresh approach to Chardonnay, and the challenge she faces in shipping and making great alcohol-free wines. (1:04)Then, local tech entrepreneur Steven Boal, CEO of Salt Lake City based company Matia Mobility, breaks down how they're dedicated to creating innovative robotic mobility devices for those with walking disabilities. (28:43)

Ferris Jabr shares his bestselling book “Becoming Earth,” which explores the interconnectedness between the Earth and everything that lives on the planet. Then, Elliot Lichtman talks about his new book, “The Computer Always Wins.” In it, he teaches powerful computer science concepts by using common games like tic-tac-toe.

Lee Billings, the senior science editor for Scientific American, talks about the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in northern Chile that has recently released its first images of the southern sky. Then, demographic planner Dean Spears talks about the science of depopulation, the possible start of a global population decline in the next 50 years, and it potential for detrimental effects.

As the polar ice melts, biologist and paleontologist Neil Shubin explores the contents within and uncovers mysteries in his book, "Ends of the Earth: Journeys to the Polar Regions in Search of Life, the Cosmos, and Our Future." Then, science journalist Olivia Campbell shares how four women physicists escaped Nazi Germany and made scientific history in her new book, "Sisters in Science."

Animal behaviorist and physiologist Carly Anne York shows how unappreciated, overlooked, and simply curiosity-driven science has led to breakthroughs big and small. Then, Sai Krupa Das, a senior scientist in nutrition and aging at Tufts University, and Reyna Gobel, a nutritionist and science journalist, discuss precision medicine and nutrition and an 8,000-person study by the Nutrition for Precision Health that examines how individuals respond to different foods.

Author Richard Simon, who went all-in to discover what would happen without his smartphone, for a whole year, shares his story of digital detox in his new book, "Unplug: How to Break Up with Your Phone and Reclaim Your Life." Then, researchers have found that most spring runoff heading to our reservoirs is actually several years old, indicating that most mountain snowfall has a years-long invisible journey as groundwater before it leaves the mountains. Paul Brooks, a professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, tells us more about this study and our water’s trajectory.

Wisdom 2.0 founder Soren Gordhamer talks about bridging modern technology with ancient wisdom. He writes on the topic in his new book, "The Essential: Discovering What Really Matters in an Age of Distraction." Then, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Safa Kassab highlights a new augmented reality device that's making total knee replacements more precise and accurate.

Willem Marx, author of a new article in Scientific American titled “Suddenly Miners Are Tearing Up the Seafloor for Critical Metals,” talks about the ramifications of seafloor mining. Then, McKenzie Skiles, director of the Snow HydRO Lab at the University of Utah, talks about the effects of dust on mountain snowpack melting rates and how the increased runoff is reshaping the future of water in the Southwest.

Writer and broadcaster Ed Conway discusses his book "Material World: The Six Raw Materials That Shape Modern Civilization," which explores the critical role of six raw materials — salt, iron, copper, oil, lithium and silicon— in shaping modern civilization. Then, science journalist Humberto Basilio talks about the relative stability or instability of the system of ocean currents called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, AMOC, which is a system of ocean currents that circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean.

Jamie Farrell, chief seismologist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, shares a recent study of the Yellowstone caldera which provides crucial information about the potential threats of this massive volcanic system. Spoiler: It’s good news for all of us! Then, Keegan Melstrom, assistant professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, talks about recent studies into understanding how crocodiles and alligators have survived for over 250 million years, and how it could help other species survive the current mass extinction event.

Carrie Bearden, a professor of psychiatry, biobehavioral sciences, and psychology at UCLA, explores the mounting evidence that regular cannabis use predicts an increased risk of schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms among teens. Then, surgeon Gabriel Weston takes a scientific look at the wonder, mystery and misconceptions of our anatomy, from guts to genitals, from brain to reproductive organs.

Author and entrepreneur Steve Lucas highlights actual, doable uses of AI and the potential benefits for small business in his new book "Digital Impact: The Human Element of AI-Driven Transformation." Then, one-time local, Peter Rizzo, talks about his time as the station doctor for the 77th Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition and what it’s like to live and work in Antarctica.

Michele Rehbein discusses the City Nature Challenge, which will take place April 25-28, 2025. This four-day annual event encourages people to find and photograph plants and wildlife in their own cities and towns using iNaturalist. Then, Izzy Vogel and Naomi O’Connor, two members of Team Minerva, a robotics team from Park City High School, tell us about their competition at the Premier event in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Neuroscientist and doctor Kieran Fox explores Albert Einstein's little-discussed spirituality and it how it both informed and complemented his science in Fox's new book "I Am Part of Infinity." It draws on little-known conversations, recently published letters and new archival research on what Einstein really believed and why his perspective still matters today. (0:45)Then, author Timothy Morton draws on philosophers Kant and Heidegger to reframe what it means to be ecological, and what sorts of actions count as we head into an age of mass extinction in his book, "Being Ecological." (26:14)

Co-founders of HIRO diapers, Miki Agrawal and Tero Isokauppila, talk about the world’s first digestible diapers — that is, digested by fungi and designed to break down in landfills. Then, theoretical physicist and science writer Kathryn Zurek from the California Institute of Technology talks about the mysteries of dark matter.

Thure Cerling, a University of Utah professor of both geology and biology, and a pioneer in the use of isotope analysis, shares how geologists have developed a method for tracking the movements of large herbivores across landscapes, even for animals now extinct, such as mastodons and mammoths. Then, Ben Stanger discusses the history, science and wonder of the cell in his book "From One Cell: A Journey into Life’s Origins and the Future of Medicine."

Science writer Diana Kwon writes in Scientific American on how new effective treatments are shaping new research and understanding of schizophrenia. Then, Erin Shupe, the program coordinator at the Natural History Museum of Utah, talks about the Teen Explainers program that brings in high school students to hone their communication and education skills.

Jill Heinerth is one of the world’s premier underwater explorers and the first person to dive inside iceberg caves. On April 22, Earth Day, Jill speaks at Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah as part of the Natural History Museum of Utah's lecture series. Then, the Europa Clipper, NASA’s first mission to study a moon of Jupiter, launched last October for its 1.8 billion mile journey to Jupiter, and will arrive in April of 2030. Ingrid Daubar, Jet Propulsion Lab Project Staff Scientist, shares more about the mission and what scientists hope to discover.

Harvard University science historian Rebecca Lemov talks about brainwashing, mind control and hyper-persuasion. Then, is it really possible to change your entire personality in a year? Award-winning journalist Olga Khazan reveals the science behind lasting change.