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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An Astronomer and a Philosopher Search for Truth in the Infinite | Jordan B. Peterson
14/01/2025 Duration: 01h43minJordan Peterson sits down with experimental cosmologist Dr. Brian Keating. They discuss the importance of awe for the human spirit, the fundamental ethos behind all true science, the idea of the useless genius, and the necessity of sacrifice for improvement of the self and the broader community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Alien Civilizations, Exomoons, and Cool, Habitable Worlds | David Kipping [Ep. 474]
05/01/2025 Duration: 01h03minPlease join my mailing list here
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Meta’s Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun: The Path Toward Human-Level Intelligence in AI [Ep. 473]
29/12/2024 Duration: 01h18minPlease join my mailing list here
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Neil deGrasse Tyson Delivers a Harsh Reality Check on Elon Musk’s Mars Plan [Ep. 472]
22/12/2024 Duration: 02h10minPlease join my mailing list here
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How Poetry Can Enhance Our Knowledge of Cosmology with Joseph Conlon [Ep. 471]
15/12/2024 Duration: 47minPlease join my mailing list here
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How Kepler Found One Planet Every Day: Jason Steffen [Ep. 470]
10/12/2024 Duration: 01h29minGet ready to embark on a cosmic journey with Jason Steffen, author of Hidden in the Heavens and one of the brilliant minds behind the groundbreaking Kepler Mission. This live episode of The INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast promises to be an unmissable masterclass in exoplanet science, filled with awe-inspiring discoveries, behind-the-scenes stories, and lessons that redefine our place in the cosmos. What You’ll Discover:
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Max Tegmark: Will AI Surpass Human Intelligence? [Ep. 469]
09/12/2024 Duration: 56minPlease join my mailing list here
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What is Time? Stephen Wolfram’s Groundbreaking New Theory [Ep. 468]
02/12/2024 Duration: 01h37minPlease join my mailing list here
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Kelsey Johnson: My Quest to Decode the Cosmos [Ep. 467]
24/11/2024 Duration: 01h26minPlease join my mailing list here
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Is the Universe a Simulation? Andrew Pontzen [Ep. 466]
17/11/2024 Duration: 01h19minPlease join my mailing list here
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Our Universe Is A Math Problem! Max Tegmark’s Brilliant Theory of Reality [Ep. 465]
11/11/2024 Duration: 47minPlease join my mailing list here
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The mRNA Breakthrough That Changed Medicine Forever with Nobel Laureate Katalin Karikó [Ep. 464]
03/11/2024 Duration: 01h09minPlease join my mailing list here
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Is Earth Truly One of a Kind? Exploring Exoplanets with Josh Winn [Ep. 463]
27/10/2024 Duration: 01h04minPlease join my mailing list here
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What’s Holding Back Your View of the Stars? Common Eye Deficiencies Explained
24/10/2024 Duration: 21minPlease join my mailing list here
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Searching for a Theory of Everything with Max Tegmark, James Beacham & Stephon Alexander (2020)
23/10/2024 Duration: 01h32minWhat are the leading theories of everything, and are we any closer to discovering the one true theory of everything? In this 90-minute summit, some of the world’s top physicists—Max Tegmark, James Beacham, Stephon Alexander—go beyond the hype to explore the very heart of physics. Einstein began the monumental task of unifying quantum mechanics with general relativity, but will we ever succeed in unifying all the forces of the universe? Can it be done? If so, when? Join us for this thought-provoking discussion and find out! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:45 What is a theory of everything? 00:05:25 State of the field and personal perspectives 00:20:42 Experimental challenges 00:34:13 Mathematical foundations, the multiverse, and theoretical beauty 01:05:12 Where do we go from here? 01:14:23 Audience questions 01:25:35 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/DrBrianKeating
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How Being Wrong in Science Can Lead to Great Breakthroughs w/ Rocky Kolb [Ep. 462]
20/10/2024 Duration: 54minPlease join my mailing list here
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The Shocking Similarities Between Our Eyes and Telescopes
17/10/2024 Duration: 34minHave you ever wondered how your eyes compare to a telescope? The answer is more surprising than you might think! Today, we will look at the fascinating parallels between the human eye and one of the most powerful astronomical instruments - the telescope. From lenses and apertures to light detection and color vision, we will explore how these two systems, one biological and the other mechanical, have strikingly similar properties. Tune in to learn more about how nature's best telescope matches up with cutting-edge technology. This episode is part 1 of a series where we’ll uncover even more intriguing insights about the connections between our eyes and telescopes, so stay tuned! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:29 How telescopes inspired me as a kid 06:24 Comparing the anatomy of the human eye to a telescope 12:51 Light sensitivity and resolution in the human eye 17:23 Color vision and polarization 21:03 Historical contributions and confirmation bias 25:41 How to improve our astronomical observati
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Uncovering the Lost Connection Between Science and Faith with Spencer Klavan
15/10/2024 Duration: 01h59minCan science and religion be reconciled to provide a deeper understanding of the universe? How do modern scientific discoveries, like quantum mechanics and cosmology, relate to ancient religious texts? And what role do consciousness and language play in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and spiritual belief? Here today, to challenge conventional narratives about the relationship between science and religion is host of the Young Heretics podcast, Spencer Klavan! Spencer is an acclaimed author and scholar specializing in classics and literature. He is known for his work on cultural and political commentary, often focusing on the intersection of Western civilization, literature, and contemporary issues. Tune in to discover ancient wisdom, modern science, and the long-lost link between the two! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Audio essay 00:24:31 Interview introduction 00:26:10 Judging a book by its cover 00:37:25 Reconciling the material with the immaterial 00:43:31 The cosmological argument 00
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Think Like Galileo: My Brown University Commencement Address (2022)
12/10/2024 Duration: 01h09minIn 2022, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address at Brown University. I used this incredible opportunity to talk about a personal hero of mine: Galileo Galilei. Galileo was a scientist like no other. He boldly challenged the status quo through his discoveries and relentlessly pursued the truth, even when persecuted for doing so. His journey offers timeless lessons for scientists today, especially for graduate students who will shape the future of science. My goal with this lecture was to inspire the next generation of thinkers, and I hope it does the same for you. Tune in to learn more about how Galileo set the gold standard for scientists. Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:06 My early days at Brown University 00:08:08 Galileo’s legacy 00:24:18 Losing the Nobel Prize 00:40:48 Interstellar dust and mistakes 00:46:48 My motto 00:48:29 Audience questions 01:03:39 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/DrBrianKeating
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Exploring the Secrets of the Infant Universe with Hugh Ross (Reasons to Believe)
11/10/2024 Duration: 01h13minWhat is the cosmic microwave background (CMB), and why is it essential in cosmology? What role do instruments like BICEP and the Simons Observatory play in studying the early universe? And is the multiverse real? I had the absolute pleasure of discussing these questions with Dr. Hugh Ross, astrophysicist and founder of Reasons to Believe. In our conversation, Hugh and I discuss my research on polarization signals in the cosmic microwave background (CMB), focusing on my work with the BICEP, POLARBEAR2, and Simons Array telescopes. These signals are key to understanding the inflationary event that shaped the early universe. We explore how ongoing data collection helps us learn more about the universe’s origins. I also share a brief overview of my spiritual journey, from a Catholic upbringing to atheism and now being a practicing Jew with agnostic beliefs. Tune in to learn about the infant universe! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:40 Understanding the cosmic microwave background (CMB) 00:11:30 Cutti