Into The Impossible

  • Author: Vários
  • Narrator: Vários
  • Publisher: Podcast
  • Duration: 597:46:22
  • More information

Informações:

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

  • Did the Big Bang Happen More Than Once? Brian Keating, Paul Davies & Maulik Parikh (#387)

    17/01/2024 Duration: 01h01min

    Please join my mailing list here

  • Are We On Borrowed Time? Canadian Prepper & Brian Keating (#386)

    12/01/2024 Duration: 26min

    Remastered from our interview in June 2023.  Have you ever wondered why people become preppers? Well, you're in luck because today you're going to find out from one of the most famous preppers in the world, Nate Polson, also known as the Canadian Prepper!  Canadian Prepper is an educational YouTuber who talks about self-defense, survival, and all things preparedness. He analyzes current events, reviews innovative equipment, and theorizes about the demise of civilization as we know it. In this interview, we talk about preparedness and living in a post-apocalyptic world.  Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Balancing preparedness, perspicacity, and cheerfulness 00:04:14 Why Canadian Prepper stays prepared  00:15:03 Is it worth living in a post-apocalyptic world?  00:20:19 Appreciation of what we have Additional resources:  ➡️ Check out Canadian Prepper:

  • Engineering Synthetic Life With Craig Venter (#385)

    11/01/2024 Duration: 01h17min

    Get 30% off unlimited access to Ground News, giving you full coverage of breaking news and allowing you to navigate media bias seamlessly

  • Philip Goff: Is There Cosmic Purpose Without God? (#384)

    05/01/2024 Duration: 54min

    What is the purpose of the Universe? Why do we exist? And does the truth lie beyond traditional religion and secular atheism?  Here today, to discuss all these fascinating questions with me is leading philosopher of mind and returning guest Philip Goff! Philip is a British author, renowned philosopher, and professor at Durham University.  In his recently published book, "Why? The Purpose of the Universe", he explores meaning and purpose beyond Western thought, which is precisely what we’re doing today in this insightful interview. Tune in!  Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:27 Judging a book by its cover 00:03:46 What is panpsychism? 00:09:35 Consciousness and its relationship with physical reality  00:14:39 What’s wrong with God?  00:20:32 Agnosticism, free will, and addressing the problem of evil  00:28:09 Is antinatalism a slippery slope?  00:35:37 Fine-tuning and the inverse gambler's fallacy paradox 00:47:14 Do we have a use for purpose?  00:50:18 Outro Additional resources:  ➡️ Check o

  • Max Tegmark & Eric Weinstein: AI, Aliens, Theories of Everything, & New Year’s Resolutions! (2020) (#383)

    04/01/2024 Duration: 02h29min

    Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card! Help me help you get great guests on the Into the Impossible podcast and spread the message throughout the universe. Fill out this listener https://jf1bh9v88hb.typeform.com/to/FGPUYcdT for your chance to win! Enjoy this classic episode from the vault: Max Tegmark & Eric Weinstein, New Years Eve 2020! Don't forget to join my mailing list for your chance to win a real meteorite: briankeating.com Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw/join

  • Q&A with John Mather on the James Webb Space Telescope (#382)

    30/12/2023 Duration: 27min

    The James Webb Space Telescope is a monumental step forward in our pursuit of understanding the Universe and its origins. Here today, to answer the most frequently asked questions about the telescope, is the senior project scientist himself, John Cromwell Mather!  John is an astrophysicist and cosmologist of the highest rank. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite COBE along with his colleague George Smoot. Now, he’s exploring the early Universe via the JWST.  Tune in! Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro  00:01:13 James Webb Space Telescope  00:04:16 Why are people so fascinated with space exploration?  00:07:07 Does Webb have the potential to see small rocky planets close to us? 00:09:45 Can Webb rule out or comment on the uniformity of the universe?  00:12:14 Will the TRAPPIST-1 system be viewed by Webb? 00:14:39 Will future projects self-assemble and self-replicate? 00:15:56 Can we look at Europa?  00:20:53 Rapid fire questions  00:24:30 Ad

  • Searching for ALIENS with Sarah Rugheimer (#381)

    26/12/2023 Duration: 49min

    Remastered from our interview in October 2021.  In this otherworldly edition of Into the Impossible, I talk to renowned astrophysicist and astrobiologist Dr. Sarah Rugheimer about microscopic aliens, the Fermi paradox, the origin of life, the Drake equation, and much more! Dr. Rugheimer is a Glasstone Research Fellow and a Hugh Price Fellow at Jesus College Oxford. Her research interests are modeling the atmosphere and climate of extrasolar planets with a particular focus on atmospheric biosignatures in Earth-like planets as well as modeling early Earth conditions. Her Audible Exclusive book Searching for Extraterrestrial Life reveals through 10 amazing lectures what we know about detecting life on other planets.  Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) 00:00:46 Sarah’s thoughts on the private sector space race 00:04:18 Should we look for intelligent ET or microbial life in the Universe?  00:05:56 How did you get interested in astrobiology?  00:11:28 What would be the impact of finding microbial ET?

  • Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland: Experimental Physics Is Fun! (#380)

    24/12/2023 Duration: 34min

    I had the pleasure of interviewing the one and only Donna Theo Strickland for our Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner series. Donna Theo Strickland is a renowned Canadian physicist widely recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to the field of pulsed lasers. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 2018 with her colleague Gérard Mourou for the practical implementation of chirped pulse amplification.  In this fun discussion between two experimental physicists, we talked about the Nobel Prize, the experimental minimum, why physics you can see is the coolest physics, lasers, pedagogy, and much more! Tune in.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) How does Donna approach pedagogy? (01:00) What is the experimental minimum? (04:30) How did Donna reach her scientific breakthroughs? (06:26) What discovery won her the Nobel prize? (07:56) Laser technology (11:28) Gender inequality in science (15:46) Do scientists have a moral obligation to communicate science? (19:21) Final four existential questions (22

  • How Will AI Change Science? | Brian Keating & Cassandra Vieten (#379)

    19/12/2023 Duration: 45min

    Remastered from my discussion with Cassandra Vieten at the AI & Your Life - The Essential Summit. Will AI bring us closer to the truth or further away from it? Is it changing the way we do science? And will it eventually replace teachers and professors? I had the pleasure of discussing this with Dr. Cassandra Vieten at the AI & Your Life - The Essential Summit.  The AI & Your Life - The Essential Summit aimed to provide a comprehensive guide to artificial intelligence that avoids the hype and gives you the practical knowledge you can apply to your everyday life.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) AI’s role in redefining the epistemological foundations of science (00:44) Introducing unconventional research methods (09:49) Will AI replace human educators? (16:31) Can AI be conscious? (20:20) Will AI bring us closer or further away from the truth? (30:00) AI and spiritual insights (39:35) Outro (42:40) — Additional resources: 

  • Gad Saad: How to Stay Resilient and Happy After the October 7 Massacre (#378)

    15/12/2023 Duration: 01h12min

    The last two months have been nothing short of terrifying for the Jewish community. How can we stay happy and resilient in times like these? Is it even possible or reasonable? Here to answer this question is none other than the happiness expert himself, Dr. Gad Saad! Dr. Saad is a marketing genius renowned for applying evolutionary psychology to consumer behavior. He is a professor at Concordia University, a behavioral scientist, and a bestselling author.  In our hopeful interview, we discuss his latest book, The Saad Truth about Happiness, and how to apply his theory of happiness in times of war. This interview was genuinely delightful in these uncertain times, so be sure to check it out! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Why do we need another book on happiness? (01:10) Proof that academia is the best job in the world (06:15) Judging a book by its cover: The Saad Truth About Happiness (15:34) Would you rather have a Nobel prize or money? (19:33) The relativity of happiness (24:36) How to stay resilien

  • Avi Loeb Strikes Back! (#377)

    13/12/2023 Duration: 01h09min

    Today, Avi Loeb and I talk about the hottest topics in astronomy! We discuss interstellar travel, the Galileo Project expedition to the Pacific Ocean to retrieve spherules of the first recognized interstellar meteor, IM1, and alien life.  Avi is a professor of science at Harvard University, theoretical physicist, astrophysicist, and cosmologist. He is also a bestselling author and a dear friend of mine. Tune in! — Additional resources: 

  • Peter Diamandis: Are We Moving Too Fast With AI?! (#376)

    11/12/2023 Duration: 51min

    Remastered from our interview at the AI & Your Life - The Essential Summit. In November, I had the privilege of interviewing Peter Diamandis at the AI & Your Life - The Essential Summit, which aimed to provide a comprehensive guide to artificial intelligence that avoids the hype and gives you practical knowledge you can apply to your everyday life.  Peter is a serial entrepreneur, futurist, technologist, New York Times Bestselling Author, and the founder of over 25 companies. He was recently named one of the world’s 50 greatest leaders by Fortune magazine!  In this interview, we talked about the current state of AI, where it's heading, its potential dangers, and which areas it will disrupt the most. Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Where are we right now with AI? (02:00) Should we fear AI? (10:09)  Are our kids prepared for the technological future? (21:33) Opportunities, perils, and pitfalls for AI and education (26:26) What can AI assistants do for us? (34:16) Will there be a caste system

  • What Happened AFTER the Big Bang? Bruce Partridge (#375)

    08/12/2023 Duration: 55min

    What happened after the Big Bang? To answer this question, I invited a true pioneer in the field of cosmic microwave background, Bruce Partridge! Bruce Partridge is an emeritus professor of astronomy in the science department at Haverford College. He has served as an Education Officer of the American Astronomical Society, president of the Commission on Cosmology, International Astronomical Union, and President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.  His research interests lie in the intersection of cosmology and radio astronomy, and he spent most of his career researching the cosmic microwave background. Join us as we embark on a captivating journey into the early Universe! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover (01:27) Coupling together theory and experiment (04:18) The discovery of the coming microwave background (07:23) Patience and perseverance in scientific research (15:01) Nerve gas and rabbits in Arizona (18:27) Why we need to listen to theorists (21:05)  Inflation a

  • Exploring Curiosity With Nobel Prize Winner Barry Barish (#374)

    05/12/2023 Duration: 48min

    Remastered from our interview in May 2023 A few months ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing the Nobel Laureate, Barry Barish, for UCTV. Barry is an experimental physicist and a professor at UC Riverside. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Rainer Weiss and Kip Thorne for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves.  In our interview, Barry reflects on his life in science, being curious, experiencing imposter syndrome, and working in the field of physics. Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) How to get over impostor syndrome (00:40) Exploring curiosity (06:34) The art of science (11:08) The probability of a quantum theory of gravity (21:36) Would Barry visit a black hole? (26:12) Barry’s origin story (30:53) Could we make an AI physicist? (42:19) Outro (46:12) — Additional resources: 

  • David Brin: Privacy, AI and the Values of a Transparent Society (#373)

    02/12/2023 Duration: 01h01min

    It's no secret that almost every step we take is being tracked or recorded in some way. However, plenty of things need to be clarified about what this means for our personal freedoms and safety. Today, David Brin, a world-renowned expert on privacy and transparency, will shed light on these complex issues weighing on our society! David is an award-winning science fiction author, technical consultant, astrophysicist, and public speaker. He helped establish the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at UCSD and serves on the advisory board of NASA's Innovative and Advanced Concepts group. In our interview, we explore fascinating topics like AI, human augmentation, the origin of the Universe, privacy, and the values of a transparent society. Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) The notion of the fourth turning (04:18) Artificial intelligence vs. augmented intelligence (12:55) The potential for sentient AI (22:17) Plasma cosmology and the origin of the Universe (27:50) The most compelling theor

  • Canadian Prepper & Brian Keating: Will Humans Soon Go EXTINCT? (#372)

    29/11/2023 Duration: 39min

    Remastered from our interview in May 2023 Will humans soon go extinct? Are we already on borrowed time?  I had the honor of discussing this with none other than the Canadian Prepper himself! Canadian Prepper is an educational YouTuber who talks about self-defense, survival, and all things preparedness. He analyzes current events, reviews innovative equipment, and theorizes about the demise of civilization as we know it. In our interview, we dive deep into extinction-level events. Tune in! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Are we on borrowed time? (02:17) Why are we so obsessed with end times? (14:22) Types of civilizations (20:37)  Fermi paradox and the great filter (26:52) — Additional resources: 

  • Lawrence Krauss: The Mysterious Origins of Dark Energy (#371)

    26/11/2023 Duration: 52min

    ✨ To try everything Brilliant has to offer—free—for a full 30 days, visit https://brilliant.org/DrBrianKeating The first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant's annual premium subscription. ✨ I had the pleasure of participating in an exciting onstage dialogue with the renowned theoretical physicist Lawrence M. Krauss. We had a lively discussion about the mysteries of the Universe, the latest scientific discoveries, and their implications for our understanding of existence. From the origins of dark energy to nuclear war, pandemics, and climate change - we delved into it all! Join us for A Night at the Museum, presented by the Origins Project.  Lawrence M. Krauss is a highly acclaimed theoretical physicist, commentator, bestselling author, President of The Origins Project Foundation, and host of the Origins Podcast. Among his many significant scientific contributions was the 1995 proposal that most of the Universe's energy resides in empty space.  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Dark energy and its mysteriou

  • David Chalmers: The Matrix is REAL! (#370)

    23/11/2023 Duration: 01h21min

    Is the Matrix really real? And if so, which pill would David Chalmers take?  Join us for a mind-bending journey through virtual worlds, human consciousness, technology, philosophy, and religion, and find out!  David Chalmers is an Australian philosopher and cognitive scientist specializing in the areas of philosophy of mind and philosophy of language. He is a Professor of Philosophy and Neural Science at New York University and co-director of NYU's Center for Mind, Brain, and Consciousness (along with Ned Block).  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging the book by its cover (01:49) Defining the hard problem of consciousness (04:50) Why is there tension between physics and philosophy (07:20) The Chalmers equation for the simulation hypothesis? (11:57) What have we learned about consciousness from computer analogs? (21:24) AI physicists (32:08) What is it from bit? Or is that bit from it? (40:10) What does it take for the maker of the simulation to be god or godlike? (47:50)  Why create the world (o

  • Brian Greene: Does the Multiverse Actually Exist? (#369)

    20/11/2023 Duration: 01h43min

    Is it still possible to make a case for string theory? And should we treat the multiverse as a serious idea and explore it mathematically? Here to discuss these fundamental questions with me today is the one and only Brian Greene. Brian Greene, of course, needs no introduction. He is an American theoretical physicist and mathematician. He’s a professor at Columbia University and the director of Columbia’s Center for Theoretical Physics.  Greene has gained a lot of popularity through his books that bring complex physical issues closer to general audiences: The Elegant Universe (1999), Icarus at the Edge of Time (2008), The Fabric of the Cosmos (2004), and The Hidden Reality (2011), a book he promoted in the TV show The Big Bang Theory!  In this episode, Brian and I discuss the experimental relevance of string theory, the multiverse hypothesis, the likelihood of alien life, and much more.  Tune in! Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) What’s the experimental minimum? (01:05) String theory’s experimental releva

  • Cumrun Vafa: Is String Theory Actually Science? (#368)

    17/11/2023 Duration: 01h08min

    Many argue that string theory cannot be proven and should therefore be abandoned. For them, string theory is not science at all. But are they right? Here to discuss these claims with me is none other than Cumrun Vafa! Cumrun is the Hollis Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in the Department of Physics at Harvard University, where he has been researching and teaching theoretical physics since 1985. His primary area of research is string theory.  In our interview, we discussed why we should trust String Theory, Fine Tuning, and the message he'd put into a billion-year time capsule. We also talked about his recently released book Puzzles to Unravel the Universe.  Tune in!  Key Takeaways:  Intro (00:00) Judging a book by its cover (01:04) What is a puzzle versus a mystery? (03:37) Is string theory actually science? (10:37) Dimensional analysis (17:02) Singularities (19:41) ADS and 5 dimensions (27:04) Abandoning string theory (34:12) Supersymmetry (35:12) On religion (39:50) A scorecar

page 9 from 27