Aliens: A world beyond
The notion of aliens from other planets often conjures images of flying saucers and little green men. But could they really exist?
How intelligent is artificial intelligence, anyway?
Are we rapidly approaching the day when artificial intelligence will be smarter than the people who invented it? What are the benefits of AI, and what are the dangers? We talk to computer scientist Melanie Mitchell about her new book.
How to deal with mental and physical challenges–on the farm and beyond
Dr. Robert Fetsch has for decades been helping farmers and ranchers deal with disabilities — from injuries brought on by hard work, to mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and anger.
For the love of soil
A conversation with agro-ecologist, educator, and author Nicole Masters, on how to apply regenerative agriculture practices for health and profit–and how these can have a transformative effect on both our well being as growers, eaters, and members of the planetary ecosystem.
Lost City of the Monkey God
How do you find an ancient Mesoamerican city under a dense and dangerous rainforest? Steve Elkins figured it out, and Doug Preston wrote a book about it…and now it’s the cutting edge of archaeology.
Superminds
All of us are part of a collective intelligence–from our communities, to our workplaces, to our governments. We talk to MIT professor Tom Malone about how artificial intelligence and information technology can make our group mind smarter–and more democratic.
Big data vs. the little virus
Lauren Ancel Meyers combines a deep knowledge of biology and statistics and biology to create models that help us deal with seasonal epidemics like influenza and major worldwide pandemics.
So, really…is there intelligent life beyond earth?
And what do we mean by “intelligence,” anyway? If there were, how would they get here, and why would they want to? We talk to astrophysicist Paul Davies about his lifelong exploration of these questions.
Shadows of Doubt: Stereotyping and prejudice in the US
Virtually everybody makes quick judgments about others based on insufficient information. But what are the consequences of those judgments in the criminal justice system–police, courts, and prisons? We talk to Barnard College – Columbia University and Santa Fe Institute professor Rajiv Sethi.
Healing from unspeakable trauma: a conversation with Dr. Bruce Perry
Until recently, mental health practitioners didn’t diagnose children with PTSD–they were thought to be “resilient,” and as a result generations didn’t receive the treatment they needed. Dr. Bruce Perry is one of the physicians responsible for challenging—and changing—that paradigm.