The Future of Everything

Psychologist Judy Fan is an expert in how physical objects facilitate learning. In the classroom, these include pencils, pens, paper, and whiteboards. But in any learning situation, the physical world provides tools for learning and communicating, often trumping the speed and reach of today’s digital technologies. These objects are cognitive tools – physical representations of human thought, she says. They help us think, solve problems, and communicate with others better and more effectively, as she tells host Russ Altman in this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Profile: Judy Fan

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Host Russ Altman introduces guest Judy Fan, a professor of psychology at Stanford University.

(00:02:02) The Essence of Cognitive Tools

What cognitive tools are and their importance from ancient times to the present.

(00:03:37) Historical Context of Cognitive Tools

The historical evolution of cognitive tools and their role in education.

(00:06:57) Cross-Cultural Insights on Cognitive Tools

The universality of cognitive tools and cross-cultural variations.

(00:12:39) Developmental Trajectories in Visual Communication

How children develop the ability to visually communicate concepts and the differences between cultures.

(00:17:01) The Influence of Cultural Artifacts on Perception

How cultural exposure shapes our perception and depiction of the world.

(00:22:15) The Future of Learning Technologies

The impact of technological advancements on cognitive tools and potential directions for the future.

(00:24:29) Hands-On Learning and Interactive Tools

The importance of interactive learning activities that allow students to engage with scientific processes.

(00:27:44) Enhancing Creative Processes Through Technology

Ways technology can aid creative professionals and the development of tools for high-level experts.

(00:30:44) Bridging Novice and Expert Needs

The challenges of designing technology that serves both novices and experts.

(00:33:19) Conclusion

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From witchcraft to shamans to those with schizophrenia, voices and visions have always been part of human experience and they have always intrigued anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann. She now studies how various cultures understand these mysterious mental phenomena. Luhrmann has observed and talked to hundreds who’ve experienced voices and visions and learned there are “different pathways” to understand them, as she tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Profile: Tanya Marie Luhrmann
• Tanya Luhrmann: Website

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• Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Host Russ Altman introduces guest Tanya Luhrmann, a professor of anthropology at Stanford University.

(00:02:18) Origins of Interest

Tanya shares her background and how it influenced her studies on the human mind and its perceptions.

(00:05:53) Methodologies in Anthropological Research

The methods used to understand experiences like hearing voices and seeing visions.

(00:07:04) Cultural Variability in Human Experiences

How hearing voices varies across cultures, and their implications on mental health.

(00:13:42) The Clinical and Non-Clinical Spectrum

The clinical aspects of hearing voices, and how they are perceived and treated in different contexts.

(00:18:01) Non-Clinical Manifestations and Practice

The influence of practices and beliefs on non-clinical supernatural experiences.

(00:22:24) Characteristics of Leaders

Factors that make certain individuals leaders in perceptual practices.

(00:23:43) AI and Relationships with Chatbots

Parallels between relationships with imagined entities and modern AI chatbots.

(00:28:40) Conclusion

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Astrophysicist Risa Wechsler studies the evolution of the universe. She says that our understanding of how the universe formed and how it will change over time is changing as new technologies for seeing and measuring space come online, like a new high-resolution camera that can quickly map the full sky to see everything that moves, or new spectrographs that will map the cosmos in 3D and enable us to get new clues about the elusive dark matter. You can’t understand the universe or our presence in it until you understand dark matter, Wechsler tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Episode Reference Links:

• Risa Wechsler: Website
• Stanford Profile: Website
• SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
• Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) | Rubin Observatory
• Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI)
• The SAGA Survey

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• Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Professor Risa Wechsler, professor of physics, particle physics, and astrophysics from Stanford University.

(00:01:46) Tools for Studying the Universe

Technologies and methods used to study galaxies and the universe, including the Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time.

(00:04:37) Understanding Maps of the Universe

The concept of mapping the universe in two and three dimensions, the significance of redshifts, and the application of spectroscopy.

(00:08:56) The Structure and Scale of the Universe

The age, expansion, and overall structure of the universe, touching on its isotropic nature and clumpiness on different scales.

(00:12:23) Delving into Galaxy Formation and Evolution

An in-depth look at galaxy formation, the role of dark matter, and how galaxies have evolved over billions of years.

(00:14:49) The Diversity of Galaxies and Their Structures

The various types of galaxies, including satellite and dwarf galaxies, and how they form and evolve differently.

(00:18:56) Dark Matter and Dark Energy

The fundamental aspects of dark matter and dark energy, their role in the universe, and the challenges in studying them.

(00:22:32) Mapping the Universe with Modern Tools

How current technologies and methods contribute to our understanding of the universe’s expansion and structure

(00:24:57) Applying Cosmic Understanding

The SAGA Survey and its implications for understanding the Milky Way in a broader cosmic context.

(00:29:29) Conclusion

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Guest Sergiu Pasca is a physician-scientist who turns skin cells into stem cells and then into brain tissues he calls “organoids” and “assembloids” in order to study psychiatric and neurological illness in a dish instead of in living human beings. With this knowledge, Pasca hopes to develop new treatments for conditions ranging from schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders to chronic pain, he tells host Russ Altman in this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Episode Reference Links:

• Sergiu’s Lab: Pasca Lab
• Sergiu’s Stanford Profile: Website
• Center at Stanford Sergiu Leads: Stanford Brain Organogenesis
• Sergiu’s recently published paper: Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapeutic Approach for Timothy Syndrome
• Paper by Shinya Yamanaka Sergiu discusses: Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Embryonic and Adult Fibroblast Cultures

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ introduces guest, Sergiu Pasca, professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University.

(00:02:43) The Science of Growing Brain Tissue from Skin Cells

The process of developing brain organoids from skin cells and the potential medical applications of these models.

(00:03:59) Enhancing Neurological Research Tools

Advancing the complexity of brain models to include various brain structures and their applications in modeling diseases.

(00:07:20) Introduction of Assembloids

Introduction to assembloids, detailing how combining different organoids can mimic complex brain structures

(0015:58) Testing Therapeutics Using Humanized Models

The innovative approach of using humanized rat models to test neurological therapies and drugs.

(00:21:03) Complex Circuit Modelling for Disease Understanding

The current capabilities of modeling complex brain circuits and their relevance in understanding the neural pathways involved in diseases.

(00:23:36) The Future of Pain Modelling and Drug Testing

How assembled brain cells can model pain perception and response, leading to potential new treatments for chronic pain and psychiatric disorders

(00:27:46) Ethical Considerations and Public Engagement

Ethical concerns related to creating brain-like tissues and the importance of public engagement in scientific research.

(00:32:01) Future Directions and Global Collaboration

The future of brain organogenesis research and the potential impacts on treating neurological and psychiatric conditions.

(00:34:05) Conclusion

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With TikTok in the hands of 170 million Americans, cybersecurity expert Amy Zegart says it’s time to talk about consequences. Foreign access to all that data on so many Americans is a national security threat, she asserts. For those as concerned as she, Zegart has good news and bad. The government has gotten better at fighting cyberthreats, but artificial intelligence is making things very complicated, very fast. The US needs to adapt quickly to keep pace, Zegart tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Episode Reference Links:

• Amy Zegart's Stanford Profile
• Hoover Institution Profile: Website
• Ep.20 How Vulnerable Are We to Cyber Attacks? (Amy’s previous episode on The Future of Everything)

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• Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Host Russ Altman introduces guest Amy Zegart, a cybersecurity expert from Stanford University.

(00:02:37) Government and Cybersecurity Speeds

How AI has changed the pace at which both government and cyber attackers operate, and the evolving dynamics of cybersecurity efforts.

(00:04:12) Corporate Cybersecurity

The unexpected role of the SEC in regulating corporate cybersecurity efforts and how the cyber attack surface has expanded beyond traditional big industries

(00:07:30) Global Cyber Threats and Preparedness

Insights into the strategic use of cyber operations by other countries, and the multifaceted nature of international cyber relations.

(00:09:13) Cyber Dynamics in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The cyber aspects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its implications for global cybersecurity strategies.

(00:11:35) Misinformation and Disinformation Dynamics

The difference between misinformation and disinformation, their impacts on society and the challenges in combating them.

(00:15:04) TikTok and National Security

Risks associated with TikTok as a platform controlled by Chinese interests, discussing data privacy and potential for foreign influence.

(00:20:11) Corporate Power in AI and National Security

The role of corporations in national security through their control over AI, and the challenges this poses for regulation and innovation.

(00:22:47) Learning from Cybersecurity to Manage AI Risks

Lessons from cybersecurity that could help manage emerging AI risks, highlighting the need for developing independent AI research capacities.

(00:26:44) European Regulation and Global AI Safety

The European approach to AI regulation and data protection, advocating for international AI safety norms and collaborative efforts.

(00:29:21) AI's Role in Enhancing Intelligence

How AI can transform intelligence services, and advancements that could lead to significant efficiency gains in national security.

(00:31:23) Conclusion

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