Ep130 "What do brains tell us about politics?" Part 1: Polarization
What do propaganda posters have in common across nation and time, and how is that related to the medial prefrontal cortex? What is behind repeating cycles of societal polarization? What does any of th...
17 Nov 202545min
Ep129 "Is utopia possible or do human brains preclude it?" with Paul Bloom
Would a utopia be possible? Or does our innate tribalism and jealousy make perfect societies difficult to achieve? Do we secretly love hierarchies? Why are primate brains such excellent detectors of u...
10 Nov 202543min
Ep128 "Would space aliens see the world as we do?" with Daniel Whiteson
Imagine we eventually meet some alien scientists. If they can see electrons or smell photons, would their science look like ours? Is physics a universal language, or just a local dialect of the human ...
3 Nov 20251h 3min
EP127 "What happens when we marry brains to machines?" with Sergey Stavisky
What is a brain-computer interface? How can a paralyzed person use her brain to control a robotic arm? How can someone who's lost the gift of speech use brain signals to broadcast his voice again? Can...
27 Okt 20251h
Ep126 "Does science fiction shape reality?" with Bethanie Maples
How is sci-fi like a cultural research and development lab? Will we someday have AI agents that live in robot bodies, and will we be liable if they commit murder? What happens when reality is no longe...
20 Okt 202535min
Ep125 "Why do brains need friends?" (with Ben Rein)
Why do human brains need social interaction? Why might AI chatbots be insufficient to scratch the itch? What do we love so much about real human touch and in-person interaction? Why do so many of us l...
13 Okt 202554min
Ep124 "Why don't we notice gaps in time?"
How is your consciousness like a flame that continually goes out and gets re-lit? Why can you see other people's eyes move, but you can't see your own eyes move in the mirror? And what does any of thi...
6 Okt 202541min
Ep123 "Will AI cure loneliness?" with Paul Bloom
On the one hand, AI companions are (increasingly) amazing at rectifying isolation. But on the other hand, loneliness is a biological signal that pushes us toward improving ourselves socially. So what'...
29 Sep 202540min
