Brave New Planet
Utopia or dystopia? It?s up to us.In the 21st century, powerful technologies have been appearing at a breathtaking pace?related to the internet, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and more. They have amazing potential upsides, but we can?t ignore the serious risks that come with them.Brave New Planet is a podcast that delves deep into the most exciting and challenging scientific frontiers, helping us understand them and grapple with their implications. Dr. Eric Lander, president and founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, is a geneticist, molecular biologist, and mathematician who was a leader of the Human Genome Project and for eight years served as a science advisor to the White House for President Obama. He?s also the host of Brave New Planet, and he?s talked to leading researchers, journalists, doctors, policy makers, activists, and legal experts to illuminate how this generation?s choices will shape the future as never before.Brave New Planet is a partnership between the Broad Institute, Pushkin Industries, and The Boston Globe's Opinion team.
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Pushkin Honors Juneteenth
At Pushkin, we think of Juneteenth as an opportunity to reflect on the past and think about the future: How do we build a more just and equitable society? We strive to make podcasts that help answer that question, and in honor of Juneteenth, we?re highlighting two of them. In this episode, you'll hear previews of our new shows Be Antiracist and A Slight Change of Plans. We hope these episodes inspire thinking and conversation around issues of race in your own lives.
You can listen to more episodes at www.pushkin.fm/show/
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2021-06-17Link to episode
Presenting The Last Archive: Remote Control
Presenting a special episode of another Pushkin podcast, The Last Archive. On the show, Harvard historian and Yorker writer Jill Lepore uncovers the secrets of the past the way a detective might, using archival tapes and documents, intrepid reporting, and radio drama reenactments. This season investigates purveyors of doubt ? hoaxers, fraudsters, pseudoscientists ? and how the peddling of doubt evolved over the 20th century, leading all the way to the Capitol Insurrection.
This episode kicks off a two-part series on the 1969 Apollo mission to the moon. Lepore asks: How did this superlative scientific achievement turn from the height of man?s accomplishments to a wellspring of conspiracy theories? She traces the history from the mission itself, to the Fox news conspiracies a half century on.
You can hear the second half of the series, right now, in The Last Archive: http://podcasts.pushkin.fm/bravenewplanet
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2021-06-02Link to episode
Episode 7: What Will It Take?
How can we come together to tackle big challenges in science and society? Dr. Eric Lander and Niala Boodhoo, veteran journalist and Axios Today host, talk about the importance of trust, humility, and skepticism in the worlds of science and media. Together, they ask how we can find the common ground we?ll need to make progress.
For links to materials referenced in the episode, suggestions for further learning, and guest bios, visit bravenewplanet.org.
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2020-11-23Link to episode
Episode 6: Reshaping Nature Through Gene Drives
A new technology, called gene drives, has the power to spread any genetic instructions you wish across an entire animal or plant species in the wild. It might let us restore ecosystems ravaged by invasive species, or help species adapt to climate change. And, it might save millions of children from dying of malaria. But could altering nature in this way, and on this scale, have unintended consequences? And, when it comes reshaping ecosystems, who needs to say yes?
For links to materials referenced in the episode, suggestions for further learning, and guest bios, visit bravenewplanet.org.
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2020-11-09Link to episode
Episode 5: What Algorithms Say About You
Artificial intelligence is letting us make predictive algorithms that translate languages and spot diseases as well or better than humans. But these systems are also being used to make decisions about hiring and criminal sentencing. Do computers trained on vast datasets of human experience learn human biases, like sexism and racism? Is it possible to create an algorithm that is fair for everyone? And should you have the right to know when these algorithms are being used and how they work?
For links to materials referenced in the episode, suggestions for further learning, and guest bios, visit bravenewplanet.org.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
2020-11-02Link to episode
Episode 4: Killer Robots and the Future of War
Fully autonomous lethal weapons?robots that can select and engage targets without human intervention?are fast becoming possible. They might minimize casualties and protect civilians in times of war. But is it morally wrong to put a computer in charge of life or death decisions? Could system errors lead to flash wars? But, as war gets faster and more complex, is it even feasible to keep humans in the loop?
For links to materials referenced in the episode, suggestions for further learning, and guest bios, visit bravenewplanet.org.
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2020-10-26Link to episode
Episode 3: A Radical Approach to Climate Change
Could altering the Earth?s atmosphere to reflect back some of the sun?s rays be a solution to climate change? It would likely decrease global temperatures, but it might lead to climate wars. Humanity might become ?addicted? to it for survival. And ultimately, would this technology only distract us from tackling the real problem of carbon emissions?
For links to materials referenced in the episode, suggestions for further learning, and guest bios, visit bravenewplanet.org.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
2020-10-19Link to episode
Episode 2: Deepfakes and the Future of Truth
It?s getting easy to create convincing?but false?videos through artificial intelligence. These ?deepfakes? can have interesting applications in art and education, but they can also cause great harm?from ruining the reputation of an ex-partner to provoking international conflicts or swinging elections. When seeing is not believing, who can we trust, and can democracy and truth survive?
For links to materials referenced in the episode, suggestions for further learning, and guest bios, visit bravenewplanet.org.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
2020-10-12Link to episode
Episode 1: What?s at Stake
Malcolm Gladwell joins host Dr. Eric Lander for a conversation about science, society, and how the decisions we make today will impact generations to come. At a moment when science is becoming more important than ever for meeting the challenges ahead, can we solve the growing tensions between society and science?
For links to materials referenced in the episode, suggestions for further learning, and guest bios, visit bravenewplanet.org.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
2020-10-12Link to episode
Introducing Brave New Planet
Introducing Brave New Planet, a seven-part series that delves deep into powerful technologies changing our world. They have amazing potential upsides, but we can?t ignore the serious risks. Hosted by Dr. Eric Lander, Brave New Planet is a partnership between the Broad Institute, Pushkin Industries, and the Boston Globe.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
2020-09-28Link to episode