エピソード

  • A Theory of Everyone with Michael Muthukrishna

    A Theory of Everyone with Michael Muthukrishna
    2025/01/02
    Dr. Michael Muthukrishna, Associate Professor at LSE, joins Alan to explore his book, A Theory of Everyone. It reveals how cultural evolution—our “software” of beliefs, language, and logic—shaped humanity's unique trajectory. He explains the "laws" of energy and innovation: energy abundance fuels cooperation and progress, while innovations like the steam engine drive efficiency and competition. Michael highlights the "paradox of diversity," where fresh ideas thrive amid aligned communication and norms. He links societal challenges like division and inequality to resource scarcity and calls for leveraging technologies like AI and startup cities to foster collaboration, sustainable innovation, and global progress. Guest Bio Dr. Michael Muthukrishna is an Associate Professor of Psychological and Behavioral Science at the London School of Economics, with a unique academic foundation in software engineering and psychology from the University of Queensland, and advanced degrees from the University of British Columbia. He has held prestigious roles at Harvard, Yale, and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Recognized for his groundbreaking work, Michael has received accolades like the 2024 Excellence in Quantitative Methods Research Award and a John Templeton Foundation grant. He is the author of the acclaimed book, A Theory of Everyone, which redefines how we understand human evolution and progress. Show Highlights
    • (2:24) What A Theory of Everyone entails
    • (12:14) The fundamental “law” of energy
    • (20:31) The “law” of innovation
    • (22:47) COMPASS - the seven secrets of innovation
    • (26:22) The paradox of diversity
    • (30:20) How humans’ big heads have affected our evolution
    • (38:11) The next level of human cultural evolution
    • (46:25) The necessary steps to the next stage of tying societies back together
    • (52:10) How to protect the engine of growth amidst negative circumstances
    • (54:23) What’s next for Michael Muthukrisha
    Links Referenced
    • A Theory of Everyone: The New Science of Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going: https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Everyone-Science-where-Going/dp/026204837X
    続きを読む 一部表示
    58 分
  • AMSE Science Report The Physics of Santa

    AMSE Science Report The Physics of Santa
    2024/12/21

    A few thoughts on the 24 hour, madcap & meteoric flight across the planet
    続きを読む 一部表示
    4 分
  • The Hidden Lives of Ants with Susanne Foitzik

    The Hidden Lives of Ants with Susanne Foitzik
    2024/12/18
    Alan, an ant enthusiast since childhood, is joined by Susanne Foitzik, author of Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth’s Tiny Conquerors. She explains that while queens start colonies and lay eggs, they don’t control the colony. Worker ants take on specialized roles like brood care and foraging, with older ants handling riskier tasks. Ants communicate through pheromones and use impressive navigation skills. Some species, like the Argentine and fire ants, thrive in new environments due to human transport, forming super colonies. Susanne’s current research focuses on how ants regulate labor division and how parasites impact their behavior and longevity. Guest Bio Dr. Susanne Foitzik is a professor of evolutionary biology, Vice Dean of the biology faculty, and Acting Director of the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. She has held academic positions at Ludwig Maximilian University, the University of Regensburg, and as a postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University. With a doctoral degree in biology and a habilitation in zoology, Susanne is widely published and the author of Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth’s Tiny Conquerors, a captivating exploration of ant behavior and ecology. Show Notes
    • (2:12) How many species of ants there are
    • (3:46) The role of ant queens and how they’re made
    • (5:55) The different functions ants take on in the colony
    • (9:01) How nests are created
    • (11:02) How ants communicate and navigate
    • (16:01) How certain ants have developed the ability to maintain livestock and how they do it
    • (19:01) Ants’ more aggressive behaviors
    • (22:34) What turns ants into “zombies”
    • (25:34) The social immune system of ants
    • (28:42) Invasive species of ants
    • (32:39) Understanding ant-tink
    • (34:31) What Susanne is working on now
    Links Referenced
    • Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth’s Tiny Conquerors: https://www.amazon.com/Superpowers-Six-Legs-Hidden-Lives/dp/1615197125
    続きを読む 一部表示
    41 分
  • AMSE Science Report with guest Eric Jay Dolin

    AMSE Science Report with guest Eric Jay Dolin
    2024/12/14

    Following the horrific devastation wreaked by Hurricane Helene, I was so heartened to see many in our community and around the nation come together to help those who had lost everything.

    I had spoken a while back on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Eric Jay Dolin about his book, A Furious Sky: The 500 Year History of America’s Hurricanes. We talked about some of those storms, including the Galveston, Texas, Hurricane of 1900. The people there had been encouraged to think a hurricane could not do any serious damage to their island home due to a deeply flawed understanding of how those storms work. The results were horrendous. Eric and I also spoke about how modern technologies help us predict and track these monster storms.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    4 分
  • A reflection of the year 2000

    A reflection of the year 2000
    2024/12/14

    A few thoughts about the technological development and advancement over the past 25 years.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    4 分
  • Finding a Lab of One’s Own with Dr. Rita Colwell

    Finding a Lab of One’s Own with Dr. Rita Colwell
    2024/12/04
    Dr. Rita Colwell is a pioneering scientist and professor at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins who has made groundbreaking contributions to microbiology and public health. She joins AMSEcast to discuss her experiences being the first woman to lead the National Science Foundation as well as her advanced research on Vibrio bacteria and cholera while founding CosmosID to improve rapid pathogen detection. During the 2001 anthrax attacks, she led a cross-agency effort to identify the spores, revolutionizing DNA sequencing techniques. Overcoming sexism early in her career, Dr. Colwell's achievements are detailed in A Lab of One’s Own. Guest Bio

    Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies.

    Colwell is one of the world’s leading researchers of cholera—a waterborne disease estimated by the World Health Organization to strike three to five million people annually, many of them young children. Her efforts to track and predict cholera outbreaks are multi-faceted, combining bioinformatics with the pioneering use of satellite imaging. She was one of the first scientists to employ remote sensing for disease prediction, as well as recognize the impact of climate change on the waterborne microbial world.

    Show Notes

    • (0:35) About Dr. Rita Colwell
    • (1:52) Dr. Colwell’s irritation at people saying we need to interest more women in science
    • (2:49) How Rita dealt with overt sexism and still found the determination to keep moving forward
    • (3:56) What lead Dr. Colwell to marine biology and focus on Vibrio
    • (6:20) How she ended up at the University of Maryland
    • (9:31) Rita’s groundbreaking work on cholera and obstacles in getting her findings accepted
    • (15:03) How long it took the professional world for her findings to be accepted
    • (18:49) Dr. Colwell’s work as the director of the National Science Foundation
    • (21:39) The role she played in the response to the 2001 anthrax attacks
    • (26:03) The prospects for women in the business world
    • (28:58) The cost of persistent sexism
    • (30:41) Rita’s thoughts on how to advance women in the science and business worlds
    • (33:40) What’s next for Dr. Colwell

    Links Referenced
    • A Lab of One’s Own: One Woman’s Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science: https://www.amazon.com/Lab-Ones-Own-Personal-Journey/dp/1501181270
    続きを読む 一部表示
    38 分
  • AMSE Science Report with guest Camper English

    AMSE Science Report with guest Camper English
    2024/12/03

    Whether you like to have an occasional drink or are a teetotaler, you will enjoy a conversation I had on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Camper English about his book Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails. Camper’s book is a fascinating look at how, over the centuries, many alcohols and various things we add today to cocktails originally had medicinal purposes.

    For example, monks in the Middle Ages were at the center of research on agriculture and the distillation of alcohol. One thing they produced for medicinal uses can be found today in many bars.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    4 分
  • The Wonders of Psychological Science with Joel Levy

    The Wonders of Psychological Science with Joel Levy
    2024/12/03
    Renowned author and science historian, Joel Levy, shares his expertise on consciousness, intelligence, and the delicate dance between nature and nurture. Through his latest work, "Psychology for Busy People," the discussion traverses psychology's extensive history, from its origins to contemporary challenges and applications. Joel offers captivating perspectives on thought experiments, the core of consciousness, the nature-nurture debate, and the subtleties of mental health. Tune in as Alan and Joel guide us through the intriguing and complex realm of psychology. Show Highlights (00:00) Introduction (01:39) The ancient roots of psychology (13:26) Joel Levy explores the concept of consciousness (20:40) The topic shifts to the various forms of intelligence (28:51) Insights into social psychology and group dynamics (36:16) Developmental psychology and the process of learning (45:48) Defining mental illness and approaches to treatment (54:18) Conclusion Guest Bio: Joel Levy is a renowned author and expert in the fields of psychology and science history. With a prolific portfolio of work, including titles such as "The Infinite Tortoise: The Curious Thought Experiments of History’s Great Thinkers," and "Meltdown: Stories of Nuclear Disaster," Joel's writings explore the intersections of science, history, and the human psyche. His latest book, "Psychology for Busy People," simplifies the complex world of psychology, making it accessible to a broad audience. Links Referenced:
    • The Infinite Tortoise: The Curious Thought Experiments of History’s Great Thinkers: https://www.amazon.com/Infinite-Tortoise-Experiments-Historys-Thinkers-ebook/dp/B01J3RCYCW
    • Scientific Feuds: From Galileo to the Human Genome Project: https://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Feuds-Galileo-Genome-Project/dp/1847735142/
    • Meltdown: Stories of nuclear disaster and the human cost of going critical: https://www.amazon.com/Meltdown-Stories-nuclear-disaster-critical-ebook/dp/B0CTQBQPJP/
    • Freudian Slips: https://www.amazon.com/Freudian-Slips-Psychology-Need-Know-ebook/dp/B00DSPK2AWPsychology in a Nutshell: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Do-Things-Psychology/dp/1782437851
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 4 分