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Episode 23 - The Future of AI pt. 2

We’re back with the second part of this mind-bending episode on Artificial Intelligence with Professor Michael Rovatsos. There’s certainly a minefield of conundrums, questions and ethical considerations to think about when the topic of AI surfaces, however in this episode we take a deep dive into the vast differences between the software vs. hardware, and particularly we touch upon the question: “can we truly afford to offer AI driven cars the same margin of error that we offer human drivers”?
This is undoubtedly Sci-Fi turned non-fiction, so stay tuned to find out more.

Episode 22 - The Future of AI pt. 1

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has certainly been given a bad reputation in movies – from 2001: A Space Odyssey to Arnold Schwarzenegger as a murderous AI machine in Terminator, AI has always been portrayed as dangerous. However, will this ever truly be the case, and if so, will humanity be triumphant?
In this episode we explore a whole range of AI conundrums, such as, will machinery ever be able to replicate a human perfectly, down to nuances such as sarcasm, humour, and emotions? Does AI only mimic art or is there a potential they could replace artists and give Banksy a run for their money?
We’re joined by the prestigious Professor Michael Rovatsos, who is the Professor of Artificial Intelligence, a lead at the Alan Turing Institute and Director of The Bayes Centre at the University of Edinburgh.
He leads us through this mind-boggling world of smart machines and even provides insight into how AI may be used in modern day healthcare systems.

Episode 21 - Inside Virtual Realities Pt. 2

From dystopian futures such as Ready Player One, to potentially closer to home developments like the Metaverse – will people preferentially start living their lives virtually? Over £1.7 billion has already been invested into virtual property in VR worlds so perhaps there’s a chance such a future might be in store.
We’re joined once again by Professor Bob Stone in this second part of our explorative journey into the world of VR, as he provides his honest opinion on pressing issues, the reality of the Metaverse, and the notion of if such technologies may negatively impact the imagination of young children irreparably.

Episode 20 - Inside Virtual Realities Pt. 1

The idea of immersing yourself fully in a virtual world in which you can interact with, touch and even smell your surroundings seems like something you’d find in a science fiction novel – however such technology is perhaps right around the corner.
Professor Bob Stone of the University of Birmingham is certainly highly respected in the world of Virtual Reality (VR), and having established the first industrial VR team at the UK’s National Advanced Robotics Centre, he was at the epicentre of the first ever industrial collaborative project addressing the commercial applications of VR in the early 90’s. Amongst his numerous achievements  in the field, he developed the world’s first tactile feedback glove for VR applications, so needless to say he is certainly a 5-star expert on the matter.
So, is VR just a gimmick or are there more vital uses than we initially thought? Listen in to find out.

Episode 19 - Is It Too Late For Planet Earth? Pt. 2

It truly is not possible to exaggerate the importance of climate change for the future of humanity, but now that some COP 26 goals – keeping the global temperature increase above pre-industrial levels below 1.5 degrees Celsius – seems closer and closer to impossible, are we too late to do anything?
We dive back in with Professor Joanna Haigh who explains where responsibility lies, and what exactly might happen if such vital targets, such as the 45% (relative to 2010 levels) reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030, are not met.

Episode 18 - Is It Too Late For Planet Earth? Pt. 1

In this episode we address perhaps one of the most pertinent issues we have faced yet – is it too late to save Planet Earth?
The crisis of climate change has certainly become a focus for many across the globe, but why are there still those who deny its impact or existence? Is there actually irrefutable proof of the human cause? Can we still act to reverse the effects or is the damage set in stone?
We are joined by Professor Joanna Haigh, who was a professor of Atmospheric Physics at the Imperial College London and co-director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and Environment, who helps to address these concerns and delivers her sobering message.

Episode 17 - What Makes a Good Battery?

Batteries are everywhere – from your TV remote to your car, they are a vital pillar of technology that have supported advancements since the early 1800s, but where exactly are the developments in battery technology going?
What modern energy storage options are there? How do we get fully battery powered vehicles? Why are batteries potentially so dangerous? Today we’re joined by Professor Peter Slater, co-director of the Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage and a specialist in material chemistry at the University of Birmingham, to help answer these pressing questions.
Let’s charge right in!

Episode 16 - The Hunt for Alien Life Pt. 2

We re-embark on our enthralling journey to the icy moons of the outer planets, as we hunt for alien life with Professor Ian Crawford of the University of London.
He talks to us about the exciting planned space missions, fascinating hypotheses about mind-boggling different forms of life, and we start by discussing if discovering life on other planets would have a profound effect on religions here on Earth...

Episode 15 - The Hunt for Alien Life Pt. 1

Are we alone in the universe or is there other, more peculiar life out there? Perhaps are there even other lifeforms in our own solar system?
Today we look seriously into the search for aliens within our local environment – be that on Venus, Mars or the icy moons of the outer planets – and we are joined by an esteemed astrobiologist, Professor Ian Crawford, lead of the Planetary Physics and Astrobiology department at the University of London, to guide us on this fascinating journey.

Episode 14 - Planet-sized Magnets

We all may be familiar with classic bar magnets from high school physics classes, and in particular the effect of iron filings forming peculiar onion-shaped patterns when in the presence of a magnetic field – but how exactly is this relevant to planets?
Thanks to Dr. Licia Ray, Senior Lecturer of Space and Planetary Physics at Lancaster University, we learn that the Earth is actually its own magnet with its own magnetosphere! Listen in to find out why both Earth and Jupiter (and surprisingly, Ganymede; a moon of Jupiter) are planetary magnets, but for some bizarre turn of events, Mars is not…