Stephen Euin Cobb's Blog, page 18

The Future And You--July 3, 2013

James Maxey (author), Jim Craig (planetarium director), Ben Davis (nuclear physicist) and myself are today's speakers.

Topic: "The Year in Science" (Part 1).

Subtopics: The good and bad of 3D printers. Such as the 3D printing of food for human consumption, of a mouse kidney for transplant, of replacement parts for US army weapons, of artificial limbs for amputees, and of impossible to find parts for antique cars. But also the unemployment which will likely be a byproduct of 3D printers.  Also discussed: the discovery of a transitional ancestor of turtles with only half-developed shells; and the universe taken as whole might not be elegant after all since the Higgs boson has turned out to be too light to bring balance to the universe. Dr. Adrian Bowyer's self-replicating rep-rap machine is also described. 

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the July 3, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 31 minutes] This is the first half of a panel discussion recorded before a live audience at the SF&F convention ConCarolinas in Charlotte NC on June 1, 2013.

The Future And You--June 26, 2013

Twelve diverse interviews from ConCarolinas 2013.

Gathered from locations throughout the Hilton Hotel in Charlotte NC during the weekend of ConCarolinas, these interviews provide trends and insight into what is happening behind the scenes in a wide variety of professions, interests, enthusiasms and fields. This collection is partly intended give you a sense of what is likely to come in the future, but also to provide you with a feel for the flavor of the annual convention.

Our guests today in the order in which they appear:

Kandyse McClure (a regular on Battlestar Galactica for 4 years, she recently appeared as Dr. Clementine Chasseur in the original series Hemlock Grove).

Jason Carter (best known for his role as the Ranger Marcus Cole on the series Babylon 5, he has also appeared on 3rd Rock from the Sun, Angel, and Charmed).

Timithy Zahn (Hugo Award winning author of 10 Star Wars Extended Universe novels).

Stuart Jaffe (author and podcaster). 

John G. Hartness (author and poet). 

Logan (fan and performance artist).

Gale Z. Martin (author and podcaster).

Glenda Finkelstein (author and independent film-maker).

Stage Slave Gavin (a theatrical performer who was promoting the movie The Gospel According to Booze, Bullets and Hot Pink Jesus. For the sake of promotion, he was in full-body hot-pink makeup as "Hot Pink Jesus").

Taylor Gibbson (an artist who was sitting under a sign which read "Cartoonify yourself").

Roy Mauritsen (writer and fine artist).

Sarah L. Covert (writer, editor, and publisher at SheNeverSlept.com).

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the June 26, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 104 minutes].

ConCarolinas is one of the sources for the many science-oriented discussion panels which have graced this show over the last seven years. It is a multi-genre multi-media convention which covers all manner of speculative fiction: science fiction, fantasy and horror. It hosts a variety of fandom related events and guests, including gaming, discussion panels, costume events, music events like Klingon Karaoke, a charity auction, SCA events, fan groups like the 501st Stormtroopers, Starfleet, and Klingon Assault Group, and something different every year.

The Future And You--June 19, 2013

James Maxey (author), Anthony Thomas (programmer), Jim Craig (planetarium director) and myself are today's speakers.

Topic: Transhumanism.

Subtopics: is transhumanism inevitable?, computers hardwired into the human brain, artificial red blood cells, nootropics (smart drugs), augmentation as a personal choice verses as a product of social coercion, Marshal Brain's short story Manna, prenatal surgery, eugenics, should we slow down the rate of human augmentation?, life extension, google glass, the human connectome project, and having all of your organic cells replaced with artificial cells which accurately mimic living cell as described in your host's transhumanist novel Plague at Redhook.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the June 19, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 65 minutes] This panel discussion was recorded before a live audience at the SF&F convention ConCarolinas in Charlotte NC on June 1, 2013.

The Future And You--June 12, 2013

Dr. Robert E. Hampson (neuroscientist, writer and public speaker) is today's featured guest.

Part 3 of our 3 part exploration of: How memories are stored in the human brain. 

Subtopics include: The Blue Brain Project, The Human Connectome Project, President Obama's BRAIN Initiative, Artificial Intelligence, Alzheimer's disease, Trends in Teaching Methods used in Colleges, Distance Learning, Prosthetics for the Brain, and the problem of obsolescence of brain prosthetics which might require replacement and thus suffering through a second session of brain surgery.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the June 12, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 44 minutes] This interview was recorded using Skype on May 26, 2013.

Dr. Robert E. Hampson is a researcher in the field of "neuroscience" –the structure and function of the brain.  After receiving his doctorate in Physiology and Pharmacology from Wake Forest University in 1988, his research focus has been on the hippocampus (a brain area involved in the processing of short-term memory) and in the prefrontal cortex (an area responsible for behavior and decisions involving memory).  His laboratory work includes the study of: 1) nerve cell function, 2) behavioral mechanisms, and 3) detection of the patterns of neural activity, underlying learning and memory in rodents, nonhuman primates and humans.  These studies have required the development of computer models of neural activity patterns associated with processing of memory, investigation of drugs that alter memory function, examination of the effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on cognitive (memory) processing, and comparative studies of memory across different animal species.  Dr. Hampson is also part of a multi-university team working to develop a "neural prosthetic" capable of restoring memory by connecting between different regions within the brain.

Dr. Hampson's interest in public education and brain awareness has also led him to serve as a member of the Science and Entertainment Exchange (a service of the National Academy of Science) which supplies subject matter experts to the entertainment industry, and from there to the field of Science Fiction.  Writing science fact and fiction blogs and articles as "Tedd Roberts," he also gives public talks on science fiction for SF conventions, student and civic groups, and writes nonfiction articles for Baen Books.

The Future And You--June 5, 2013

Dr. Robert E. Hampson (neuroscientist, writer and public speaker) is today's featured guest.

Part 2 of our 3 part exploration of: How memories are stored in the human brain. 

Subtopics include: recording electrical activity deep inside a living human brain; common misinterpretations of the goals of brain research; deep brain stimulation (a treatment for Parkinson's disease); pharmaceuticals for brain research, and ways in which the Internet has forced peer-reviewed scientific journals to change. One such change has been the adoption of a new form of peer-review known as "open-review"--a wild and woolly free-for-all.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the June 5, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 37 minutes] This interview was recorded using Skype on May 26, 2013.

Dr. Robert E. Hampson is a researcher in the field of "neuroscience" –the structure and function of the brain.  After receiving his doctorate in Physiology and Pharmacology from Wake Forest University in 1988, his research focus has been on the hippocampus (a brain area involved in the processing of short-term memory) and in the prefrontal cortex (an area responsible for behavior and decisions involving memory).  His laboratory work includes the study of: 1) nerve cell function, 2) behavioral mechanisms, and 3) detection of the patterns of neural activity, underlying learning and memory in rodents, nonhuman primates and humans.  These studies have required the development of computer models of neural activity patterns associated with processing of memory, investigation of drugs that alter memory function, examination of the effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on cognitive (memory) processing, and comparative studies of memory across different animal species.  Dr. Hampson is also part of a multi-university team working to develop a "neural prosthetic" capable of restoring memory by connecting between different regions within the brain.

Dr. Hampson's interest in public education and brain awareness has also led him to serve as a member of the Science and Entertainment Exchange (a service of the National Academy of Science) which supplies subject matter experts to the entertainment industry, and from there to the field of Science Fiction.  Writing science fact and fiction blogs and articles as "Tedd Roberts," he also gives public talks on science fiction for SF conventions, student and civic groups, and writes nonfiction articles for Baen Books.

The Future And You--May 29, 2013

Dr. Robert E. Hampson (neuroscientist, writer and public speaker) is today's featured guest.

Topic: How memories are stored in the human brain. As well as ways living neurons behave similarly to neural nets written in software; why holograms are a good metaphor for memory storage in the brain; and new tools and equipment which are opening the door to entirely new research. Such as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Functional MRI) which is an MRI procedure that measures brain activity by detecting associated changes in blood flow; and Magnetoencephalography (MEG)--a technique for mapping brain activity by recording, from outside the brain, magnetic fields produced by electrical currents occurring inside the brain which are a physical manifestation of mental activity. We even take a moment to discuss the Alpha brain-wave bio-feedback machines which were a big fad back in the 1980s.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 29, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 48 minutes] This interview was recorded using Skype on May 26, 2013.

Dr. Robert E. Hampson is a researcher in the field of "neuroscience" –the structure and function of the brain.  After receiving his doctorate in Physiology and Pharmacology from Wake Forest University in 1988, his research focus has been on the hippocampus (a brain area involved in the processing of short-term memory) and in the prefrontal cortex (an area responsible for behavior and decisions involving memory).  His laboratory work includes the study of: 1) nerve cell function, 2) behavioral mechanisms, and 3) detection of the patterns of neural activity, underlying learning and memory in rodents, nonhuman primates and humans.  These studies have required the development of computer models of neural activity patterns associated with processing of memory, investigation of drugs that alter memory function, examination of the effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on cognitive (memory) processing, and comparative studies of memory across different animal species.  Dr. Hampson is also part of a multi-university team working to develop a "neural prosthetic" capable of restoring memory by connecting between different regions within the brain.

Dr. Hampson's interest in public education and brain awareness has also led him to serve as a member of the Science and Entertainment Exchange (a service of the National Academy of Science) which supplies subject matter experts to the entertainment industry, and from there to the field of Science Fiction.  Writing science fact and fiction blogs and articles as "Tedd Roberts," he also gives public talks on science fiction for SF conventions, student and civic groups, and writes nonfiction articles for Baen Books.

The Future And You--May 22, 2013

Stephen Euin Cobb (author and futurist) is today's speaker.

Topics: Future trends as depicted on the TV show Continuum; grid parity of photovoltaics across America as depicted on a Solar Equivalency Interactive Map; my intentions to Invest in Photovoltaics over the next two to four years; a warning that the price of stock in solar companies will likely suffer from a series bubbles of ever increasing size over the next few years, each one followed by a crash; a clever invention called Gravity Light; Oculus Rift (a Virtual Reality display device which will be available this summer) and its use by Jimmy Fallon; and a little robot with big gooey feet.

Also: a brief prediction from Jose Cordeiro (founder of the World Future Society's Venezuela Chapter, chair of The Millennium Project Venezuela Node, and faculty member of Singularity University).

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 22, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 30 minutes]

Stephen Euin Cobb is an author, futurist, magazine writer and host of the award-winning podcast The Future And You. A contributing editor for Space and Time Magazine; he is also a regular contributor for Robot, H+, Grim Couture and Port Iris magazines; and he spent three years as a columnist and contributing editor for Jim Baen's Universe Magazine. He is an artist, essayist, game designer, transhumanist, and is on the Advisory Board of The Lifeboat Foundation. His novels include Bones Burnt Black, Plague at Redhook and Skinbrain.

The Future And You--May 15, 2013

Stephen Euin Cobb (author and futurist) is today's speaker.

Topic: Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies. Their rise; utility; strength; weakness; easy and difficult ways of aquiring them; their short and long term trends; and the scammers who cheat those who sell them on eBay.

Cryptocurrencies include:  Bitcoin (BTC),  Litecoin (LTC), PPCoin (PPC), , FeatherCoin (FTC), NovaCoin (NVC), Devcoin (DEV), Freicoin (FRC), ChnCoin (CNC), Terracoin (TRC), Liquidcoin (LQC), IxCoin (IXC), I0coin (I0C), Tonal Bitcoin (TBC), and many others.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 15, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 38 minutes]

Stephen Euin Cobb is an author, futurist, magazine writer and host of the award-winning podcast The Future And You. A contributing editor for Space and Time Magazine; he is also a regular contributor for Robot, H+, Grim Couture and Port Iris magazines; and he spent three years as a columnist and contributing editor for Jim Baen's Universe Magazine. He is an artist, essayist, game designer, transhumanist, and is on the Advisory Board of The Lifeboat Foundation. His novels include Bones Burnt Black, Plague at Redhook and Skinbrain.

The Future And You--May 8, 2013

Les Johnson (author, speaker and NASA administrator) is today's featured guest.

Topic: Sky Alert: When Satellites Fail (Les Johnson's latest nonfiction book). Les describes how much we depend on our fragile network of satellites orbiting the earth, how vulnerable they are to various dangers, and how our day-to-day lives would suffer if they were destroyed.

Les Johnson serves as the Deputy Manager for the Advanced Concepts Office at the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the technical consultant for the movie Lost in Space. And In his spare time he writes popular science books and articles--for example. In collaboration with C Bangs (an artist) and Greg Matloff (a professor of astronomy) he wrote:Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth (2009); Living Off the Land in Space (2007); and with Greg Matloff and Giovanni Vulpetti he wrote Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel (2008). And with Jack McDevitt Going Interstellar (2012).

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 8, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 52 minutes] This interview was recorded using Skype on April 30, 2013.

The Future And You--May 1, 2013

Stephen Euin Cobb (author and futurist) is today's speaker.

News and commentary on a variety of topics, including: Google glass are not welcome in Brighton shop; Old age is the killer app for Google Glass; Regulation changes the US Post office have made recently in the hope of massively increasing the junk mail you receive; Nanosponges soak up toxins released by bacterial infections and venom; and An IT industry assessment of how many Google Glass are likely to sell between 2013 and 2016.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 1, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 30 minutes]

Stephen Euin Cobb is an author, futurist, magazine writer and host of the award-winning podcast The Future And You. A contributing editor for Space and Time Magazine; he is also a regular contributor for Robot, H+, Grim Couture and Port Iris magazines; and he spent three years as a columnist and contributing editor for Jim Baen's Universe Magazine. He is an artist, essayist, game designer, transhumanist, and is on the Advisory Board of The Lifeboat Foundation. His novels include Bones Burnt Black, Plague at Redhook and Skinbrain.

And a prediction from Brandy Spraker (the new Chairperson of LibertyCon) which was just a few hours too late to be included in last week's big prediction fest.