Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most remarkable advancements of our time. It is a powerful evolving technology that has transformed the way we interact with machines and perceive the capabilities of computer systems. Howe

“Design for a Better World: Meaningful, Sustainable, Humanity Centered” with Professor Don Norman

Mar 6th, 2024 1h

Has human behaviour pushed our world to the edge, especially the mistaken belief that the earth’s resources are infinite? And can a shift in human behaviour rescue us? The challenges we face, from collapsing social structures to the climate cri

“The AI Playbook: Mastering the Rare Art of Machine Learning Deployment” with Eric Siegel

Feb 11th, 2024 45m 7s

The most powerful tool often comes with the greatest challenges. In recent times Machine learning has emerged as the world's leading general-purpose technology, yet its implementation remains notably complex. Beyond the realm of Big Tech and a

“Sharing Our Science: How to Write and Speak STEM” with Professor Brandon Brown

Feb 7th, 2024 59m 6s

Science communication plays an important role in bridging the gap between researchers and the general public, fostering understanding, engagement, and appreciation for scientific explorations and advancements. In an era where science and techno

“The Good-Enough Life” with Dr Avram Alpert

Sep 2nd, 2023 57m 29s

We live in a society driven by a relentless pursuit of greatness, where we are constantly pushed to attain the highest levels of wealth, power, and fame. This relentless fixation on greatness leads to stress and anxiety, strains our interperso

“Sentience: The Invention of Consciousness” with Professor Nicholas Humphrey

Jul 15th, 2023 1h 9m

We experience, thus we exist. Our conscious perceptions form the foundation of our self-awareness. They play a vital role in shaping our understanding of ourselves as sentient beings: present, alive, and significant. However, what is the origin

“The Smartness Mandate” with Professor Orit Halpern

Jun 6th, 2023 56m 21s

Smartness has permeated our lives in the form of smartphones, smart cars, smart homes, and smart cities. It has become a mandate, a pervasive force that governs politics, economics, and the environment. As our world faces increasingly complex c

“Ending Epidemics: A History of Escape from Contagion” with Richard Conniff

May 28th, 2023 56m 33s

It is difficult to imagine a not-so-distant past when deadly diseases were a routine part of life. Even more astonishing is the fact that during that time, prevailing medical beliefs attributed these diseases to harmful miasmas, bodily humors,

“Kendall Square and the Making of a Global Innovation Hub” with Robert Buderi

May 20th, 2023 59m 8s

Kendall Square, situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has earned the reputation of being "the most innovative square mile on the planet." It serves as a vibrant epicentre for life sciences, housing renowned companies such as Biogen, Moderna, Pf

“Worlds Without End: Exoplanets, Habitability, and the Future of Humanity” with Prof. Chris Impey

Apr 16th, 2023 42m 30s

When considering the long-term survival and sustainability of human civilization, two developments hold significant implications. Firstly, humanity has been recklessly depleting resources, causing species extinctions, and degrading essential el

Reclaiming Human Intelligence and “How to Stay Smart in a Smart World” with Prof. Gerd Gigerenzer

Apr 1st, 2023 1h 7m

The future of technology is a subject of debate among experts. Some predict a bleak future where robots become dominant, leaving humans behind. Others, known as tech industry boosters, believe that replacing humans with software can lead to a b

“A Traveller’s Guide to the Stars” with Physicist, Author and Nasa Technologist Les Johnson

Mar 13th, 2023 56m 44s

The ancient ambition of exploring the cosmos and possibly even inhabiting other planets may one day come true, as we discover more and more exoplanets and intend to develop innovative propulsion techniques suitable for interstellar travel. Proj

“When Galaxies Were Born: The Quest for Cosmic Dawn” with Professor Richard Ellis

Jan 29th, 2023 1h 8m

Looking for the earliest galaxies is like travelling back in time. Something that astronomers do all the time. Astronomers use huge and powerful telescopes to see not only farther and deeper into space, but also back in time. The hunt for the o

Cloud Empires: Governing State-like Digital Platforms & Regaining Control with Prof Vili Lehdonvirta

Jan 8th, 2023 1h 21m

The rise of the platform economy puts state-like power in the hands of platform owners with little or no accountability. Over the past few decades, the chaotic and lawless early Internet evolved into a digital reality where e-commerce and digit

“The Exquisite Machine: The New Science of the Heart” with Professor Sian Harding

Dec 1st, 2022 58m 19s

The heartbeat may be the first physical manifestation of an unborn child that can be seen six weeks after conception, and it continues roughly 100,000 times per day for as long as we are alive. Scientists and researchers have attempted to recre

“Working with AI”: Human-Machine Collaborations with Prof. Thomas Davenport and Prof. Steven Miller

Oct 31st, 2022 1h 11m

There is a widespread view that artificial intelligence is a job destroyer technical endeavour. There is both enthusiasm and doom around automation and the use of artificial intelligence-enabled "smart" solutions at work. In their latest book “

"Zero to Birth: How the Human Brain Is Built" with Professor William Harris

Oct 15th, 2022 1h 1m

A single fertilised egg generates an embryo. Different cell types in this embryo develop into various organs of a new human being, including a new human brain. Everything starts with a single fertilised egg, and in the embryo, some embryonic ce

“The Case Against Reality” and The Hard Problem of Consciousness with Professor Donald Hoffman

Jul 19th, 2022 1h 20m

What is the true nature of reality? Does the objective reality reported back by our senses paint a complete picture of the true reality? Is it possible that the world we see is not objective reality and it is just an interface to a deeper, true

Augmented Thinking: The New Convergence of Art, Technology, and Science with Professor Julio Ottino

Jun 27th, 2022 1h 1m

We live in an age of increasing complexity and uncertainty. We live in a time when humanity faces extremely complex challenges. Our ability, or lack thereof, to create solutions to such extremely complicated challenges may determine our long-te

“Machines like Us: TOWARD AI WITH COMMON SENSE” with Professor Ronald Brachman

Jun 4th, 2022 57m 47s

There is a consensus among the researchers in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning that today’s artificial intelligence systems are narrowly focused, are designed to tackle specialised tasks and cannot operate in general se

“The Next 500 Years: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds” with Professor Christopher Mason

May 19th, 2022 42m 38s

We are the only known species that understands species go extinct. We also understand that climate calamity, apocalyptic war, or the demise of the sun in a few billion years will all inevitably bring life on Earth to an end. So it is extremely

"The Joy of Science" with Professor Jim Al-Khalili

May 13th, 2022 42m 45s

Can living scientifically empower us to navigate the complexities of today’s complex and unpredictable world? Can the joy of critical thinking and the effectiveness of the scientific method assist us in making better decisions? Can living a mor

"Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans" with Professor Melanie Mitchell

May 1st, 2022 49m 27s

Recent developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence are fascinating as well as terrifying; there are extravagant promises as well as frustrating setbacks; there is great progress in narrowly focused AI applications, and there is lack of

The End of Astronauts, Robotic Space Missions and Our Future on Earth & Beyond with Prof Martin Rees

Mar 31st, 2022 48m 9s

Human space exploration is challenging as well as fascinating. However, the excitement of space flight for astronauts comes at a high cost and is riddled with danger. As our robot explorers become more capable, governments and corporations must

"Spark: The Life of Electricity and the Electricity of Life" with Professor Timothy Jorgensen

Mar 17th, 2022 1h 6m

When we think about electricity, we most often think of the energy that powers various devices and appliances around us, or perhaps we visualise the lightning-streaked clouds of a stormy sky. But there is more to electricity and “life at its es