Fw:Thinking

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye

12 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

All good things must come to an end. The podcast crew bids you farewell in this final episode. Peek behind the scenes at the Fw:Thinking podcast. Lea...

Looking Back on the Future Part Two

07 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Joe and Lauren share their favorite predictions about the future while Jonathan makes lots of jokes. What predictions rank among the team's favorites?...

Looking Back on the Future Part One

05 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The podcast crew talks about some of their favorite predictions about the future, from evolving language to 20th century French postcards. Learn more...

The Future of Diabetes Part Two

03 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Will we ever find a cure for diabetes? Are there technologies that will help people manage diabetes more easily? Learn more about your ad-choices at ...

The Future of Diabetes Part One

30 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Will we ever find a cure for diabetes? Are there technologies that will help people manage diabetes more easily? Learn more about your ad-choices at ...

Are 3D Printers The New VR?

26 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Has the 3D printer craze fizzled out? What are the trends in consumer 3D printers? Is this technology doomed to obscolescence? Learn more about your ...

Monkeys, Hamlet and Brain-Computer Interfaces

21 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How did Stanford teach monkeys to transcribe Hamlet using only their monkey brains? And how could this technology benefit us in the future? We revisit...

The AI Arms Race Part Two

20 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Are we destined for an AI arms race? Why would nations race to develop AI? And will we ever create superintelligent AI? Learn more about your ad-choi...

The AI Arms Race Part One

20 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What is artificial intelligence? What's the difference between weak, strong, narrow and general AI? And what's state of the art today? Learn more abo...

Turning Carbon Dioxide Into Stone

02 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Carbon capture sequestration is all about removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Can we convert the greenhouse gas into solid rock? Learn more ...

Moral Bioenhancements Part Two

26 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

If you could make the world a better place by removing the ability for people to make selfish choices, would you do it? We continue the conversation. ...

Moral Bioenhancements Part One

25 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

If you could make the world a better place by removing the ability for people to make selfish choices, would you do it? Learn more about your ad-choi...

The Future of Voting

12 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Voting technology is tricky. It's outdated in many jurisdictions but the next step might have big security problems. What is the future of voting? Le...

Groovy Moon Boots

10 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How could haptic feedback motors improve the boots astronauts wear? And what are some other applications? Learn more about your ad-choices at https:/...

The End Of Moore's Law? (Not Really)

05 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

By 2021, we won't be able to shrink transistors down any further. What does this mean for Moore's Law? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://ww...

Solar Impulse Ends its Journey

03 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In 2014, we talked about how the Solar Impulse aircraft would fly around the globe using solar energy to create electricity. Two years later, that jou...

Automatic Cybersecurity

29 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Every year, programmers write more than a trillion lines of code. How could automated cybersecurity systems help our technology stay safe from malicio...

Cyborg Slugs and Synthetic Stingrays

28 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We explore the wonderful, terrifying world of combining technology and organic material. From robots with slug muscles to an artificial stingray, what...

Cognitive Buildings

22 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What if your building could think? Cognitive buildings are an integrated approach to the Internet of Things concept. Learn more about your ad-choices...

Are Futuristic Floating Airports Already Beached?

20 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Back in the 1930s, engineers suggested we build floating airports on the water to work around space constraints. Is it finally time to build one? Lea...

You Have Twenty Seconds To Comply

16 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Robot security guards have been around for a couple of years. What role do they fill? Are we creating the robot army destined to overthrow us? Learn ...

Are robots electronic persons?

14 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A draft report for the EU suggests ways we should prepare for a new industrial revolution powered by robots. Is it time to make them electronic person...

Private Space Stations

08 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

With the International Space Station orbiting on borrowed time, what's the future of space stations? Are private companies going to launch their own s...

Cities of Wood and Bone

06 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We look again at the building materials of the future. Could timber replace concrete? And what about synthetic bone? Learn more about your ad-choices...

The Future of Weather Forecasts

01 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Why does it take so much computing power to forecast the weather? And how could a weather study help one billion people? Learn more about your ad-cho...

Biosimilar Drugs

29 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Biosimilar drugs have the potential to change the medical landscape. We talk about what biosimilar drugs are and their pros and cons. Learn more abou...

The Future of Gender, Part 2

24 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Society's concepts of sex and gender are mutable. How have those concepts changed throughout history? Could future changes help alleviate social issue...

The Future of Gender, Part 1

22 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Society's concepts of sex and gender are mutable. How have those concepts changed throughout history? Could future changes help alleviate social issue...

Gene Drives, GMO Pests, and Avoiding Extinction

17 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A new genetic technology called a gene drive could help eradicate deadly pests, like invasive rats in the Galápagos or malaria-carrying mosquitoes. B...

Edible Electronics

15 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Making supercapacitors out of the same stuff you'd buy for a barbecue seems strange, but edible electronics could change the medical industry for the ...

The Future of Pain

10 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Pain is both a physical and emotional experience, which makes it hard to treat. Today's therapies (like opioid drugs) come with dangerous side effects...

Redefining the Second

08 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A new type of clock might require a new definition of what a second is. Is time about to turn upside down? Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...

Manufacturing Lifeforms

03 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Are we close to creating all-new life forms? What are the scientific challenges? Should we be concerned about ethics? Learn more about your ad-choice...

Google Goes Magenta

01 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Can a computer create art from scratch? How will Google's Magenta project actually work? And can a machine be truly creative? Learn more about your a...

Exoplanet Overload

27 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

NASA researchers announced the Kepler telescope had verified 1,284 new exoplanets. How did they do that and what does it mean? Learn more about your ...

What is the future of robotic hands?

25 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Hands are awesome. They're also difficult to replicate. What's the state of the art of robotic hands? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www...

Oven 2.0

20 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When we think of the future, we don't often consider our common appliances. But what will the oven of the future be like? Learn more about your ad-ch...

The E-Waste Problem

18 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What is e-waste? How big a problem is it? And what can we do to fix it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee o...

And We're Live!

13 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Livestreaming has really taken off. What's the future of livestreaming? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee o...

Are Cryonics Cool?

11 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Would cryogenics put you into suspended animation or would it just kill you? The crew looks into what happens when you're put on ice. Learn more abou...

You Contaminated My Planet!

06 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists are worried that we could contaminate other planets or bring back something to contaminate our own. How real is the risk and what can be do...

Off to the Drone Races

04 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Drone racing is catching serious attention. Could this become a major sport in the future? And what about other non-traditional, futuristic sports? L...

DNA Tech

29 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Now that we know all about DNA, let's talk about how we can use it in technology. From diodes to computer storage, we explore the uses of DNA. Learn ...

Meeting Mr. DNA

27 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What is DNA and where did it come from? We'll take a look at what we know about the building blocks for life as we know it. Learn more about your ad-...

Your Body as a Computer Interface

22 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Could the future of electronics be the human body? We explore efforts to turn your body into a technological interface. Learn more about your ad-choi...

The Water Acidification Problem

20 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What causes water acidification? Why should we be concerned? And how might we fix the problem? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...

The Anti-Aging Debate

15 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

There's no scientific consensus on the causes of aging and that has led to some spirited debates. We explore the arguments and learn a little somethin...

Never Grow Old

13 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Why face the ravages of time if you can stave off the effects of aging? We look at ways to cheat the clock! Learn more about your ad-choices at https...

Building Materials of the Future: Bio Edition

09 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What will the buildings of the future be made out of? Could you end up living in a house of blood? We explore the potential of biomaterials. Learn mo...

Borg Chef, Part II

06 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Are robots poised to take over the kitchen? We look at the opportunities and challenges in the future of kitchen automation. Learn more about your ad...

The Microsoft Tay Debacle

01 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Recently Microsoft created a chatbot intended to develop an online personality through social media interactions. What could go wrong? Well, it turns ...

The Environmental Price of Rockets

30 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Do rocket launches have a significant environmental impact? And if our future has a lot more space travel in store, what does that mean for us? Learn...

All Hands on Planetary Defense!

25 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How did the novella The Little Prince inspire a planetary defense strategy? How does NASA plan to put an asteroid in lunar orbit? And can we stop a ca...

The SxSW Roundup Show

23 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan and Lauren were in Austin for SxSW 2016. What were the big topics of discussion and will our future really be an intelligent one? Learn more...

Will we have Basic Income in the future?

18 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What is Universal Basic Income? Does it make financial sense? Will it become a necessity? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...

The NASA Twin Study

16 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What is the Twin Study? What does NASA hope to learn from Mark and Scott Kelly? And how might it help us get to Mars? Learn more about your ad-choice...

The Future of Burial

11 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What will the cemeteries of the future be like? Will we bury our dead in skyscrapers? Or in forests? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www....

The Solar Economy

09 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Is solar power finally a reasonable option for the average person? And how do solar towers work? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...

Skyscrapers and Vertical Cities: Part Two

04 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to take a look at some of the most forward-thinking skyscraper designs. Would you visit a skyscraper that has multiple ecosystems inside it?...

Skyscrapers and Vertical Cities: Part One

02 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In the future, will our cities grow upward rather than outward? We look at skyscrapers and what it takes to build a vertical civilization. Learn more...

Making Waves with Gravitational Astronomy

26 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Now that we've detected gravitational waves, what comes next? We look at the science and fiction of what gravitational waves mean for our future. Lea...

Detecting Gravitational Waves

24 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What are gravitational waves and how did LIGO detect them? We take a close look at space-time to find out. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...

Marvin Minsky: Forward Thinker

19 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Who was Marvin Minsky and what was his influence on the field of artificial intelligence research? We look back on the life and career of this forward...

Making Contact (Lenses) With the future

17 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Could future contact lenses detect diseases, environmental hazards and give us augmented reality vision? We explore how companies are hoping to bring ...

The Future of Weather: Part Two

12 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Let's get real: Are there any serious weather modification technologies on the horizon? Julie Douglas joins Lauren and Joe in the second part of this ...

The Future of Weather: Part One

10 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What does the future have in store for the way we interact with and potentially even harness weather? Julie Douglas joins Lauren and Joe to discuss wh...

The Future of Vaccines: Part Two

05 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What vaccines are currently in development and what is the future of vaccines? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...

The Future of Vaccines: Part One

04 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Where do vaccines come from and how do they work? In this episode, we explore the origin and mechanics of vaccination. Learn more about your ad-choic...

The State of VR 2016

30 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Major VR headsets are to debut in 2016. What's the state of VR and will it ever be more than just a gimmick? Learn more about your ad-choices at http...

That's the Bomb

27 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What was operation Plowshare? And are there peaceful applications for nuclear explosions? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...

Reusable Rockets

22 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

From Blue Origin to SpaceX, the hottest topic in the private space industry is the reusable rocket. Why is it such a big deal and what does it mean fo...

Forward Thinking Tech At CES 2016

20 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan attended CES 2016 and talks about some of the technological trends that will shape the future, from connected cars to crazy exoskeletons. Le...

Shedding Light on Li-Fi

31 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Could we solve the radio frequency spectrum crunch by switching from radio to light? How does Li-Fi actually work and in which situations is it suitab...

Water on Mars

30 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

You may have heard that NASA discovered evidence of flowing water on Mars. We take a look at previous discoveries involving H2O and the Red Planet as ...

Cars with Hidden Agendas, Part 2: Digital Detours

09 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In part two of this two-part episode about the computerization of cars, Scott and Ben return as guest co-hosts to help Lauren and Joe figure out how s...

Cars with Hidden Agendas, Part 1: The VW Scandal

07 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In part one of this two-part episode about the computerization of cars, Lauren and Joe are joined by CarStuff hosts Scott Benjamin and Ben Bowlin to d...

3D Printing in Medicine

02 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Lauren and Jonathan explore three ways 3D printers could change medicine. From printing drugs to regenerating nerves, we explore what happens when doc...

Is there a future for Bitcoin?

30 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The crypto-currency Bitcoin has weathered many storms lately. Is there a future for this digital currency or will it disappear in a puffs of 0s and 1s...

Lock and Key

25 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Now that someone has created 3D models of TSA master keys, TSA luggage locks are no longer secure. What is the future of locks? Learn more about your...

Gaming the System

23 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What is the future of games? Which games have been "solved?" And are there any games humans will always be better at than computers? Learn more about...

The Hurricanes of the Future

18 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How will climate change impact hurricane formation in the future? We explore the science behind some of the most powerful storms and how they may be g...

Forget Going Viral - Bacterial Communication is Awesome

16 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How do bacteria communicate with one another? And how could understanding that help us fight superbugs that have developed resistance to antibiotics? ...

Zoom and Enhance: The Sound Edition

12 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How could a video camera pick up sound without a microphone? We look at the science of sound and how any object could become a mic. Learn more about ...

Searching for Alien Life Starts Here

09 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

If there are aliens out there, is there any way to know where we should be looking? The team talks about a mathematical model that might give us some ...

Mama Bots Having Baby Bots

04 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The team talks about an experiment in the UK in which a robotic arm built, tested and redesigned other robots. Will machines take over the manufacturi...

The Mega Laser

02 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

There's a new heavy-hitting laser in Japan. What will it be used for? We explore the use of lasers in science, industry and the future. Learn more ab...

Beam Me Up, Fw:Thinking

28 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to look at a science fiction technology: teleporters. Could teleportation ever work? Will it allow for faster-than-light travel? Learn more...

The Future of Sewers

26 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How do sewers work? How many people today don't have access to a reliable sewer infrastructure? And what can we do to improve them? Learn more about ...

Search Results and Swaying Elections

21 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Could something as simple as a search results page affect a major political election? It turns out the answer is yes. We look at how search rankings c...

The Agony of Notifications

19 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Technology has us more plugged in and connected than ever before but it also creates endless opportunities for interruptions. What effect do notificat...

The Borg Chef

14 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Can computers get creative in the kitchen? From robot cooks to an AI application that invents new recipes, we look at how technology may change cookin...

Future of Wildlife Conservation

12 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

We may be in the middle of the sixth mass extinction on Earth. What are we doing to help preserve the species that are endangered today? We explore th...

Computers Know If You're Sarcastic? Yeah, Right.

07 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Could a computer infer your mood based upon the text you type? We look at the Tone Analyzer, an IBM tool that aims to alert you if an email is too sna...

To Pluto and Beyond

05 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What have we learned from the New Horizons spacecraft so far? How has Pluto surprised us? And what's next? Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...

How to Make It Last Forever, Part Two

31 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In part two, we look at how keeping information accessible to future generations is a big challenge. From digital obsolescence to outdated hardware, h...

How to Make It Last Forever, Part One

29 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In the United States, we have a lifestyle that leans toward the disposable. How might we build and care for things so that future generations will be ...

Deep Dreaming with Google

24 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What is Google's DeepDream project all about? And how are people using it to create surreal art? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...

Hailing the Robo Cab

22 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Uber's CEO plans to replace human drivers with robots. What would such a future look like, and what happens to all those drivers? Learn more about yo...

Where We're Going We Do Need Roads

17 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Will roads ever change in the future? Learn about self-healing materials, smart highways and whether or not it makes sense to turn roads into a giant ...

Finding NEEMO

15 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How does NASA test equipment and strategies for deep space here on Earth? Sometimes, they take the plunge underwater. Learn about the NEEMO program an...