Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

64 | Ramez Naam on Renewable Energy and an Optimistic Future

Sep 16, 2019

In this discussion, Ramez Naam, a renowned technologist and science fiction author, shares his insights on renewable energy and an optimistic vision for our future. He highlights the remarkable decline in costs for solar and wind energy, making them strong contenders against traditional fossil fuels. The conversation delves into the transformative journey of solar technology, the impact of industrial emissions, and the role of policy in fostering a sustainable energy landscape. Naam also touches on the potential of brain-computer interfaces and the narrative power of science fiction in shaping public perception.

01:16:48

Episode guests

Ramez Naam

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Optimism in Clean Energy Progress

11min

The Transformative Journey of Solar Energy Costs and Deployment

4min

Transforming Energy: The Rise of Renewables

18min

Industrial Emissions and Environmental Sustainability

9min

Navigating Technology and Environmental Challenges

2min

Interconnections of Climate Change and Cryptocurrency Demand

2min

Empowering Progress: Mobile Technology in Underprivileged Regions

9min

The Future of Human Augmentation and Privacy

13min

10.

The Art of Science Fiction Storytelling

7min

The Earth is heating up, and it’s our fault. But human beings are not always complete idiots (occasional contrary evidence notwithstanding), and sometimes we can even be downright clever. Dare we imagine that we can bring our self-inflicted climate catastrophe under control, through a combination of technological advances and political willpower? Ramez Naam is optimistic, at least about the technological advances. He is a technologist, entrepreneur, and science-fiction author, who has been following advances in renewable energy. We talk about the present state of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources, and what our current rate of progress bodes for the near and farther future. And maybe we sneak in a little discussion of brain-computer interfaces, a theme of the Nexus trilogy.

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Ramez Naam worked for 13 years at Microsoft, helping to develop early versions of Outlook, Explorer, and Bing. He founded Apex Technologies, which develops software for use in molecular design. He holds 19 patents. His science-fiction trilogy Nexus was awarded several prizes. He is chair of Energy and Environmental Systems at Singularity University.

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