Escape Pod: #6 All About Warmth: Emotional, Physiological and Geological
Mar 5, 2024
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Bees generating warmth, geothermal energy, and robots portraying kindness and approachability are explored in this podcast. From the heat of the planet to emotional connections with robots, the team delves into various aspects of warmth.
Bees generate warmth to fend off invaders, showcasing selfless teamwork in colonies.
Geothermal energy, from geological heat sources, has historical roots and modern applications worldwide.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Warm-Bloodedness in Animals
Animals like birds and mammals are warm-blooded and maintain temperatures higher than their environments, offering protection against fungi. Honeybees exhibit remarkable teamwork by generating heat to fend off invading hornets, displaying selfless sacrifice among bees in the colony.
Earth's Planetary Warmth and Geothermal Energy
The Earth's warmth originates from geological activities like radioactive decay and primordial heat, providing a consistent flow of energy. Geothermal energy, harnessed from natural steam, has historical roots like the Roman baths and modern applications, with countries worldwide using it for electricity production.
Creating Friendly Robots Through Emotional Linkages
Robots can evoke warmth and trust by resembling friendly entities or engaging emotionally with users. Simple actions like politeness or expressions of need, akin to a robot offering to deliver cookies, can foster human-robot interactions. Studies have shown that warm interactions with robots can increase trust and adherence to tasks like diet plans.
This is a re-airing of a podcast originally released in February 2021.
Keeping you cosy this week is an episode all about warmth - emotional, physiological and geological.
We have an unexpected start to the show, with bees taking the spotlight, but it turns out these cold-blooded little insects can generate immense warmth when necessary.
The team then takes a much bigger view of warmth, discussing the heat of the planet, and of the many uses of geothermal energy.
Finally they wrap up by finding out what it takes to make a robot seem warm and friendly.
On the pod are Rowan Hooper, Anna Demming and Timothy Revell. Find out more at newscientist.com/podcasts