The World as You’ll Know It: The Great Rebuild

Exploring the urgent need for innovative technologies to combat climate change, experts discuss direct air capture (DAC) as a pivotal solution. They delve into the technology's evolution, from early skepticism rooted in the oil industry to recent advancements. Challenges abound, including high energy demands and financial hurdles, yet community involvement is crucial for progress. The conversation also highlights the importance of economic incentives and the potential for a transformative shift towards carbon-free energy solutions.

Rachael Fahkry is a policy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, while Jason Mortimer represents Electric Hydrogen. They dive into hydrogen's pivotal role in decarbonizing industries like steel and challenge its historical failures. Listeners learn about green hydrogen’s journey from hopeful promise to economic viability, contrasting visions on its use, and the ongoing technological advancements that could redefine energy production. The conversation also addresses the risks of transitioning to hydrogen amid regulatory hurdles and highlights exciting pilot projects.

Dr. David Hondula, the Director of Heat Response and Mitigation for Phoenix, dives into the critical issue of heat-related fatalities, emphasizing the paradox of air conditioning contributing to global warming. He explores sustainable cooling solutions, the economic and health impacts of extreme heat, and innovative technologies aimed at reducing carbon footprints. The discussion also highlights the importance of collaboration and informed decision-making in battling climate change while ensuring social equity in cooling access. A must-listen for eco-conscious minds!

The podcast delves into the history and future of nuclear power in the U.S., discussing the challenges faced in its development and the potential for smaller, more adaptable reactors. It highlights a unique research reactor run by undergraduates and explores misconceptions surrounding nuclear energy. Additionally, it examines sustainable air conditioning innovation and the role of nuclear power in achieving net zero emissions goals.

Discover the challenges of transitioning Americans to electric vehicles, including infrastructure needs and battery technology. Explore the impact of EV adoption on combating climate change and reducing emissions. Learn about the history and future advancements in battery technology for electric vehicles.

Author Greg Nemet discusses the surprising success of solar power, tracing its evolution from early days to present global impact. They explore the future potential of solar energy, challenges faced in expansion, and the transition to electric vehicles and battery varieties.

We’re currently involved in one of the most ambitious projects we, as humans, have ever attempted: Rebuilding the world, pretty much from the ground up, in order to switch from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. In this season of The World as You'll Know It, science journalist Arielle Duhaime-Ross goes deep inside the world of cutting-edge climate technologies and asks: How is this going to work? The answers — from some of the world’s most innovative and audacious thinkers, builders and investors — reveal the promise, obstacles and tradeoffs of a new clean-energy landscape that will shape the way we live. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speakers discuss the impact of AI on employment, job retraining, and concerns about AI causing harm. They explore regulating AI and the importance of international coordination. They delve into deliberate choices on social media and the experiences of speakers from marginalized communities. They examine the Tuskegee syphilis experiment and its impact on establishing bioethics. They discuss discrimination in employment decisions due to the alignment problem in computer science. They highlight potential conflicts, deaths, chaos, and the importance of making the right choices for the future of AI.

Engineer Blake Lemoine claims Google program Lambda has feelings; Simulation vs. human debate; The Eliza Effect & Lemoine's defense of Lambda; AI chatbots and building relationships; Expanding moral circle & future of sentient machines.

Amy Winter, a concept artist, and Brian Merchant, a technology columnist, explore the threat of generative AI to their careers. They discuss the impact of AI on various professions, the anxieties of artists, taxing capital, AI's impact on creative work, and the social role of AI in human lives.