Big Brains

Climate change can feel like an impossible crisis these days. Every week there is some new report about the irreversible damage we’re doing to our planet and the havoc it will bring to people’s lives. We all know cutting emissions is the solution, yet governments and companies seem no closer to meeting the goals that scientists say we must hit. It can feel hopeless.There is one possible controversial solution to climate change many in the mainstream haven’t discussed. It’s so controversial, in fact, that some experts say we shouldn’t even be discussing it. But University of Chicago Professor David Keith says we need to talk about it. It’s called solar geoengineering—the process in which you reflect a small fraction of sunlight back into space. As the founding director of the Climate Systems Engineering Initiative at UChicago, Keith is leading a team that will research solar geoengineering and other novel solutions to climate change. 

By now, you've probably heard about the dangers of PFAS “forever chemicals.” These chemicals are all around us—they're in waterproof hiking boots, electronics, nonstick pans and even our drinking water—but there's no way for them to break down in our environment. Epidemiological studies have linked to these chemicals to numerous diseases—from kidney cancer, liver cancer, obesity, decreased fertility and more.American toxicologist Linda Birnbaum has been sounding the alarms about how PFAS are harming our health for the last few decades. She was previously the director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences at the NIH and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She explains that while we cannot completely avoid PFAS, there are steps we can take to limit our exposure.Subscribe to Big Brains on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Psychologist Adam Mastroianni discusses the perception of moral decline in society and presents research showing it is an illusion. They explore the impact of this perception on loneliness and the distortion of our understanding of societal change. The importance of historical context and not being overly confident in personal perceptions is emphasized.

Steven Levitt, author of 'Freakonomics' and University of Chicago scholar, talks about his role as a data scientist, using a coin flip for decision-making, and his groundbreaking research on crime prevention. He also discusses the link between crime and abortion, the use of GPS ankle bracelets for criminal justice reform, and the benefits of podcasting over writing books.

Renowned terrorism expert Robert Pape discusses the growing acceptance of political violence in the US, with around 12 million Americans believing violence is justified to restore Trump to power. He highlights the need to strengthen democratic institutions and address the approximately 10% of the population that supports violence and extremism. The podcast explores the erosion of freedoms, spread of misinformation, and potential challenges to American democracy, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan efforts and media responsibility in preventing political violence leading up to the 2024 election.

Renowned UChicago law professor Tom Ginsburg and President Paul Alivisatos discuss the significance of free expression in universities, challenges to academic freedom and freedom of speech, and the importance of defending campus free speech. They also explore the University of Chicago's new initiative, the Chicago Forum on Free Inquiry and Expression, and how universities can promote free expression and create environments for dialogue across difference.

Renowned Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer discusses her groundbreaking research on the mind-body connection and the power of mindfulness. She shares surprising findings on the impact of mindset on physical health, sleep, and performance. Langer emphasizes the need to explore the limits of human capabilities and critiques the healthcare system. Overall, she presents a compelling case for the transformative power of mindfulness in improving our health and well-being.

Author Adrian Johns discusses the history of reading, the reading wars, and the connection between reading and society. He explores the controversy between phonics and whole word reading methods, as well as the neuroscience of reading and the impact of technology. The importance of teaching children to read using phonics is emphasized, along with the challenges of navigating a changing media landscape.

One of the first areas to be affected by AI has been science. Researchers have already started to integrate these new technologies into their work, but what does it mean to let these systems into our labs? Can they be trusted? And, if they so, how radically can they push science forward?Prof. Rebecca Willett is the faculty director of AI at the University of Chicago Data Science Institute. She is at the forefront of thinking through how AI will change science, and in this episode, she examines the opportunities—and the dangers—of this rapidly emerging technology.Big Brains is sponsored by the Graham School for Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies.

AI promises to change every part of our society, but one area that has already started to be affected is law. And AI may do more than just upend the profession of lawyers. One professor here at the University of Chicago believes that, with its ability to handle massive data sets, AI could be used to entirely change the law itself, making it personal for every individual based on how they live their lives. It’s a radical idea, but one we may need to start confronting sooner rather than later.In the last few months AI has become the number one topic on everyone’s mind. This is the second episode of a three-part series on the ways today's researchers think AI will build the world of tomorrow. As we continue our summer break, these first two episodes are re-releases, with the final part of the series featuring a brand-new guest. Given the recent developments in AI, coming back to these episodes has made them all the more fascinating and important. We hope you get as much out of them as we did. Thanks for listening!Big Brains is sponsored by the Graham School for Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies.