Flash Forward

How much of what you do is actually your choice? What if you were secretly being controlled by a parasite that had infected your brain? What if that infection was spreading? Guests:David Walton, author of The Genius PlagueTade Thompson, author or RosewaterCharissa de Bekker, researcher at the University of Central FloridaSandeep Ravindran, science journalistFor additional reading and resources on this episode, visit flashforwardpod.com. Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The voices from the future this week were provided by Charles Anderson, David Dunsmuir, Anthony Friscia, Andrea Klunder and Brent Rose. Check out Brent’s project Connected States, in which he drives around the US in a big van, at http://www.connectedstates.com/. You can listen to Andrea’s podcast The Creative Imposter wherever you get your podcasts. If you want to be a voice in a future scene for Flash Forward, that is one of the perks of a $10 Patreon pledge! Whenever I need voices I send out a little note to those patrons and people can sign up to do one! The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky. Who is amazing! You should check out their art AND you should go look at the new magazine that they’re creating at the comics website The Nib. Go to membership.thenib.com to learn more about that.If you want to suggest a future we should take on, send us a note on Twitter, Facebook or by email at info@flashforwardpod.com. We love hearing your ideas! And if you think you’ve spotted one of the little references I’ve hidden in the episode, email us there too. If you’re right, I’ll send you something cool. And if you want to support the show, there are a few ways you can do that too! Head to www.flashforwardpod.com/support for more about how to give. But if that’s not in the cards for you, you can head to Apple Podcasts and leave us a nice review or just tell your friends about us. Those things really do help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we travel to the near-future of advertising. Welcome to a future in which you can sign up to be a brand ambassador, and get paid for every time you mention a product in conversation. Simply download the app, and your phone will listen to your every word waiting to hear brand names, and pay you some money every time you mention one. Guests:Deborah Dahl, speech technology expert and principal of Conversational TechnologiesLee Tien, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier FoundationLindsey Webber, writer, editor and cohost of the podcast Who? WeeklyBobby Finger, writer at Jezebel and cohost of the podcast Who? WeeklyKristen Strader, campaign coordinator for Public Citizen’s Commerical Alert program🚀 Further reading and source notes can be found here 🚀Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

~~~~ TAKE THE SURVEY! (Please) ~~~~Today we tackle the age-old question: what if animals could talk? Or, more precisely, what if we could actually understand what animals are saying?Guests:Con Slobodchikoff, professor at Northern Arizona University, CEO of Zoolingua, and author of Chasing Dr. Doolittle: Learning the Language of Animals.Irene Pepperberg, professor of psychology Harvard University, author of Alex and Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence-and formed a Deep Bond in the ProcessAlexandra Horowitz, professor at Barnard, head of dog cognition lab, author of Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and KnowAshley Shew, professor at Virginia Tech, author of Animal Constructions and Technological KnowledgeKeri Cronin, professor at Brock University, author of Art for Animals: Visual Culture and Animal Advocacy, 1875-1914Further Reading:The “Clever Hans Phenomenon” revisitedLost in Translation: Koko the gorilla and language researchThe Alex studies: cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrotReddit AMA: I am Dr. Irene Pepperberg, research associate at Harvard in the field of avian cognition...ask me anythingAnimal language studies: What happened?Learn to sniff like a dog.“‘Can’t You Talk?’: Voice and Visual Culture in Early Animal Welfare (more reading at Flash Forward's main site) Learn more about Twenty Thousand Hertz hereLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1960's, the United States spent millions of dollars exploring two different realms: outer space, and the deep oceans. But today, only one of those programs is still around. Why do space colonies seem more likely than underwater cities? And what does it take to build a settlement on the sea floor?Guests:Ben Hellwarth, journalist and author of SEALAB: America's Forgotten Quest to Live and Work on the Ocean FloorJim Fourqurean, professor of Marine Science at Florida International University and the director of the Center for Coastal Oceans ResearchRoger Garcia, operations director at Aquarius Reef BaseKatherine Sammler, assistant professor at California State University Maritime in the department of Global Studies & Maritime AffairsFurther Reading/Watching:The Silent WorldJFK's Moon Shot speechJFK 1961 remarks on the oceanJFK Address at the Anniversary Convocation of the National Academy of Sciences, 22 October 1963SEALAB: America's Forgotten Quest to Live and Work on the Ocean FloorTo Tell The Truth featuring Bob BarthI have lived underwaterMedina Aquarius ProgramFrom the Ocean’s Abyss to the Vacuum of Space: Privatization in the Vertical Commons National Governance Of Ocean VolumesSubsuming the Submerged: Producing Seabeds as Political Territories.Knowing the Abyss: Seeking Geographies of Ocean Space.The Deep Pacific: Island Governance and Seabed Mineral Development.United Nations Convention on the Law of the SeaCredits:Produced by me, Rose Eveleth.The intro music: AsuraOuttro music: Hussalonia.Voices of the future this episode: Stephen Granade and Andrea Klunder.Episode art: Matt Lubchansky.Get in touch at info@flashforwardpod.com.Support the show. Rate & review on Apple Podcasts.Twitter // Facebook // InstagramLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode I welcome you to the Museum of Non-Human Art, a brand new gallery full of art made entirely by machines, computers, algorithms, robots and other non-human entities. I hope your enjoy your visit!To see pictures of any of the artworks we talked about on this show head to the website! Guests:Elizabeth Stephens, Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of QueenslandMichael Noll, computer artist, professor emeritus at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern CaliforniaAhmed Elgammel, director of the The Art & Artificial Intelligence Lab at Rutgers UniversityOrit Gat, art critic & writerXiaoyu Weng, Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Associate Curator of Chinese Art at the Guggenheim Further Reading:Do Androids Dream of Electric Bananas?Machines in the GardenAutomata by Jacquet-DrozThe Story of Jacquet-DrozWhen the Machine Made Art "Incredible Machine" (1968) — main-title animation sequence for award-winning movie by Owen Murphy Productions for the American Telephone & Telegraph Company."Patterns by 7090," by Michael Noll"Computer Generated Ballet" by Michael NollHuman or Machine: A Subjective Comparison of Piet Mondrian’s ‘Composition with Lines’ and a Computer–Generated PictureCAN: Creative Adversarial Networks Generating “Art” by Learning About Styles andDeviating from Style NormsQuantifying Creativity in Art NetworksLarge-Scale Classification of Fine-Art Paintings: Learning the Right Metric on the Right FeatureA Computer Vision System for Artistic Influence MiningTales of Our Time Exhibit at the GuggenheimSun Yuan & Peng Yu: Tales of Our TimeFlash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Want to send a note or idea? Spotted a reference? Email me at info@flashforwardpod.com. Want to donate? Head this way. Can't give money? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Tell a friend about the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1918, the Spanish flu killed four to five percent of the entire global population. Infectious disease experts all agree that another pandemic is coming. It's when, not if. But are we ready for it? Today's episode explores what happens when a pandemic strikes, what the most likely candidates are, and whether or not the world is ready.Guests:Ed Yong, science writer at The AtlanticNahid Bhadelia, assistant professor at Boston University School of Medicine and the Medical Director of Special Pathogens Unit (SPU) at Boston Medical CenterLaura Spinney, science writer and author of Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the WorldNicola Twilley, co-host of Gastropod and author of a forthcoming book on quarantineFurther Reading:The Next Plague is Coming. Is America Ready?Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the WorldYuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being by Harold NapoleonStrengthening Health Systems While Responding to a Health Crisis: Lessons Learned by a Nongovernmental Organization During the Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic in Sierra Leone Medicine’s Long, Thin Supply ChainWhat Bill Gates Fears MostPredicting virus emergence amid evolutionary noiseNebraska’s Biocontainment UnitThe Terrifying Lessons of a Pandemic SimulationClade X LivestreamCDC Director: Why I Don’t Support A Travel Ban To Combat The Ebola OutbreakProtecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters and BioterrorismHow prepared is the world for the next epidemic? This tool shows most countries are not.Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The voices from the future this episode were provided by Paul Krueger, Sean Raines, and Sameer Ajmani. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.Get in touch: Twitter, Facebook, info@flashforwardpod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode we take on a future where space junk has gotten so bad, that active spacecraft are constantly having to maneuver around it, which wastes fuel and cuts down on operation time. And humans decide to finally do something about it. But what?Guests:Loren Grush, science reporter at The VergeLisa Ruth Rand, historian of science technology and the environment.Tiago Soares, systems engineer for ESA’s Clean Space programAndrew Wolahan, systems engineer for ESA’s e.deorbit programAlice Gorman, space archaeologist at Flinders University Jill Stuart, space policy & law expert at the London School of EconomicsFurther Reading:Tracking Space JunkHow can humans clean up our space junk?The Space Junk Problem is About to get a Whole Lots GnarlierOrbital Decay: Space Junk and the Environmental History of Earth’s Planetary BorderlandsThe Forgotten Cold War Plan That Put A Ring Of Copper Around The EarthProject West Ford, NASA RepositoryJapanese mission to clear up space junk ends in failureThis is what happens when a tiny piece of flying space debris hits the ISSESA EnvisatESA Clean SpaceESA e.deorbitSpace Age ArchaeologyWhat is Space Archaeology?The Outer Space Treaty has been remarkably successful – but is it fit for the modern age?Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The space dispatcher from the top of the episode was played by Andrew Hackard. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky. If you want to suggest a future we should take on, send us a note on Twitter, Facebook or by email at info@flashforwardpod.com. And if you think you’ve spotted one of the little references I’ve hidden in the episode, email us there too. If you’re right, I’ll send you something cool. And if you want to support the show, there are a few ways you can do that too! Head to www.flashforwardpod.com/support for more about how to give. But if that’s not in the cards for you, you can head to iTunes and leave us a nice review or just tell your friends about us. Those things really do help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the rise in consumer DNA tests and online genealogy, people might soon have a pretty good idea where their families came from for generations. But are we putting too much faith in DNA? Can our genetic ancestry really tell us anything about ourselves? And what happens when DNA databases become playgrounds for true crime sleuths?Guests:Carl Zimmer, science journalist and author of She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions and Potential of HeredityKristen V. Brown, biotechnology reporter at BloombergKim Tallbear, author of Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic ScienceClan_McCrimmon, moderator of the Lyle Stevik subreddit Colleen Fitzpatrick and Margaret Press, cofounders of DNA Doe Kelly Hills, cofounder of Rogue BioethicsFurther Reading:She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions and Potential of HeredityNative American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic ScienceThe Garden of Invention: Luther Burbank and the Business of Breeding Plants In an Age of Gene Editing and Surrogacy, What Does Heredity Mean? How DNA Testing Botched My Family's Heritage, and Probably Yours, Too DNA testing is like the 'Wild West'; should it be more tightly regulated? DNA test kits: Consider the privacy implications The ingenious and ‘dystopian’ DNA technique police used to hunt the ‘Golden State Killer’ suspect The Strange Case of the Man With No Name Web Sleuths: Lyle Stevik Reddit: Lyle Stevik GED MatchActive DNA Doe CasesDNA Doe Lyle Stevik Press Release Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guests:Susan Quinn, author of Furious Improvisation: How the WPA and a Cast of Thousands Made High Art out of Desperate Times and other books.Monet Noelle Marshall, playwright, consultant, artist, director, founder of JOCOAA.Monica Byrne, novelist, playwright, futurist, activist.Further Reading:Furious Improvisation: How the WPA and a Cast of Thousands Made High Art out of Desperate Times by Susan QuinnThe New Deal Art Projects, An Anthology of Memoirs by Francis V. O’ConnorEngendering Culture: Manhood and Womanhood In New Deal Public Art and Theater by Barbara MedoshAmerican-Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA:When FDR Put the Nation to Work by Nick TaylorThe Subsidized Muse: Public Support for the Arts in the United States by Dick NetzerThe American Guide to the New VermontAfter the Curtain CallsCreator of the Week with Monica ByrneWhat if Trump Really Does End Money for the Arts?Global Trends in Art FundingHow the United States Funds the ArtsCulturally Impoverished: US NEA Spends 1/40th of What Germany Doles Out for Arts Per CapitaWhy Are Americans So Hostile to State-Funded Art?Orson Welles’ Voodoo Macbeth: A forgotten diversity landmarkFlash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The voice of your future president was played by Andrea Klunder, the Producer & host of The Creative Impostor and Podcast Envy podcasts. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky. If you think you’ve spotted one of the little references I’ve hidden in the episode, email us there too. If you’re right, I’ll send you something cool. And if you want to support the show, there are a few ways you can do that too! Head to www.flashforwardpod.com/support for more about how to give. But if that’s not in the cards for you, you can head to Apple Podcasts and leave us a nice review. Or just tell your friends about the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode we talk exoskeletons: what are they being used for now? What might they be used for in the future? And what happens when they’re everywhere?Guests:Tim Pote, PhD student at Virginia TechGreg Pote, Tim’s brotherDr. Bill Marras, professor at The Ohio State University & Director of the Spine Research InstituteLarry Jasinksi, CEO, RewalkAshley Shew, assistant professor at Virginia Tech in technology & disability, and author of Animal Constructions and Technological KnoweldgeKim Sauder, graduate student in Disability Studies, author of Crippled Scholar blogBill Peace, anthropologist & bioethicist, author of Bad Cripple blogFurther Reading:The robotic exoskeleton market is poised to grow to $1.9 billion in 2025, compared to $97 million in 2016, says ABI Research's Dan Kara.Berkeley BLEEX ExoskeletonExoskeletons Won’t Turn Assembly Workers into Iron ManWe Try a New Exoskeleton for Construction WorkersThe Exoskeletons Are ComingReWalk TestimonialsFor heavy lifting, use exoskeletons with cautionBiomechanical evaluation of exoskeleton use on loading of the lumbar spineExoskeletons for industrial application and their potential effects on physical work loadThe effects of a passive exoskeleton on muscle activity, discomfort and endurance time in forward bending work.The Exoskeleton’s Hidden BurdenWalking is Over RatedThe Obsession With WalkingExoskeletons as a Social ProblemYou Cannot Kill a Bad Idea: The Exoskeleton LivesReWalk: A Plea for Common SenseFlash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The voice of the future historian from the intro was by Sarah Werner. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.For more about the show or this episode go HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices