Information Theory

David Moser, a linguistics scholar at Capital Normal University and author of A Billion Voices, shares his insights on learning Chinese. He discusses the complex challenges posed by Chinese characters, which hinder phonetic learning. Moser reflects on China’s transformation in the 1980s, the debate over a unified national language, and the balance between cultural identity and practicality in language. He emphasizes immersive learning techniques for mastering Mandarin and offers advice for new learners to prioritize speaking and listening.

Professor Avi Loeb is a theoretical physicist who was the longest-serving chair of Harvard University's Department of Astronomy.In this episode, we talk about the possible extraterrestrial origins of Oumuamua, the eventual fate of our solar system, and how mainstream academia suppresses risk-taking and innovation.0:00 Introduction1:46 The Discovery of Oumuamua8:05 Light Sails and Space Trash: An Artificial Origin for Oumuamua?12:53 Do Extraordinary Claims require Extraordinary Evidence?21:11 Why the Oumuamua Hypothesis generated so much Pushback26:14 How Academia Suppresses Risk-Taking and Innovation30:27 Advice for Young Scientists37:14 What Percentage of Astrophysics Research is Worthless?45:07 The Discovery of the First Interstellar Meteor52:16 What the US Government secretly knows about UAPs1:04:42 The Fermi Paradox and the Dark Forest hypothesis1:12:11 Conclusion"On the Possibility of an Artificial Origin for `Oumuamua" https://arxiv.org/pdf/2110.15213

Stephen Hsu, a theoretical physicist and tech entrepreneur, shares insights from his diverse career. He discusses the intricacies of research funding, shedding light on how financial priorities shape scientific innovation. Hsu also tackles the replication crisis, examining its implications for scientific credibility. He reflects on the evolution of computational genomics and challenges in linking theory to data. Additionally, he critiques the concept of 'the great stagnation' in scientific progress, advocating for a reassessment of how we gauge technological advancements.

Daniel Everett is a linguist and anthropologist whose work has challenged long-standing beliefs about human language and cognition.In 1977, Dan journeyed deep into the Amazon rainforest as a Christian missionary to live among an indigenous tribe of hunter-gatherers known as the Pirahã.He is the author of several acclaimed books, including "Don't Sleep, There are Snakes" and "How Language Began". Outline0:00 Episode highlight1:43 First arrival in the Amazon4:00 Unique attributes of the Pirahã language6:53 Noam Chomsky's influence on Linguistics12:05 Lessons from raising Children in the Jungle24:31 The Failure of Missionary Work36:53 Everett's most controversial paper49:51 How UG took over Linguistics57:44 The Future of the Pirahã