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Sep 25, 2025 • 48min

Growing Meat from Cells

Justin Kolbeck, co-founder and CEO of Wildtype, is on a mission to revolutionize seafood by cultivating salmon cells without harming fish. He discusses the thrill of watching heart cells beat, the challenges of scaling production, and navigating regulatory hurdles. Justin emphasizes the urgency of addressing wild fish stock issues and details their journey from lab experiments to potential cost-effective solutions. With taste tests showing consumers can't tell the difference from traditional salmon, Wildtype aims for a sustainable future in seafood.
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49 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 44min

The Ordinary Stuff Behind Technological Breakthroughs

Ed Conway, an economics journalist and author of 'Material World,' dives into the impactful role of materials in advancing civilization. He reveals how glass drove scientific breakthroughs, linking Renaissance art to modern technology. Iron and coal's transformation led to the steam engine's rise, but today's steel production poses significant CO2 challenges. Meanwhile, copper is crucial for electrification yet faces scarcity and environmental hurdles. Conway emphasizes the trade-offs of materials, highlighting our past's influence on the future.
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15 snips
Sep 11, 2025 • 38min

Carbon Capture at Rock-Bottom Prices

Shashank Samala, the CEO and co-founder of Heirloom, discusses innovative carbon capture solutions using crushed limestone. He shares how his childhood in India shaped his passion for tackling climate change. The conversation dives into the cost-effective methods of capturing atmospheric CO2 and the role of government policies in supporting this industry. Shashank also highlights a groundbreaking project aimed at capturing one million tons of carbon annually, drawing parallels with the solar industry's evolution.
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Sep 9, 2025 • 28min

Ferrari Fandom, Supercharged by AI from Smart Talks with IBM

Fred Baker, who leads sports and entertainment for IBM Consulting across EMEA, discusses the revolutionary collaboration between IBM and Scuderia Ferrari. They explore how AI is transforming fan engagement, creating personalized experiences for nearly 400 million fans. Baker reflects on nostalgic moments shaping Ferrari loyalty and the integration of innovative apps that foster community among car enthusiasts. He highlights the growth of fan-focused technology, showcasing how data can deepen emotional connections and revolutionize how fans interact with their passion.
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Sep 4, 2025 • 44min

Why Amazon Built a Spatula-Wielding Robot

Aaron Parness, Director of Applied Science at Amazon Robotics, discusses the challenges of building robots that can efficiently organize and handle items in chaotic environments. He explains the groundbreaking work done with the Vulcan robotic arm, designed for unpredictable warehouse layouts. The conversation dives into tactile sensing integration and how it enhances robotic capabilities. Parness also touches on potential applications beyond warehousing, linking technological advancements with personal growth and future planning.
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4 snips
Aug 28, 2025 • 37min

Drilling Smarter Wells to Unleash Geothermal Energy

Carl Hoiland, co-founder and CEO of Zanskar, shares his insights on revolutionizing geothermal energy. He discusses groundbreaking techniques to locate steam deposits beneath the earth's surface, highlighting the advances in AI and probabilistic modeling that enhance drilling precision. Carl recounts the thrilling challenges of geothermal well drilling and the emotional stakes involved. He underscores the potential of geothermal energy in the clean energy transition and how these innovations could reshape the industry in the future.
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4 snips
Aug 21, 2025 • 32min

Inventing a Better Pain Pill

Dr. Stephen Waxman, a Yale professor specializing in neurology, neuroscience, and pharmacology, discusses the promising new pain medication, suzetrigine. He explains its innovative approach to targeting nerve cell ion channels without addiction risks. The conversation delves into the complexities of pain, the unique condition Man on Fire syndrome, and the rigorous journey of drug development. Waxman emphasizes the ongoing need for research in pain management to improve treatment outcomes and combat the opioid crisis.
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Aug 14, 2025 • 36min

Mapping the Unmappable

Philipp Kandal, Chief Product Officer of Grab, discusses the unique challenges of mapping in Southeast Asia, where narrow and winding streets complicate navigation. He shares insights on how Grab uses innovative technologies, including AI and specialized cameras, to enhance real-time mapping. The conversation covers advancements in indoor mapping for better delivery efficiency and the integration of multilingual support to cater to diverse users. Kandal emphasizes the importance of adapting technology to local needs, shaping the future of navigation in the region.
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16 snips
Aug 7, 2025 • 36min

Reinventing Blood

Dr. Allan Doctor, co-founder of Kalocyte and a professor at the University of Maryland, dives into the groundbreaking world of dried red blood cells that can revolutionize medical emergencies. He unpacks the complex science behind artificial blood, the history and risks of blood substitutes, and the role of novel technologies like lipid nanoparticles. Learn about the challenges in creating artificial red blood cells and how these advancements could save millions of lives by enhancing medical responses in critical situations.
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12 snips
Jul 17, 2025 • 47min

The AI Pioneer Developing New Kinds of Medicine

Jakob Uszkoreit, CEO and co-founder of Inceptive and co-author of the transformative paper on AI, discusses the groundbreaking role that transformer models play in modern technology. He dives into how these models revolutionize language processing and explores their application in predicting protein structures. Jakob highlights the potential of AI in developing new RNA-based medical therapies, particularly inspired by the efficacy of mRNA vaccines during the COVID pandemic. His insights on the future of medicine showcase an exciting intersection of AI and healthcare.

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