Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category.

Critical Wit #64 – Glowing Genes: A Revolution in Biotechnology (Marc Zimmer)

Marc Zimmer is a professor of physical sciences with a specialization in computational chemistry at Connecticut College.  He is also the author of “Glowing Genes: A Revolution in Biotechnology.”  In this episode we discuss why the search for glowing jellyfish resulted in a biotechnological innovation that would be almost as important as the invention of the microscope.

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Critical Wit #52 – Graphene: Its Role In Future Technology Innovation

Sophie Bushwick is a freelance science writer who contributes to Scientific American’s Sixty Seconds Podcast, and is a writer for the io9 blogging network.  In this episode, we discuss the topic of graphene, a substance that has promising features and qualities for future technological innovations, such as more efficient solar cells, improved semiconductors, and more.  You can subscribe to Sophie’s blog, “Life is just a theory,” at www.sophiebushwick.com and follow her on Twitter @SophieBushwick.

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Critical Wit #41 – From The Cutting Room Floor 4

In this episode, I give you more interview excerpts from off of the cutting room floor, such as when I asked Mark Stevenson about nanotechnology, as well as how it felt interviewing the great minds in science (epsd 32), why the articles about imagination and creativity are amongst Maria Konnikova’s favorites in her Lessons From Sherlock Holmes series (epsd 38), and comedian Jill Twiss about differences between theater and stand-up (epsd 33), and of course, some bloopers and a tangential aside about cake-baking.

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Critical Wit #32 – An Optimistic Outlook of the Future

Mark Stevenson is the author of An Optimist’s Tour of the Future: One Curious Man Sets Out to Answer “What’s Next?”, a funny, informative story about the technologies and innovations that’s driving humanity.  Mark interviews the brightest minds researching things, such as transhumanism, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, carbon capture, and more.  This book is ideal for science enthusiasts who want to be pragmatically optimistic about the future.  You can find out more about Mark Stevenson by visiting his website, http://anoptimiststourofthefuture.com.

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Critical Wit #23 – The Science of Water Desalination

Joseph Cotruvo is the president of Joseph Cotruvo & Associates and a co-editor of the book, Desalination Technology: Health and Environmental Impacts.  In this episode, we talk about the science and technology of water desalination.

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Critical Wit #22 – The Science of Genetic Engineering

Pamela Ronald is a plant geneticist at the University of California – Davis, and co-author of the book, Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food.  The book is about how genetic engineering and organic farming can be tools in the production of food now, and in the future.  In this episode, we talk about the science behind genetic engineering.  Pam blogs on the scienceblogs network at Tomorrow’s Table, and you can follow her on twitter, @pcronald

 

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Critical Wit #5 – Political Pursuit of Renewable Energy

Hugh McDiarmid Jr., communications director from the Michigan Environmental Council, discusses how states, like Michigan, entice green energy manufacturing and generation; and to what degree its citizens can understand the political, economical, and logistical factors involved. Although we use Michigan as an example, if you’re listening to this from somewhere else, you may find what we discuss applicable to where you live.  Hugh also a personal blog at www.mittenstateblog.blogspot.com. (episode 5)