
50 episodes

WSJ’s The Future of Everything The Wall Street Journal
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- Technology
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4.3 • 1.3K Ratings
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What will the future look like? The Future of Everything offers a kaleidoscope view of the nascent trends that will shape our world. In every episode, join our award-winning team on a new journey of discovery. We’ll take you beyond what’s already out there, and make you smarter about the scientific and technological breakthroughs on the horizon that could transform our lives for the better.
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How Football Tech May Change the Game for Head Injuries
When the game clock starts, football players aren’t just heading out with their pads and a game plan. Technology like helmet sensors that track the hits players take are becoming more common, especially for young players. They’re being used to figure out when a player might be at risk for a concussion or another brain injury. The data collected is helping researchers and doctors learn more about what happens to the brain over time. But could these innovations and research shape how we play football?
Further reading:
Tua Tagovailoa Is in the NFL’s Concussion Protocols Again - WSJ
Severity, Not Frequency, Sets Football Injuries Apart - WSJ
NFL and Nike Court a New Football Market: Girls - WSJ
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Algorithms Are Everywhere. How You Can Take Back Control
Computer algorithms and artificial intelligence increasingly affect more and more of our lives, from the content we’re shown online, to the music we enjoy, to how our household appliances work. But the results these algorithms produce may be changing our world in ways users may not fully understand. WSJ’s Danny Lewis speaks with psychologist Gerd Gigerenzer, director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy at the University of Potsdam. He’s spent decades studying how people make choices and find patterns when faced with uncertainty, and has some ideas about how to navigate and improve the relationship between AI and our society.
Further reading:
The Backstory of ChatGPT Creator OpenAI
New York City Delays Enforcement of AI Bias Law
How AI That Powers Chatbots and Search Queries Could Discover New Drugs
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From Laundry to the Ocean: Fixing the Microplastics Problem in Clothes
Our clothes are in need of a refresh, but not in the way you might think. With each wash, everything from sweaters to socks are releasing tiny, microscopic fibers into our water. Almost 35% of the primary microplastics in oceans right now come from laundry, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
From filters in our washing machines to new materials for our clothes, alternatives are in the works to stop microplastics from coming off our clothes. But will it be enough? WSJ’s Alex Ossola and Ariana Aspuru speak about the steps researchers and companies are taking to solve the problem of microplastics in our wash.
Further reading:
The Tiny Plastics in Your Clothes Are Becoming a Big Problem - WSJ
Ocean Garbage Patches Have a Microscopic Problem - WSJ
Fashion Firms Look to Single-Fiber Clothes as EU Recycling Regulations Loom - WSJ
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Navigating The Future of Maps
From paper maps to smartphone apps, the way people navigate the world has changed tremendously due to the rise of the internet. Google Maps is the fourth most popular mobile app in the U.S. by unique visitors, according to Comscore. That makes it more popular than Instagram, Tiktok and Spotify or its closest competitor, Apple Maps. Christopher Phillips, who runs Google’s Geo team and oversees Google Maps, speaks with WSJ’s Danny Lewis about how his company is thinking about the role maps play in bringing more information to our fingertips.
Further reading:
WSJ: The Future of Transportation
Google Combines Maps and Waze Teams Amid Pressure to Cut Costs
Google Reaches $391.5 Million Settlement With States Over Location Tracking Practices
Slow Self-Driving Car Progress Tests Investors’ Patience
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Making It Rain: How Cloud Seeding Could Help Combat Future Droughts
This past summer, many parts of the world suffered from some of the worst drought conditions in decades. In an effort to create more rain, the government of China turned once again to cloud seeding, a controversial technique that aims to target precipitation in key areas. WSJ’s Alex Ossola talks to Dr. Katja Friedrich, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, about the advantages and disadvantages of using cloud seeding to get more water where it is needed.
Further reading:
China Extends Power Curbs Amid Heat Wave, Drought
China, Thirsty and Craving Rain, Lines Clouds With Silver Bullets
When the U.S. Tried to Control Hurricanes
Indonesian Snapshot: The Rainmakers of Riau
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Thanksgiving of the Future: What Climate Change Means for Your Plate
Thanksgiving often centers around a meal: turkey, sides and a lot of desserts. This year, many Thanksgiving staples are more expensive due to inflation; in the future, many of those staples will cost even more due to the effects of climate change. WSJ’s Alex Ossola looks into how environmental conditions, alongside technological advances, will change what makes its way to our Thanksgiving tables, and how our individual choices may spark new traditions.
Further reading:
The Trouble With Butter: Tight Dairy Supplies Send Prices Surging Ahead of Baking Season
Record Turkey Prices Are Coming for Thanksgiving
Lab-Grown Poultry Clears First Hurdle at FDA
Sean Sherman’s 2018 op-ed in Time
The Essential Thanksgiving Playbook
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Customer Reviews
Great Podcast
Wonderfully produced. Great topics. High fiving a million angels 🙌
Great topic, bad interview
Cloud seeding is an excellent topic for informative discussion. Unfortunately, this guest was entirely underwhelming and the interviewer didn’t really improve the effort. I typically love this podcast but this one left me high and dry. Better luck next time!
This pod used to be good
Your guest on bio whatever didn’t even know how to explain what she’s doing. Bunch of gobblety goop