This week I talk about a controversial topic, genetically modified organisms and gene editing, and how these aspects of modern science can feed us far into the future. I will have links to the science on the show's web page, for my part I focus on the basics and the benefits of GMOs and gene editing for food production.

Also, metamaterial news, new planets, and the Hubble Constant



New strong and light metamaterial

The Hubble Constant

New Planets


(wild progenitors to some of our food)

Information about GMOs and Gene Editing:

https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org
https://www.bestfoodfacts.org/what-foods-are-gmo/
https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2017/02/23/rice-plants-genetically-tweaked-tame-arsenic-found-soil-reducing-risk-humans/
https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2017/02/16/organic-farming-better-environment/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis#Safety_studies
https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/06/19/how-your-food-would-look-if-not-genetically-modified-over-millennia/
https://futurism.com/a-new-drought-simulation-has-concluded-with-frightening-results/
http://ascienceenthusiast.com/crispr-cpf1-soybeans-healthier-no-dna/

Tags: food, farming, gmo, genetics, nasa, space, materials technology

This week I offer an overview of scientific consensus - what it is, and why we should accept it.

And in the news: Vantablack, and mud on Mars



Vantablack


(Surrey NanoSystems)

Mud on Mars


(NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

Scientific Consensus

(Randal Monroe/XKCD)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_consensus
https://futurism.com/what-is-scientific-consensus/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2016/06/24/what-does-scientific-consensus-mean/#560ae2c1377f

Tags: science, consensus, materials technology, mars, society

This week we cover the basics of Near Earth Objects, how we know about them, how often they might hit us, and the damage they can do.

Also, graphene bubbles and the EM Drive



Graphene Bubbles change color



The EM Drive (again)

Threats From Space - Near Earth Objects

(NASA/JHUAPL)

Links for your informational needs
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-Earth_object
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_impact_craters_on_Earth#Largest_craters_.2810_Ma_or_more.29
http://www.space.com/33695-thousands-meteorites-litter-earth-unpredictable-collisions.html
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/overview/fastfacts.html

Tags: space, asteroid, near earth object, NASA, emdrive, graphene, materials technology

This week we get into some of the core concepts and terminology behind current AI research. AI can be a rabbit hole of words that will make your head spin, I'll cover a few broad areas you'll hear most when people talk about AI.

Also, what is happiness, and new battery tech and the EmDrive in the news.



The Oatmeal on Happiness

New Battery Material

The EmDrive in a peer reviewed journal?




A selection of links on AI research areas and terminology
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~bolo/shipyard/neural/local.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_learning
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_learning
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_neural_network
http://techjaw.com/2015/04/08/deep-learning-for-dummies-carey-nachenberg/

Tags: artificial intelligence, materials technology, computers, ai, battery, machine learning, emdrive