Sentient Developments Podcast

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sentient Developments Episode 2012.01.30

Sentient Developments Podcast for the week of January 30, 2012.

This week's episode is devoted entirely to my paper (co-authored with Robert Bradbury and Milan Cirkovic) that was recently published in JBIS, "Dysonian Approach to SETI: A Fruitful Middle Ground?"

Tracks used in this episode:

"Oxygene II": Jean Michel Jarre
"Main Titles: Theme to the Bounty": Vangelis
"B. Aldrian": Harald Grosskopf
"Wheel of the Year": Advisory Circle

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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sentient Developments Episode 2012.01.23

Sentient Developments Podcast for the week of January 23, 2012.

In this week's episode I talk about the new mathematical study which reveals that our Galaxy should have been colonized by now, why Canadians are considering a ban on prenatal gender information, the growing gender imbalance, the latest on the lab-mutated avian flu, why whales are people, health tips to avoid cognitive decline, and why the sex-chip may not be such a good idea.

Tracks used in this episode:

Alcest: "Autre Temps"
SBTRKT: "Pharoahs"
Lower Dens: "Nootropics"

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Sunday, January 15, 2012

Sentient Developments Episode 2012.01.16

Sentient Developments Podcast for the week of January 16, 2012.

In this week's episode I talk about the assassination of an Iranian nuclear physicist and how scientists are increasingly coming to be seen as military targets. In addition, I discuss the Stuxnet worm, the devastating potential for solar storms, EMP, and botulinum attacks.

Tracks used in this episode:

Sepalcure: "Pencil Pimp"
Todd Terje: "Snnoze 4 Love"
Harald Grosskopf: "Synthesist" (Blondes remix)
The Reflecting Skin: "Traffikers"

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Sunday, January 08, 2012

Sentient Developments Episode 2012.01.09

Sentient Developments Podcast for the week of January 9, 2012.

In this week's episode I talk about my renewed focus on diet and exercise now that the Christmas season is now over. In addition, I rank the most powerful forces in the universe, I discuss the recent work done by a Dutch lab to modify the bird flu, and I offer an alternative perspective on the potential for complete nuclear disarmament.

Tracks used in this episode:

Phantogram: "Don't Move"
Thee Oh Sees: "The Dream"
Soft Metals: "Psychic Driving"

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Sunday, January 01, 2012

Sentient Developments Episode 2012.01.02

Sentient Developments Podcast for the week of January 2, 2012.

This week's episode is themed around animal enhancement. Topics discussed include the recent film Rise of the Planet of the Apes, human-and-animal video game interaction, the ethics of animal uplift, and the recent report in the U.S. declaring chimps largely unessential as research subjects.

Tracks used in this episode:

Panda Bear: "Scheherazade"
Antlers: "Rolled Together"
Snowman: "Snakes and Ladders"

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Sentient Developments Episode 2011.12.19

Sentient Developments Podcast for the week of December 19, 2011.

This week's episode is devoted entirely to the life and work of Christopher Hitchens who passed away last week.

Tracks used in this episode:

Gang Gang Dance: "Glass Jar"
M83: "Intro"

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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Sentient Developments Episode 2011.12.12

Sentient Developments Podcast for the week of December 12, 2011.

Topics discussed in this week's episode include my new strength routine, using Ecstasy to treat autism, cognitive enhancement and potential side-effects, Radiolabs on amnesia and free will, H+ interview with Eric Drexler, New paper by Keith B. Wiley: "The Fermi Paradox, Self-Replicating Probes, and the Interstellar Transportation Bandwidth", genetically modifying mosquitos to combat diseases (and mosquitos), and how to engineer a zombie virus.

Tracks used in this episode:

Liturgy: Generation
Tim Hecker: The Piano Drop
The Field: This is Power
Biosphere: Genkai-1

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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sentient Developments podcast for the week of November 28, 2011

Sentient Developments Podcast for the week of November 28, 2011.

Topics discussed in this week's episode include the current Adderall shortage in the United States and its rampant off-label use (including a discussion of its nootropic qualities), the question of whether or not SETI is scientific (in response to a recent Rationally Speaking Podcast episode), how to avoid an asteroid impact (reflecting on Phil Plait's recent TED talk), observing the lost tribes of the Amazon (in consideration of Scott Wallace's new book), and remembering biologist Lynn Margulis.

Tracks used in this episode:

Opeth: "Heritage"
Cynic: "Amidst the Coals"
Cynic: "Hieroglyph"
Steven Wilson: "Grace for Drowning"

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