Jul 8

Why Is North Sentinel Island Totally Off-Limits?

This small island in the Bay of Bengal is home to one of the last uncontacted peoples on the planet -- and they seem to want to keep it that way. Learn how North Sentinel Island has remained independent in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuf ... Show More

9m 41s

Jul 7

How Have Obituaries Changed?

Public death notices about common people are a fairly recent development, and they've changed a lot since their inception. Learn how obituaries went from dry statements to tributes to truth in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/cul ... Show More

8m 20s

Jul 6

BrainStuff Classics: What Is the Mandela Effect?

When many people share a false memory, that's the Mandela Effect in action -- but how does it happen? Learn how our individual brains misremember stuff and how false memories can spread in this classic episode of BrainStuff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6m 35s

Apr 2021

Punish the Machine, Part 2

What will we do when robots and artificial intelligences break the law? In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the issue of robot moral and legal agency. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listene ... Show More

1h 4m

Sep 2021

Ruth Aylett and Patricia A. Vargas, "Living with Robots: What Every Anxious Human Needs to Know" (MIT Press, 2021)

There's a lot of hype about robots; some of it is scary and some of it utopian. In this accessible book, two robotics experts reveal the truth about what robots can and can't do, how they work, and what we can reasonably expect their future capabilities to be. It will not only ma ... Show More

1h 5m

Oct 2021

TechStuff Classic: Do We Need Humanoid Robots?

In this classic episode, Josh Clark joins the podcast to talk about humanoid robots. Why are we so concerned about building them and are they a good idea? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

55m 18s

May 2018

The Shape-Shifting Robot That Evolves by Falling Down

Don't even worry about Dyret the robot. At first glance, the scrawny quadruped looks pathetic, as it struggles to walk without collapsing. But keep watching, and you’ll see it start to improve—walking slowly, yet ever more proficiently. Dyret the robot is teaching itself to walk. ... Show More

5m 55s

Nov 2020

TechStuff Makes Eye Contact with a Robot

Disney Imagineers are working on animatronic figures that can make eye contact with humans and the results are fascinating (and a little creepy). We explore what has to happen to create a robot that can make eye contact. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca ... Show More

49m 21s

Feb 2011

TechStuff vs. BattleBots

In 1992, Marc Thorpe had a vision: What if people could build their own robots, and pit them against others? In this episode, Jonathan and Chris take a closer look at the history of Robot Wars and BattleBots. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.co ... Show More

34m 22s

Jul 2023

Can AI Benefit Wildlife? Conservation Technology Says Yes!

Calling all tech lovers! Amazing Wildlife is joined by the head of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Conservation Technology Lab, scientist Ian Ingram. He shares with Rick and Marco how the latest technology is being used to help wildlife, and how we hope to implement it in the A ... Show More

29m 49s

Oct 2022

The Killer Robot Future Is Already Here

The killer robots are here and they’re not going away. We’ve all seen footage of the cute robot dogs stumbling around with weapons strapped to their back, and loitering munitions (or so-called “suicide drones”) have become a fixture on the battlefield in Ukraine. There’s a gener ... Show More

42m 2s

BrainStuff Classics: How Can Robots Help...