The Lab With Brad: Recent Episodes
Brad Barton
The Brothers Barton, talking armchair science from their armchairs. No politics, no guilt trips—it’s science!
Folk tales and freaky financeLet’s find out how Halloween makes money.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here are a couple of articles and a video on the economics of pumpkin farming.The economics of pumpkin patchesThe Economics of Pumpkin Patches | YouTubeHalloween Pumpkins: A Booming Farm BusinessAnd here’s a short video on how much Americans are expected to spend on Halloween this year—2024.How much money will Americans spend on Halloween this year?
Economics, confusion, and the Dutch puzzleWe start our look at the theory of economics, even though, or perhaps because, we don’t get it.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here’s a link to the episode in which we take a closer look at how the Dutch became a world power.Ep417: Tall ships and troubled tripsAnd here are a couple of articles on mercantilism.Mercantilism - EconlibMercantilism
420 for the moneyA quick look at the business of marijuana.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here’s an article on the challenges marijuana businesses face.Why weed companies can't make any moneyHere’s a video about starting a marijuana business in Oregon state.So you want to start a cannabis business—NOW WHAT?Here’s a list from Washington state of banks and other businesses that will work with pot based companies.Financial Services Options for Cannabis RetailersHere’s an IRS article about the tax issues facing marijuana businesses.Providing resources to help cannabis business owners successfully navigate unique tax responsibilitiesAnd here’s an article about the trouble pot businesses have finding banking services.The Big Problem for Marijuana Companies? What to Do With All That Cash
Economics, and the start of World War IIThe federal reserve had complicated reasons not to do their job. This caused a few miner issues, and a major war.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.Take 162 of Episode One: Don’t fear the reaperHere’s an article about the federal reserve, and what they did and didn’t do during the great depression.The Great DepressionAnd here’s a little something on the real bills doctrine.Real bills and the Federal Reserve
The great depressionThe 1930s saw the worst economic downturn in United States history, effecting the entire world. How did this happen?Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here are a few things on the dust bowl and the great depression.Great Depression and the Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl | Great Depression and World War II, 1929-1945The Dust Bowl and the DepressionWhy the Dust Bowl Was the Most Devastating Drought in US HistoryWhat was the Dust Bowl?And here are a few more things on the great depression.The Great DepressionAmericans React to the Great DepressionGreat Depression: Causes, Definition & Dates5 Causes of the Great Depression
When markets crashA bit on the Knickerbocker crisis, and the stock market crash of 1929.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here’s an article about the 1929 stock market crash.Stock Market Crash of 1929And here’s something on the 1907 Knickerbocker crisis.The Panic of 1907
Tall ships and troubled tripsAfter a rocky start, the Dutch managed to build enough wooden ships to take over the world, despite having no trees to speak of.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here’s an article that outlines the Dutch economy during what is called their golden age.The Dutch Economy in the Golden AgeHere’s a video about the Dutch East India Company.The Dutch East India Company: The Richest Company In The WorldHere’s a paper on what was learned about Dutch ship building from the wreck of one of their ships.Batavia shipwreck timbers reveal a key to Dutch success in 17th-century world tradeAnd here’s a video on 17th century Dutch ship building.17th century Dutch Shipbuilding
How stock markets beganWe take a look at the historical beginnings of stock trading and stock markets, with a side order of the Dutch.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here are a couple of articles about how stock markets began.History of Stock Market: Everything to Know How it All StartedA Brief History of the Stock Market
7 years of the lab, and some upcoming changesJoin us to celebrate 7 years of this show, and hear about new projects we’ve begun.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!
Technical issues!We’ve been having some trouble with one thing and another, so here’s a short apology to let you know we haven’t quit, and don’t plan to.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!
What are stocks and bonds?I’m sure you’ve at least heard of stocks and bonds, but, what in the 9 hells are they?Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here’s a site on stocks and stock trading.The Basics of Investing In StocksAnd here’s a site on bonds.Bonds: How They Work and How To Invest
When gold and silver don’t deliverIt’s all about central banks this time, their roll and historical roots.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!
It worked, until it didn’tJoin us for the Mississippi bubble, when a Scottish gambler and convicted murderer gain control of virtually all French finances.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here’s an article about John Law and the Mississippi bubble.John Law and the Mississippi Bubble: 1718-1720Here’s a video on the same thing.John Law and the Mississippi BubbleAnd here’s a much longer, and more detailed video.John Law - The First Financial Engineer - A History of Paper Money and The Mississippi Bubble
It’s the beginning of banks baby!Join us for the start of banks and banking, with a side trip to how US money is printed.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here’s an article about the printing of money in the US.Journey to CirculationHere’s a bit about how the federal reserve decided how much new money to order for 2024.Federal Reserve Board - Currency Print OrdersHere’s a nice outline of the history of banking.The history of banking from ancient times to nowAnd here’s a video, obviously meant for children, about how banking got started.HISTORY OF BANKS
Pick a cardJoin us for the beginnings of paper money and fiat currency.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.Take 159 of Episode One: Got Milk?Here are a couple of articles about the use of playing cards as money.A Good DealPlaying-Card MoneyAnd here’s a video about the invention of paper money.Inventing Paper Money
Coin flips and clipsJoin us as we attempt to figure out where the first coins came from.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here are a couple of things on Roman coins.Coin Production in the Roman WorldAncient Roman Coins: More Than Just MoneyRome: A Thousand Years of Monetary HistoryAnd here’s a bit about what might be the first ever coins.The Coinage of Ephesus
Nothing to sneeze atIf you don’t use gold silver or coins, what does one use for money?Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here are several links with information, and differing notions, on the sale of Manhattan Island.Keep the Change: The Beads that Bought ManhattanWas Manhattan really sold for $24 worth of beads and trinkets?The Beads That Did Not Buy Manhattan IslandHere’s more about the use of cacao beans as money.The Maya civilization used chocolate as moneyChocolate Currency?And here’s a little something about black pepper, and how it was used as money.Black Pepper
Why money?We take a look at economic activity by nonhumans, and the Incas, with a large empire that never used money.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here are some links about gift giving in the animal kingdom.Do Animals Give Gifts?Why Dolphins Bring Humans “Gifts” From the Sea at Australian CaféGift giving crowsAnd here’s more info about the Incas, and the large empire they controlled that never used money.Inka EconomyEconomy of the Inca Empire
On silly names and loud voicesLet’s take a closer look at the sperm whale, with an unfortunate name and the loudest voice in nature.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Here are links to videos and articles about shattering glass with the human voice.Can You Shatter Glass With Your Voice?Jaime Vendera-Glass Shattering MythBusterMythBusters Episode 31: Breaking GlassBusting Myths About SoundAnd some links to videos and articles about sperm whales and their very loud voices.Feeling the Force of Sperm Whales UltrasoundIs it true that sperm whales stun giant squid with sonar?Sperm Whales Clicking You Inside Out
On dragons, fire, and breathingFor our last question on DND and fantasy fiction, could any animal ever be able to actually breathe fire?Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Special thanks to:Girls Who Don’t DNDHere’s the website for the Fuel Girls.Fuel Girls - Fire & Pyro PerformancesHere are a couple of things on the jellyfish sting, and the exploding cells behind it.Jellyfish Sting Mechanism Unveiled; Could Help Design Future Delivery DevicesHow does a jellyfish sting?And here’s one or two things on the bombardier beetle.The Bombardier Beetle And Its Crazy Chemical CannonBombardier Beetles Squirt Boiling Anal Chemicals to Make Frogs Vomit
Ouch!13 types of damage in dungeons and dragons, let’s see how many of them we can find amongst actual living creatures.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Special thanks to:Girls Who Don’t DND.Here’s a bit on chicken hypnosis.Can You Hypnotize a Chicken?Here’s an article about the firefly that tricks and eats other fireflies.Firefly “femmes fatales” acquire defensive steroids (lucibufagins) from their firefly?preyHere’s a silly bit on cats and cucumbers.Why Are Cats Scared of CucumbersHere are a couple of articles about the Rio Tinto, a brightly colored acidic river.Eukaryotic Organisms in Extreme Acidic Environments, the Río Tinto CaseWhy the Red River-The Río Tinto in Spain fascinates scientists?Here’s a video about several acid shooting animals.These Invertebrates Shoot AcidHere’s an article about Japanese honey bees, and how they use heat to defend their hive.Key genes enable Japanese honey bees to roast hornetsHere’s something on how animals use electricity.The shocking ways wild animals use electricityHere’s a video and an article about the sperm whale and it’s oh so very loud voice.Feeling the Force of Sperm Whales UltrasoundIs it true that sperm whales stun giant squid with sonar?And here’s something on the pistol Shrimp.Pistol Shrimp sonic weapon
To see in the darkIn fantasy novels and roll playing games, some characters can see in the dark. What about in real life?Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Special thanks to:Girls Who Don’t DNDHere are some articles on human echolocation.Echolocation: How It Works and How to Learn ItHuman click-based echolocation: Effects of blindness and age, and real-life implications in a 10-week training programHere are some articles about the blind cave fish.Blind Cave FishSensory Adaptation for a CavefishHere are some sites about the star-nosed mole.Inside the Bizarre Life of the Star-Nosed Mole, World's Fastest EaterLearn to smell underwater with the star-nosed moleHere’s an article about active electrical sensing in some weakly electric fish.Active electrolocation of objects in weakly electric fishAnd a bit about the lovely and talented platypus.Platypus Electroreception: Revealing the Hidden Powers
Whose mind is it anyway?Fantasy fiction and DND have charm spells and other ways to control one’s mind. We take a look at examples of mind control from nature.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Special thanks to:Girls Who Don’t DNDHere’s a paper on false memories.The false memory syndromeHere’s a look at parasites that change their host’s behavior.An overview of parasite-induced behavioral alterationsAnd here’s a video about parasites that change their host’s behavior.How parasites change their host's behavior
Healing, magic, and scienceFor our first episode on the science behind dnd and popular fantasy tropes, we search for healing magic in our actual factual world.Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!Special thanks to “Girls Who Don’t DND” for sending us the recorded questions we’re answering.Here’s a link to another science podcast and their rather well done episode on placebos.Placebo: Can the Mind Cure You?Here’s a link to a paper on studying the power of prayer to heal.Prayer and healing
How microbes went nuclear
We try to figure out how eukaryotes, which include everything from single cells to the blue whale, got their nucleus.
Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!
Here’s an article about how the nucleus might have originally been a virus.
Medusavirus Ancestor in a Proto-Eukaryotic Cell
Here’s something on the inside out theory of the nucleus.
An inside-out origin for the eukaryotic cell
Here’s a bit about how the nucleus might have been an archaea that climb inside another archaea.
Archaeal Origins of Eukaryotic Cell and Nucleus
Here’s another article about the viral origin of the nucleus.
Did Viruses Create the Nucleus? The Answer May Be Near.
And here’s a bit about the giant viruses.
Giant Viruses With Arms and Other Appendages Found In US Forest
Those sexy prokaryotes
Have a look at prokaryotes, and how they do some of what they do. Including, but not limited to, mixing their genetics, without sex.
Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!
Here’s an article about proton gradients, what they are and how they’re used.
Proton Gradient, Cell Origin, ATP Synthase
Eukaryotes, living large
We take a look at a few eukaryotes, including some single celled creatures large enough to be seen with the naked eye.
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Here’s a link to the earlier episode we referenced.
Ep 141: The largest of the small
Here’s an article about the largest single celled organism, caulerpa taxifolia.
Structure of world's largest single cell is reflected at the molecular level
Here’s something about cells that have more than one nucleus.
Multinucleated Cells
Here’s an article about how the DNA of symbiotic cells living inside other cells move over time into the nucleus of the host cell.
Gene transfer from organelles to the nucleus: Frequent and in big chunks
And here are a couple of articles about the only known eukaryote with no mitochondria.
First eukaryotes found without a normal cellular power supply
1st eukaryote without mitochondria redefines our limb on tree of life
The cells that carry it
Take a tour of eukaryotic cells by following a bit of food, as the cell turns it into, well… more cell.
Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!
Here are some of the old episodes, though not all of them, that we referenced.
Ep 254: Prebiotic evolution part 1: proteins
Ep 255: Prebiotic evolution part 2: DNA and RNA
Ep 256: What was the first food?
Here’s an article about electricity producing animals.
The world's most electric animals
Here’s how to turn volts and amps into watts.
How to Convert Watts, Amps, & Volts
Here’s a bit about the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Introduction to Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes
And here’s a bit about eukaryotes.
Eukaryotic Cells
Viruses, from the horse’s mouth
We finally explain what viruses are, with a side trip to the battle against diphtheria, and heroic horses.
Join us on patreon.com/thelabwithbrad for extra special extra stuff!
Here are a couple of articles about diphtheria, and the fight against this childhood killer.
How Science Conquered Diphtheria, the Plague Among Children
Diphtheria
Here’s an article about the tobacco mosaic virus, and how it helped us discover what viruses are.
How a Few Sick Tobacco Plants Led Scientists to Unravel the Truth About Viruses
And here’s a bit about how Wendell Stanley crystalized a virus, to help us understand the little suckers.
Wendell Stanley
A tale of two plants | how we discovered viruses
With a side trip to antibiotics, we explore the discovery of viruses.
Join us on Patreon for extra special extra stuff!
Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.
Take 137 of Episode One: Geographic trivia, and sailing the unsettled seas
Here are a couple of sites on the history of the study of viruses.
Introduction: A Short History of Virology
History of Viruses
And here’s an article about the Chamberland filter.
The Filter of Life
Of people, potatoes and pathogens
From the Irish potato famine, to the first vaccine for rabies.
Join us on Patreon for extra special extra stuff!
Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.
Take 136 of Episode One: A perfectly cromulent list
Here’s an article about Louis Pasteur.
Louis Pasteur
And here are a couple of articles about the Irish potato famine.
Potato Late Blight, Plant Diseases
Berkeley and Lindley Debate the Cause of the Potato Blight
The birth of vaccination, and holy cow!
Part by accident and part deliberate experiment, we discovered the very first vaccination, thanks to Blossom the cow.
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Here’s an article about the smallpox vaccination.
Edward Jenner and the history of smallpox and vaccination
Here’s an article about the guy who came up with the first vaccination.
About Edward Jenner
And here’s an article debunking a popular story about how the smallpox vaccination came about.
The White Lie at the Heart of Vaccine History
Microbes, and other ideas, good and bad
What we thought before learning of microscopic life, and how we found out different.
Join us on Patreon for extra special extra stuff!
Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.
Take 134 of Episode One: Ancient inventions, historical trivia, and a salute to good doggies
Here are a few sites on the history of microbiology.
A Brief History of Microbiology and Immunology
A Brief History of Microbiology
History of Microbiology
The Lab’s six year anniversary
Our show Turns six-years-old. We celebrate with experiments, science, and madness for all.
Join us on Patreon for extra special extra stuff!
Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.
Take 133 of Episode One: Weird head space, and GPT!
Here’s a link to Phil’s show, even though there’s already one on this page.
Episode One
And here’s a link to our home on Twitter.
@lobbyandlab
The how and why of electric batteries
Brad has always wanted to understand how batteries make electricity. He more or less figured it out, and more or less explains.
Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.
Take 132 of Episode One: Fanciful creatures and electric mud
Here’s a video that explains how a specific kind of battery works, including the technical terms and details we left out.
How Batteries Work
Big bang business, and the end of all thingsThis time, we talk of the birth of our universe, and several ways in which it could end.Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.Take 131 of Episode One: The weirdness of the natural world.Here’s an article about dark energy.How Do We Know Dark Energy Exists?Here’s something on how black holes could be the source of dark energy.Black holes as source of mysterious dark energyAnd here’s a video on the different ways the universe could end.How will the Universe end?
What’s your cosmic mailing address?Join us for a look at the large scale structure of the universe.Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.Take 129 of Episode One: The defenestration of Episode OneHere are a couple of videos on the great attractor, and the large scale structure of our universe.What is the GREAT ATTRACTOR? Will It Absorb us? What's DARK FLOW?The Great Attractor
Phil’s 200th episode!It happens to be Phil’s 200th time doing this madness. We talk about where the show is going, and some interesting experiments we might do.Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.Take 128 of Episode One: Getting down to businessHere’s a link to the episodes I did, long ago, on lucid dreams and out of body experiences.Ep 123: A tale of two books, part 2 And here are a few articles regarding electric bacteria.Electric bacteria create currents out of thin—and thick—airNew biobatteries use bacterial interactions to generate power for weeksTechnique identifies electricity-producing bacteria
The galactic shuffleGalaxies come in all shapes and sizes, and they keep bumping into one another and becoming even stranger.Here are a couple of sites about the different types of galaxy.Galaxy Types! Types | GalaxiesHere’s an article about dwarf galaxies.Dwarf GalaxiesAnd here’s an article about Omega Centauri, the Milky Way’s largest globular cluster.Omega Centauri is the Milky Way’s largest star cluster
Half an episodeOur host, me, is a bit under the weather, so we just squeeze in a bit more black hole business.Here’s an article about the still theoretical stupendously large black holes.Black Holes Could Get So Humongous, Astronomers Came Up With a New Size CategoryHere are a couple of articles on the actual size of black holes, and the strange horizons they possess.What is a black hole's actual size?How much space does a black hole take up?
The darkest thing in the universeNobody knows what it is, but we can see what it does. Join us for a talk about dark matter.Here’s an article about how we mapped where dark matter is in our universe.Mysterious dark matter mapped in finest detail yetHere’s an article about a galaxy that is almost entirely made of dark matter.A Galaxy has Been Found that's Almost Entirely Dark MatterAnd here’s an article about a galaxy that apparently has no dark matter.Mystery of Galaxy's Missing Dark Matter Deepens
The brightest thing in the universeJoin us for a look at quasars; the brightest thing in the universe.While talking about my recent mad scientist activities, I mentioned a couple of old episodes. Here are links to said episodes.Ep 311: Building brain bits for bots based on big beastiesEp 230: In search of intelligent animalsAnd here’s a little something about quasars.Quasars: Definition & Facts About Brightest Objects in the Universe
The birth of starsClouds of dust collapse to form stars, but the actual process is far more complicated and interesting.Here are a few links about the youngest known objects in the night sky.3 of the Youngest Stars in the Universe (That we Know)What's the oldest star in the universe? What about the youngest?Astronomers May Have Found a Star That's Just 33 Years Old
The creator and destroyer of worldsSeveral kinds of supernova, and a rogue supermassive blackhole.Here’s an article on a possible rogue supermassive blackhole.Astronomers Spot a Rogue Supermassive Black Hole, Hurtling Through Space Leaving Star Formation in its Wake
Neutron stars and little green menJoin us as we talk about how neutron stars managed to masquerade as a signal from aliens.Here are a few videos on pulsars and neutron stars.Pulsars and Neutron StarsWhat is a Pulsar?Pulsars & Quasars Infiltrate the Sky
From little to smaller to slightly largerJoin us for a look at red dwarves, brown dwarves, white dwarves, and carbon stars.Here’s a bit about a brown dwarf that is a bit brighter than it should be.The Curious Case of the Mysterious Over-Luminous Brown DwarfHere’s another brown dwarf.Neither Star nor Planet: A Strange Brown Dwarf Puzzles AstronomersHere’s an article, sadly out of date, that talks about how you can get a look at a carbon star for yourself.Carbon Stars Will Make You See RedHere’s a bit about carbon stars in general.Carbon StarsHere’s an article about a carbon star near its death.Mysterious death of carbon starHere’s a little on how stars like our sun die.The End Of The SunAnd here’s a bit about the forces that keep white dwarves from collapsing.Degeneracy
On sunshine and the oldest starsWe spend some time figuring out what powers our sun, and give a respectful nod towards the oldest stars in the universe.Here’s something on the failed attempts to detect our motion against the supposed ether.The Michelson-Morley ExperimentHere’s an article on the discovery of spontaneous radioactivity.This Month in Physics HistoryHere’s a little bit on red dwarfs.Red Dwarfs: The Most Common and Longest-Lived StarsAnd here’s a list of 7 of the oldest stars that we know of.7 Oldest Stars in the Universe
We got the universe wrongAt the beginning of the 20th century, the universe was 100,000 lightyears across, and static. How we found out that was wrong.Here’s an article about v1, and how it made the universe much bigger.Hubble Views the Star That Changed the UniverseAnd because it came up, and your hosts were still confused, here’s something on the differences between an oval and an ellipse.Oval vs Ellipse with Diagram
Hidden in the lightToday, Newton shows us why planets move as they do, and we find out how we know what stars are made of.Here are a couple of sites on spectroscopy, and its history.The history of spectroscopy - from the flame test to the AASMIT Spectroscopy Lab - HistoryBecause it is so much easier to follow in a video, here’s a video about what an ellipse is.What is Ellipse?
Better glass, lenses, mirrors, and a star to sail byThe debate over the Earth or Sun in the middle continues, and we take a look at navigating by the stars.Here’s an article on navigating by the stars.How to Navigate the Ocean Using StarsHere’s a video on using the Sun for navigation.How to Navigate by the SunAnd here are two videos on using the stars to navigate.Using Stars to NavigateHow To Navigate Using the Stars
To learn the skyFrom prehistory to Babylon to the ancient Greeks, humanity begins to learn what our sky is up to, pardon the pun.Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.Take 116 of Episode One: The kiss of death!Here’s a video on the history of astronomy.The History Of AstronomyHere’s an article on the history of astronomy.History of AstronomyAnd here’s a bit about the history of mirrors.Through A Glass, Darkly
On hearing, listening, and Ralph the robot handFor our last episode of 2022, we take a look at communication between the deaf community and the rest of us.Here’s a video on the history and use of sign language.American Sign Language: The Complete HistoryHere are a couple of articles providing an overview of assistive technology for the deaf.How tech is improving lives in the deaf and hard of hearing communityAssistive Devices for People with Hearing or Speech DisordersHere’s a video on the history of hearing aids.The History of Hearing AidsHere’s something on the history of speech recognition software.A brief history of speech recognitionAnd here’s an article on sign language translation devices.Sign Language Translating Devices Are Cool. But Are They Useful?
Voices, bits, Braille and bellowsClose your eyes and use your computer. We take a look at technology used to allow the blind to use computers and the internet.Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.Take 114 of Episode one: Everything is better with pie!Here’s an article about how computers learned how to talk.History of speech synthesisHere’s a video, including samples of different speech synthesizers.The Evolution of Computer SpeechHere’s an article on the people who developed screen reader software.The blind programmers who created screen readersAnd here’s a video about Braille displays.A History of Refreshable Braille
For better and worse, the internet is bornAfter all the effort to communicate by wire and wireless, computers got in on the action. Let’s examine the beginnings of the internet.Today we have two videos, both with the same name—“history of the internet.” One short and one long.Here’s the short one.HISTORY OF THE INTERNETAnd here’s the long one.History of the Internet
Getting wired and wireless
Join us as telegraph and radio begin to make the world a smaller place.
Here’s an article on the cable laid across the Atlantic to send messages that didn’t quite work.
The First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable Was a Bold, Short-Lived Success
And here’s a brief history of the speed of light.
A Brief History of the Speed of Light
The digital revolution, and a bit o’ spooky
Join us for a thumbnail sketch of how modern computers came about, and then began to double in capability each year.
Here’s an article about the spooky bit.
The Real Electric Frankenstein Experiments of the 1800s
Here’s something on the history of lithography.
A Printing Revolution: The History of Lithography
Here’s an article about the lucky accident that made modern computers possible.
Silicon Burns
And here are links to the episodes that cover today’s topic in more detail.
Ep 285: A lucky accident
Ep 286: Say cheese!
From one tongue to another
There are thousands of different languages in the world. Today we talk about the art of translation.
Check out our latest attempt at Episode One:
Wishing for luck and encrypted babies
Babbling about baby babble
A newborn human can learn many languages at once, and without any coaching or teaching. We ask the babies how.
Here are a few articles on language acquisition in human babies.
FAQ: Language Acquisition
Out of the mouth of babes
Babies prefer baby talk, whether they’re learning one language or two
Here are a few videos on how babies learn language.
Language Acquisition
The linguistic genius of babies
How Babies Learn Language
Here’s an article about Clever Hans.
The “Clever Hans Phenomenon” revisited
And here are a couple of videos on Clever Hans.
Clever Hans | The Smart Horse Behind Unconscious Cues
How This Horse Learned to do Math
The spacecraft crashed, just like we planned
Join us as we hang out with NASA while they deliberately crash into an asteroid.
Here’s the episode when we started talking about robotics and automation in space and space travel.
Ep 323: Robots orbiting the Earth
And this is the episode when we started looking at space and space travel.
Ep 288: From stones to strings to space
The spacecraft crashed, just like we planned
Join us as we hang out with NASA while they deliberately crash into an asteroid.
Here’s the episode when we started talking about robotics and automation in space and space travel.
Ep 323: Robots orbiting the Earth
And this is the episode when we started looking at space and space travel.
Ep 288: From stones to strings to space
To tell a secret, and keep it too
Part of communicating is trying to tell someone something without the wrong someone hearing it. We take a look at the history and practice of secret messages.
And here’s our latest attempt at Episode One.
Take 106 of Episode One: Don't know where to begin
Here’s a timeline of cryptography.
History of encryption (cryptography timeline)
Here’s a video on the basics of public and private key encryption.
Encryption and public keys
And here’s a site on the history of encryption.
History of encryption
To tell a secret, and keep it too
Part of communicating is trying to tell someone something without the wrong someone hearing it. We take a look at the history and practice of secret messages.
And here’s our latest attempt at Episode One.
Take 106 of Episode One: Don't know where to begin
Here’s a timeline of cryptography.
History of encryption (cryptography timeline)
Here’s a video on the basics of public and private key encryption.
Encryption and public keys
And here’s a site on the history of encryption.
History of encryption
By flame, drum and song
How did people communicate over distance in the ancient world? We answer this question by examining signal fires, talking drums, and languages composed entirely of whistling.
Here’s an article about whistle languages.
More Than 80 Cultures Still Speak in Whistles
Here are a couple of videos about whistle languages.
Sylbo, The Last Speakers of the Lost Whistling Language
THE WHISTLE LANGUAGE
Here’s an article about the history of long distance communication.
A Brief History of Long Distance Communication
Here’s a bit about the hydraulic telegraph.
The Hydraulic Telegraph of Aeneas
Here’s an article about ancient communication and the use of drums.
Primeval Communication and the Beat of the Drum
And here’s a video demonstrating some African drums.
Master talking drummer - drum talks
By flame, drum and song
How did people communicate over distance in the ancient world? We answer this question by examining signal fires, talking drums, and languages composed entirely of whistling.
Here’s an article about whistle languages.
More Than 80 Cultures Still Speak in Whistles
Here are a couple of videos about whistle languages.
Sylbo, The Last Speakers of the Lost Whistling Language
THE WHISTLE LANGUAGE
Here’s an article about the history of long distance communication.
A Brief History of Long Distance Communication
Here’s a bit about the hydraulic telegraph.
The Hydraulic Telegraph of Aeneas
Here’s an article about ancient communication and the use of drums.
Primeval Communication and the Beat of the Drum
And here’s a video demonstrating some African drums.
Master talking drummer - drum talks
Ancient mail, and the oldest known library
Once again, the title says it all. We look at mail in the ancient world, and take a look at the oldest known library.
Here’s an article about the Persian pony express.
The surprising origins of the postal service
Here’s a bit on ancient mail systems in general.
Letters & Post in the Ancient World
Here’s a page about the unofficial United States Postal Service motto.
What is the History Behind the Unofficial USPS Motto?
And here are a couple of articles on the oldest known library.
The World's Oldest Library: The Books of Ancient Ebla
The Royal Archives of Ebla: Reference and Processing Archivists 4,000 Years Ago
Ancient mail, and the oldest known library
Once again, the title says it all. We look at mail in the ancient world, and take a look at the oldest known library.
Here’s an article about the Persian pony express.
The surprising origins of the postal service
Here’s a bit on ancient mail systems in general.
Letters & Post in the Ancient World
Here’s a page about the unofficial United States Postal Service motto.
What is the History Behind the Unofficial USPS Motto?
And here are a couple of articles on the oldest known library.
The World's Oldest Library: The Books of Ancient Ebla
The Royal Archives of Ebla: Reference and Processing Archivists 4,000 Years Ago
Numbers and letters
We pick it up from last time and finish the story of our alphabet, along with a look at where our numbers came from.
Check out our latest attempt at Phil’s show.
Part 2 of take 102 of Episode One
Two of our previous episodes spend much more time on the story of our numbers.
Ep 271: which numbers count?
Ep 272: The fall of Rome and the rise of zero
Here’s an article on the history of our numbers.
A Brief History of Numbers: How 0-9 Were Invented
And here’s an article on the origins of the alphabet.
Who Invented the Alphabet?
Numbers and letters
We pick it up from last time and finish the story of our alphabet, along with a look at where our numbers came from.
Check out our latest attempt at Phil’s show.
Part 2 of take 102 of Episode One
Two of our previous episodes spend much more time on the story of our numbers.
Ep 271: which numbers count?
Ep 272: The fall of Rome and the rise of zero
Here’s an article on the history of our numbers.
A Brief History of Numbers: How 0-9 Were Invented
And here’s an article on the origins of the alphabet.
Who Invented the Alphabet?
How we learned to write right
This time we start from the very beginnings of writing, and move on to just before the invention of alphabets.
Here’s part one of our latest attempted at Episode One.
Positive thoughts, and shaven porcupines
Here’s an article about early map making.
Before Google Maps
Here’s one map found in a cave in Spain.
The Oldest Map is Discovered in Abauntz Cave, Navarre, Spain
Here’s a site about cave paintings in Indonesia that predate those found in Europe.
A Journey to the Oldest Cave Paintings in the World
And here’s a site about the origins and evolution of writing.
The Evolution of Writing
Who said what when, and how?
The evidence is patchy and your hosts are daffy, but we try to figure out when language began.
Here’s an article on an experiment to see how much language helps when teaching others how to make stone tools.
Human language may have evolved to help our ancestors make tools
Here’s an article about the human fossils found in Morocco that have changed the entire story.
Scientists Have Found the Oldest Known Human Fossils
And here’s a talk on how language could possibly have begun with gestures.
The Origins and Evolution of Language
Who said what when, and how?
The evidence is patchy and your hosts are daffy, but we try to figure out when language began.
Here’s an article on an experiment to see how much language helps when teaching others how to make stone tools.
Human language may have evolved to help our ancestors make tools
Here’s an article about the human fossils found in Morocco that have changed the entire story.
Scientists Have Found the Oldest Known Human Fossils
And here’s a talk on how language could possibly have begun with gestures.
The Origins and Evolution of Language
Monkey talk!
We look at how nonhuman primates use language, compare it to human language use, and guess how one turned into the other.
Here are a couple of videos on the coral snake.
North America's most VENOMOUS SNAKE - The Coral Snake!
Coral Snake VS Milk Snake! (How to tell the Difference)
Here’s an article about micro expressions.
Microexpressions Are Not the Best Way to Catch a Liar
Here’s an article about pupils changing with emotion.
Why Do Pupils Dilate in Response to Emotional States?
Here’s one of the few things I could find on swearing and profanity and the brain.
Your Cursing Cortex
Here’s a bit about brain systems used by monkeys to communicate.
Systems Underlying Human and Old World Monkey Communication
And here are a couple of articles about Broca’s area.
Broca’s Area Function and Location
Brain’s language center has multiple roles
Animals, lies and language
An honest signal is useful for the one sending and receiving it. But, dishonest signals tend to destabilize the ability to communicate. How did human language develop when words make it so easy to fib?
Here’s a link to the wild dolphin project.
Wild Dolphin Project
Here’s a video about ongoing attempts to communicate with dolphins in the wild.
Searching for Language in Dolphins
Here’s an article about one of many theories regarding the differences and development of primate and human language.
Human Language Rooted in Monkey 'Song,' Scientists Suggest
Prey or play
When differing animals meet, they sometimes communicate. Sometimes threats, sometimes lies, sometimes laughter. We take a look at interspecies communication.
Here are two different videos—with the same name!—on animal laughter.
Do Animals Laugh?
Do Animals Laugh?
Here’s an article about animal vocalizations during play.
Dogs Do It, Birds Do It, and Dolphins Do It, Too.
Here’s a video on the mimic octopus.
The Mimic Octopus
Here’s an article about dolphins getting high on pufferfish.
Dolphins Seem to Use Toxic Pufferfish to Get High
And here’s an article about how dogs and horses make friends.
Dog & Pony Show: New Study Sheds Light on Interspecies Play
Ah, those babbling bacteria
We begin a new subseries this week on language and communication. For starters, let’s have a looksee at how single-celled organisms chat.
Here’s a quick video about the bobtail squid.
Facts: The Bobtail Squid
Here’s an article, rather technical, on how glowing bacteria influence the development of their bobtail squid host.
Glowing bacteria in Hawaiian bobtail squid cause changes throughout host
Here’s a quick reference page about aliivibrio fischeri.
Better Know a Microbe: Aliivibrio fischeri
And here’s a long and technical video about the glowing bugs and their bobtail host.
The Hawaiian bobtail squid - Vibrio Fischeri association
Accidents and asteroids
We didn’t notice it was going to be asteroid day until yesterday, but by coincidence, today is all about asteroids.
Here’s something on an attempt to experiment with moving asteroids around.
DART, NASA's test to stop an asteroid from hitting Earth
Here’s something on the end of the dinosaurs, a good reason to want to move asteroids around.
How an asteroid ended the age of the dinosaurs
Here’s an FAQ about the computer thing I get excited about at the end of this episode.
THOR on ADAM Fact Sheet
Here’s a short video on asteroids.
What Are Asteroids And Where Do They Come From?
Here’s a site about “Asteroid day,” the holiday we didn’t know we were celebrating.
Asteroid Day
Here’s a bit about the Tunguska event, another good reason to want to nudge asteroids into different orbits.
The Tunguska Impact--100 Years Later
Here’s a page on the NEAR Shoemaker mission, the first landing on an asteroid.
NEAR Shoemaker
And here’s a bit on OSIRIS-Rex, NASA’s mission to return samples from an asteroid to Earth.
NASA’s First Asteroid Sample Return Mission, OSIRIS-Rex, is a Success
Robots chasing tail
Once thought a portent of doom, or a sign of the impending death of kings, nowadays a comet makes a good target to launch a mission at.
Here’s a site on the comet interceptor mission.
The European space mission that plans to ambush a comet
Here’s an article on the comet near the sun that is no more.
Telescopes watch the sun bake a comet to death
And here are some sites on the biggest comet known.
Behold: The biggest known comet in our solar system
Giant comet was active way farther from the sun than expected, scientists confirm
Five years of the lab, for reasons
We’ve been putting out episodes on science for five years. There’s no end in sight. You’re welcome, or we’re sorry, depending. In celebration we relax with a freeform episode, even drink a couple of beers. We do drift passed a bit of science, but only by accident.
From Pluto, with love
If you count it as a planet, it is the furthest away and smallest. Whether or not you think it’s a planet, it might harbor life.
Here are a few links that cover the ongoing debate over Pluto’s status as a planet.
Pluto should be reclassified as a planet, scientists argue
Pluto and the Solar System | IAU
Here are links that talk about how Pluto might have one of them subsurface oceans.
Pluto has likely maintained an underground liquid ocean for billions of years
Liquid water may have erupted from Pluto's icy volcanoes, study finds
Pluto Might Have a Liquid Water Ocean?!
Here are a couple of things on Pluto’s giant icy heart.
New Horizons Spacecraft Displays Pluto’s Big Heart
And here’s a quick article on Pluto’s oddball orbit.
Pluto’s Orbit is Surprisingly Close to an Unstable Zone
There’s something on the wing!
High winds, a segmented ring and other oddities confound us as we take a trip to Neptune.
Here’s an article about cryovolcanism, like our volcanoes, only much colder.
Cryovolcanism in the Solar System
Here’s a video about Triton and its oddities.
The Bizarre Characteristics of Triton
Here’s an article about the capture of the moon Triton, and how it may have cleared out the Neptunian system.
How Neptune’s Triton Destroyed Nearly All Of Its Moons
Here’s an article about Neptune in general.
Neptune: The farthest planet from our sun
And here are a couple of videos about the eighth planet.
Neptune 101
What If You Fell Into Neptune?
Uranus, as a whole
Jokes aside, we take a more complete look at Uranus, the sideways planet.
Here are a couple of videos about Uranus.
Uranus 101
The Bizarre Characteristics Of Uranus
Here’s something on the latus rectum, just so you know I’m not making it up.
What is Latus Rectum of Parabola?
Here are a couple of things about how it might be raining diamonds.
Neptune Rains Diamonds, And Now We Might Finally Know How
Diamonds Raining in Uranus and Neptune Planet captured
And here’s an article about the mysterious heating of the Uranian atmosphere.
What Caused the Sudden Heating of Uranus's Atmosphere?
A brief probed toward Uranus
Unexpected issues caused a very short episode about the seventh planet. Gave us a chance to go ahead and snicker at its name.
Here’s a link to our episodes on computers computing and the history thereof.
Ep270: Stone age computers
Here’s a link to episodes on space and space travel.
Ep 288: From stones to strings to space
Here’s a link to our episodes on robotics and automation
Ep 311: Building brain bits for bots based on big beasties
And it all comes together with the first episode about robots and automation in space and space travel.
Ep 323: Robots orbiting the Earth
And here are a couple of links to articles about how NASA is considering a visit to Uranus.
NASA has been ignoring Uranus. That may soon change.
Uranus is a very weird planet. Here's why astronomers want to send a probe to it
Why is that moon spewing?
We finish up with the planet Saturn with a look at her moon, Enceladus. It is spewing forth giant guizers of water and other chemicals, hinting at its subsurface salty ocean and even the possibility of life.
Here’s an article about Enceladus and the chance that it could support life.
Water plumes from Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus…
Here are a couple of videos on the same topic.
Ingredients for Life at Saturn’s Moon Enceladus
Saturn’s Moon Enceladus
Saturn’s invisible ring, and two faced moon
The largest ring in the solar system is nearly impossible to see. Not even the Cassini mission, which spent 13 years orbiting Saturn, was able to see it. Just to make things more interesting, Saturn also has a now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t moon. As it happens, these two oddities are related, so we relate them.
Here are a couple of articles about the Phoebe ring.
Saturn's largest ring
Huge 'ghost' ring discovered around Saturn
Here’s an article about the two faces of Iapetus.
Astronomers decode two-faced moon
Here’s something on Iapetus’s equatorial ridge.
What's this ridge on Iapetus?
And here are a couple little pages on a couple of little Saturnian moons, Pan and Atlas.
In Depth | Pan
In Depth | Atlas
Saturn’s strangest moon is such a gas
The second largest moon is arguably the strangest. From lakes of liquid natural gas, to its thick atmosphere, to magic islands that come and go, join us for a look at Saturn’s moon Titan.
Here’s a video about the lander and its landing on Titan.
Cassini-Huygens: Historic adventure
Here’s a video about the Cassini mission in general.
What Did Cassini See During Its Historic Mission To Saturn?
Here’s an article about how deep the largest sea on Titan gets.
Largest sea on Saturn's mysterious moon Titan could be more than 1,000 feet deep
Here’s an article about one theory that attempts to explain the magic island phenomenon.
'Magic Islands' on Saturn Moon May Be Bubbles
And here’s an article about one of the theories of where Titan got its thick atmosphere.
Understanding The Origin Of Titan's Thick, Nitrogen-Rich Atmosphere
Saturn’s rings and things
You can’t look at Saturn without noticing the rings. So, we take a closer look at Saturn’s rings. The episode ended up a bit longer than usual as the closer you look at them, the more complicated they become.
Here’s a video about one way Saturn may have got it’s spectacular rings.
How Saturn Got Its Rings
Here’s a calculator and explanation for how to calculate centrifugal force.
Centrifugal Force Calculator
Here’s a site about how and why you weigh slightly less on Earth’s equator than at the poles.
Do I weigh less on the equator than at the North Pole?
Here’s a site on how to find how far and how fast you’re falling.
Determining How Fast? and How Far?
Here’s a site on the Cassini Grand Finale.
Cassini's Death Dive into Saturn Reveals Weird Ring 'Rain' & Other Surprises
Here’s a site on Saturn’s weirdest ring, the F ring.
Saturn's Weirdest Ring Explained
Here’s an article about the spokes.
Spinning spokes in Saturn's rings
And here’s something on the two moons around Saturn that swop orbits every four years or so.
The Orbital Dance of Epimetheus and Janus
Saturn spins me right round baby, right round
We get started with the second largest planet in the solar system with a look at strangely spinning strange things.
Here are a couple of sites about Saturn.
Saturn 101
Saturn Information and Facts
And here are a couple of videos on the hexagon around Saturn’s north pole.
Saturn’s hexagon mega-storm
The Mystery of Saturn’s Giant Hexagonal Storm May Soon Be Solved
Jupiter’s turn
In previous episodes, we talked of Jupiter’s rings, moons, and magnetic field. This time, we finally talk about the actual planet.
Here’s a video that goes into detail about Jupiter’s large and complex atmosphere.
Jupiter’s 3D Atmosphere Revealed by NASA’s Juno Spacecraft
And here are a couple of articles about the 2016 impact event.
Another Impact on Jupiter?
Jupiter hit by asteroid or comet in March 2016.
It’s just like the ocean, under the moon
We’ve save the best of Jupiter’s moons for last. Europa, which has a subsurface ocean that could hold twice the water as all of Earth’s oceans combined. What, if any, kind of life might we find there?
Here’s a video about Jupiter’s moon Europa.
The Highest Resolution Images of Europa
And here are a couple of articles about Europa, its possible liquid water oceans, and the possibilities for life.
Europa, Jupiter’s possible watery moon
Ingredient for Life Common on Jupiter Moon Europa
The exploding, electrified moon
This time we spend time with IO—the most volcanically active body in the solar system; and how it interacts with Jupiter’s magnetic field.
Here’s a video on how a gravity assist works.
What's a gravity assist?
Here’s a site about gravity assists.
Gravity assist
Here’s a site on the Galileo mission.
Lessons from NASA's Galileo Probe
Here’s a site about Io.
This is our best look yet at Io, the solar system's most volcanic object
Here’s a nifty video about Io.
The Bizarre Characteristics of Io
And a site for kids about the tidal forces acting on Io.
High Tide on IO!
Jupiter’s rings and things
We talk of Calisto, the inner moons, Jupiter’s rings and irregular satellites.
Here’s an article about how the Galileo spacecraft discovered where Jupiter’s rings come from.
Galileo finds Jupiter's rings formed by dust blasted off small moons
Here’s a site on Calisto.
Facts About Jupiter's (Not So) Dead Moon
And here’s an article about the collision that may have formed a new ring around Jupiter within the very recent past.
Moon marriage may have given Jupiter a ring
A song of Ganymede
The biggest moon orbits the biggest planet. We talk of Ganymede, how it may harbor life, and listen to the giant moon sing.
Here are a couple of articles about how the four largest moons of Jupiter might be heating one another.
How Jupiter’s moons warm each other
Jupiter's moons could be warming each other
Here’s an article about how Jupiter’s moons may have formed.
The Dance of Jupiter's Moons
Here’s an article about how some data from the Juno mission was turned into an audio file.
Jupiter's Moon Ganymede Sounds Like Dial-Up Internet
And here’s the audio.
Audio of Juno’s Ganymede Flyby
Jupiter’s magnetic personality
After geeking out over space hardware, we turn an eye toward Jupiter and talk about the most massive planet’s massive magnetic field.
Here’s a NASA site on Jupiter’s magnetosphere.
Jupiter's Magnetosphere
Here’s someone else’s site on Jupiter’s magnetosphere.
The Outer Planets: Giant Planets: Magnetospheres
Here’s NASA’s site on the MarCo mission, two cube sats that went to mars.
In Depth | Mars Cube One
Here’s an overview of cube sat technology.
CubeSats Overview
And here are a couple of videos about cube sats.
Real World: CubeSats
By the way, this last video is old news now. Cubesats | Mini cube satellites
The Martian robotic invasion
As of yet, no humans have made it to Mars. However, many of our spacecraft, landers and rovers have. Join us as we take a little look at a few missions, and a large look at what we’ve learned about our neighbor, the red planet.
Here’s NASA’s site on exploring Mars.
NASA’s Mars Exploration Program
Here are a couple of articles about the Martian polar ice caps.
Mystery at Mars's Pole Explained
Water at Martian south pole
And here are a couple of articles about the InSight mission, sent to map out the interior of Mars by measuring Mars quakes.
NASA's InSight Reveals the Deep Interior of Mars
NASA's InSight Finds Three Big Marsquakes, Thanks to Solar-Panel Dusting
Hit and miss missions to Mars
Most of the early missions to Mars failed, but by the mid-70s, orbiters circled the red planet, and some landers sat safely on its surface. We also have a look at a few Martian mirages, when astronomers squinting threw telescopes saw things that weren’t actually there.
Here’s an article about the things Astronomers saw that weren’t really on Mars.
Seeing and Interpreting Martian Oceans and Canals
Here’s an article talking about how what were thought to be subsurface liquid water lakes might actually be totally dry beds of clay.
Clays, Not Water, Are Likely Source of Mars 'Lakes'
Here’s a video about some missions to Mars.
A Brief History of Mars Exploration
And here’s a timeline of Mars missions.
Chronology of Mars Exploration
Of time and tides and Mercury
The smallest planet in our solar system is also the fastest and closest to our sun. In fact, on occasion, the sun will reverse direction in Mercury’s skies. Join us for a look at this good thing in a small package.
Here’s a video about Mercury.
Mercury 101
Here’s a NASA page about Mercury.
Overview | Mercury
Here’s somebody else’s page on Mercury.
Mercury, world of extremes
Here’s NASA’s sight on the Mariner 10.
In Depth | Mariner 10
Here’s NASA’s sight on the Messenger.
MESSENGER
Here’s a bit about how we learned of Mercury’s unusually large inner core.
Mercury’s Spin and Gravity Reveals the Planet’s Inner Core
And here’s a little something on Mercury’s spin orbital resonance.
Mercury’s Spin-Orbit Resonance
The Venus bot trap
Humans have never been to Venus, and a good thing too. Judging by the wreckage of failed automated missions, the Goddess of love, loves to eat robots.
Here’s a link to our first episode on space and space travel.
Ep 288: From stones to strings to space
Here’s a link to our first episode on robotics and automation.
Ep 311: Building brain bits for bots based on big beasties
Here’s a site on Venus, and its wild weather.
What is the weather like on Venus?
Robots orbiting the Earth
We’re combining and continuing our episodes on robots, automation, space and space travel with a look at what robots have been up to while orbiting our planet.
Here’s a link to the beginning of our episodes about space.
Ep 288: From stones to strings to space
Here’s a link to the beginning of our episodes about robots
Ep 311: Building brain bits for bots based on big beasties
Here’s the company who built and flew the MEV.
Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) Satellite Technology - Northrop Grumman
Here’s a video about the MEV-1.
MEV-1 Mission Profile
Here’s NASA’s site on the Detxtre.
Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator
And here’s an article about some of the repair work done by Dextre.
Canadian Robot Dextre Fixes Space Station Power Issue
Robots, saving lives and curing cancer
With a side trip to the largest robots in the world, we talk about robots used for search and rescue, and some very small robots being developed to fight illness.
Here’s an article about nanobots, robots that are very tiny, sometimes smaller than cells.
These tiny robots could be disease-fighting machines inside the body
Here’s a sight on a four footed robot for search and rescue.
Why this blind, catlike robot could transform search and rescue
Here are robots that can be dropped from the sky, hit the ground, and keep right on ticking.
These squishy robots are designed to survive falls, save lives
Here’s an article about rescue robots in general.
Robots to the Rescue: Discover the New Generation of Life-saving Robots
Here’s a little bit about the world’s biggest humanoid robot, as of 2019
World’s largest humanoid robot is too tall to leave its warehouse
And finally, here’s something about little motors that can swim around inside cells.
Driving nanomotors through road blocks inside living cells
The robot apocalypse is nigh
In honor of Halloween, we get just a little bit spooky this week. With more and more robots in the world, and with said robots becoming smarter over time, what happens if they turn against us and start to harm humans? In fact, it has already happened.
Here is a paper on a brain reaction, detectible via EEG, that signals our choice before we’re aware that we’ve made it.
What is the Bereitschaftspotential?
Here’s an article about the same reaction, studied while the participants were bungy jumping.
To jump or not to jump
Here’s an article about the evidence that we might make a choice before we are aware of doing so, bringing the concept of consciousness into question.
Benjamin Libet - a short delay.
Here’s a site on an AI that is less than reasonable about ethics.
Scientists Build AI System to Give Ethical Advice, Turns Out to Be a Bad Idea
Here’s an article about deaths caused by robots.
Robot deaths are nothing new but AI will change everything
Here’s something about how patients have died under robotic knives.
Robot surgeons kill 144 patients, hurt 1,391, malfunction 8,061 times
Here’s info on an AI that was deliberately taught to think of nothing but violent answers.
Scientists Have Created a 'Psychopath' AI Called Norman
And here’s an article about a chat bot that learned racism by communicating with humans.
Racist Microsoft AI Breaks Down on Twitter
Should robots think for themselves?
We get to robot brains today, including an early neural network, made from analog circuits, instead of digital.
Once again, for background you can checkout our series on computers and computing and the history thereof, starting with:
Ep270: Stone age computers
And here are a couple of episodes on the beginnings of artificial neural networks.
Ep 283: An early AI, and the birth of the transistor
Ep 284: Back up a bit
And here are a couple of articles on how modern designers are using analog circuits, because they come in handy.
Developers Turn To Analog For Neural Nets
A Brave New World of Analog Artificial Neural Networks