Episode 77

In part 11 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad. He is an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at University of Washington and the Principal Data Science Researcher at KenSci. He is also an advisor on AI to the ministry of Science and Technology of Maldives, and has published over 50 research papers on machine learning and artificial intelligence. His research centers on fairness and equity concerning the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast

More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/

produced by Zack Jackson
music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Episode 76

If you had the power to augment your body so that you could live forever, would you do it? If life-saving technology exists, are we morally obliged to use it? Have we outsmarted natural selection, and do we now have the duty to take homo sapien evolution into our own hands? Living well, dying responsibly, and the wonderfully provocative world of transhumanism on this week's episode of Down the Wormhole. 

Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast

More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/

produced by Zack Jackson
music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis

Episode 75

In part 10 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Seth Villegas. He is a PhD student in constructive theology at Boston University. He focuses primarily on how technology affects religious and religious-like ideas. His current research examines transhumanist and other secular communities, asking questions about the future of religious life. We talk about the incoming technological utopia/dystopia, the search for meaning, and the nature of the human soul. 

Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast

More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/

produced by Zack Jackson
music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Episode 74

In our new miniseries, we are talking about artificial intelligence, machine ethics, transhumanism, and what it means to be a human. In our first episode, we're talking about cyborgs and why you already are one. Will technology make us less human and will we even realize that it's happening? Does AI deserve rights? Should we create machines that can feel pain and suffering? How can playing God with machines help us to become better humans today?

Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast

More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/

produced by Zack Jackson
music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Show Notes

Ship of Theseus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

21 grams - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21_grams_experiment

The pineal gland as the seat of the soul - https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pineal-gland/

Adam’s Conversation about Cyborbs during Sinai and Synapses - https://sinaiandsynapses.org/multimedia-archive/superheroes-and-everyday-cyborgs/

Loebner Prize - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loebner_Prize

https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2020/05/predictive-text-systems-change-what-we-write

The Animatrix - https://www.amazon.com/Animatrix-Complete-First-Season/dp/B004G7W9IY

Cylon Psychology - https://www.battlestarwiki.org/Humanoid_Cylon#Physiology_and_Psychology

Siri's Position On Abortion? A Glitch, Not Conspiracy, Apple Says - https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/12/02/143067993/siris-anti-abortion-tendencies-a-result-of-technology-not-apple-conspiracy

The Algorithmic Justice League - https://www.ajl.org/

Episode 73

In part 9 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Matthew Groves. He was once described on NPR as a "one man science-religion reconciliation committee". With a background in Physics and a Master of Divinity, he comfortably navigates both worlds and makes it look easy. We talk about strategic bridge building, climate advocacy, and doing this work in multiple spaces. 

Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast

More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/

produced by Zack Jackson
music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Episode 72

It's only a matter of time before human beings become an extra-terrestrial species. As people make plans for permanent settlements on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, what considerations are being made about what kind of society we want to create? How will we prevent our ancient tribalism from ripping us apart when we are one species on multiple planets? Will we even be the same species anymore? What will happen to future human DNA after multiple generations? Will religion still be a compelling force outside of our home planet? All those questions and several shameless plugs for "The Expanse" on the final episode of our space mini-series. 

Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast

More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/

produced by Zack Jackson
music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Show Notes 

Things to watch: 

The expanse (on Prime)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expanse_(TV_series) 

Away (Netflix)

https://www.netflix.com/title/80214512 

Things to read:

What Will Martians look like? - https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/the-big-questions/mars-colonists-might-evolve-entirely-new-type-human-n708636 

Roadmap to space settlements - https://space.nss.org/nss-roadmap-to-space-settlement-3rd-edition-2018-contents/

The Mars Society: https://www.marssociety.org/about/

Building a new society in space - https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130318-building-a-new-society-in-space

NASA’s twin study - https://www.nasa.gov/twins-study/fun-facts-and-shareables 

Space chaplain Twitter https://twitter.com/ussf_hc 

Send artists to the Moon! https://dearmoon.earth/

Symphony for broken orchestra - http://symphonyforabrokenorchestra.org/ 

Violins of hope - https://www.violins-of-hope.com/

Episode 71

In part 8 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Rev Casey Bien-Aimé. She is the Spiritual Care Coordinator and Endowed Chair of Pastoral Care at Lankenau Medical Center. We talk about unleashing the power of ritual, how to create your own altar-space, and what NOT to say to someone who is grieving. Casey is like a never-endling well of calm compassion, and has some incredible important words for today.

Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast

More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/

produced by Zack Jackson
music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

Episode 70

The U.S. Space Surveillance Network tracks over 23,000 pieces of debris the size of a soft ball or larger. An additional 500,000 objects larger than a centimeter also orbit Earth, and there are millions of even smaller fragments which we cannot trace. We stand on the edge of a potential technological disaster if our satellites are destroyed by our own garbage, and international space agencies are starting to take notice. Join us as we talk about the technical issues of space junk as well as the moral implications of littering uninhabited spaces. Why do we only seem to care about garbage when it affects living creatures? Do we have a moral responsibility to clean up our messes? Who is going to pay for all this? How can thinking about space junk make us better stewards of our own little corners of the world?

Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast

More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/

produced by Zack Jackson
music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis 

In part 8 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with Dr. Amanda Glaze-Crampes. A self described "Facilitator of Magic", she teaches future teachers how to inspire the next generation of scientists. Her research centers on the intersections of science and society, specifically the acceptance and rejection of evolution in the Southeastern United States and the impact of the conflict between religion and evolution on science literacy. It is impossible to listen to her talk without wanting to get up an explore something afterwards. You're in for a real treat! 

Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast

More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/

produced by Zack Jackson
music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis