Have we stopped evolution?

FromFuture Tense

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Have we stopped evolution?

FromFuture Tense

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Length:

29 minutes

Released:

May 5, 2019

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Advances in technology and medicine have been so great in recent decades that some scientists now believe we’ve altered the nature of evolution for plants and animals. Some even claim that it’s effectively stopped in humans.

Released:

May 5, 2019

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

A critical look at new technologies, new approaches and new ways of thinking, from politics to media to environmental sustainability.

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Conformity as a product, not just a process: The franchise model is on the rise and it’s moving beyond fast food and coffee outlets. We ask why? Is there more to it than a simple secret love of conformity? by Future Tense
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Muslim start-ups, time crystals and a second chance for online comments: Islam-focussed start-ups often find it difficult to attract venture capital. We’ll explore the reasons why and the potential for development. by Future Tense
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Have universities lost their way in the rush to appear corporate?: Public universities increasingly look and sound like corporations. But is it time to refocus on teaching priorities? by Future Tense
29 min listen
NATO’s nadir and how best to move forward: What needs to change in order to restore the alliance as an effective military force? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Putting the theory of big data into practice – on a massive scale!: In Canada, Google is set to re-develop and manage a large area of downtown Toronto. In China, the Communist Party government has been running trials on a personal rating scheme for all Chinese citizens. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Activism that’s less aggressive and far more persuasive and persistent: Many believe that the future of activism relies on quiet persistence, targeted political involvement and an attitude that refuses to “look away”. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Perspectives on Privacy: It’s a “wicked” problem: how to safeguard individual privacy in a world that now runs on the trade of personal data. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Three Great Potentials – China’s growing international role: We take a look at three sectors in which China is beginning to dominate: trade, artificial intelligence and energy. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain: Cryptocurrencies enable us to transfer money with no fees and no bank, instantly. This is just the beginning of what digital currencies and blockchain technology can do. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Depression, anxiety and social media: What is the relationship between depression and digital technology? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Animals and technology: Digital technology is opening up new relationships between humans and animals – instead of alienating us from nature as in the past. by Future Tense
29 min listen
The need for cyber insurance; identifying and tracking drones; and building tiny houses for refugees: Are cyber insurance policies too complicated? Could identification technology prevent drones from flying into areas they shouldn't? And could private gardens help solve the refugee housing crisis in Europe? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Forging influence – the Chinese Government's attack on democracy: Clive Hamilton says that the Communist Party leadership in Beijing has begun to subtly, and not so subtly, influence the political and social affairs of democratic nations. by Future Tense
29 min listen
The GIF as an increasingly important visual communication tool: The GIF, this little looped video, is often misunderstood as a component of modern communication. by Future Tense
29 min listen
The future of war and reassessing the digital strategy of ISIS: Are old expectations and strategies prolonging our military conflicts? And is ISIS winning the cyber war? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Getting serious about drones: It is time to put aside the novelty aspect of unmanned aerial vehicles and start designing domestic drones that are fit for purpose. But how do you regulate a technology that has so many different uses and such varying capacities? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Designing technology to increase inclusion for the disabled: Inclusive design isn’t just about meeting the needs of the disabled, it’s about opening-up the possibility of creating better products and services for everyone. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Chatting with heretics: Moving forward isn’t just about denouncing fake news and ignorance, it’s also about rethinking some of the assumptions we have around the ways in which we communicate and debate. by Future Tense
29 min listen
A not so diplomatic future: Diplomacy is often viewed as a way of smoothing the friction points between states, but international relations are becoming increasingly assertive and highly personal. by Future Tense
29 min listen
At work with digital media: In the race to take advantage of new technological possibilities in the workplace, is a focus on rights and responsibilities being neglected? by Future Tense
58 min listen
A new player and the effectiveness of overseas aid: Future Tense looks at the rise of China as a mega-donor and efforts to improve global aid transparency and effectiveness. by Future Tense
29 min listen
How to tell the good mental health apps from the bad: There are more than 10,000 mental health apps on the market, but only a fraction have been scientifically evaluated. by Future Tense
29 min listen
$How to tell the good mental health apps from the bad: There are more than 10,000 mental health apps on the market, but only a fraction have been scientifically evaluated.$
AI, algorithmic decision making, ethics and the under-representation of women in tech: Ethical principles for algorithmic decision making; more women in the tech industry; inclusion in AI and design - these of all issues of increasing significance in the future. by Future Tense
29 min listen
The value of rituals in a digital world: Are rituals still needed in a world mediated through digital devices? by Future Tense
29 min listen
How to problem solve - the ultimate problem: Neuroscientist Robert Burton reckons our brains simply aren’t up to tackling the problems of the complexity of modern life. Could collective intelligence help? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Good enough, the EU’s data protection regulation and what CryptoKitties can tell us about the future of art: "Good enough" solutions are damaging our ability to solve the major global problems of the world. And blockchain is revolutionising digital art. by Future Tense
29 min listen
What future democracy?: Is democracy as we know it doomed? And could there be alternative forms of political representation? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Warm data, innovative electric transport and “fossil free steel”: Green innovation comes in many forms. And promising project don't have to be big, they only have to make a start. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Catching up with the Jetsons: cities in 2050: What will future cities look like? How will they function and—importantly—how do we keep them focussed on human need? by Future Tense
59 min listen
Facebook’s about-face and what it means for the future of news: News organisations are struggling to engage with online readers and even “digital first” darlings, like Vice and Buzzfeed, are now losing profit and shedding staff. by Future Tense
29 min listen

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A non-proliferation treaty for fossil fuels: It’s time to attack the “supply side” of fossil fuels, activists argue. And the best way to do that is by establishing a fuel non-proliferation treaty similar to the one used for nuclear weapons. But what would it entail and could it ever work? Also, the sticky relationship between online personalisation and consent; and a call for CEOs to become the next target of automation. by Future Tense
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Reembracing the spirit of public service: The Future is Public is a global campaign aimed at creating a new narrative around public service. It’s about curbing the dominance of Neoliberalism in public policy. While in Australia, there are expectations the new government in Canberra will decrease the use of external consultants and make changes to the way government departments and agencies operate. by Future Tense
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Cities – the hot beds of evolution: Urban life has not only reshaped what it means to be human, cities are also changing animals. Rats in different parts of New York are evolving separately. Ecologist Rob Dunn describes cities as accelerators of evolution. Also in this episode, how city administrators compete for dominance using the same approach as social media influencers. And why house-flipping has gone algorithmic. by Future Tense
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The Earth BioGenome Project; the church of women; and what do we really think about facial recognition technology?: In this program we explore an ambitious science project aimed at to documenting the genomes of all known creatures; we'll hear why the future of the Anglican church is female; and explore the latest research into public perceptions of facial recognition technology. by Future Tense
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The population conundrum: Concerns that we'll soon have too many people on the Earth sit alongside apprehension that we are facing a looming demographic crisis. So how do we address both issues without further damaging the planet? by Future Tense
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Does data science need a Hippocratic oath?: The use and misuse of our data can have enormous personal and societal consequences, so what ethical constraints are there on data scientists? by Future Tense
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Cliodynamics, the Hinge of History and why all history is revisionist: The idea that history is circular is called Cliodynamics and it’s currently in vogue with many commentators on international affairs. But do such theories help or hinder our understanding of history and its predictive powers? by Future Tense
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Big data and farming – the promise and the fear: Boosting your productivity by up to 25% - what industry wouldn't want to do that? That’s the future big tech promises for agriculture – one where extensive data is gathered on every aspect of the supply chain. But farmers are worried about privacy. And there are also questions about environmental impacts of big ag getting into big data. by Future Tense
29 min listen
A slow move towards a plastic free future: Over the past two decades we’ve become increasingly sensitive to the overuse of plastic and more concerned about its environmental impact – but to what effect? Feel-good campaigns aside, the signs for the future are far from promising. by Future Tense
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Are Sovereign Wealth Funds the best way of safeguarding the future?: There are currently around 150 of these funds in the world worth in excess of $USD 9 trillion. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Space-based Solar – energy above the clouds: Scientists are busy testing ways to build a giant solar farm in space. Also, what to do about the increasing levels of space junk finding its way into our oceans? by Future Tense
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The future of satire is no laughing matter: Satire has been around for thousands of years, but is its power dwindling? by Future Tense
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Forgetting, not memory, moves us forward: Forgetting is the only safe response to the world's problems, from a geopolitical perspective, according to author and journalist David Rieff. And forgetting is also a good thing in your personal life, say scientists. It moves us forward. by Future Tense
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When development aid goes wrong - propping up bad regimes: For many people, the provision of overseas aid is a democratic imperative and a universal good. But what if the situation is more complicated than that? by Future Tense
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The fall of cash & the rise of central bank digital currencies: Physical cash still plays an important role in the financial system, but could it be replaced by a digital alternative? Governments around the world are looking to Central Bank Digital Currencies, but there are concerns around privacy and loss of financial freedom. by Future Tense
29 min listen
Banning books and floating suburbs: Banning books belongs in the dark ages and is anathema to modern liberal democracy, but in the United States there’s a widespread campaign underway to censor what students can read. Also, why is the UN involved in a project to build a floating neighbourhood on the South Korean coast? by Future Tense
29 min listen
Fashion’s fast future: Fashion is getting even faster, but there are also efforts underway to rein-in the waste and make fabrics from more environmentally-friendly materials. by Future Tense
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Space pollution, stunted high-rise and the joy of missing out: As Earth’s upper atmosphere becomes more congested, it’s also becoming more polluted, and the impact could be dire. Also, why doing without could make for a fuller future; and what’s behind China’s ban on really tall buildings? by Future Tense
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The opportunity costs of global pollution: Pollution has long been seen as a health problem, but increasingly its being redefined as an opportunity cost to both individuals and society - and as a burden on future generations. by Future Tense
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Rare Earths and the difficulties of supply: Rare Earths are essential to modern life, but their extraction comes at a price. So, how do we clean-up mining efforts & build a diverse network of suppliers without destroying the environment? by Future Tense
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Is dumbness our destiny?: Most of us are healthier, wealthier and better educated than ever before. We have greater access to knowledge and expertise than any previous generation. So, why do humans keep doing stupid things? And why is the world awash with conspiracy? Have we already passed “peak intelligence”? And if so, what can we do to ensure a smarter future? by Future Tense
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Litigating our way out of climate change: Responses to climate change are often marked by frustration as much as fear. Those seeking to end our fossil-fuel dependency are increasingly turning to litigation to force the hands of companies and governments - often on human rights grounds. But do the courts have a legitimate role to play in leading the way? Or is this a form of judicial activism? by Future Tense
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The power of storytelling – a cautionary tale: Stories like opinions have become a necessity of modern life. Everybody is encouraged to have an opinion and everybody – in the vernacular of countless motivation speakers – is encouraged to be the “hero of their own story”. But are we in danger of making too much of them? If the story becomes the central device for much of our communication, do we risk losing our sense of objective reality? by Future Tense
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Have we stopped evolution?

Have we stopped evolution?

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Future Tense

Related podcast episodes