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The Last Question is a science and technology podcast from DataFest, Scotland’s premier festival of innovation run by The Data Lab - Scotland’s innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence, hosted by the University of Edinburgh. Join our hosts Gordon Johnstone and Lily Higham as they talk to people at the cutting edge of technology and innovation - from quantum computing to nanotechnology, sci-fi authors to ethicists, from the James Webb Telescope to the search for extra-terrestria ...
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Is our understanding of genomics changing the future of medicine? What are the ethical considerations when mapping the genomes of newborns? And have we finally settled the nature versus nurture debate? In this fascinating conversation we tackle genomics, epigenetics, and how AI fits into the future of medicine with Vivienne Parry. Vivienne Parry is…
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What can we learn from indigenous people about our stewardship of space? Are we on the cusp of discovering extra-terrestrial life? And will Homo Machina replace Homo Sapiens? Find out in this fascinating conversation with Moriba Jah. Moriba Jah is an astrodynamicist, space environmentalist, and all-round space renaissance man. Moriba is an associat…
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Disinformation In Warfare with Olga Tokariuk
1:06:06
1:06:06
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How is Russia deploying disinformation following its full scale invasion of Ukraine? What's the difference between disinformation, misinformation, and propaganda? Can memes win wars? Check out this fascinating interview with Olga Tokariuk - journalist and disinformation researcher - to find out. Olga Tokariuk is an independent journalist, non-resid…
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AI, Transhumanism and Religion with Paolo Benanti
58:22
58:22
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How is religion keeping pace with the developments in AI? If we achieve transhumanism, what becomes of god? Are we heading for a 'semantic apocalypse'? We spoke to Paolo Benanti - adviser to Pope Francis on all things AI - about these questions and more in a truly fascinating conversation. Father Paolo Benanti is an academic of the Franciscan of th…
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Lunar Psychophysics with Katherine Rahill, NASA
47:09
47:09
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We're back for a second season! With NASA's Artemis missions (hopefully) returning humanity to the moon in the near future and space exploration entering a new golden age, the realities of human beings existing in space are more pronounced than ever. So what is lunar psychophysics and how will it affect astronauts' ability to function in non-Earth …
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What happens at the intersection of technology and magic? How has storytelling shaped humanity? And why do airships have such an enduring influence on our imaginations? We talk to author Ken Liu about all of this through the lens of silkpunk - a technology aesthetic of his own invention based on a science fictional elaboration of traditions of engi…
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Unconventional Computing with Adrian Tchaikovsky
51:08
51:08
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Will unconventional computing lead to a general artificial intelligence? Will it aid humanity's quest to upload a human mind to a computer, essentially granting immortality? And what role do spiders, octopuses, and crabs play in this? Join us as we talk to award winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky (Children of Time, Shadows of the Apt, Cage of Souls)…
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Birds using quantum entanglement, plants utilising quantum coherence, cells harnessing quantum tunneling - biologists are having to face, for the first time, the effects of the subatomic world on their field. Your hosts Lily and Gordon chat to Professor Jim Al-Khalili - quantum physics professor, broadcaster, and winner of the Stephen Hawking Medal…
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Quick Question: Megastructures and Alien Life with Giovanna Giardino
4:21
4:21
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4:21
Our interviews on The Last Question always bring up so many fascinating concepts and ideas that we can’t squeeze into one episode. This mini series will explore some standalone questions that didn’t quite fit but are still fascinating. In this "quick question" episode we ask ESA astronomer and instrument scientist Giovanna Giardino about the possib…
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The James Webb Space Telescope with Giovanna Giardino
38:59
38:59
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38:59
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the public's imagination in a way we haven't seen in decades - the world has fallen in love with space again. We're delighted to have spoken to Giovanna Giardino - an astronomer and instrument scientist at the European Space Agency - about the telescope's incredible capabilities, what she's excited about …
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Are we on the cusp of a revolution in quantum computing? What does it mean for security and cryptography? And will it get us closer to a general artificial intelligence? Lily and Gordon chat to Professor Elham Kashefi - quantum computing professor at the University of Edinburgh - to find out all of this and more. Elham is the Personal Chair in Quan…
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Quick Question: A Panopticon of Our Own Making with Stephanie Hare
8:43
8:43
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8:43
Our interviews on The Last Question always bring up so many fascinating concepts and ideas that we can’t squeeze into one episode. This mini series will explore some standalone questions that didn’t quite fit but are still fascinating. In this "quick question" episode we ask technology ethicist Stephanie Hare about the panopticon of modern life. Yo…
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In this episode Gordon and Lily chat to Stephanie Hare - technology ethicist and journalist - about what future holds for technology from an ethical perspective. Are governments able to keep up with technology? Should an artificial intelligence be able to hold a patent? Who is responsible for a AI that breaks the law? All of this and more in the la…
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Quick Question: The Entropic Golem with Laura Tripaldi
5:50
5:50
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Our interviews on The Last Question always bring up so many fascinating concepts and ideas that we can’t squeeze into one episode. This mini series will explore some standalone questions that didn’t quite fit but are still fascinating. In this "quick question" episode we ask nanotechnologist Laura Tripaldi what we can learn about entropy from the g…
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Nanotechnology and Material Science with Dr Laura Tripaldi
39:06
39:06
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Join Gordon and Lily for their inaugural podcast as they talk to Dr Laura Tripaldi about the future of nanotechnology, material science, the search for extra-terrestrial life, spiders, and her fascinating book 'Parallel Minds: discovering the intelligence of materials'. What does the future of nanotechnology hold? How can spider silk change the wor…
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