FutureBANG!

Ian and Jesse discuss blockchain technology, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Will the currencies of the future be based on distributed, decentralized computational algorithms that don't rely on putting all of our trust in governments and banking institutions?   Links to topics discussed: "Verbal confirmation" for Hyperloop Solar batteries for Australia Tesla roof tiles sold out What is the Blockchain? Bitcoin Satoshi Nakamoto - Inventor of Blockchain Ethereum Radiolab episode - The Ceremony Bitcoin block real time explorer "19 Industries the Blockchain Will Disrupt" Kanye Cryptocurrency - Coinye "Bitcoin Security: Bubble Boy and the Sewer Rat"   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian tells Jesse about the Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway, as well as some other genetic backup projects around the world. If our civilization collapses, have we done everything we can to give the next one a chance to thrive?   Links to topics discussed: Svalbard Seed Vault On Google Maps Millennium Seed Bank Partnership Frozen Zoos Original Svalbard 'flood' report Followup on report   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss the idea of bringing extinct species back into existence. Should we forget about extinct species and focus exclusively on preserving what's alive today, or could we see the return of dodos, mammoths, and even dinosaurs?   Links to topics discussed: The 6th Extinction Long Now's Revive and Restore project Candidates for de-extinction The Passenger Pigeon Project George Church defends de-extinction The Harvard Mammoth project The Chicken-Saurus Pleistocene Park article Pleistocene Park documentary   Unsponsored Ad: AVA Byte - Foolproof indoor gardening.   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss the future of autonomous, self-driving vehicles. They're coming faster than anyone imagined, and they will have many large effects on society, both good and bad. What are some of the more creative ways we can find to use driverless cars, and how can we best deal with the loss of driving jobs?   Links to topics discussed: Fully self driving Teslas Interplanetary Transport System - full video with Q&A Tesla's solar roof tiles Wired article on self-driving car levels Google cars Brad Templeton UBC talk CGP Grey video on traffic jams Google self driving promo video Otto beer delivery Most common jobs by state Udacity degree on self driving cars Cracked podcast - the 11 nations of America   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss the current state of genetic modification of agricultural products, and where the technology might lead in the future. If we could add, subtract, and combine any traits we want in our crops, what wondrous things could we create?   Links to topics discussed: FlavrSavr tomato Golden Rice Aquadvantage salmon Norman Borlaug NYT article on GMO products CRISPR Gene guns Civil War urban legend Craig Venter Enviropig C3 vs C4 photosynthesis   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss the future of toilets, plumbing, and sanitation. Modern sanitation has allowed us to build large cities with healthy populations, but how can we bring the same advances to the rest of the world, and what does the toilet of tomorrow look like?   Links to topics discussed: Pit toilets (with guest Dickson Despommier) Bill Gates' Reinvent the Toilet challenge Bill Gates' Omniprocessor Omniprocessor infographic! Squat toilet health Japanese Washlets   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Jesse tells Ian about the Long Now Foundation, an organization that encourages thinking and planning on the scale of centuries and millenia. What kinds of issues do we need to plan for if we're designing a clock to last 10,000 years?   Links to topics discussed: Long Now Foundation Endangered Languages 10,000 Year Clock location Brian Eno   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss the possibility of contact with alien civilizations and what it would mean for the future of humanity. If we received a clear signal from an extra terrestrial intelligence, how would we react, and what should our response be? This is a big topic, and we missed a lot of important stuff (we left out SETI!). We'll definitely come back to it in another episode some time, so let us know what else to include!   Links to topics discussed: Drake Equation Fermi Paradox Definition of Life Maxwell Hunter's Memo The Brookings Report Post Detection Policy Possible Alien Megastructure Voyager Records Arecibo Signal A Message From Earth   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss using a brain to directly control a computer. It's happening now, and the future of brain-computer interfaces has a lot of promise, but there may be a dark side. How could we benefit from things like telepathic communication, literally combining brains to work on a problem, or even feeling the emotions of others far away?   Links to topics discussed: Brain Waves - Be careful! There's lots of new-age pseudoscience nonsense about brain waves on the Internet. Dr. Bin He's lab Brain controlled drones video Book discussing "brainish," the brain's internal language One monkey's brain controlling another's body Paralyzed man walks using brain-computer interface and avatar Rat and monkey neural networks Split brains Project Cyborg   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse compare the future portrayed in Back to the Future II to our actual 2015. October 21, 2015 is the day that Marty and Doc Brown traveled to in the movie. Is the real future better or worse than the film predicted?    Links to topics discussed:Tony Hawk trying prototype hoverboards3D printed pizzaUniversal food deliveryJaws 19 trailerPepsi Perfect bottleNike self-tying shoes   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse return to the topic of Vertical Farming to discuss the present and near-future of the industry and movement. Ian gives his account of working in the world's first commercial vertical farm: what worked, what didn't, and how the problems might be solved in the future!   Links to topics discussed: Association for Vertical Farming Urban Agriculture podcast The Plant in Chicago The Plant's amazing diagram News of Local Garden opening News of Local Garden closing (more details) Indoor Agriculure Conference Vertical Harvest in Wyoming   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss the history and possible future of agriculture, and the concept of growing crops indoors, without soil, stacked in vertical levels. Will vertical farming be the solution to our growing challenges of pollution, population, and land and water use?   Links to topics discussed: Vertical Farming Dickson Despommiers Vertical Farm (book) Urban Agriculture (podcast) Plato's Dialogues(this one is recommended) Socratic Method   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

In this bonus short episode Ian and Jesse discuss EPCOT, Walt Disney's vision for a planned futuristic society, not to be confused with the existing theme park, Epcot. The movie (and Disneyland attraction) Tomorrowland was based on a real idea! What might a true "city of tomorrow" have looked like, and would living in such a place be worth the tradeoffs?   Links to topics discussed: Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow concept Epcot Theme Park Tomorrowland movie Disney World Walt Disney   The audio quality in this episode, while perfectly listenable, is not to the standard we hope to keep. We apologize! The issue has been resolved since this episode's recording, so look forward to a quick return to a top quality podcast listening experience.   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss how humanity's future is treated in popular fiction (mostly movies). Why do so many of our favourite stories have such a pessimistic outlook on our ability to build a better tomorrow, and what are some of the best works of fiction that present a positive view of the future? Don't forget to share your favourite pro-future works on our Facebook page!   Links to topics discussed: Movies and Shows:TomorrowlandThe MartianHerThe Fifth ElementThe JetsonsStar TrekFireflyBack To The Future IIBill and Ted's Excellent AdventureBattlestar Galactica   JFK Speech at Rice University Real Life Hoverboards Mormonism in Battlestar Galactica   Theme music, by Jonathan Coulton, is used with permission.

Ian and Jesse discuss wearable technologies like the Apple Watch and Google Glass. These devices are the next step in our continuing trend to integrate technology into our lives and bodies. What do wearable devices offer that traditional gadgets don't, and are they leading towards implanted cybernetic devices?   Links to topics discussed: Apple Watch:http://www.apple.com/watch/ Google Glass:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Glass The Verge article on Apple Watch:http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/27/8483131/apple-watch-vs-mechanical-price-specs-martenero-ceo-interview   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss life on an interstellar starship. When humanity begins to spread throughout the cosmos to explore and colonize new star systems, it will likely take many generations to travel the vast distances. What will it be like for those whose entire lives take place in transit between solar systems?   Links to topics discussed: Interstellar's black hole breakthrough:http://www.wired.com/2014/10/astrophysics-interstellar-black-hole/ Project Orion:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orion_%28nuclear_propulsion%29 100 Year Starship: http://100yss.org/ Freeman Dyson:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_Dyson   Theme music, used with permission, by Jonathan Coulton.

Ian and Jesse discuss Elon Musk and his proposal for a new high speed inter-city transportation technology, Hyperloop. If you could travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 35 minutes (fully powered by solar panels), how would that affect your life?   Links to topics discussed: Hyperloop:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperloop Elon Musk's initial proposal (pdf):http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/hyperloop_alpha-20130812.pdf Elon Musk:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk SpaceX:http://www.spacex.com/ Tesla Motors:http://www.teslamotors.com/en_CA/ Solar City:http://www.solarcity.com/