Science, Wonder And The Natural World

Riley and Casey explore technology and society in rural communities. Today's focus: Science, Wonder & the Natural World.NEWS ROUNDUP: We break down [Business Insider] The AI industry's profit problem is getting bigger, says Goldman Sachs' equity research chief and [Business Insider] I flew on a startup's one-of-a-kind electric plane that could reshape air travel by 2027, plus 1 more stories, and explore what these developments mean for communities like ours.RURAL CONNECTIONS: Can AI tools reshape ecological science in the Cariboo in ways that serve community interests, or do they primarily amplify existing extractive research structures? Topics include: Infrastructure costs of AI and ecological impact of data centres, Indigenous data sovereignty and structural exclusion from peer-reviewed research systems, Edge-deployed vs. cloud-based AI models for environmental monitoring, Community-owned data licensing and fee-for-access ecological knowledge systems, Funding and sustainability models for long-term community AI governance infrastructure.Hosts: Riley (Tech optimist with an engineering background) and Casey (Community-first skeptic of tech promises).COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Community Futures Cariboo ChilcotinSources discussed:Business Insider: [Business Insider] The AI industry's profit problem is getti...Business Insider: [Business Insider] I flew on a startup's one-of-a-kind elect...Maria Popova (The Marginalian): [The Marginalian] Ursula K. Le Guin on the Meaning of LifeLaisa Conde (Quesnel Cariboo Observer): [Quesnel Cariboo Observer] Prince George RCMP confirm 3 rece...The Narwhal: [The Narwhal] In New Brunswick, residents battle the governm...Additional sources provided:https://www.tomsguide.com/author/alyse-stanley (Toms Guide): [Toms Guide] Netflix just added a batch of feel-good movies ...ScienceDaily: [ScienceDaily] The forgotten organ that could predict how lo...https://www.tomsguide.com/author/nikita-achanta (Toms Guide): [Toms Guide] I ditched my JBL Go 5 for the $49 8BitDo Retro ...The Conversation (ScienceAlert): [ScienceAlert] AI Could Soon Use More Water Than Humanity Dr...Al Jazeera English: [Al Jazeera English] ‘Elections campaigned on who can be mor...Al Jazeera Staff (Al Jazeera English): [Al Jazeera English] ‘Pervasive fear’ grips Gaza as Israeli ...https://www.techradar.com/author/lance-ulanoff (TechRadar): [TechRadar] I just watched a robot kick a child and I'm over...Words and photographs by Pelumi Salako in Yawota (The Guardian Global Development): [The Guardian Global Development] Gunshots at 9am. Then they...Al Jazeera English: [Al Jazeera English] US says Iranian radar sites hit in Goru...jenzielinski (Williams Lake Tribune): [Williams Lake Tribune] Locked out Kelowna daycare files sui...Business Insider: [Business Insider] Some job seekers are running out of money...Al Jazeera English: [Al Jazeera English] Kyiv residents seek shelter during rene...Android Authority: [Android Authority] Tired of AI making stuff up? This assist...https://www.tomsguide.com/author/amanda-caswell (Toms Guide): [Toms Guide] I tested local AI vs. ChatGPT side-by-side — he...Closing Music: “So Called Democracy” by Stephane TV — rock, indie, indierock. Free music via Jamendo, licensed under Creative Commons.CreditsTheme Song: Cariboo Signals by SunoContent Curation & Script: Claude (Anthropic)Script Review Model: claude-sonnet-4-6TTS Voices: OpenAI TTS API (Nova · Echo)Web Search: Brave Search APIWeather Data: Open-MeteoCover Art: ChatGPT (OpenAI)Podcast Coordination: Erich Zirnhelt© 2026 Erich Zirnhelt. Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.