The PanFuture Society Podcast
by Sean Gill
Technology, science, and culture news and discussion covering topics from around the corner and across centuries. We aim to encourage long-term thinking and educate people on cutting edge developments happening now as well as dream about what might be far in the future.
Episodes
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Panfuture Quick Thoughts 1 - Hello again
It's been a long time but I have some things on my mind. I'm returning to the podcast with some off-the-cuff shorts, still all about my thoughts on civilization, society, science, and the future. This first one is my thoughts on the current incarnation of Elon Musk. https://panfuture.org/...
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Ep 89 - So long, and thanks for all the fish
Thank you for listening, thank you for your support. Do check on the blog or twitter from time to time, I intend to keep writing. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you were today.
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Ep 88 - The State Of Things
Just some thoughts this week on the current state of the world and the changes underway.
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Ep 87 - Plant Genetics with Dr. Kevin Folta
This week Dr. Folta returns to the show to talk plant genetics, fear mongering, and putting worry into proper context. Also, the Clock of the Long Now is officially under construction
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Ep 86 - Interview with Holly Griffith
This week I have an interview with NASA engineer Holly Griffith. We talk about Engineer's Week (Feb 18-24), the importance of engineers in life all around us, women in science, and some other stuff. Also, I am tired of saying "Never again."
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Ep 85 - Dr. Emily Monosson
This week I interview Dr. Emily Monosson about her book Natural Defense: Enlisting Bugs and Germs to Protect Our Food and Health, and we talk about academia, changes in our society currently underway, and motherhood in the scientific world. Also, Robocoffee, and searching for technosignatures...
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Ep 84 - When I Grow Up...
This week I offer an essay on my career choices, wonder why I didn't become a scientist, and offer advice on finding your ideal work. Also, Darmok and Jalad, at Tanagra
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Ep 83 - Interview with Ira Pastor of Bioquark
This week I had a long chat with Ira Pastor, CEO of Bioquark. We talked about their research into new treatments for disease, the importance of a good scientific process, and the challenge of translation, getting from the petri dish to mice to people. Also, a lesson the importance of looking back...
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Ep 82 - Sci-Fi Inspirations for Long Term Thinking
This week I ruminate on some of my early inspirations for long term thinking from the world of science fiction. Also, nano material from pitcher plants, and tiny nuclear reactors for your house on Mars.
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Ep 81 - A.C. Hachem and a 2017 movie wrap up
This week I talk to author A.C. Hachem again. We geek out about movies, wax philosophical on the importance of science, and get the scoop on A.C.'s next novel.
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Ep 80 - The Future Of Food 6 - Interview with a cricket farmer
This week I have an interview with Austin Miller of Craft Crickets (crackcrickets.com). We discuss the many benefits of eating insects and some of the details of how one farms crickets. Also, Asimov's 1953 vision of self-driving cars, and more news on Tabby's Star.
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Ep 79 - Long-term perspective
This week an essay on long-term thinking and keeping things in perspective. Also, 7 banned words at the CDC, and Arthur C Clarke's 100th birthday.
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Ep 78 - More Stories from a Music Career
This week I offer more insight into a career in the arts, and how my experience may apply to all jobs in the future. Also, artificial life and martian worms.
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Ep 77 - Essay on a Career in the Arts
This week I offer an essay on my music career, and how that fits (or doesn't) with modern society in America. I also ruminate on the place of arts in civilization and whether other careers will go as arts have gone. Plus news in graphene spider webs, our interstellar visitor, and Voyager 1
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A Musical Interlude
I thought with the business of the holiday this week we could all use a break from my normal banter/blather. In the feed today is an acoustic EP, Evagation, from my band Strange Land Chloroform Dream 27 Miles Out Corozal The Girl With The Octarine Eyes The Last Mountain
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Ep 76 - Blockchain and Bitcoin: interview with Steve McKeon
This week I have an interview with Steve McKeon from the U of O. We talk about blockchain and bitcoin, what it is, what people are doing with it, and why you should pay attention. Please see the show notes for a number of links to recent news. Also, genetic engineering a skin replacement to fight…
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Ep 75 - Nanotech interview with John Donovan, U of O
This week I have a long interview I did a few weeks ago John Donovan. John is the Director of the MicroAnalytical Facility at the University of Oregon's CAMCOR, Center for Advanced Materials Characterization. I got a tour of the whole facility and we talked about all the different kinds of...
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Ep 74 - News Show #7
Catching up on the latest and greatest including growing rice in saltwater, algorithms for acoustics, and the NASA twin study.
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Ep 73 - Interview with Astronaut Abby
This week I have a great chat with Abigail Harrison, aka Astronaut Abby. We talk about her ambitions for Mars, getting people excited about space, STEM, and the arts, and whether there will be cats on Mars.
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Ep 72 - News Show 6
This week we catch up on the news. Mars, self-driving cars, trains and tractors, new telescopes, medical imaging, shills, dolphin culture.
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Episode 71 - Interview with Aerospace Engineer Mike Paul Hughes
This week features an interview with Aerospace Engineer Mike Paul Hughes. We chat about upcoming missions, speculate on life, and Mike reminds us why it's important to study history. Also, a bad case of bad science headlines.
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Ep 70 - News Show 5
On this weeks news show: CRISPR for Glaucoma, Nobel Prizes, moon, Mars, and some thoughts on guns and con man Alex Jones.
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Ep 69 - Interview with Steve Kilston, Interstellar Consultants
This week I have an interview with astrophysicist Steve Kilston of Interstellar Consultants. One of Steve's projects is a practical and well thought out 500 year plan for building a ship that could take us to another star system. This is not pie-in-the-sky stuff, this is grounded in practical...
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Ep 68 - News Show 4
This week is an all news show in the new show format. We have Osiris Rex, human embryo editing, 3d printed aluminum, high tech guitar strings, and more.
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Ep 67 - Civil War
This week an essay on a darker topic - whether the US will have another Civil War in the near future. Can it be avoided? Are we already locked in conflict, and how do we break out? Also, a change in show format.
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Episode 66 - All News Show #3
This week I've got a bunch of cool short news bits I've been saving up, it's time to catch up. Cassini, Voyager, Mars, Universal Basic Income, Robot artists, and more
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Ep 65 - Alvin Toffler pt 2
This week is a further examination of Alvin Toffler's writings and ideas. He wrote about the near future, which we are living in today. Also, new cancer treatments, an asteroid flyby, and water on exoplanets.
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Ep 64 - Alvin Toffler and Future Shock pt 1
This week we talk Alvin Toffler and his 1970 book Future Shock. We look at the present through a future lens from the past... or something. Also, Sean falls down a Wikipedia rabbit hole.
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Ep 63 - Interview with Dr. Kevin Folta
This week features an interview with Dr. Kevin Folta, professor and chairman of the horticultural sciences department at the University of Florida, and host of the Talking Biotech podcast. Also, I beg for money the 21st century way.
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Ep 62 - Nanotechnology pt2
This week we further examine nanotech. How does one actually work at the nanoscale, and what might the far future bring? Also, Carl Sagan's sad prediction coming true.
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Ep 61 - Nanotechnology: an introduction
This week we enter the tiny world of nanotechnology. An introduction to what it is, and where it's being used in our lives right now. Also, gene editing breakthrough, and NASA asteroid tracking. Some links:...
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Episode 60 - Making Contact
This week, further contemplation about life in the universe, and what would happen if we made contact. Also, synthetic food and NASA deep space station plans.
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Ep 59 - Are We Alone?
This week I ponder our place in the universe and wonder if there is other life out there somewhere. Part philosophical essay, part science exploration. Also, words and their meanings matter. Inigo says so.
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Ep 58 - In Defense Of Science
This week I essay, rant, and ramble about science, politics, civilization, and our long-term needs. Also, Juno images, New nuclear fuel, and NASA budgets
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Ep 57 - Arcologies
This week, a look at the principles and ideas of arcology, the melding of architecture and ecology, as a way to shape the city of the future. Also, holographic phones and artificial intelligence in science research
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Ep 56 - Energy pt4 - other generation methods
This week we cover some less well known energy generation methods: Geothermal, biomass, biofuel, flywheel, and space based solar panels. Also, artificial intelligence in the operating room, and robo-snakes on Mars
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Ep 55 - Energy pt 3: Sun, Wind, and Water
This week we examine the more well-known renewables of solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy technology. Also, Chinese carbon sequestration and Chinese quantum entanglement.
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Ep 54 - Energy pt2: Nuclear
This week I speak at length with Oregon State University PhD candidate Josh Fishler. We talk all things nuclear including new tech and why it's not the bogeyman.Believe it or not, it will be needed for a carbon neutral future, and for a journey to the stars. And we talk about perspective and...
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Ep 53 - Energy pt 1
This week we look at energy and power production. A snapshot of the past, present and future. How much do we use? Oil, coal, gas, solar, wind, nuclear. What's out there that is better? Also, New instant charge battery, and Artificial Intelligence explains itself.
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Ep 52 - Giant Space News Show
This week I catch up on a ton of space news. Jupiter images from Juno, 3d printing in space, plasma drive, dark matter, black holes, psyche, and more. Also, I rant at the end of the show so you can skip it if you want.
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Ep 51 - Essay on Civilization and Long-term thinking
This week I ruminate on civilization and long-term thinking, including a segment from Humboldt Redwoods State Park in California. Also, zero-emission natural gas power plant, and 3d printed ovaries.
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Ep 50 - Movie geek out with A.C. Hachem
This week I geek out about movies with author A.C. Hachem. All about summer movies, Hollywood business choices and how do you avoid getting squashed by the 5 ton Disney movie beast. Strap in, it's a movie length show! Oh, and somehow I've made it to 50 episodes…
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Ep 49 - Longevity pt 3
This week we continue with longevity research. We examine some critiques against it, and consider what it will mean for society if more and more people live longer. Also, vertical farming in Shanghai, the ISS 200th spacewalk, and wandering black holes.
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Ep 48 - Longevity pt 2
More on longevity this week, with a peek into the worlds of Aubrey de Grey, Craig Venter, and Google's Calico. Also, the DNA of neurons, and the growing role of big data in the search for extraterrestrial life.
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Ep 47 - Longevity pt 1
This week is part one of a few shows on longevity. The history of living longer, areas of research, and more. Also - Artificial womb, artificial photosynthesis, and asteroid mining
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Special Edition - March For Science
I went to the local March for Science today in Eugene. The starting point was on the U of O campus, and there was a great turnout. There was also a good diversity in the crowd. I took my portable mic for my phone and talked to a few people, from students and teachers, to astronomers and parents....
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Ep 46 - All News Show #2
This week, an all news show to catch up on some quick stories ahead of the March For Science. Comfy robot suits, Elon Musk (again), Negative Mass, Exoplanets, Water worlds, Accretion Discs, (lions tigers and bears oh my)
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Ep. 45 - The Future of Flight
This week we examine some of the ways we may be flying through the air in the near future, including drones, hypersonic jets, and (not in the air) the hyperloop. Also, a brick laying robot, and New Horizons takes a nap, and what I'll be doing at next week's March for Science.
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Ep 44 - The Future of Musical Instruments
This week we look at new manufacturing methods and materials like 3d printing and carbon fiber being used by instrument builders, and new ways that people are interfacing with their instruments to create with sound. Also, drilling to the Earth's mantle, and exoplanet atmospheres
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Ep 43 - Pollution Solutions
This week we go over a few of the ways people are tackling air pollution and excess carbon. Making ink from soot, making diamonds from CO2, and more. Also, mammal cells turned into computer circuits, and NASA's Cassini probe final mission.
About this show
Technology, science, and culture news and discussion covering topics from around the corner and across centuries. We aim to encourage long-term thinking and educate people on cutting edge developments happening now as well as dream about what might be far in the future.
Hosted by
Sean Gill