Is it an earworm or an icon? The Super Mario Bros. theme is the soundtrack to many childhoods and has remained resonant today. Recently inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry, the song was not easy to write. Video game composer Koji Kondo faced musical and technical challenges in creating the song. Columnist Ben Cohen talks to New England Conservatory musicologist Andrew Schartmann about how Kondo created this lasting and genre-changing piece of music.



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Further reading:

The Mind Behind the Music You Can't Get Out of Your Head 

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Science of Success: The Mind at Work Behind an Iconic Song

What will the future look like? The Future of Everything offers a view of the nascent trends that will shape our world. In every episode, join our award-winning team on a new journey of discovery. We’ll take you beyond what’s already out there, and make you smarter about the scientific and technological breakthroughs on the horizon that could transform our lives for the better.

Technology

Tech News

Podcasting

Gadgets

Software How-To

What does the brick and mortar bookstore of the future look like? For Barnes & Noble, it looks more like the indie bookstores they once threatened to put out of business 20 years ago. The company recently redesigned their national chain of over 500 bookstores, shedding the big box personality in favor of a look reminiscent of local bookshops. On this week’s Science of Success, WSJ columnist Ben Cohen speaks to Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt about the look, feel and idea behind Barnes & Noble’s new indie design.



What do you think about the show? Let us know on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or email us: FOEPodcast@wsj.com 



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Further reading:

That Cool New Bookstore? It’s a Barnes & Noble.

New CEO Wants to Make Barnes & Noble Your Local Bookstore

Barnes & Noble’s New Boss Tries to Save the Chain—and Traditional Bookselling 

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Science of Success: How Barnes & Noble Is Redesigning the Bookstore Chain

Can technology help us design the perfect running shoe that’s stronger, faster and better for the environment? David Allemann, co-founder of On, thinks technology can get us part of the way there, but it’s not the whole story. The performance running shoe and sportswear company is experimenting with computer simulation and bio-based materials to design sneakers to advance both runners and sustainability goals. WSJ men’s fashion columnist Jacob Gallagher speaks with Allemann about the future of running shoe tech and how sneakers might redefine the design cannon. 



What do you think about the show? Let us know on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or email us: FOEPodcast@wsj.com 



Further reading: 

How On’s Running Sneakers Won Over Tech Bros and High Fashion Alike 

Where Did All the Crazy Sneakers Go? 

This Designer Knows What Sneakers You’ll Be Wearing Next Year 

These Grandpa Sneakers Are Made in America. They’re a Hit Overseas. 

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Designing the Sneaker of the Future

3D printing isn’t just for hobbyists – it could be central to the future of manufacturing. Companies are turning to this technology to make everything from car and airplane parts to houses faster and cheaper than with traditional techniques. Now, as 3D printing – also known as additive manufacturing – is getting quicker, researchers are testing its limits. WSJ’s Alex Ossola and Danny Lewis take a look at how this tech is building the factory of the future.



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Further reading: 

This 3-D Printed Icelandic Fish-Gutting Machine Contains the Secret of a Future, Less-Globalized Economy 

Venture Investors Are Pumping Capital Into 3-D Printing Startups. Here’s Why. 

Energy Companies Turn to 3-D Printing to Bypass Snarled Supply Chains 

3-D Printed Houses Are Sprouting Near Austin as Demand for Homes Grows 



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How 3D Printing Could Drive the Factory of the Future

When Tesla started developing the Cybertruck, CEO Elon Musk tasked the company's chief designer with creating a car that "feels like the future." But did it break the mold on what a pickup truck is? And how will it change truck design in the future? WSJ auto columnist Dan Neil test drove the Cybertruck. He spoke with WSJ’s Charlotte Gartenberg about his take on Tesla’s polarizing vehicle, and what it means for the future of EV design.



What do you think about the show? Let us know on Apple Podcasts  or Spotify , or email us: FOEPodcast@wsj.com 



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Further reading: 

I Gave Tesla’s Cybertruck a 48-Hour Thrashing. It (Mostly) Survived. 

Tesla Hopes the Cybertruck Design Gives It an Edge 

Tesla Designer: Cybertruck’s Funky Design Gives It an Edge 

How Tesla’s Cybertruck Compares with Other Pickups 

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Did Tesla’s Cybertruck Break the Mold on EV Pickup Truck Design?

This year, several high profile incidents have kept flying in the limelight. Yet air travel is currently safer than ever. The biggest U.S. commercial airlines have now gone 15 years without a fatal crash. So, how did hurtling through the sky in a giant metal tube become this safe? WSJ columnist Ben Cohen speaks with former FAA and International Civil Aviation Organization executive William Voss about the voluntary self-reporting programs that made flying the safest form of travel and asks if the airline industry’s safety measures could provide a blueprint for regulation in other fields.



What do you think about the show? Let us know on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or email us: FOEPodcast@wsj.com 



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Further reading: 

Flying in America Has Actually Never Been Safer 

Boeing Tells Airlines to Check 787 Cockpit Seats After Mishap on Latam Flight 

Behind the Alaska Blowout: a Manufacturing Habit Boeing Can’t Break 

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Science of Success: The Mind at Work Behind an Iconic Song

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