Talk That Science

In this episode we talk about evolutionary robotics. Evolutionary robotics is a new approach to artificial intelligence. Standard artificial intelligence designs solutions for small problems, such as playing chess games. The problem with robots designed in this way is that they will not be able to live a human-like life, solving many problems simultaneously. This is where evolutionary robotics comes in: it lets evolution design robots that are perfectly adapted to a certain environment. For this reason, evolutionary robotics can produce robots for applications where standard robotics is not able to find solutions. Think of robots for seabed mining, robots keeping an eye out in rainforests and robots cleaning old nuclear power plants. Follow us on our journey this episode to discover how evolution can be implemented in robots. Explore the implications of evolutionary robots, because if evolution created life, do we create artificial life with artificial evolution? On the way, enjoy songs such as Seu Jorge’s “Life on Mars” (yes, a cover of David Bowie!) while we explore the options of a robot evolution on Mars.

— Tracklist —

1. Caribou - Dundas, Ontario

2. I Robot - The Alan Parsons Project

3. Shinichiro Yokota - Right Here! Right Now!

4. Die Roboter - Kraftwerk

5. Daniel Grau - Robot Mágico (Daniel Wang Remix)

6. Whodamanny - Dancing Ritual

7. Seu Jorge - Life On Mars?

8. Sign Libra - Intro / Tropical Plantarum

9. Larry Heard - Evolution Of Mind

10. Harvey Sutherand - New Paradise

11. Louie Vega - Elements Of Life

12. Sono - Keep Control (ARTBAT Remix)

Talk That Science is powered by the Student Impact Centre FNWI and Radio Tempo Não Pára.

We present to you: our new format Must Discuss! In Must Discuss, we open up a discussion about the most pressing questions in science! We invite a group of students and researchers from different disciplines to shed their light on a subject from their point of view.

We must discuss: Time. Chances are that you think that time in the universe passes at the same rate for everyone and that there is an absolute past, present and future. However, according to modern physics, this common picture of time is not correct. Special relativity theory, for example, tells us that moving clocks tick slower! We will talk about the consequences of relativity theory for our conception of time and about more puzzling questions related to time, such as: Can we change the direction of time? Is time travel really possible? We will discuss these questions with Grace Shao, a Philosophy Master student, Hidde Fokkema, who completed a Bachelors in Physics, and Sean Gryb, PhD-student in Philosophy of Physics.

— Tracklist —

1. River Moon - Mango

2. A Vision of Panorama - Time Capsule

3. Patrick Cowley - The Runner

4. BADBADNOTGOOD - Time Moves Slow

5. Ernest Ranglin - Surfin’

6. Ranil - Las Oladas

7. Eddy La Viny - Havan’ Hamac

8. Abdou El Omari - Alghoroub

9. Joe Pass - A Time For Us

10. Hotaru - Au Paradis

11. João Donato - Chorou, Chorou

Talk That Science is powered by the Student Impact Centre FNWI and Radio Tempo Não Pára.

It is almost impossible to imagine the world without plastic. Plastic is everywhere around us! However, nowadays there is so much plastic pollution in the world that it has become one of the biggest problem for nature and humanity. This has led to the development of alternatives in recent years. One of which you may have heard is bioplastic. But how much of the current bioplastics are actually "bio"? How much better are they for the environment? We talk with Maria Murcia Valderrama, PhD student in polymer chemistry and specialized in bio(degradable) plastics, to seek answers to these important questions.

— Tracklist —

1. Wilson Tanner - Pilot

2. Bobby Hutcherson - The Ice Cream Man

3. Sampha - Plastic 100°C

4. Papa M - Plastic Energy Man

5. E Ruscha V - Who Are You

6. Plastic Mode - Mi Amor (Maxi Version)

7. Theo Parrish - Reaction To Plastic

8. Four Tet - Plastic People

9. Smile Street People - Smile Street 103

10. Roland Louis Orchestra - Play Up Play Up

11. Madaleine Uzho - Satisfied (Ext. Version)

12. Jason Mraz - Back To The Eart

Talk That Science is powered by the Student Impact Centre FNWI and Radio Tempo Não Pára.

Het is zaterdagavond, 20 februari 2010, als een groep mannen met bivakmutsen een vakantiehuisje binnendringt, de bewoners mishandelt en op de vlucht slaat. De dagen erna volgt intensief onderzoek en verderop worden bivakmutsen, met DNA sporen, in de berm gevonden. Helaas is dit nog geen concreet bewijs dat de bivakmutsen daadwerkelijk van de daders zijn. Er zijn tegenwoordig echter manieren om toch de kracht van een bewijsstuk te meten met behulp van kansberekening. Hoe veel waarschijnlijker is het dat de bivakmutsen bij het misdrijf horen dan dat de bivakmutsen daar toevallig liggen? Hierover praten we in deze aflevering met Marjan Sjerps, hoogleraar forensische statistiek aan de Universiteit van Amsterdam!

Om meer te leren over Marjan's onderzoek, zie: uva.nl/profiel/s/j/m.j.sjerps/m.j.sjerps.html

— Tracklist —

1. Wes Montgomery - I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You

2. Azymuth - Villa Mariana (Pela Madrugada)

3. David T. Walker - On Love

4. Robert Rich - Lifeblood

5. Byron the Aquarius - The Essence

6. The Scorpions & Saif Abu Bakr - Nile Waves

7. King Tubby - Crimewave

8. Dwain Vinyard - Searching For The Truth

9. Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance (Original Mix)

10. Mike Collins - Halfway House

11. Lord Echo - The Sweetest Dub

12. Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

Talk That Science is mede mogelijk gemaakt door Student Impact Centre FNWI en Radio Tempo Não Pára.

We are in touch with democracy every day. For example, when the population of a country needs to make a decision as for who should rule their country. However, democratic decision making takes place on much smaller scales as well. Think of a committee that together has to decide who to hire for a job, or if you have to choose a restaurant with a group of people. But did you know that there are in fact many different ways in which you could run a democracy? And that computer science can actually help to design ways to run a democracy? In this episode, Ulle Endriss, professor of Computational Social Choice, talks about politics, participatory budgeting and of course their relation to: computers! Because computers can help us when it comes down to making collective decisions, whether big or small. Listen to find out why!

To find out more about Ulle’s research, see: https://staff.science.uva.nl/u.endriss/

One of the things we discuss in this episode, is that every voting rule in which it is impossible to vote strategically, will result in a dictatorship. Watch this video to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJcqNEyTUwg

— Tracklist —

1. C. Tappin - High Moon

2. Toshio Matsuura Group - Change

3. Banda Black Rio - Cravo e Canela

4. Joe Thomas - Polarizer

5. Fallen Roses - Lies

6. Jex Opolis - Sharing

7. Morgan Geist - Fuzzy Detail

8. Amnesty - Mister President

9. Nu Guinea - Howls

10. D. K. - Stick To The Rules

11. Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World

12. Hareton Salvanini - Amazonia

13. Grandmaster Flash - Jesse

You have probably heard of black holes. They are known as all-destructive holes that sluck up everything that comes near it. Some say they might be used as time machines! But what about this is science, and what is fiction? In this episode, Sera Markoff shares insights about how she made the first picture of a black hole, time in black holes and the importance of science for society.

Sera Markoff is professor of theoretical high energy astrophysics at the University of Amsterdam. Follow the link to learn more about her research: www.seramarkoff.com

— Tracklist —

1. Pharoah Sanders - Astral Traveling

2. Ryo Kawasaki - Hawaiian Caravan (Original Mix)

3. Milt Jackson - Delilah (Take 3)

4. Ronald Langestraat - A fast drive through the universe

5. Laraaji - Interlude II

6. Perishing Thirst - Morning Light

7. Kink - The Universe In Her Eyes

8. Charlie - Spacer Woman (Instrumental)

9. Hidden Spheres - ~~~~~~

10. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Talking Straight

Wat is muzikaliteit? In hoeverre zijn dieren muzikaal? En in hoeverre kunnen we hier eigenlijk onderzoek naar doen? Deze vragen beantwoordt Henkjan Honing, professor muziekcognitie aan de Universiteit van Amsterdam, in de eerste aflevering van Talk That Science.

Meer over onderzoek van Henkjan's onderzoeksgroep: www.mcg.uva.nl

— Tracklist —

1. Antônio Carlos Jobim - Brazil (Alternate Take)

2. Cymande - Changes

3. Badbadnotgood - Cashmere

4. Chassol - Birds, Pt. I

5. Floating Points - Argonaut

6. Gal Gracen - Winds of Solace, Pillars of Sand

7. The Tony Benson Sextet - Ugali

8. Arrangement - Coconut Mango

9. Mr. Fingers - Mystery Of Love

10. Azymuth - Villa Mariana (Pela Madrugada)

11. Glenn Gould - Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor