Increasingly two models for the near future compete for our attention. We'll call one model Abundance and the other Limits to Growth.The former tells us that circumstances are improving and are likely to continue to improve; the latter says that a big reckoning is on its way.

A recent debate at TED between Paul Gilding and Peter Diamandis captures the issues pretty succinctly. So who's right?

Hosts Phil Bowermaster and Stephen Gordon discuss.

Plus: other future-related topics, including:

Google getting smarter 

Saudi Arabia going solar...?   Daily aspirin linked to decrease in cancer deaths   Space exploration by robot swarm