The Future And You

Dr. Robert E. Hampson (neuroscientist, writer and public speaker) is today's featured guest.

Part 2 of our 3 part exploration of: How memories are stored in the human brain.

Subtopics include: recording electrical activity deep inside a living human brain; common misinterpretations of the goals of brain research; deep brain stimulation (a treatment for Parkinson's disease); pharmaceuticals for brain research, and ways in which the Internet has forced peer-reviewed scientific journals to change. One such change has been the adoption of a new form of peer-review known as "open-review"--a wild and woolly free-for-all.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the June 5, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 37 minutes] This interview was recorded using Skype on May 26, 2013.

Dr. Robert E. Hampson is a researcher in the field of "neuroscience" –the structure and function of the brain. After receiving his doctorate in Physiology and Pharmacology from Wake Forest University in 1988, his research focus has been on the hippocampus (a brain area involved in the processing of short-term memory) and in the prefrontal cortex (an area responsible for behavior and decisions involving memory). His laboratory work includes the study of: 1) nerve cell function, 2) behavioral mechanisms, and 3) detection of the patterns of neural activity, underlying learning and memory in rodents, nonhuman primates and humans. These studies have required the development of computer models of neural activity patterns associated with processing of memory, investigation of drugs that alter memory function, examination of the effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on cognitive (memory) processing, and comparative studies of memory across different animal species. Dr. Hampson is also part of a multi-university team working to develop a "neural prosthetic" capable of restoring memory by connecting between different regions within the brain.

Dr. Hampson's interest in public education and brain awareness has also led him to serve as a member of the Science and Entertainment Exchange (a service of the National Academy of Science) which supplies subject matter experts to the entertainment industry, and from there to the field of Science Fiction. Writing science fact and fiction blogs and articles as "Tedd Roberts," he also gives public talks on science fiction for SF conventions, student and civic groups, and writes nonfiction articles for Baen Books.

Dr. Robert E. Hampson (neuroscientist, writer and public speaker) is today's featured guest.

Topic: How memories are stored in the human brain. As well as ways living neurons behave similarly to neural nets written in software; why holograms are a good metaphor for memory storage in the brain; and new tools and equipment which are opening the door to entirely new research. Such as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Functional MRI) which is an MRI procedure that measures brain activity by detecting associated changes in blood flow; and Magnetoencephalography (MEG)--a technique for mapping brain activity by recording, from outside the brain, magnetic fields produced by electrical currents occurring inside the brain which are a physical manifestation of mental activity. We even take a moment to discuss the Alpha brain-wave bio-feedback machines which were a big fad back in the 1980s.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 29, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 48 minutes] This interview was recorded using Skype on May 26, 2013.

Dr. Robert E. Hampson is a researcher in the field of "neuroscience" –the structure and function of the brain. After receiving his doctorate in Physiology and Pharmacology from Wake Forest University in 1988, his research focus has been on the hippocampus (a brain area involved in the processing of short-term memory) and in the prefrontal cortex (an area responsible for behavior and decisions involving memory). His laboratory work includes the study of: 1) nerve cell function, 2) behavioral mechanisms, and 3) detection of the patterns of neural activity, underlying learning and memory in rodents, nonhuman primates and humans. These studies have required the development of computer models of neural activity patterns associated with processing of memory, investigation of drugs that alter memory function, examination of the effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on cognitive (memory) processing, and comparative studies of memory across different animal species. Dr. Hampson is also part of a multi-university team working to develop a "neural prosthetic" capable of restoring memory by connecting between different regions within the brain.

Dr. Hampson's interest in public education and brain awareness has also led him to serve as a member of the Science and Entertainment Exchange (a service of the National Academy of Science) which supplies subject matter experts to the entertainment industry, and from there to the field of Science Fiction. Writing science fact and fiction blogs and articles as "Tedd Roberts," he also gives public talks on science fiction for SF conventions, student and civic groups, and writes nonfiction articles for Baen Books.

Stephen Euin Cobb (author and futurist) is today's speaker.

Topics: Future trends as depicted on the TV show Continuum; grid parity of photovoltaics across America as depicted on a Solar Equivalency Interactive Map; my intentions to Invest in Photovoltaics over the next two to four years; a warning that the price of stock in solar companies will likely suffer from a series bubbles of ever increasing size over the next few years, each one followed by a crash; a clever invention called Gravity Light; Oculus Rift (a Virtual Reality display device which will be available this summer) and its use by Jimmy Fallon; and a little robot with big gooey feet.

Also: a brief prediction from Jose Cordeiro (founder of the World Future Society's Venezuela Chapter, chair of The Millennium Project Venezuela Node, and faculty member of Singularity University).

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 22, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 30 minutes]

Stephen Euin Cobb is an author, futurist, magazine writer and host of the award-winning podcast The Future And You. A contributing editor for Space and Time Magazine; he is also a regular contributor for Robot, H+, Grim Couture and Port Iris magazines; and he spent three years as a columnist and contributing editor for Jim Baen's Universe Magazine. He is an artist, essayist, game designer, transhumanist, and is on the Advisory Board of The Lifeboat Foundation. His novels include Bones Burnt Black, Plague at Redhook and Skinbrain.

Stephen Euin Cobb (author and futurist) is today's speaker.

Topic: Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies. Their rise; utility; strength; weakness; easy and difficult ways of aquiring them; their short and long term trends; and the scammers who cheat those who sell them on eBay.

Cryptocurrencies include: Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), PPCoin (PPC), Namecoin (NMC), FeatherCoin (FTC), NovaCoin (NVC), Devcoin (DEV), Freicoin (FRC), ChnCoin (CNC), Terracoin (TRC), Liquidcoin (LQC), IxCoin (IXC), I0coin (I0C), Tonal Bitcoin (TBC), and many others.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 15, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 38 minutes]

Stephen Euin Cobb is an author, futurist, magazine writer and host of the award-winning podcast The Future And You. A contributing editor for Space and Time Magazine; he is also a regular contributor for Robot, H+, Grim Couture and Port Iris magazines; and he spent three years as a columnist and contributing editor for Jim Baen's Universe Magazine. He is an artist, essayist, game designer, transhumanist, and is on the Advisory Board of The Lifeboat Foundation. His novels include Bones Burnt Black, Plague at Redhook and Skinbrain.

Les Johnson (author, speaker and NASA administrator) is today's featured guest.

Topic: Sky Alert: When Satellites Fail (Les Johnson's latest nonfiction book). Les describes how much we depend on our fragile network of satellites orbiting the earth, how vulnerable they are to various dangers, and how our day-to-day lives would suffer if they were destroyed.

Les Johnson serves as the Deputy Manager for the Advanced Concepts Office at the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the technical consultant for the movie Lost in Space. And In his spare time he writes popular science books and articles--for example. In collaboration with C Bangs (an artist) and Greg Matloff (a professor of astronomy) he wrote:Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth (2009); Living Off the Land in Space (2007); and with Greg Matloff and Giovanni Vulpetti he wrote Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel (2008). And with Jack McDevitt Going Interstellar (2012).

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 8, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 52 minutes] This interview was recorded using Skype on April 30, 2013.

Stephen Euin Cobb (author and futurist) is today's speaker.

News and commentary on a variety of topics, including: Google glass are not welcome in Brighton shop; Old age is the killer app for Google Glass; Regulation changes the US Post office have made recently in the hope of massively increasing the junk mail you receive; Nanosponges soak up toxins released by bacterial infections and venom; and An IT industry assessment of how many Google Glass are likely to sell between 2013 and 2016.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the May 1, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 30 minutes]

Stephen Euin Cobb is an author, futurist, magazine writer and host of the award-winning podcast The Future And You. A contributing editor for Space and Time Magazine; he is also a regular contributor for Robot, H+, Grim Couture and Port Iris magazines; and he spent three years as a columnist and contributing editor for Jim Baen's Universe Magazine. He is an artist, essayist, game designer, transhumanist, and is on the Advisory Board of The Lifeboat Foundation. His novels include Bones Burnt Black, Plague at Redhook and Skinbrain.

And a prediction from Brandy Spraker (the new Chairperson of LibertyCon) which was just a few hours too late to be included in last week's big prediction fest.

This is the 300th episode of The Future And You.

A hundred new predictions about the future from dozens of past guests, a few possible future guests, several listeners and an assortment of people actively building the future we are all going to live in.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the April 24, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 48 minutes].

And If you enjoy the many predictions in this episode you may also enjoy the 200th episode (May 25, 2011) which also contains over 100 predictions from past guests.

Stephen Euin Cobb (author and futurist) is today's speaker.

Topic: Google Glass. News, commentary and predictions of how Google Glass and other augmented reality glasses will alter our future.

Links: How Google Glass will Change Porn, 5 ways medics could use Google Glass, Google Glass for cops: How Taser plans to bring wearable, real-time tech to the police frontline, BMW “Augmented Reality” Glasses Show Mechanics How to Fix A Car, Anti-Google Glass Group Galvanize Masses Against Cyborgs, Most consumers won't pay $1,500 for a Google Glass, Watch the Google Glass SXSW Presentation.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the April 17, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 45 minutes]

Announcement: Next week (April 24) will be the 300th episode of The Future And You. To celebrate I will read many predictions by past guests--as well as some future guests. If you have a prediction that you would like for me to read into the 300th episode, please email it to [email protected]. Please keep it brief. I expect a lot of predictions, so I need to be able to read yours in under thirty seconds. And, If you would, please send in your prediction sometime this week. I'll be recording them on Friday night (April 19, 2013) and Saturday afternoon (April 20, 2013). If they arrive too late, I may still read them into the show, but not into the 300th episode. Thanks.

Stephen Euin Cobb (author and futurist) is today's speaker.

Topics: Life Extension and The Technological Singularity. (Stephen asks himself some of the many questions about the future he generally asks his guests.)

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the April 10, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 38 minutes]

Stephen Euin Cobb is an author, futurist, magazine writer and host of the award-winning podcast The Future And You. A contributing editor for Space and Time Magazine; he is also a regular contributor for Robot, H+, Grim Couture and Port Iris magazines; and he spent three years as a columnist and contributing editor for Jim Baen's Universe Magazine. He is an artist, essayist, game designer, transhumanist, and is on the Advisory Board of The Lifeboat Foundation. His novels include Bones Burnt Black, Plague at Redhook and Skinbrain.

Stephen Euin Cobb (author and futurist) is today's speaker.

Various Nanotechnology Topics: Nanotechnology in Furniture; Nano-particles are shown to kill the HIV virus using bee venom; assembling and dissembling nano-structures composed of DNA using a "programmable assembly" method has been demonstrated by nano-encrypting Morse code messages; gold nano-rods split water into hydrogen and oxygen when exposed to sunlight.

Hosted by Stephen Euin Cobb, this is the April 3, 2013 episode of The Future And You. [Running time: 19 minutes]

Stephen Euin Cobb is an author, futurist, magazine writer and host of the award-winning podcast The Future And You. A contributing editor for Space and Time Magazine; he is also a regular contributor for Robot, H+, Grim Couture and Port Iris magazines; and he spent three years as a columnist and contributing editor for Jim Baen's Universe Magazine. He is an artist, essayist, game designer, transhumanist, and is on the Advisory Board of The Lifeboat Foundation. His novels include Bones Burnt Black, Plague at Redhook and Skinbrain.