The Future of Everything

Pediatrician Yair Bannett studies and treats ADHD in preschool-age children. His interests stem from watching too many families struggle to understand their child’s behavior. He now focuses on improving frontline care using artificial intelligence to analyze electronic health records. One recent study explored whether doctors are making appropriate non-drug interventions before choosing to medicate children. Through his research, he hopes to raise the standard of ADHD care for thousands – and perhaps millions – of children. Early diagnosis and better care can prevent later problems, Bannett tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Yair Bannett, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Stanford University.

(00:03:44) Why Study ADHD

Yair’s path from primary care pediatrics to ADHD research.

(00:04:32) Understanding ADHD

The core symptoms and diagnostic criteria for ADHD.

(00:05:57) Diagnosing ADHD in Youth

Why diagnosis is challenging and relies on clinical judgment.

(00:08:21) Known Causes of ADHD

What is known about biological origins and environmental influence.

(00:10:08) Geographic and Cultural Differences

The variations in ADHD prevalence across regions and populations.

(00:11:37) ADHD Across Countries

Prevalence of ADHD globally and challenges with monitoring diagnosis.

(00:12:23) Natural History of Untreated ADHD

The lifelong persistence of ADHD and associated risks when untreated.

(00:14:28) ADHD Diagnosis in Adults

The challenges in identifying and diagnosing ADHD later in life.

(00:16:27) ADHD Treatments

An overview of the two treatment interventions used to treat ADHD.

(00:18:16) Stimulant Medications

The effectiveness and long-term benefits of stimulant treatments.

(00:21:30) Non-Stimulant Medications

When and why alternative medications for ADHD are used.

(00:22:31) Non-pharmacological Interventions

The alternative interventions used outside pharmacological treatments.

(00:23:18) Reducing Household Chaos

Strategies for structure and behavior management within the home.

(00:24:55) Measuring Quality of ADHD Care

Using electronic health records and AI to improve treatment.

(00:28:10) Importance of Early Diagnosis

The benefits of identifying ADHD before school entry.

(00:29:29) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: applying AI, collaboration, and theatre dreams.

(00:31:55) Conclusion

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Physician-scientist Randall Stafford studies the effects of alcohol use on population health – the true health impact, he emphasizes. Stafford explains how early research suggested that drinking is beneficial – or at least not bad – for people. That mindset produced decades of wishful thinking based on inconsistent science driven by social, emotional, and industry forces. The small cardiovascular benefits, he says, are far outweighed by the risks of cancer, liver disease, depression, and other ills. Although the harms of low-level consumption are small, there is no safe level of alcohol use, Stafford tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Randall Stafford, a professor of medicine at Stanford University.

(00:03:35) Challenges in Alcohol Research

Why cultural norms and study limitations complicate evidence.

(00:03:56) Historical Perspectives on Drinking

How early studies suggested benefits and why those conclusions shifted.

(00:09:12) Risk, Dose, and Drinking Patterns

The increased risks with binge drinking and higher doses of alcohol.

(00:12:15) Health Benefits vs. Lifestyle Enjoyment

Clarifying what alcohol does—and does not—provide medically.

(00:13:37) Alcohol and Mental Health

The bidirectional effects between alcohol use and mental health.

(00:17:37) Broader Mental and Social Effects

Alcohol’s connection to bipolar disorder, unemployment, and social harm.

(00:20:12) How Alcohol Myths Persist

Why simplified conclusions endured despite contradictory data.

(00:22:46) Changing Cultural Attitudes

Cultural trends toward reduced drinking and alcohol-free periods.

(00:25:49) Alcohol and Liver Disease

The effects of alcohol beyond heavy use, including metabolic disease.

(00:27:29) Strategies to Reduce Harm

Way to reduce alcohol consumption and avoid binge drinking.

(00:29:25) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: avoiding alcohol, research needs, and studying liver disease.

(00:31:04) Conclusion

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We're here to wish you a very happy New Year! We hope you’re ringing in the new year in good health and looking forward to what’s ahead in 2026. As people are setting goals and making resolutions, we’re re-running an episode today on the future of motivation. Last year, we sat down with Szu-chi Huang, an expert in motivation. She explained how science is changing our understanding of goal-setting and achievement, and offered a few tricks you can try when you feel stuck. We hope you’ll tune in again today and pick up a few insights on how to sustain enthusiasm for your goals over time.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces Szu-chi Huang, a professor of Marketing at Stanford GSB.

(00:02:13) Studying Motivation

Szu-chi shares what led her to study motivational science.

(00:02:45) Defining Motivation

Motivation as the drive to close the gap between current and ideal self.

(00:03:39) The Science of Motivation

Studying motivation through behavioral and neurological data.

(00:04:30) Why It Matters in Business

How motivation science applies to leaders, teams, and customers.

(00:05:21) The Motivation Framework

The strategies needed in order to stay motivated over time.

(00:06:24) Journey vs. Destination Mindset

The different mindsets needed throughout the stages of motivation.

(00:08:03) Motivating Kids to Choose Healthy

Collaborating with UNICEF to study what motivates children.

(00:09:37) Gamified Coupons in Panama

A study using gamified coupons to influence children's food choices.

(00:13:08) Loyalty Programs as Motivation

How customer reward programs act as structured goal journeys.

(00:15:29) Progress Versus Purpose

The different incentives needed in each stage of loyalty programs.

(00:17:11) Retirement Saving Lessons

How financial institutions apply motivational science to long-term goals.

(00:19:54) Motivation in Social Context

The role of social connections in goal pursuit and sustaining motivation.

(00:21:20) Support vs. Competition in Shared Goals

The benefits and drawbacks of sharing goal journeys with others.

(00:24:52) Designing Apps for Motivation

How redesigning user interfaces can help users stay motivated.

(00:26:02) AI as a Motivation Coach

Using AI to personalize feedback across all stages of goal pursuit.

(00:28:50) Starting and Sustaining a Goal

Practical strategies for launching and sustaining a goal.

(00:30:59) Conclusion

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Hi everyone, it’s your host, Russ. As we celebrate another holiday season and round out the year, I want to take a moment to say thank you for listening. This show started out over 8 years ago as an experiment and has not only grown to become a passion project, but also an archive of the impactful work my colleagues across Stanford dedicate their lives to. In a time when the sheer volume of information available to us can make it hard to determine what’s accurate, I’m proud to be able to bring you information directly from expert scientists in the fields of physics, medicine, technology, computer science, law, and much more.

The show, however, would not exist without you. So thank you for giving us your time and attention; it means a lot and also makes what we do possible.

Happy holidays and happy new year!

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We hope you’re enjoying the holiday season with family, friends, and loved ones. We’ll be releasing new episodes again in the new year – in the meantime, today, we’re re-running a fascinating episode on The future of AI coaching. The past few years have seen an incredible boom in AI and one of our colleagues, James Landay, a professor in Computer Science, thinks that when it comes to AI and education, things are just getting started. He’s particularly excited about the potential for AI to serve as a coach or tutor. We hope you’ll take another listen to this conversation and come away with some optimism for the potential AI has to help make us smarter and healthier. 

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest James Landay, a professor of Computer Science at Stanford University.

(00:01:44) Evolving AI Applications

How large language models can replicate personal coaching experiences.

(00:06:24) Role of Health Experts in AI

Integrating insights from medical professionals into AI coaching systems.

(00:10:01) Personalization in AI Coaching

How AI coaches can adapt personalities and avatars to cater to user preferences.

(00:12:30) Group Dynamics in AI Coaching

Pros and cons of adding social features and group support to AI coaching systems.

(00:13:48) Ambient Awareness in Technology

Ambient awareness and how it enhances user engagement without active attention.

(00:17:24) Using AI in Elementary Education

Narrative-driven tutoring systems to inspire kids' learning and creativity.

(00:22:39) Encouraging Student Writing with AI

Using LLMs to  motivate students to write  through personalized feedback.

(00:23:32) Scaling AI Educational Tools

The ACORN project and creating dynamic, scalable learning experiences.

(00:27:38) Human-Centered AI

The concept of human-centered AI and its focus on designing for society.

(00:30:13) Conclusion

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Microbes are awesome, says biologist Paula Welander. They have shaped Earth’s chemistry and its environment over billions of years, including oxygenating the planet to make it habitable for larger life forms. In turn, microbes have been shaped by that very same environment, evolving as the climate has evolved, she says. Welander now studies the lipid membranes of ancient microbes, which can endure for millions of years, to understand this evolution and where we might be headed in the future. Microbes are our connection to the ancient world, Welander tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Paula Welander, a professor of Earth Science at Stanford University.

(00:04:06) Why Study Microbial Lipids

Why lipids are essential for modern microbiology and Earth’s history.

(00:05:19) Diversity of Microbial Membranes

How bacteria and Archaea build different kinds of membranes.

(00:07:15) Reconstructing Ancient Environments

Using specific lipid biomarkers to understand the early planet.

(00:09:20) Chemical Fossils vs. Organism Fossils

Why microbes don’t leave traditional fossils—but their lipids do.

(00:10:55) Lipids as Environmental Clues

How certain lipids indicate the environments organisms lived in.

(00:12:36) Archaea: A Distinct and Ancient Entity

Archaea’s evolutionary importance and chemically distinct membranes.

(00:15:43) The Lipid Divide

Why eukaryotic membranes resemble bacterial, not Archaeal, membranes.

(00:17:12) Tracing Membrane Evolution

Recent breakthroughs in studying Archaeal lineages related to eukaryotes.

(00:19:11)  Lipid Preservation Over Time

How archaeal lipids are especially reliable as long-term biomarkers.

(00:20:58) Sterols as Biomarkers

The role sterols, including cholesterol, play in lipid archeology.

(00:23:14) Bacterial Cholesterol Discovery

The discovery that a rare bacteria can synthesize sterol precursors.

(00:25:02) Functional Roles of Bacterial Sterols

The possible roles sterols may play in microbial membranes and cell function.

(00:26:31) Archaea in the Human Gut

The number and types of Archaea found in the human microbiome.

(00:28:43) Archaea and Antibiotics

Whether Archaea react similarly to bacteria when exposed to antibiotics.

(00:29:46) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: hope, research needs, and alternate career dreams.

(00:31:43) Conclusion

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Molecular biologist Judith Frydman studies the nuances of protein folding and how defects in the process lead to neurodegenerative diseases. Her team studies protein folding in human cells and in model organisms, like yeast and worms, to understand the molecular events that precipitate harmful protein defects in humans. In one example, Frydman’s team explored how aging affects the creation and the quality of proteins in the brain, leading to cognitive problems. She is now looking to develop therapies – someday perhaps leading to cures – to debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, ALS, and others. The power of science gives her true hope in these important pursuits, Frydman tells host Russ Altman in this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Judith Frydman, a professor of biology and genetics at Stanford University.

(00:04:00) Linking Protein Folding to Aging

How aging disrupts protein-folding machinery across many organisms.

(00:07:16) Universal Aging Patterns

The similar age-related protein-folding defects found across organisms

(00:09:27) Studying Killifish Ageing

Research on the African killifish as a rapid-aging model organism.

(00:13:05) Ribosome Function Declines

How aging causes ribosomes to stall and collide, creating faulty proteins.

(00:15:31) Aging Across Species

The potential factors causing alternate aging rates in different species.

(20:11) What Fails Inside Aging Cells

The cellular components that are leading to bad protein creation.

(00:24:04) Therapeutic Approaches

Potential interventions to combat cellular and neurological degeneration.

(00:25:12) Gene vs. Small-Molecule Treatments

How some interventions may be better suited for certain diseases.

(00:27:47) Ribosome Drug Potential

Why ribosomes and translation factors are viable drug targets.

(00:28:56) Next Steps in Aging Research

Using human skin fibroblasts to study human aging mechanisms.

(00:31:46) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: scientific progress, young researchers, and archeology.

(00:33:54) Conclusion

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Maria Barna is an authority on ribosomes – “life’s most ancient and spectacular molecular machines.” Ribosomes make proteins in the body. There can be a thousand different types of ribosomes in a single cell, she says, each with a specific job to do. But sometimes things go awry and ribosomes get “hijacked,” leading to disease. Barna studies these “diabolical” variations to find new therapies to treat diseases ranging from cancer and COVID to Parkinson’s. When diseases hit, it’s all about the ribosomes, Barna tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Maria Barna, a professor of genetics at Stanford University.

(00:04:21) Origins of Ribosome Research

Maria explains why ribosomes became the focus of her work.

(00:06:14) Ribosome Function and Scale

Ribosomes’ functions and the energy required for their production.

(00:08:28) Ribosomes as Machines

How ribosomes influence which proteins are produced and when.

(00:09:48) Ribosome Regulation

The regulatory layers within ribosomes and their possible variants.

(00:14:35) Ribosomes and Disease

How ribosomal dysfunction is linked to a wide range of diseases.

(00:18:16) Ribosome Mutations and Development

Congenital disorders that can be attributed to specific ribosomal mutations.

(00:20:44) RNA vs. Protein Output

Why RNA measurements alone do not accurately predict protein levels.

(00:24:16) Designing Ribosomes for Therapy

The potential of using engineered ribosomes for target therapies.

(00:26:16) Small-Molecule Ribosome Modulators

Screening compounds that may enhance ribosome activity for treatments.

(00:28:39) Future Ribosome Profiling

Isolating individual ribosomes to understand their specific roles.

(00:30:35) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: scientific progress, community, and alternative career interest.

(00:34:01) Conclusion

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In October, chemical engineer Will Tarpeh was awarded a 2025 MacArthur “Genius Grant” in recognition of his pioneering work to turn wastewater into a source of valuable materials. Will envisions a future in which the concept of wastewater is obsolete, thanks to advances in recycling. A couple of years ago, we sat down to talk with him about this work, and we hope you’ll take another listen today to learn more about the research Will is doing to transform the potential of wastewater into resources.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces Will Tarpeh, a professor of chemical engineering at Stanford University.

(00:03:01) Wastewater as a Modern Mine

How elements like nitrogen and phosphorus can be recovered from waste.

(00:04:15) Path to Sanitation Research

Will shares what led to his interest in studying wastewater.

(00:06:55) The Science of Separation

The electrochemical and material techniques to extract valuable compounds.

(00:08:37) Urine-Based Fertilizer

How human urine could meet up to 30% of global fertilizer needs.

(00:11:08) Drugs in Wastewater

The potential of reclaiming pharmaceuticals from waste streams.

(00:14:14) Decentralized Sanitation

Opportunities for neighborhood or household-scale treatment systems.

(00:16:48) Source Separation Systems

How dividing waste at the source improves recycling and recovery.

(00:18:56) Global Sanitation Challenges

Ways that developing countries can adopt modern waste solutions.

(00:23:51) Preventing Algal Blooms

The systems that are helping to reduce nutrient pollution and dead zones.

(00:27:16) The Urine Summit

A community advancing urine recycling and sustainable sanitation policy.

(00:28:43) Conclusion

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Gabriel Weintraub studies how digital markets evolve. In that regard, he says platforms like Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb have already disrupted multiple verticals through their use of data and digital technologies. Now, they face both the opportunity and the challenge of leveraging AI to further transform markets, while doing so in a responsible and accountable way. Weintraub is also applying these insights to ease friction and accelerate results in government procurement and regulation. Ultimately, we must fall in love with solving the problem, not with the technology itself, Weintraub tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Gabriel Weintraub, a professor of operations, information, and technology at Stanford University.

(00:03:00) School Lunches to Digital Platforms

How designing markets in Chile led Gabriel to study digital marketplaces.

(00:03:57) What Makes a Good Market

Outlining the core principles that constitute a well-functioning market.

(00:05:29) Opportunities and Challenges Online

The challenges associated with the vast data visibility of digital markets.

(00:06:56) AI and the Future of Search

How AI and LLMs could revolutionize digital platforms.

(00:08:15) Rise of Vertical Marketplaces

The new specialized markets that curate supply and ensure quality.

(00:10:23) Winners and Losers in Market Shifts

How technology is reshaping industries from real estate to travel.

(00:12:38) Government Procurement in Chile

Applying market design and AI tools to Chile’s procurement system.

(00:15:00) Leadership and Adoption

The role of leadership in modernizing government systems.

(00:18:59) AI in Government and Regulation

Using AI to help governments streamline complex bureaucratic systems.

(00:21:45) Streamlining Construction Permits

Piloting AI tools to speed up municipal construction-permit approvals.

(00:23:20) Building an AI Strategy

Creating an AI strategy that aligns with business or policy goals.

(00:25:26) Workforce and Experimentation

Training employees to experiment with LLMs and explore productivity gains.

(00:27:36) Humans and AI Collaboration

The importance of designing AI systems to augment human work, not replace it.

(00:28:26) Future in a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: AI’s impact, passion and resilience, and soccer dreams.

(00:30:39) Conclusion

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