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Dr. David Curtin is the Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Particle Physics at the University of Toronto, and specializes in exotic theories of dark matter that describe a "dark sector" which may include complex dark matter.  These  "banana-town weirdo" dark matter models include dark electrons, dark protons and dark photons that form dark atoms and possibly an entire mirror universe that exists transparently all around us.  We discuss Jim Al-Khalili's book 'Sunfall' and the relatively tame dark matter scenario presented there, in what David calls a "nostalgic book, reminiscent of the days when theoretical physicists moved nations"!  We also talk about the spectacular success of the Standard Model of particle physics, super-symmetry and our failure to detect its predictions at the LHC, and the "whackadoodle possibilities" this opens up for more sophisticated and interesting models of dark matter.  Along the way David tells us us about WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles), theories of neutral naturalness, the hierarchy problem, calculating the electron's dipole moment to 12 decimal places, and the mind-expanding power of science fiction.

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Our theme in the next two episodes is dark matter, the kind of far-out science that is stranger than fiction and presents realms of possibility that are both more plausible and more interesting than parallel worlds or extra dimensions or even wormholes. In this episode we talk to Jim Al-Khalili, who is many things: physicist, author of both fiction and non-fiction, educator, broadcaster and all around extraordinary public intellectual who reaches millions of people around the world with his popular science books and as the host of the BBC’s flagship scientific program, The Life Scientific.  In this conversation we talk about his new science fiction book Sunfall, which uses dark matter as the novum that drives the story, and makes heroes of the physicist who save the world.  Along the way we talk about a lot of other cool science in his science fiction, including quantum effects in biology, the magnetic field of earth and how it prevents our atmosphere from being stripped away by the solar wind, as well as a really interesting bit of (fictional) particle physics that imagines the possibility of manipulating and focusing dark matter beams so they can interact with each other and release their energy in the core of the earth.  This is a gentle introduction to the subject of dark matter, about which we still understand very little -  but we know it exists, and it is likely to show us that the universe is more ingenious and creative and interesting than our human minds have yet to imagine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Al-Khalili

https://www.amazon.com/Sunfall-Jim-Al-Khalili/dp/0593077423

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In this episode we return to the theme of Planetary Protection, continuing the conversation we started in episodes 19 and 20 where we discussed the return of samples from Asteroid Bennu to Earth in NASA’s recent OSIRIS Rex mission.  There we talked about what measures were taken to protect the biosphere of Earth from any unforeseen biological agents that such a sample may harbor, hearkening back to the plot of Michael Crichton’s famous novel 'The Andromeda Strain'.  In this episode we continue down this road with science fiction author Edward M. Lerner, this time contemplating the difficulties and dangers inherent in a return of samples from Mars to Earth, in his new novel 'Life and Death on Mars'.  We discuss the difference between samples from asteroids and samples from Mars, and contemplate the possible existence of life on Mars along with the various possible consequences of its interaction with life on Earth. We also talk about the international collaborative efforts in the space station and the return to the Moon, how the Moon can act as a stepping stone in the race to Mars, what resources can form the basis of an economy and permanent presence on Mars, using a Mars base to exploit the mineral wealth of the asteroid belt, and imagine what may become the next space race after Mars.

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Marty sits down with his university pals Drs. Peter Gorniak and Cyndey Nielsen, to discuss Karl Schroeder's book 'Stealing Worlds'.   As it happens, they both have PhD's and lifelong careers working in their fields of expertise - Peter in artificial intelligence and Cydney in data analytics and virtual/mixed reality, so they were the perfect people to bring their professional and personal perspectives to a discussion of Karl's book.  We talk about where artificial intelligence and virtual reality were 20 years ago, where they are today, and what they might become in the future.

My Science Fiction — KarlSchroeder.com (kschroeder.com)
https://www.kschroeder.com/my-books

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Karl Schroeder is a science fiction author and foresight analyst.  His fiction is known for both its scientific rigour and its visionary quality of bearing witness to what we can expect just around the corner – especially with his latest book 'Stealing Worlds'.  This book is jam packed with big ideas about artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR).  We talk about the creation of LARPing worlds, i.e. Live Action Role Playing games within a virtual reality which can exist on top of and in parallel with the regular world.  We also discuss more sophisticated versions of this called frame worlds, which have their own independent but virtually embedded economies.  We chat about the oligarchic systems within our neoliberal catastrophe, think about invoking consensual hallucinations that are even better than money, and imagine how choosing your technology layer can translate to choosing your reality. We also discuss artificial intelligences that think they are eagles, or forests, and how to get them to act independently on behalf of beings who have not been able to represent themselves economically or politically - til now.

Science Fiction for the Crypto Age — KarlSchroeder.com (kschroeder.com)
https://www.kschroeder.com/

Karl Schroeder - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Schroeder

Stealing Worlds by Karl Schroeder | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/41447722

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In the second part of our interview with Peter Watts, we delve into his ideas about intelligence and consciousness.  Does consciousness serve any function, or can all cognitive processes get along just fine without it?  In his novel Blindsight, Peter postulates a hostile entity whose intelligence outcompetes our own, because it is not weighed down by the slow, clunky machinery of sapience.  But his thinking has evolved in recent years, to concede the possible primacy of consciousness, and heck, even the existence of a soul!  Along the way we talk about a blob of cells called dish-brain that taught itself to play pong.  We contemplate energy minimization, integrated information  and even pan-psychic theories of consciousness.  We ask how far down the chain of being sentience might reach, and ultimately admit we have no idea how a lump of meat can wake up to ask questions about the nature of its own awareness.

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We talk to acclaimed science fiction author Peter Watts about Justin Gregg's book 'If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal'.  We ask if the human flavour of intelligence is maladaptive, and other creatures are smarter because they are so well adapted to their evolutionary niche - or are we comparing apples with moon rocks?  Ultimately, the question is whether the animal wisdom of bedbugs and crocodilians is going to get them off this planet when the sun goes supernova.  Peter expresses his opinion that human intelligence is actually special in this regard.  The problems we create with our technological intelligence are due to our minds still being shackled to animal instincts, and if we are to solve our problems we may need to escape from the evolutionary constraints under which our minds evolved.

Echopraxia (rifters.com)
https://www.rifters.com/

Peter Watts (author) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Watts_(author)

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Marty and Holly sit down with zoologist Justin Gregg to discuss his book 'If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal: What Animal Intelligence Reveals About Human Stupidity'.  We discuss which aspects of human intelligence (and stupidity) are unique in the animal world, and what sets our mental faculties apart from those of other animals.  We talk about our capacity for causal reasoning, the creation of language and our ability to lie, to imagine our own death, and to create moral frameworks to guide our behaviour.  We also contemplate the phenomenon of consciousness and self awareness, and discuss how the subjective experience might arise in other organisms, from insects to primates. Finally we examine 'prognostic myopia', our short-sighted inability to plan for long-term problems, and the consequences for our species and our planet.

Justin Gregg
https://www.justingregg.com/

If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal — Justin Gregg
https://www.justingregg.com/narwhal

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Marty and Holly sit down with Dr. Heidi Sevestre for a conversation about climate change and geoengineering, as portrayed in The Ministry For The Future by Kim Stanley Robinson.  Dr. Sevestre is a glaciologist who is leading the call to action on climate change through her research and education initiatives. We talk about her recent expedition to Svalbard with Climate Sentinels, a zero-emission research expedition on skis to understand the impact of black soot on the melting of glaciers.  We also discuss her recent expedition to film a National Geographic documentary (Arctic Ascent) about the surging glaciers in Greenland, gathering unprecedented data with the help of NASA technology and some of the world's best climbers (Alex Honnold, Hazel Findlay, Aldo Kane, Mikey Schaefer, Adam Kjeldsen).  Then we get into the nuts and bolts of some of the geoengineering proposals in The Ministry For The Future, and bring Dr. Sevestre’s perspective as a working climate scientist on how to make the best use of our resources and the time we have left to halt and reverse the trajectory we are on.  We discuss pumping out the lubricating layer under glaciers to prevent them from dropping into the ocean and raising sea levels catastrophically.  We talk about dying the arctic ocean yellow, sending sulphates into the upper atmosphere or spreading reflective beads over the arctic.  It seems that if our civilization and species is going to survive, it’s going to take a lot of bottom-up solutions and the collective action of our next few generations on this planet.  While attempts at solar radiation management on a global scale will likely cause more harm then good, major carbon sequestration projects will be needed.  And it may be that the most effective way to capture carbon will be to create more forests and wetlands, saving the world by re-wilding the world; our best solutions may come from ecological engineering rather than geoengineering.

Home | Dr. Heïdi Sevestre Glaciologist (heidisevestre.com)
https://www.heidisevestre.com/

Climate Sentinels | Hurtigruten Group
https://www.hurtigruten.com/group/foundation/projects/climate-sentinels/

Dr. Heïdi Sevestre (@HeidiSevestre) / X (twitter.com)
https://twitter.com/HeidiSevestre

Dr. Heïdi Sevestre (@heidisevestre) • Instagram photos and videos
https://www.instagram.com/heidisevestre/?hl=en

The Ministry for the Future - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future

KimStanleyRobinson.info | The reference site for Kim Stanley Robinson
https://www.kimstanleyrobinson.info/

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In this episode we are super excited to present our conversation with Kim Stanley Robinson, one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time, whose legacy will surely last deep into our sci-fi future.  We discuss his latest book The Ministry for the Future, and some of the many extraordinary ideas in that book for getting humanity through to the other side of the climate crisis.  We focus our conversation on various geoengineering projects as well as innovations in economics and monetary policy that will help us get there.  We discuss green investment, the merits of non-ideological rhetoric, strategies for managing our carbon over-shoot, and the efficacy of imitating natural processes in both solar radiation management and carbon sequestration.  We go into detail about pumping out the lubricating layer of water beneath the world's glaciers in order to stop them from sliding into the ocean, thereby mediating the acceleration of rising sea levels.  We also talk about the impracticality of launching solar shades into space to cool down the planet. Finally, we get to ask Stan if he was ever consulted or paid by the Foundation TV series for lifting his iconic space elevator scene from Red Mars, and plonking it into their pilot episode; the answer is no, but he's cool with it.

KimStanleyRobinson.info | The reference site for Kim Stanley Robinson
https://www.kimstanleyrobinson.info/

Kim Stanley Robinson - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Stanley_Robinson

https://www.facebook.com/kimstanleyrobinson/

The Ministry for the Future - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/50998056

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