Shows
Simple Evolution#40 - DALL-E 2 and the creative potential of text-to-image AI programsCan't believe we made it to episode 40!! Thank you all for the continued support and we hope to keep this flywheel in motion.
Big things on the horizon!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2022-06-2735 minSimple Evolution#39 - Rare earth metals and the future of electric vehiclesYes, another pod on EVs, but from a very interesting angle. Many thanks to this video by Johnny Harris for providing the curiosity spark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_T5DgsO0jc.
And yes, the fun fact for the week: Cobalt is used to make certain blue ceramics. You'll thank me later when winning the $400 Jeopardy question from the rare earth metals column.
We hope you enjoy!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2022-06-1342 minSimple Evolution#38 - The return from sabbatical and Elon Musk's Twitter acquisitionPerhaps (some) sequels are undervalued? Your favorite duo, the scientist and the salesman, are back behind the microphones to give some life updates and discuss recent events involving Twitter and Elon Musk (someone you probably heard of by now).
We hope you enjoy!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2022-05-2549 minSimple Evolution#37 - Nuclear fusion and its potential as a renewable energy sourceWhen people consider nuclear power, they think fission. The emergence of nuclear reactors in the 20th century sought uranium and plutonium isotopes as fuel sources, not hydrogen and helium. While fission is one method of harnessing atomic energy, and the first to be commercialized, other approaches exist. In this episode, we dive into an alternative method called nuclear fusion. If fission breaks things down, fusion builds them up. The net result: energy.
Nuclear fusion has been hiding around us in plain sight. Look up into the sky and you see fusion at work, powering...2022-03-0933 minSimple Evolution#36 - The Freedom ConvoyCanada recently received global news coverage surrounding the Freedom Convoy, a group of protestors who arrived in Ottawa to oppose vaccine mandates and demand freedom. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, invoked the Emergencies Act, providing the federal government with new power to address the growing protest movement. A series of donations, provided in bank accounts or on funding sites, were immediately frozen and thus restricted access to funding that protesters would need for fuel, food and lodging.
This story is not new. Therefore, I will not provide a thorough description here as it will...2022-02-2743 minSimple Evolution#35 - Cana: the molecular beverage printing companyWith Cana, anyone can be a barista, bartender, or mixologist from the comfort of their own kitchen. All it takes is water and a combination of key chemical compounds. Instead of buying single-use bottles from a store, Cana enables consumers to recreate their favorite drinks, and even design entirely new ones, all while reducing global beverage waste. Your cherished university mug not only contains warm coffee in the morning, it also caters to your thirst for an afternoon lemonade and an evening mojito (Well, it's 5pm somewhere!). With just water and the addition of a select combination of compounds...2022-02-2441 minSimple Evolution#34 - Technology and its unintended consequencesDevices are designed for consumers with functional purposes, not criminal intent. Tracking fobs are designed to locate purses, backpacks and car keys, not someone's home. In this episode we discuss the dark side of technology and how good intentions can be negated by bad actors. We begin by covering recent news surrounding Apple's AirTags being used to track strangers, and end with a discussion on employee monitoring software and the future of remote work.
We hope you enjoy!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2022-02-1832 minSimple Evolution#33 - Organ transplantation: the past, present and futureJust as our car engines fail so to may our organs. Kidney, heart, and liver, just to name a few, may not function optimally to sustain the demands of life. The trouble with addressing these health concerns is less about the surgeon's dexterity in rewiring blood vessels, or availability of effective immunosuppressants. The real enemy is time, and your number on the waiting list. There are shortages of life-saving organs available for transplantation. Interestingly, this human problem does not necessarily require a human-based solution. Time for a history lesson!
Xenotransplantation, or the transfer of...2022-01-3040 minSimple Evolution#32 - Russia and Ukraine: a complicated historyHistory tends to repeat in cycles. There are highs and lows, but one thing remains persistent, conflict. Eastern Europe is one region with a complicated history where certain autonomous countries today were once part of the vast Soviet Union. Following the collapse in 1991, the redrawing of borders led to Ukraine and Russia becoming bordering countries. Although close geographically, the two nations have different ideologies and global identities. For those living in eastern Ukraine, the threat of Russian invasion remains a possibility.
In this episode we discuss the false-flag operation in eastern Ukraine and the p...2022-01-2636 minSimple Evolution#31 - The future of journalismThe power of an idea comes from its potential to be spread. In today's society, ideas are a dime a dozen. Good ideas and accurate, objective information is the needle in the media haystack. The medium may be the message, but not all mediums are created equal. In this episode we focus on the dissemination of information through writing. Adam Grant's writing framework is as follows: writing = thinking + communicating. What's written on the page is not a raw thought, but rather the refined idea worth conveying to readers. Discovery is not only restricted to the reader. We learn through...2021-12-3039 min
Simple Evolution#30 - Elon MuskTime Magazine's person of the year is quite the polarizing character. Some people love him. Some people hate him. But, few don't know his name. He has revolutionized the way we travel to the grocery store, and, one day, the way we travel through the cosmos. Electric cars and reusable rockets, previously viewed as unsexy or impossible, are now mainstream. Tesla cars dominate the freeways and SpaceX launches dominate social media. Faster cars, bigger rockets, 66 million Twitter followers (which is likely to grow) and a personal brand that may, arguably, fly higher than the rockets carrying satellites into space...2021-12-2846 minSimple Evolution#29 - 2022 Beijing Olympic boycott: protests on the international stageOn a global stage, absence is the message. The upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics has received significant media attention, and little of it pertains to athletics. An olympic boycott is likely to take place in Beijing, which considering the history of the olympic games is nothing new. The main question that follows is what type of boycott is to be expected come February 2022. Will the United States spearhead a diplomatic or full boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics? The former case means athletes, but not government officials, will travel to Beijing. The latter case means olympic events may be in jeopardy due...2021-12-2146 minSimple Evolution#28 - The Forward PartyNot Left. Not Right. Forward. This is the direction Andrew Yang is headed.
The Forward Party was officially recognized as a political action committee on October 5, 2021, with goal to become a United States political party. Given the growing partisan polarization between Democrats and Republicans, Andrew Yang hopes to offer a political solution. In this episode we discuss the Forward Party's mission and how the emergence of a strong independent party may redefine the political landscape and improve future outlook for the United States over the coming decades.
We hope yo...2021-12-1432 minSimple Evolution#27 - Talks with Troy (Part II)Enough Web 3.0, let's get a bit more personal!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2021-12-0445 minSimple Evolution#26 - Talks with Troy (Part I)We are back with another guest episode!
Here is part one of our two-part discussion with Troy, focusing on Web 3.0. For those interested in more Web 3.0 content check out the podcast and article recommendations below:
[Podcast]
Tim Ferriss ft. Naval Ravikant & Chris Dixon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlNDYMNJ5zQ&t=1598s
[Blog posts]
Why Web3 matters: https://future.a16z.com/why-web3-matters/
Tim's show notes from the Web 3.0 podcast: https://tim.blog/2021/10/28/chris-dixon-naval-ravikant/
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Send in...2021-12-0456 minSimple Evolution#25 - Artificial intelligence in drug discoveryArtificial intelligence (AI) in drug discovery is where computer scientists meet chemists. Machine learning algorithms filter large libraries of chemical compounds down to a few potential candidates worth testing in the lab. The computer scientist runs the first leg of the track meet before handing off the baton to the chemist for further investigation of identified hit compounds. This process, while not perfect, may reduce the timeline from drug discovery to drug approval by 4-5 years. If time is money, this approach will save biotech and pharmaceutical companies millions, if not billions of dollars. The goal for athletics is...2021-11-0926 minSimple Evolution#24 - The state of AfghanistanSince the departure of US forces from Afghanistan much has changed. Foreign aid, which for years has kept the economy afloat, is now drying up. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have recently halted aid into the country since the Taliban occupation, effectively shutting the tap for millions of Afghanistan residents who call this aid-dependent nation home. Food and water scarcity is becoming a more prevalent problem, with public healthcare on the verge of collapse. Some families are resorting to extreme measures, selling family members to buy essentials that will last only a few short months. From what...2021-11-0435 minSimple Evolution#23 - Facial recognition payment systems and the trade-off between privacy and convenienceTransactions have come a long way. In earlier times, transactions involved exchanging physical items present in nature (e.g. sea shells, tulips and the stone wheels of Yap). However, these initial forms of value were not always recognized across boundaries, and some proved to be inferior currencies based on ease of transport and fragility. Over time, standardized currencies, in the form of paper money and coins, began gaining popularity as items of value for transactions. Banks provided a means of safe storage, a step above hiding one's life savings under their mattress. A bank account serve as a unique...2021-11-0440 minSimple Evolution#22 - Reflections on the European chapter and the emergence of age-appropriate social mediaWe're back!
No more conversing over the Atlantic on two continents. No more battling connection issues and saving two audio files for each recording. This marks the first in-person podcast - one mic, one table. To kick things off we begin by discussing a recently written chapter in Eliot's book of life, the European Chapter - old cities, new memories. Eliot answers the question of: "If you could study abroad, where would you go?" with Salzburg, Austria. He highlights his experiences over the last two years, concluding that the new friends he met "across the pond" have b...2021-09-3046 min
Simple Evolution#21 - An antidote to grad school woes: creativityGraduate school is a roller coaster full of ups and downs. Just when one thinks they are getting a grasp on their project, the unthinkable happens. Experiments fail, again, and again, and again. Hearing the sentences "Run it again" or "When do you expect to graduate?" are enough to induce severe vertigo or, at the very least, mild abdominal pain. The good news, graduate school provides one with an opportunity to succeed at something creative, when all academic pursuits fail. While having the crazy idea to start either a podcast or YouTube channel in grad school is not a...2021-08-3049 minSimple Evolution#20 - Two California kids, one microphone: a conversation between great friends in different placesHey all, we are back!
I'm happy to present our second guest speaker, my good friend Matt, speaking to you from sunny Los Angeles. We dive into a variety of topics, ranging from COVID-19 policies differences between the US and Canada to the importance of sports in American culture and some recommendations for dining in LA's food scene. I hope this episode provides new insights about Matt and what life is like in southern California!
This episode was recorded on July 22nd, 2021 and we apologize for any reductions in...2021-07-311h 02Simple Evolution#19 - To approve or not approve: Biogen's Aduhelm and the treatment of Alzheimer's diseaseBiologics, specifically monoclonal antibodies, are becoming more prevalent therapeutics in the doctor's toolkit for combating diseases. Historically, approval of medical products (e.g. drugs and medical devices) by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been lower than products marketed as supplements. Tighter regulations, especially those enforced by the FDA, generally leads to fewer products being approved to market. The research and development road from compound identification through preclinical and clinical trials is both expensive and arduous, where safety and efficacy data often determine whether a potential drug is approved. Rigorous standards help ensure that the few...2021-06-2725 minSimple Evolution#18 - The future of mRNA therapeuticsDNA --> RNA --> protein. This is the central dogma of molecular biology, where deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) functions as the master copy (e.g. biological template) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) is the working copy. Messenger RNA (mRNA) provides the biological blueprint for protein development. Put another way, this biological code, composed of 4 nucleotides, is an instruction set received by ribosomes, protein factories in the cell, to build protein products. We discuss the recent buzz around mRNA therapeutics, with a focus on mRNA technologies being used in vaccine development. Pzifer and Moderna both received emergency use authorization from the FDA...2021-06-0726 minSimple Evolution#17 - Biology at its best and worst: From oxygen scamming and political motives in desperate times to better preparation, resource allocation and the drive to care for othersHope for the best, but prepare for the worst. That's exactly what Dr. Bharud planned for in Nandurbar, where a smaller community home to two million residents overcame soaring cases in the COVID-19 second wave with supplemental oxygen on-hand for any citizen that needed it. In other regions of India, oxygen was scarce. Family members, even those who tested positive, waited in long lines for several hours for a chance to return home with the life-saving gas. Others, exhausted from the wait and increased anxiety, returned home empty-handed. While we discuss how subsequent waves of the virus have ravaged...2021-05-2628 minSimple Evolution#16 - Data, privacy and the growing rift between tech giantsTimes are changing. John D. Rockefeller built a physical empire on oil, large tech companies build digital empires with data. Certain commodities are only useful when transformed. Data, like oil, becomes valuable after refinement. Instead of drilling deep underground, companies extract data by drilling deep into our behaviours. You are the product. If a "free" service seems too good to be true, chances are it is. There is no free lunch. Business models are becoming more driven by personal data rather than physical device development. This leads us to Facebook vs. Apple and the growing push for privacy. We...2021-05-2537 minSimple Evolution#15 - Neuralink and the dawn of brain-machine interfacesWe are cyborgs.
Tell a human to choose between food and their phone for the next week and it isn't obvious which one gets kicked to the curb. Our daily living is a blend of physical and digital interactions, relying just as much on our legs to get us from point A to point B as our battery life to make it through the day on a single charge. Some of us (you know who you are!) are so attached to our devices that cell phones are becoming inseparable from our hands any waking hour. Navigating our e...2021-05-1833 minSimple Evolution#14 - European Super League and the professional sport differences between North America and EuropeWho doesn't enjoying watching a game of soccer, I mean football, with family and friends? Well, you are not alone. Football is the dominant international sport, inspiring youth around the world to set their sights on playing for both country and world-renowned clubs. Europe is the epicenter of top-class football, boasting some of the best leagues in England, Spain and Italy. We discuss the current state of European football, the relegation system and the failed attempt at the European Super League designed to showcase the biggest clubs at the highest level of competition, with the intention of replacing UEFA...2021-05-0233 minSimple Evolution#13 - Ireland and Northern Ireland: Us vs. Them dichotomies, the Brexit impact and the future of the United KingdomAnyone tired of hearing just Eliot and I talk on a microphone? Well, we've got you covered! Episode #13 introduces our first guest, Gracie, to speak on the relationship between Northern Ireland and Ireland, including conflicts that have persisted for decades. We discuss The Troubles, Protestants vs. Catholics, EU vs. UK and much more. If you haven't finished your first pint of Guinness, take this as your cue to do so! It's time to listen and learn.
Note: We do not endorse the consumption of Proper 12 whiskey.
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Send in a voice message: https...2021-04-2434 minSimple Evolution#12 - The state of social media: dummy pages, diluted truth, and the difficulties of real-time enforcementSocial media is a pivotal tool for spreading information. The quest for quality, not quantity, is becoming more analogous to finding the needle in the information haystack. Interestingly, the use of "dummy pages", a key Facebook loophole being exploited by individuals and organizations to advance political, social and economic agendas poses a real threat to maintaining true content on social platforms moving forward. We live in an interconnected world where information is abundant, but true, quality information is scarce. One major questions remains: as social media evolves will the content become more beneficial or detrimental to the consumer? So...2021-04-1834 minSimple Evolution#11 - The rise of an Eastern superpowerThere are 195 countries in the world, but only a few seem to govern our planet. Superpowers, countries capable of flexing economic and political muscle, may be viewed as monopolies in a global market. More importantly, superpowers sell headlines in world news. This episode focuses on a key rising superpower, China, and the global ripple effects that certain actions, or ideas, have on changing our world. Attention world travellers: open up that suitcase, secure that passport, remember to not store toiletries in your carry-on luggage, and, most importantly, get ready to listen and learn.
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Send in a voice...2021-04-1235 minSimple Evolution#10 - Get to know the podcastersThe long overdue episode highlighting the people behind the microphones. We cover how we met, what we learned during our undergraduate degrees, and what we want to accomplish following our graduate school graduation. If you were hoping for discussions on quantum mechanics and consciousness, we are sorry to disappoint...maybe next episode! This is the podcast pilot episode, an introduction to the hosts, and a much needed episode to give our audience some background information before moving forward! Grab some coffee, throw on those headphones and hit that record button, it's time to listen and learn!
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Send...2021-03-2935 minSimple Evolution#9 - Nuclear Power: The pros, cons and social stigma surrounding this technologyNuclear physics made huge strides in the 20th century. At its core (yes, pun intended), the nucleus is the main focal point. Small matter, big impact. The potential of the atom, and the immense power it holds, enters history books as a potential energy source of the future and the building block for weapons of mass destruction. Although the world is split about Earth's atomic future, recent technological advancements help support utilizing the atom as a clean energy source for a sustainable future. Last century the atom was first used as a means of destruction in war. Let this...2021-03-2129 minSimple Evolution#8 - Genes: Our past and futureNature's programming language, our biological code, generates complexity using four simple letters: A, T, C, and G. If the 20th century was dominated by computer programming, this century is all about biological programming. A deeper understanding of our genome allows for the development of tools to effectively manipulate and rewrite the code of life. The hacker loves the QWERTY keyboard, the biohacker prefers nature's nanomachinery: proteins, nucleic acids, and viruses. Sterilize that workbench, autoclave some pipette tips and button up that lab coat, it's time for an experiment!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/m...2021-03-1244 minSimple Evolution#7 - COVID-19 and the Future of Travel in 2021Humans are meant to travel and see new places. In 2021, amidst a global pandemic, what will it take to begin opening up the world to tourism? We discuss how countries may require more than one passport moving forward, especially the emergence of passports in digital form. Relevant travel information is extending beyond citizenship and facial ID to encompass a biological profile that's here to stay. Vaccine passports, lab tests accessible on a standardized international app, and precautions necessary to move the world one step closer to beating this pandemic are all discussed. Quick, one squirt of hand sanitizer. Now...2021-03-0533 minSimple Evolution#6 - Mars, the Moon and the innate human desire to exploreWe are entering an era where "reaching for the stars" has a literal, not just figurative, connotation. Humans are exploring new frontiers where planet Earth may only be a starting point rather than a final destination. Buckle up and pressurize that space suit, you're in for a wild ride!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2021-02-2426 minSimple Evolution#5 - Genetic engineering and the evolution of speciesEpisode 5! We on a roll!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2021-02-1732 minSimple Evolution#4 - Google, Australia, and the Battle for Local JournalismOn Episode 4 we take a deeper look at the situation unfolding between a tech giant and the country of Australia over compensation towards local news and media outlets.
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2021-02-1719 minSimple Evolution#3 - COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories and the Price of MisinformationRound 2 deep dive into news surrounding the pandemic.
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2021-02-1744 minSimple Evolution#2 - How the World Responds to Periods of Uncertainty - Coronavirus EditionOh, back for more? We got you covered! Enjoy our second episode, an in-depth look at how countries across the world are trying to handle the pandemic.
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2021-02-1736 minSimple Evolution#1 - Humans and our Global Relationships with Animals in the Wild and CaptivityWelcome to the first episode of Simple Evolution!
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/simpleevolution/message2021-02-1744 min