Shows
UncertaintyThe Case Against Christianity | #19 James FodorJames Fodor, author and YouTuber, joins me to debate the case for and against Christianity. To access James's YouTube channel, click here. To support my efforts at having interesting conversations with interesting people, click here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe2025-02-021h 58
Real SeekersShroud Wars: Battling 10 Hours of Shroud Skepticism (Round 2)- with Digital Gnosis & James Fodor
Welcome to Round 2 of this special Shroud Wars episode. In Round 1, Otangelo Grasso and I discussed the 10 hour Shroud Skeptics video done on the Shroud by Digital Gnosis (Nathan Ormond) and James Fodor from a Pro-Shroud perspective. In this follow up episode, I discuss with the two Shroud skeptics themselves in a friendly dialogue. There may possibly be a Round 3 as a debate to come!
RSM Blog = https://realseekerministries.wordpress.com/2025/01/10/shroud-wars-battling-10-hours-of-shroud-skepticism-parts-1-2-with-otangelo-grasso-james-fodor-digital-gnosis/
2025-01-243h 10
EAG TalksIs AI an existential risk? A discussion | Ryan Kidd, James Fodor | EAGxAustralia 2023Ryan is Co-Director of the ML Alignment Theory Scholars Program, a Board Member and Co-Founder of the London Initiative for Safe AI, and a Manifund Regrantor. Previously, he completed a PhD in Physics at the University of Queensland and ran UQ’s Effective Altruism student group for ~3 years. Ryan’s ethics are largely preference utilitarian and cosmopolitan; he is deeply concerned about near-term x-risk and safeguarding the long-term future.
James Fodor is a PhD student in the Decision, Risk and Financial Sciences Program. He completed graduate studies in physics and economics at the University of Melbourne, and a masters degr...2024-06-2156 minEAG TalksHistory and challenges of economic development | James Fodor | EAGxAustralia 2023
The richest countries in the world are about one hundred times wealthier per person than the poorest countries. How did such immense differences arise, and why do they continue to exist? This talk summarises various proposed solutions to this paradox of economic development, including theories emphasising culture, geography, dependency, and institutions. Drawing upon comparative historical analysis, formal models, and statistical evidence, the talk argues that the quality of political and economic institutions ultimately explains most of the differences in development outcomes between countries. It concludes by considering implications for the effective altruism movement.
James Fodor is a PhD...2024-06-2125 minEAG TalksHistory and challenges of economic development | James Fodor | EAGxAustralia 2023The richest countries in the world are about one hundred times wealthier per person than the poorest countries. How did such immense differences arise, and why do they continue to exist? This talk summarises various proposed solutions to this paradox of economic development, including theories emphasising culture, geography, dependency, and institutions. Drawing upon comparative historical analysis, formal models, and statistical evidence, the talk argues that the quality of political and economic institutions ultimately explains most of the differences in development outcomes between countries. It concludes by considering implications for the effective altruism movement.
James Fodor is a PhD student...2024-06-2125 min
Deep Drinks#49 James Fodor | Problems In The KalamJames Fodor is a neuroscience grad student and is a philosophy, science, and history enthusiast from Melbourne, Australia. James has written a book critiquing William Lane Craigs arguments for Christianity and the Kalam. YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@DeepDrinksMUSIC: @dcuttermusicDisclaimer: Deep Drinks Podcast (DDP) does not endorse the views or statements of any guest. DDP strives for deep conversations about deep topics, this includes harmful ideologies discussed responsibly. FULL STATEMENT https://www.deepdrinks.com/disclaimerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2023-04-211h 39
The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 135: The Science of EmotionAn introduction to the scientific study of emotion, including a discussion of the difficulties in defining emotions, discrete and dimensional methods of classifying emotions, the functional and representational roles of emotions, and an overview of major psychological theories of emotion, including the James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories. We also examine the neurobiological basis of emotion, including the roles of the orbitofrontal cortex, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the cingulate cortex, and the amygdala. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 134: Hormones and the Endocrine System.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming...2023-03-311h 17
The Padverb Podcast with KMO016 Differential Outcomes with James Fodor
James Fodor is a science podcaster, an essayist, and currently, a PhD candidate in computational neuroscience and computational linguistics at the University of Melbourne (Australia). His intellectual and research interests cover such diverse areas as cognitive science, computer science, philosophy, theology, and economics.
In this conversation, KMO and James discuss:
02:07 – A brief history of "The Science of Everything"
10:08 – How neural networks learn vs how humans learn
12:52 – The uncomfortable question of back-propagation
16:00 – Acquiring language and concepts
19:52 – Why and when machines' way of learning is important
23:22 – Illogical language models and the Internet lurking behind
25:52 – Conversation starters and GPT's talking to one...2022-09-081h 15
Paulogia5 Major Problems with William Lane Craig’s Kalam Cosmological Argument (feat. James Fodor)William Lane Craig's Kalam Cosmological Argument is fatally flawed... so says author James Fodor. So let’s briefly outline five major problems with Craig’s defence of the Kalam, showing how he fails to establish the conclusion that the universe had a personal cause.James Fodor YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/c/JamesFodorUnreasonable Faith: How William Lane Craig Overstates the Case for Christianityhttps://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Faith-William-Overstates-Christianity/dp/1912701189/ref=sr_1_1Five Major Problems with William Lane Craig’s Kalam Cosmological Argumenthttps://thegodlesstheist.com/2021/03/01/five-major-problems-with-william-lane-craigs-kalam-cosmological-argument/Bad Apolog...2021-11-0225 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 110: Weather Part IIBuilding on the basic concepts discussed in the previous episode, this episode examines the formation and development of a wide range of weather phenomena, including air fronts, midlatitude cyclones, tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 109: Weather Part I.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a paypal donation or becoming a patreon supporter.
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2020-08-3046 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 109: Weather Part IAn introduction to key concepts relevant to understanding weather, including relative and absolute humidity, atmospheric stability, cloud formation and classification, types of precipitation, and the formation and classification of air masses. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 90: Climate Systems.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a paypal donation or becoming a patreon supporter.
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2020-08-0248 min
Water Polo FitRajmund Fodor - Scottie Pippen of Water Polo worldRajmund Fodor is a Hungarian water polo player, who played on the gold medal squads at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics. He is nicknamed Rajmi, and made his debut for the national team in 19932020-07-1955 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 108: Political Institutions and Sustained Economic GrowthIn this sixth and final part in our series on economic growth and development, I discuss in more detail some of the key institutions necessary for economic growth to begin, focusing on property rights, enforcement of contracts, and control of corruption. I review the importance of these institutions in the context of historical case studies of countries ranging from the Soviet Union to Mexico, and outline how the most critical institutions vary with the level of development, giving rise to a middle income trap. I also discuss the Washington Consensus and critically analyse the arguments of critics that such...2020-07-011h 25The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 107: Cultural, Geographic, and Political Explanations of PovertyIn this fifth part of our series on economic growth and development, I examine the major factors that have been advanced as explaining differences in growth outcomes between countries. I provide a summary of the arguments and evidence for and against the importance of culture, dependency, democracy, geography, education, and institutions in accounting for differential growth outcomes, and conclude with a comparative empirical analysis in which I argue that institutional differences explain the majority of growth differences. The Recommended pre-listening is Episode 106: Economic Growth and Development Part IV.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the...2020-06-151h 13The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 106: Theories of Economic Growth and DevelopmentIn this fourth part of our series on economic growth and development, I outline the major theories of economic development developed over the past sixty years. I trace the development of such theories beginning with the Harrod-Domar theory, and proceeding through the Solow-Swan model, the Ramsey model, Romer's spillovers model, and endogenous growth theory, in each case discussing their key features, and analysing their strengths and weaknesses. The episode concludes with a brief survey of a range of more recent growth models focusing on modelling coordination failures and poverty traps, emphasising the work of Daron Acemoglu on economic institutions...2020-05-311h 10The Science of Everything PodcastSpecial Episode: Mario Livio on GalileoAstrophysicist Mario Livio joins me to discuss his latest book 'Galileo and the Science Deniers', which chronicles the scientific discoveries of Galileo Galilei and how his advocacy of the heliocentric theory led him into confrontation with the Pope. Our conversation covers the significance of Galileo's discovers, the strengths and weaknesses of his case for the heliocentric theory, his role in establishing the modern scientific method, and what we can learn from this episode in history about the importance of intellectual freedom and science communication in the present day.
Check out Mario's book on Amazon.
If...2020-05-1643 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 105: Agriculture, Urbanisation, and Structural ChangeIn this third part of the series on economic growth, I discuss the process of structural change as economies progress from underdeveloped to developed, beginning with an overview and historical analysis of Rostow's Stages of Growth model. I then discuss the structures of agricultural production around the world, focusing on barriers to adoption of more modern agricultural techniques and proposed reforms, such as adoption of cash crops, land reform, and improving the security of land tenure. I conclude with an analysis of the benefits and problems associated with urbanisation, incorporating a discussion of agglomeration economies, spillover effects, urban gigantism...2020-04-301h 04The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 104: The History of the World Economy and GrowthIn the second part of our series on economic growth and development, I provide a brief history of the world economy, beginning with the key features of premodern economies and the Malthusian trap. I then outline critical developments and points of debate in subsequent economic history, including the Great Divergence, the First and Second Industrial Revolutions, the Great Depression and era of central planning, the Bretton Woods era and the gold standard, and the modern period of neoliberalism and globalisation. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 103: Economic Growth and Development Part I.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider...2020-04-131h 12The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 103: Introduction to Economic Growth and Global PovertyIn this the first in an eight-part series covering the causes of economic growth and development, I provide an introduction to the key concepts of absolute and relative poverty, different theories of development, and how GDP is defined and measured. I also discuss the differences between rural and urban poverty, give an overview of the different levels of development of various countries around the world, and outline some of the major methodological challenges in studying causes of economic growth around the world. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 12: The Price System, and Episode 56: The Gains from Trade.
If you...2020-03-311h 11The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 102: Photosynthesis Part IIContinuing the discussion of photosynthesis from the previous episode, here I outline the importance of the oxygen evolving complex in oxidising water molecules, the importance of photosystem I in extracting additional energy, and the role of light-independent reactions of the Calvin cycle in carrying out carbon fixation. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 101: Photosynthesis Part I.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a paypal donation or becoming a patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
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2020-03-1139 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 101: Photosynthesis Part IAn overview of photosynthesis, including the structure of chloroplasts, phototransduction of energy by chlorophyll, the macromolecular complexes of the thylakoid membrane. I also discuss the mechanisms of electron transfer along the electron transport chain, and the role of ATP synthase in generating ATP. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 75: Cellular Respiration, Episode 32: Light and Optics, and Episode 18: Biochemistry Basics.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a paypal donation or becoming a patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything
2020-02-2753 minThe Science of Everything PodcastSpecial Episode: History and Future of the ShowA special episode in which I discuss some of the ideas and principles behind the production of the show, sources I use for episodes, and my motivations for starting the podcast. I also talk about my own background and research interests, my thoughts about the relationship between science and philosophy, and some ideas for the future of the Science of Everything Podcast.
2020-02-1226 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 100: Unsolved Problems in ScienceIn this special celebratory 100th episode, I discuss six major unsolved problems in science: the P vs NP problem in computer science, the mystery of dark matter in physics, the existence of the island of stability in chemistry, the historical occurrence of a snowball Earth scenario from geology, the protein folding problem from biochemistry, and the origin of the Cambrian explosion in evolutionary biology. I also discuss some important ideas relating to the future of the podcast.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a paypal donation or becoming a patreon supporter.2020-01-181h 22The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 99: Plant Reproduction and FruitA discussion of the method of reproduction of flowering plants, including an overview of the structure and function of the different components of the flower, pollination, double fertilisation, and seed formation, dispersal, and germination. I also discuss the different types of fruit and vegetables and how the different components of the plant relate to the parts that we consume. I conclude with a brief overview of non-edible plant products, including fibres, resin, and sap. Recommended prerequisite is Episode 97: Plant Structure and Function.
2020-01-061h 01The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 98: Electromagnetic RadiationAn overview of the nature and properties of electromagnetic radiation, including a discussion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the nature of photons, the speed of light, near and far field radiation, and technological applications of electromagnetic radiation in AM and FM radiation and microwave ovens. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 61: Magnetism and Episode 57: Electric Current and Circuits.
2018-12-2748 min
Old Left at the ValleyUnreasonable Faith with James FodorThe crew is joined by author James Fodor to talk about his book: Unreasonable Faith where he takes on Christian superstar William Lane Craig. James remains unimpressed with the arguments made by the darling of the church and explains why in this superbly instructive interview. Put on your thinking caps, it's gonna be a bumpy ridehttps://thegodlesstheist.comhttps://fods12.podbean.com/Nancy talks about Canadian inventions,and Kirsten discovers the most useless doctorate ever...2018-12-101h 43The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 97: Plant Structure and FunctionAn overview of the basic morphology and physiology of plants, including a discussion of the main types of plants, stems, roots, leaves, plant transport, meristems, plant nutrition, and plant sensory systems.
2018-06-2758 minThe Science of Everything PodcastSpecial Episode - Jared Bauer on Science and Philosophy in MoviesIn this special episode I am joined by Jared Bauer, cofounder of Wisecrack, to discuss science and philosophy in movies and popular culture. We cover a range of topics including how science is portrayed in movies, how the film medium leads to science and history being presented in particular ways, and how movies and popular culture can be used as a vehicle for promoting scientific and philosophical inquiry.
2018-04-0354 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 96: How Computers Work Part VI - High Level Programming and SoftwareIn the final episode of our series on computers, I give an introduction to high-level programming languages, how they relate to assembly language and machine code, and how the compiler converts high level programs into a form that can be executed by the processor. I then outline some of the key components to high-level programming, such as data structures, control structures, and algorithms, before sketching an example implementation of a simple game. I conclude with an integrative summary of computer structure from silicon up to the operating system.
2018-03-0244 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 95: How Computers Work Part V - Assembly Language and the Operating SystemIn this the fifth episode of the series 'how computers work', I begin with a summary of some of the major methods of improving the performance of the central processing unit, including pipelining, cache memory, branch prediction, and parallel processing. Following a brief introduction to assembly langague and its relationship to the machine code, I then discuss the operating system and how it interfaces with the hardware to manage program memory, system calls, input/output, and processes.
2018-02-131h 11The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 94: How Computers Work Part IV - Processor Architecture and Machine CodeIn this fourth part in our series on computers, I begin with an overview of the von Neumann architecture used in most modern computers. This leads in a discussion of the structure and operation of the central processing unit, covering the instruction register, the program counter, main memory, the data and address buses, the ALU, and the control Unit. I then discuss the purpose and implementation of a number of key operations in the instruction set architecture, including arithmetic operations, data movement operations, and conditional branches.
2018-02-041h 10The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 93: How Computers Work Part III - Logic Gates and ComponentsIn this third part of the series on computers I begin with an overview of Boolean algebra, including a discussion of key logic functions such as NOT, AND, and OR, and also discuss how CMOS logic gates implementing these functions are fabricated from transistors. I then survey the wide variety of logic components used in electronic circuits, including the multiplexor, adder, tristate buffer, flip-flops, comparator, and clock generator, and discuss the functions fulfilled by these devices in modern computers.
2018-01-191h 06The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 92: How Computers Work Part II - Silicon and TransistorsIn this second episode in the series, I explain binary digital coding to motivate a discussion of the operation of transistors. Beginning with an examination of the properties of semiconductors and why they are useful for constructing transistors, I then examine how MOSFET transistors are constructed by combining pMOS and nMOS semiconductors.
2018-01-091h 11The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 91: How Computers Work Part I - What is a Computer?We begin our series discussing how computers work with an overview of the theory of computation, including a discussion of Turing machines and Turing completeness, and a brief history of early analog and digital computers. I also provide an introduction to the key components of a modern computer, and review the different levels in the hierarchy of computer organisation.
2017-12-3043 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 90: Climate SystemsAn analysis of the major factors influencing climactic variation over Earth's surface, including a discussion of the effect of differential heating at different latitudes, the impact of continentality and sea breezes, the causes of monsoons, the coriolis effect, atmospheric circulation cells, the jet streams, and thermohaline circulation currents in Earth's oceans. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 88: Cartography and Earths Seasons, and Episode 89: The Atmosphere.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a paypal donation or becoming a patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything2017-12-011h 02The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 89: The AtmosphereAn overview of the composition and layers of the Earth's atmosphere, including a discussion of the exosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere. I also discuss the ozone layer and ozone depletion, the Karman line which marks the boundary of space, and the ionosphere. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 42: Gases and Gas Laws.
2017-11-2349 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 88: Cartography and Earths SeasonsA discussion of the shape of the Earth and the difficulties and conventions involved in describing a three-dimensional surface on a two-dimensional map, including an overview of some of the major map projections and their various limitations. This leads in to an overview of Earth's axial tilt and variation in solar insolation by latitude as an explanation for the seasonal variation in weather across the planet. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 87: The Geography of Planet Earth.
2017-09-291h 06The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 87: The Geography of Planet EarthAn overview of some of the key geographic features of planet Earth, including a discussion of the concept and classification of continents, the major mountain ranges and major river basins around the planet. I also discuss the major world biomes, their major climactic and botanical features, and their relative locations across the Earth.
2017-08-261h 02The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 86: The Evidence for EvolutionAn outline of the various lines of evidence in favour of the theory of evolution by natural selection, including a discussion of natural and artificial examples of natural selection in action, as well as a review of the evidence from the fossil record, comparative anatomy, biogeography, and molecular evidence. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 21: Introduction to Evolution.
2017-08-1246 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 85: Introduction to Quantum Field TheoryA discussion of some of the major conceptual aspects of Quantum Field Theory, including the concept of a quantum field, classical field theory, harmonic oscillators, second quantisation, interacting theories, and the relationship of QFT to other branches of physics. Recommended pre-listening is Episodes 83 and 84, Advanced Quantum Mechanics parts I and II.
2017-07-291h 05The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 84: Advanced Quantum Mechanics Part IIContinuing on from the previous episode, here I discuss some more advanced topics in Quantum Mechanics, including Noether’s theorem, the particle statistics of Bosons and Fermions, perturbation theory, and the EPR paradox. Recommended Pre-listening is Episode 83: Advanced Quantum Mechanics Part I.
2017-07-0745 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 83: Advanced Quantum Mechanics Part IAn examination of some more advanced concepts of quantum mechanics, focusing on describing Dirac's bra-ket formulation of quantum theory. I discuss the formulation of quantum mechanics in terms of vectors in Hilbert spaces, Hermitian operators as corresponding to observables, orthogonality of eigenstates, incompatible observables, and Schrodinger's equation. Recommeded pre-listening is Episode 14: Principles of Quantum Mechanics.
2017-06-2658 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 82: Racial Differences in IntelligenceA discussion of the evidence and methodological issues pertaining to explaining the causes of racial differences in intelligence, with a focus on evaluating the hereditarian hypothesis that such differences are largely genetic. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 81: Intelligence Part 2.
2017-03-1159 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 81: Intelligence Part 2Continuing the series on intelligence, in this episode I discuss the genetic and neurological correlated of intelligences, the efficacy of measures to increase intelligence, and the causes and consequences of the Flynn effect. Also includes an analysis of the heritability of intelligence and how to properly interpret heritabilty research. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 80: Intelligence Part 1.
2017-02-2457 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 80: Intelligence Part 1The first in a three part series on human intelligence, covering debates about the definition of intelligence, how intelligence is measured, factor analysis and the origin of the g factor, and interpretations of the g factor as corresponding to intelligence. Also includes an analysis of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, and the cross-cultural validity of intelligence tests. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 79: Basic Concepts in Statistics.
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https://www.paypal...2017-02-121h 00The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 79: Basic Concepts in StatisticsA concise introduction to key concepts of statistics, explained in as clear a manner as possible. Includes a discussion of key concepts of probability, types of statistical data, sampling methods, the difference between descriptive and inferential statistics, statistical significance, and p-values. I conclude with a brief look at three common statistical tests; the chi-square test, t-test, and linear regression.
2017-01-221h 03
The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 78: HearingAn explanation of the process of human hearing, covering the structure and function of the outer, middle, and inner ears, with a focus on explaining how the hair cells of the cochlea transduce mechanical motion into electrical signals that are interpreted as sound. I also discuss the mechanisms of sound localisation, some of the causes of deafness, and briefly outline the workings of the cochlea implant. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 53: Sound and Music.
2016-09-1745 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 77: Nuclear Physics and RadioactivityAn introduction to the physics of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus, with a focus on explaining the different modes of radioactivity, alpha, beta, and gamma decay, as well as different ways of measuring radiation and some of its biological effects. I also discuss some applications of radioactivity in radiometric dating, radiotherapy, nuclear power, and nuclear weapons. I conclude by discussing a few popular misconceptions about radioactivity. Recommending prelistening is Episode 8: History of the Atom.
2016-07-301h 01The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 76: GDP and UnemploymentAn introduction to the economic concepts of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and unemployment, including a discussion of how these concepts are defined, how they are measured, their relevance to understanding economic activity, and some limitations of these concepts as they are currently employed. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 65: Inflation and Interest Rates.
2016-06-0249 min
The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 75: Cellular RespirationAn overview of the processes involved in the generation of energy in cells, including a discussion of the role of ATP in energy storage, glycolysis, the krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP synthase. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 18: Biochemistry Basics.
2016-05-0653 min
The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 74: Minerals and RocksA discussion of minerals, including their main properties such as crystal structure, habit, cleavage, lustre, and hardness, followed by a brief overview of some of the major mineral classes, with a focus on the various types of silicate minerals. I also discuss the rock cycle and the relationship between the three major types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
2015-12-3049 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 73: Introduction to the Immune System Part 2Continuing on from the previous episode, I discuss the role of antibodies and antigens in mediating adaptive immunity, and follow with a discussion of the functions and roles of B-cells and T-cells. I conclude the episode with an overview of the many components of the immune system and a discussion of how they interact to protect the body from pathogens. Recommended prelistening is Episode 72: Introduction to the Immune System Part I.
2015-06-2938 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 72: Introduction to the Immune System Part 1An overview of the human immune system, beginning with some basic anatomy of the lymphatic system, and proceeding through a discussion of the distinction between the innate and adaptive immune systems, the role of skin and mucus membranes in providing barriers to pathogen entry, the inflammatory response, an overview of the different types of leukocytes, and an initial foray into the workings of the complement system. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 10: The Cell.
2015-02-2754 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 71: Political IdeologiesA social scientific discussion and comparison of some of the major political ideologies in the world today, beginning with an overview of the origins, meaning, and limitations of the 'left-right' political spectrum, and continuing with an analysis of the historical origin and key beliefs of conservatism, liberalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, fascism, and other nationalist movements.
2015-01-301h 09The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 70: Animal Diversity Part 2Continuing from Episode 69, I explore the diversity of the mammals, looking at all the mammalian orders and their major families. Special focus is given to primates and particularly hominids, which are discussed at the species level.
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2014-12-3049 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 69: Animal Diversity Part 1In this episode we explore the diversity of the animal kingdom. I first discuss the history of taxonomy and give an overview of some key concepts such as morphological similarity, phylogenetic analysis, systematics, cladistics, binomial classification, and the taxonomic hierarchy. Then follows an explanation of the diversity of and relationships between the major animal phyla, including arthropods, echinoderms, molluscs, and many others, with special emphasis is given to the classes and orders in the phylum of chordata (vertebrates).
2014-12-291h 04The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 68: Protein Structure and FunctionAn overview of the structure and function of proteins. Beginning with a discussion of some key research methods for studying proteins, including column chromatography, electrophoresis, and x-ray crystallography, we then discuss the structure of proteins, with a focus on secondary structure, motifs, structural domains, and quaternary structure. The episode concludes with a look at protein function, including protein folding, denaturation, enzymatic function, and allosteric regulation. Recommended pre-requisites are Episode 18: Biochemistry Basics, and Episode 10: The Cell. Episode 32: Light and Optics may also be helpful for the crystallography portion.
2014-11-3054 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 67: An Overview of Language Part 2Concluding the brief exploration of language begun last time, this episode examines semantics, including the distinction between sense and reference and different types of utterances, pragmatics, including conversational maxims and implicatures, and sociolinguistics, including prestige dialects and speech acts. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 66: An Overview of Language Part 1.
2014-11-2341 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 66: An Overview of Language Part 1In this first of a two-part episode, I discuss the phenomenon of language. Here we consider phonetics, how sounds are produced and articulated, phonology, how different sounds are distinguished from one another and treated across different languages, morphology, how sounds are combined into units of meaning called morphemes, and in turn how these are combined into words, and syntax, how words are put together in accordance with particular rules to form sentences.
2014-09-2946 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 65: Money, Inflation, and Interest RatesAn introduction to the concept of money, including its uses, purpose, and a brief account of its history. I discuss the notion of money as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value, and some of the properties that make particular goods useful as money. I also discuss various measures of the money supply, and briefly outline the difference between the monetary base and money created through the fractional reserve system. I discuss inflation, including its definition, causes, and effects on the economy, before concluding with a brief look at interest rates and exchange...2014-08-3155 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 64: Knowledge RepresentationA look at how we understand and think about semantic knowledge. I discuss semantic and propositional networks, the spreading activation model, present some evidence in favour of these models, and discuss the promising new approach of connectionism. I also examine how we classify objects into categories, looking at prototype and exemplar theories, family resemblance, graded membership, and the theory-theory of concepts.
2014-07-2651 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 63: The Nervous SystemAn overview of the structure and function of the nervous system, including a discussion of the autonomic and somatic divisions of the peripheral nervous system, the spinal cord, and the brain. I discuss the major regions and structures of the brain, including the brainstem, the cerebellum, the cerebral cortex, and various subcortical structures. I conclude with some brief remarks about lateralization and the relationship between brain size and IQ.
2014-06-2950 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 62: Organic Chemistry DemystifiedAn overview of organic chemistry, beginning with a discussion of the nature of organic compounds, the history of vitalism and its influence on the development of organic chemistry, and what makes carbon so special. I then discuss some important concepts in organic chemistry, including IUPAC nomenclature, functional groups, aromaticity, fullerenes, polymers, and organic synthesis. Recommended prelistening is Episode 15: Chemical Bonding, and Episode 23: Chemical Reactions.
2014-05-3146 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 61: MagnetismA discussion of the basic concepts of magnetism, including magnetic fields, magnetic poles, and electromagnets. I also discuss the ultimate subatomic source of magnetic force in the phenomenon of electric spin, and explain how this leads to the different types of magnetic materials: ferromagnets, paramagnets, and diamagnets. I conclude with some applications of electromagnetism, including electric generators and motors, transformers, and a brief discussion of Maxwell's equations. Recommended prelistening is Episode 43: Electric Forces and Fields.
2014-04-2754 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 60: Memory Encoding and RecallAn analysis of memory, including a discussion of the different types of memory, the capacity of short term memory, how environment and depth of processing influences learning and recall, the relationship between memory and familiarity, and different types of amnesia. Complements Episode 20: The Reliability of Memory.
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2014-03-1648 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 59: SmellA analysis of the sense of smell, beginning with the nose, the olfactory epithelium and the different types of receptor proteins, and progressing through the processes of sensory transduction, transmission of neural signals to the olfactory bulb, and thence into the higher regions of the brain. I also discuss the sense of smell in humans compared to that of other animals, with a focus on the special abilities of bloodhounds. Recommended prerequisite is Episode 38: Neurons and Synapses.
2014-02-1835 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 58: Taste
A discussion of how our sense of taste works, including an overview of the basic anatomy of the tongue and relevant brain circuits, a discussion of taste buds and how they work, a review of the five basic tastes and how they differ, and a look at some other interesting topics such as pungency and aftertaste. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 10: The Cell and Episode 38: Neurons and Synapses.
2014-01-2742 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 57: Electric Current and Circuits
We begin with a discussion of basic electrical phenomena such as current, voltage, resistance and power, before applying these ideas to the analysis of circuits, including series and parallel circuits. We then apply these concepts to understand a number of interesting phenomena, including light bulbs, lightning, and why electricity can be dangerous. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 43: Electric Forces and Fields.
2013-12-3056 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 56: The Gains from Trade
A discussion of the notion of trade and exchange, including the purpose of these activities, the gains from trade, and the role of comparative advantage. I also examine some recent trends in global trade, and briefly discuss some of the major global trade institutions such as the WTO and World Bank and their role in attempting to reduce trade barriers. The episode concludes with a brief discussion of the concept of 'Buy Local'. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 12: The Price System.
2013-12-2659 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 55: Sex and Gender Part 2Continuing on from the previous episode, I discuss some of the biological determinants of gender differences, including hormonal effects on interests and behaviour, and structural differences in the brain. I then examine a number of more specific topics pertinent to the issue of gender differences, including occupational segregation, women in science and technology, emotional differences, and differences in conversational form and topics.
2013-12-2359 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 54: Sex and Gender Part 1In this first of our two part series on sex and gender, I discuss the scientific evidence regarding some of the major behavioral and social differences between men and women, and examine the degree to which these can be explained by differential socialization and bias and discrimination. I also discuss the treatment of women in the workplace and how gender stereotypes serve to inhibit female advancement into higher positions.
2013-12-2052 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 53: Sound and MusicWe begin with a discussion of the essential nature of sound as pressure waves in air, discussing matters such as the speed of sound, harmonic frequencies, loudness, standing waves, and the Doppler effect. We then apply these basic principles to understand the nature of music, and why different musical instruments sound different. Also discussed are the various aspects of music, including beat, pitch, melody, timbre, etc, and the differences between woodwind, percussion, brass, and string instruments. Recommended prelistening is Episode 24: Vibrations and Waves
2013-12-1059 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 52: Applications of OpticsWe begin by discussing some of the basic principles of image formation in lenses and mirrors, including reflection in flat mirrors and curved mirrors, use of ray diagrams, real and virtual images, and the different ways in which images can be formed. These basic principles are then applied to gain an understanding of a number of interesting optical phenomena, including mirages, rainbows, and thin-film interference. I conclude the episode with a discussion of optical magnification, and how this is used in telescopes and microscopes.
2013-11-2857 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 51: Acids and BasesA discussion of acids and basis, including a definition and description of the concepts of acidity and basicity, a look at the relationship between the concepts of strength, concentration, and corrosivity, a discussion of weak acids and acid-base equilibria, and an explanation of pH and how buffer solutions act to stabalise pH levels in solution.
2013-11-2344 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 50: Science Myths and MisconceptionsIn this special episode we examine a number of popular myths, misconceptions, and faulty understandings that are widely held about various scientific questions. Topics covered include misunderstandings about black holes, common misconceptions about genetics, physics mistakes perpetrated in films, popular myths about various animals, and a look at some of the misconceptions about psychology and the mind.
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2013-08-0955 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 49: Market StructureA discussion of the effect of market outcomes on firm behavior, consumer welfare, and market outcomes. I examine perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, and monopolistic competition, comparing their outcomes and when each type of structure tends to occur. Also includes a discussion of cartels, when they form, and why they tend to fail. Recommended prerequisites are Episode 48: Theory of the Firm, Episode 16: Profits and Competition, and Episode 12: The Price System.
2013-07-2054 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 48: Theory of the FirmA discussion of the nature of the firm, the different types of firms, and the reasons for the existence of firms. This leads to an overview of the objectives of firms, including decisions regarding how to produce and the profit maximizing quantity to produce, and a discussion of the implications of this behavior for consumers and the economy at large. Recommended prelistening are Episode 12: The Price System and Episode 16: Profits and Competition.
2013-07-0949 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 47: Vision Part 3In part 3 of our journey through the visual system, we discuss the structure and function of the Primary Visual Cortex, including an analysis of occular dominance columns, orientation columns, and the six cortical layers. I also cover higher cortical regions involved in visual processing, including the V2, V3, V4, and IT areas, and how these regions are divided into distinct 'what' and 'where' processing pathways.
2013-04-0747 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 46: Vision Part 2Resuming from where we left off last time, we continue our journey through the visual system by explaining the structure and function of the bipolar and ganglion cells in the retina, including their somewhat complex receptive fields. I then discuss the optic nerve and cross over of information from different visual hemifields at the optic chiasm. We end this part of our journey with a look at the lateral geniculate nucleus, and how it is structurally organised to process different types of visual information in different locations.
2013-03-2340 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 45: Vision Part 1We commence our grand journey to understand the visual system by examining the eye, its anatomical structure and physiological properties. I discuss image formation in the eye, including an explanation of the role of the lens, iris, and cornea. I also explain the phototransduction, the fascinating molecular process by which photons falling on the retina are converted into neural signals that the brain can interpret. Recommended prelistening: Episode 18 - Biochemistry Basics, Episode 25 - Tissues, Organs and Systems, Episode 32 - Light and Optics, Episode 38 - Neurons and Synapses.
2013-03-1053 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 44: Cell DivisionA discussion of the cell cycle and cell division, beginning with an overview of chromosomes and chromosome structure, and then proceeding through a detailed discussion of the G1, S, and G2 stages of interphase, and the prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis phases of M-phase. I conclude the episode with a discussion of cell-cycle regulation, including the role of cyclin-dependent kinases, cell checkpoints, and growth factors. Recommended prerequisites are Episode 10: The Cell, Episode 18: Biochemistry Basics, and Episodes 34 and 35: DNA Structure and Function.
2013-01-1243 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 43: Electric Forces and FieldsAn overview of the basics of electric charges, electric fields, and electric potential energy. I also discuss how objects become charged, how charged particles interact via Coulomb’s Law, how electroscopes work, and how batteries generate voltage. Recommended prerequisites are Episode 9: Matter and Molecules, and Episode 17: Energy, Work, and Momentum.
2012-12-3152 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 42: Gases and Gas LawsA discussion of the properties and behaviour of gases, focusing on the kinetic theory of gases and the ideal gas law. I also discuss the thermodynamic behaviours of gases, gas partial pressures, and PV diagrams. Recommended prerequisites are Episode 9: Matter and Molecules and Episode 13: Newtonian Mechanics.
2012-12-2836 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 41: Flotation and Fluid MechanicsA discussion of the behaviour of fluids, including an overview of the concepts of fluid pressure and Pascal’s Principle. I also discuss Archimedes’ principle of buoyancy and its application to why objects float, and Bernoulli’s Principle of the relationship between fluid speed and pressure, and how this can be applied (and misapplied) to explaining how aeroplanes fly. Recommended prerequisites: Episode 13 Newtonian Mechanics, Episode 27 Intermolecular Bonds and Phase Transitions.
2012-12-2539 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 40: Gun ControlA science-based discussion of the issue of gun control in the United States. After reviewing some basic statistics about crime and gun ownership, I examine the empirical evidence concerning the relationship between gun ownership and violent crime, highlighting the many difficulties associated with such studies and the limitations of this literature. I then discuss some more specific aspects of the gun control debate, including the question of who commits most violent crimes, how deadly guns are compared to other weapons, and how criminals acquire guns. I conclude with a discussion of the evidence for and against various types of gu...2012-12-181h 07The Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 39: Sovereignty and the StateAn overview of the state as understood in political science, including a discussion of the meaning of terms like ‘state’, ‘country’ and ‘nation’, and a summary of some of the different types of states, including unitary, federal, and confederal. I also discuss some of the core principles of government in modern states, including sovereignty, the rule of law, separation of powers, and separation of church and state.
2012-12-0650 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 38: Neurons and SynapsesA discussion of the neuron, the fundamental cell of the brain and the nervous system, including an overview of its morphology and physiology. I also discuss the generation and propagation of action potentials, including the role of graded potentials, voltage-dependant ion channels, and myelination. The episode concludes with an overview of synapses and the important role of neurotransmitters.
2012-11-2952 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 37: Oxidation and ReductionAn overview of oxidation, reduction, and redox reactions, including a discussion of the definitions of these basic concepts, and an explanation of how they relate to oxidation number and electronegativity. We then apply these concepts to several common examples of redox reactions, including combustion, rust, batteries, fuel cells, and respiration.
2012-11-2248 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 36: Consumer Choice TheoryA discussion of the theory of consumer choice in economics, including an outline of consumer preferences and the axiomatic assumptions economists make about them, a discussion of the realism of these assumptions, and an explanation of how preferences are used to derive consumer utility functions and demand curves. These basic concepts are then applied to understand consumer behaviour in an analysis of substitution and income effects, complementary and substitute goods, and elasticity of demand. Recommended prerequisites include Episode 12: The Price System and Episode 16: Profits and Competition.
2012-08-1247 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 35: DNA Structure and Function Part 2Continuing on from episode 34, I discuss in detail the processes of DNA replication, transcription from DNA to RNA, and the translation of RNA to proteins. In doing so I examine the molecules and structures involved, the mechanisms of their operation, and how all the processes work together to facilitate the production of proteins from DNA.
2012-07-0351 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 34: DNA Structure and Function Part 1In part 1 of this two-part episode, I discuss the double helix shape of DNA, the structure of nucleotides, base-paring between nitrogenous bases, the genetic code, codons, DNA reading frames, the one-gene one-polypeptide hypothesis, and the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology. This basic structural knowledge will provide the basis for a more detailed discussion of the processes of DNA replication, transcription and translation in part 2 of this topic. Recommended background knowledge of episodes 10 (The Cell) and 18 (Biochemistry Basics).
2012-06-3043 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 33: Disturbing Social Psychology ExperimentsA discussion of three of the most chilling experiments in the field of social psychology: the Ash Conformity Experiment, the Stanford Prison Experiment, and the Milgram Obedience Experiment. In each case I discuss the motivation and setup of the experiment, outline the results, discuss replications and variations of the original experiment, and end with a look at the implications of the experiment for understanding the darker side of human nature.
2012-06-2250 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 32: Light and OpticsA discussion of the nature of light and its interactions with matter, including a journey through the history of our understanding of light from Newton’s corpuscular theory through early wave theory and up to the modern wave-particle duality understanding. Following this is an analysis of the various ways light interacts with matter, including absorption, reflection, transmission, refraction, dispersion, and transparency.
2012-04-1446 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 31: Solutions and MixturesAn analysis of liquids and their behaviour when mixed with other substances, incorporating a look at solutions, mixtures, colloids and suspensions. Special emphasis is placed on solutions, with a more detailed discussion of solubility, saturation, molarity and bubble formation.
2012-03-3143 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 30: Systems of GovernmentAn overview of the various forms of government that have existed throughout history and across the world, including a discussion of anarchy, democracy, monarchy, autocracy, and various forms of oligarchy, giving some key characteristics and important examples of each. Also includes an introduction to the principles of classification and political comparison.
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2012-02-2449 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 29: Operant ConditioningContinuing on from episode 28 on Classical Conditioning, in this episode I discuss another form of learning called Operant Conditioning, including the concepts of reinforcers, punishers, shaping, and schedules of reinforcement. I then apply Operant Conditioning theory to understand phenomena such as animal training and how punishments can be effectively used. The episode concludes with a brief look at a third form of learning, Observational Learning.
2012-01-2533 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 28: Classical ConditioningA discussion of classical conditioning, including an analysis of its key components of the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli and responses, the acquisition process, extinction, recovery, generalization, and discrimination. I also discuss some applications of classical conditioning to understand a wide variety of behaviors, including taste aversion, drug tolerance, sexual fetishes, and emotional responses.
2012-01-0734 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 27: Intermolecular Bonds and Phase TransitionsAn explanation of the forces and mechanisms of intermolecular bonding, including dispersion forces, dipole-dipole bonding and hydrogen bonds, with an application of these mechanisms in analysing surface tension. This is followed by a discussion of how phase transitions occur, focusing on evaporation, condensation, boiling and melting. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 15: Chemical Bonding.
2011-12-2841 minThe Science of Everything PodcastEpisode 26: Human Organ SystemsA brief overview of all the human organ systems, including their major components and functions. Also includes an examination of how the organ systems work together to promote the proper functioning of the organism. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 25: Organs, Tissues and Systems.
2011-12-2131 min