Manifold

Corey and Steve speak with Samuel Kerstein, Professor of Philosophy and expert in Medical Ethics at the University of Maryland. They discuss the ethics of genome engineering and preimplantation embryo selection, and the inequality and narrowing of human diversity that might result from widespread adoption of these technologies. Among the topics covered: Why genome engineering at this time is immoral. Should we always pick the healthiest embryo? In the future will parents have a moral obligation to engineer their children? Will there be an arms race between countries to engineer their populations? Is Star Trek’s Khan a more advanced person (Steve) or just another smart psychopath (Sam) or both?ResourcesSamuel J. KersteinHow to Treat Persons by Samuel J. KersteinCRISPR Babies – Episode #1Transcript

Hossenfelder is a Research Associate at the Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies. Her research areas include particle physics and quantum gravity. She discusses the current state of theoretical physics, and her recent book Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray.ResourcesThe Uncertain Future of Particle Physics (New York Times Article)Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray (Book)Transcript

David Skrbina is a philosopher at the University of Michigan. He and Ted Kaczynski published the book Technological Slavery, which elaborates on the Unabomber manifesto and contains about 100 pages of correspondence between the two which took place over almost a decade. Skrbina discusses his and Kaczynski’s views on deep problems of technological society, and whether violent opposition to it is justified.ResourcesDavid Skrbina’s Featured PublicationsPhotos of Ted KacynskiDavid Skrbina, Pen Pal of the Unabomber, on Ted Kaczynski’s PhilosophyTribe by Sebastian JungerJoe Rogan Experience #975 – Sebastian JungerTranscript 

Hawks is the Vilas-Borghesi Distinguished Achievement Professor of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He is an anthropologist and studies the bones and genes of ancient humans. He’s worked on almost every part of our evolutionary story, from the very origin of our lineage among the apes, to the last 10,000 years of our history.ResourcesJohn Hawks WeblogGhosts and Hybrids: How ancient DNA and new fossils are changing human origins (Research Presentation)Transcript

Kaiser Kuo is a host and co-founder of Sinica, a current affairs podcast originally based in Beijing. Sinica guests include prominent journalists, academics, and policy makers who participate in uncensored discussions about Chinese political, economic, and cultural affairs.ResourcesSinica PodcastPersonal Ties, Meritocracy, and China’s Anti-Corruption Campaign“MMG | Kaiser Kuo” by Meet the media Guru is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0Transcript

Corey and Steve speak with Ted Shultz, research Entomologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Ted is an expert in Leaf Cutter Ant evolution and systematics. Topics discussed include evolution, systematics, the genetic basis of behavior,  E. O. Wilson and small revolutions in science.ResourcesTed SchultzScience Magazine Table of Contents – December 9, 1994As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods (Seymour Benzer)The City Under the Back StepsTranscript

Corey and Steve interview Noor Siddiqui, a student at Stanford studying AI, Machine Learning, and Genomics. She was previously a Thiel Fellow, and founded a medical collaboration technology startup after high school. The conversation covers topics like college admissions, Tiger parenting, Millennials, Stanford, Silicon Valley startup culture, innovation in the US healthcare industry, and Simplicity and Genius.ResourcesNoor SiddiquiThiel FellowsTranscript

Corey and Steve are joined by Bobby Kausthuri, a Neuroscientist at Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago. Bobby specializes in nanoscale mapping of brains using automated fine slicing followed by electron microscopy. Among the topics covered: Brain mapping, the nature of scientific progress (philosophy of science), Biology vs Physics, Is the brain too complex to be understood by our brains? AlphaGo, the Turing Test, and wiring diagrams, Are scientists underpaid? The future of Neuroscience.▶️ WATCH: Bobby Kausthuri & Brain Mapping — Episode #2ResourcesBobby Kasthuri BioThe Physicist and the Neuroscientist: A Tale of Two ConnectomesComputing Machinery and Intelligence by Alan M. TuringTranscript

Corey and Steve discuss news of gene edited babies in China, and the future of human genetic engineering.▶️ Watch: CRISPR Babies — Episode #1ResourcesGeneration CRISPR?He did it: He Jiankui talk at HKU conference on gene editingEconomist Radio podcast interview on Genomic PredictionTranscript

Corey and Steve, friends for almost 30 years, introduce each other to the audience.Caltech Traditions and Prankshttp://www.admissions.caltech.edu/exp...Steve’s blog, Information Processing http://infoproc.blogspot.comman·i·fold  /ˈmanəˌfōld/   many and various.In mathematics, a manifold is a topological space that locallyresembles Euclidean space near each point.