SYSK Live in Nashville: The Biosphere II Experiment | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

The human race has left a mark on our planet, sometimes through carelessness and sometimes by design, but how permanent are the changes we’ve made? In The World Without Us, science journalist Alan Weisman asks what would happen if the human race vanished overnight. What effects, positive or negative, would our disappearance have on the world? Weisman’s goal is to address humanity’s environmental impact by imagining a world in which nature is allowed to flourish. In many ways, the world that follows us would be significantly different than what came before.

In this guide, we’ll examine Weisman’s portrayal of humanity’s footprint and what Weisman claims would happen if we suddenly disappeared. Also, we’ll look at other views on climate change, nature’s resilience, and the human race’s impact. We’ll list suggestions for how our species might adapt to a greener world, as well as scenarios that might cause our extinction.

In this episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, renowned expert Neri Oxman engages with host Lex Fridman in an intricate discourse spanning synthetic biology, material science, robotics, engineering, and the intersection of design and biology. Oxman, celebrated for her eclectic mix of skills, elucidates her groundbreaking concept of "Material Ecology," demonstrating how human innovation and natural systems can harmoniously coexist. Substantiated by Oxman's innovative projects and her belief in 'hero organisms', this discussion explores the redefining of production scales and the seamless integration of technological advancement with biological intelligence.

Delving into the unknown, mantra of empowering nature and the equilibrium between options and decision making, is discussed. Notably striking is the vision for the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), opening up uncharted terrain in technology. Despite her apprehensions, Oxman emphasizes the need to probe further. The conversation takes profound turns as possibilities about integrating human consciousness into nature and simplifying material elements are discussed. Saving the biggest for last, the existence of extraterrestrial life – a subject steeped in anticipation and mystery - ends the intellectual feast of this podcast episode.

Though it’s become widely accepted that climate change is real, the questions still remain of what steps we should take to fix the damage and whether they'll be enough. Many scientists and activists believe that the climate has already passed a tipping point and that environmental catastrophe is inevitable. In Apocalypse Never, award-winning science writer Michael Shellenberger says that it’s time to assess the crisis from a rational perspective. He argues that we’re in a much better position to curb climate change than alarmists would have us believe, and that people who bend scientific truth in order to spur environmental action are doing more harm than good.

In this guide, we’ll explain Shellenberger’s argument that environmental alarmists overstate their claims and that there’s ground for hope for our planet’s future. We’ll also look at counter-arguments to Shellenberger’s claims and examine what independent research says about the solutions he suggests. We’ll point to recent developments in industry, agriculture, and the political climate that frame the conversation around climate change.