Future Tense

Why does Utopian thinking get such a bad rap? It’s often derided as delusional and dangerous. But what if that stereotype is designed to limit our imagination and choices? We hear often that people are tired of democracy and turned off by short-term political thinking. So, is it time to be much more adventurous and ambitious – dare we say utopian – in our imagining of the future? GuestsProfessor William Paris – Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto Professor Barbara Prainsack – Professor for Comparative Policy Analysis, University of Vienna Professor Anna Abraham – Director of the Torrance Centre for Creativity and Talent Development

Privatising public services like trains, hospitals or prisons — is a proven vote loser. But governments of both the left and right continue to privatise — when it suits them. And it suits them, it seems, when large sums of money are needed to pay down debt, or when a government seeks to off load risk and liability to the private sector. So, what conditions should be applied to ensure that privatisations truly serve the public interest and don't simply decrease competition?GuestsOwen Hayford — Strategic legal and commercial adviser, InfralegalNino Bucci — Justice and Courts Reporter, The GuardianRichard Denniss — economist and public policy commentatorProfessor Graeme Samuel — Monash University Business SchoolBenjamin Goodair – Senior post-doctoral researcher, Oxford Universty

Authoritarians rule through fear. We can clearly see that from China to the Middle East to eastern Europe. But why do we constantly overlook the way in which fear also shapes democratic societies? It's fueling populism and distorting our future focus. Then there's anger. It's inspired generations to man the barricades and right society's wrongs. But anger is increasingly becoming a driver of commerce. There's billions to be made in getting you riled up and keeping you that way. Fear fuels anger, and anger blinds you to recognise that your fear might be misguided. A truly vicious cycle.GuestsErika Ferszt – Owner, founder and lead-consultant, Scintillate Brand ConsultingProfessor Jennifer Lerner – Public Policy, Management and Decision Science, Harvard UniversityProfessor Robert Peckham – historian and Fellow at the Royal Historical Society, LondonMargot Faraci – Global leadership expertFurther informationRobert Peckham – Fear: An Alternative History of the World Margot Faraci - Love Leadership Survey

Algorithmic feeds are meant to personalise our online experiences, but increasingly they're flattening our culture and fostering a dull conformity, according to best-selling author Kyle Chayka. And the influence they exert on our lives is increasingly physical not just digital. Also, data scientist Gloria Mark who has crunched the numbers on how our attention spans have fared over the past decade or so. If you can keep focused, you might find it fascinating.GuestsProfessor Gloria Mark – data scientist and psychologist, Department of Informatics, University of California, IrvineKyle Chayka – author and contributing writer for The New YorkerFurther informationGloria Mark - Attention Span: A Ground Breaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity Kyle Chayka – Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture

In our uber-connected world, the development and management of really anything is becoming increasingly complex. Planning for the future has to involve more than just grand ambitions, it also needs to be alert to unintended consequences. Otherwise things you didn't even dream about will go wrong and that can prove enormously costly. Part of the solution is to think past the immediate and adopt a systematic approach to thinking.GuestsDr Edward Crawley – Ford Professor of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Dr Isabel Sebastian – Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology SydneyGavin Maguire – Global Energy Transition Columnist, Reuters NewsNicola Twilley – Writer and podcaster, author of the forthcoming book "The Birth of Cool"

Nostalgia triggers our emotions and that in turn makes us vulnerable to manipulation. We speak with Richard King about the commodification and weaponisation of nostalgic sentiment. Also, New York Times critic-at-large, Jason Farago, on why he believes our cultural age might be the least innovative in half a millennium.GuestsRichard King – author and criticJason Farago – author, social commentator and critic-at-large, The New York TimesFurther informationRichard’s Griffith Review essay - Nostalgia on demandJason’s NYT essay - Why Culture Has Come to a Standstill

Most people want to eat better. And many of us have embraced the trend toward "natural" foods and conscious eating.We equate "natural" with healthy, nutritious and virtuous, but that can often be way off the mark. New research shows many healthy alternatives are anything but. And our embrace of the term natural is more about expressing identity and morality rather than healthy eating. Empowering people to understand what and how they should eat is what it should be about – and one way to do that is by using a food labelling app.GuestsProfessor Sarah Bridle – Chair in Food, Climate and Society, University of YorkAlan Levinovitz – Associate Professor of Religious Studies, James Madison UniversityLaura Marchese – Researcher, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin UniversityJulie Chapon – Co-founder of the Yuka appLisa – Brisbane-based food-rating app userFurther informationSarah Bridle: Food and Climate Change -- Without the Hot Air, UIT CambridgeClimate Stack Calculator - A free tool to help you add up the climate impact of different food choicesPlay the game: Which of your food choices have the biggest climate impact? Take A Bite Out of Climate – resources and games to learn how food choices contribute to climate change BBC Future – Foodprint Calculator

Methane levels are going up — not down, despite decades spent trying to reduce emissions from agriculture and landfill. But some countries are bucking the trend, we find out who and how.Breeding sheep and cattle to burp less is one way to reduce methane emissions. ABC Top 5 Science Residency recipient Luisa Olmo talks us through a genetic selection programme that could lead the way forward.GuestsDr Ed Clayton – Ruminant nutritionist, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentProfessor Sam Clark – Professor of Animal Genetics, University of New EnglandDr Pep Canadell – Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO EnvironmentProducerDr Luisa Olmo — Research Officer, Meat Science and Value Chains, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

The design of your city contributes to how much rain you get. Researchers have found a 'wet island effect' and it's likely to shape the future construction of our cities. Also, better understanding how Artificial Intelligence is used in conflict; and the major Australian study that calls into question the effectiveness of carbon trading.GuestsDr Megan Evans – Senior Lecturer, Public Sector Management, UNSW CanberraProfessor Dev Niyogi – Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at AustinProfessor Toni Erskine – International Politics, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University, ANUFurther informationStatement from the Clean Energy Regulator

Military spending around the world has reached a new peak, and it's still going up. All eyes are on Ukraine and the Middle East as new strategies and weapons are being put to the test. But are the traditional international rules of warfare too focussed on old technologies? Can they be adjusted to encompass cyber hacking and the use of online civilian proxies?GuestsProfessor Johanna Weaver – Director of the Tech Policy design Centre, Australian National University, ANUProfessor Alexander Hill – Military Historian, University of CalgaryDr Nan Tian – Senior Researcher and Programme Director, SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, SIPRIDr Jack Watling – Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare, Royal United Services Institute (UK)Further informationGlobal Roaming - THE NEW FRONTLINES 01: Welcome to the future of war

Sometimes, despite the hype, despite extensive funding, and despite clever and ingenious thinking, good ideas fail. Or at least don’t live up to their initial promise. There are lessons to be learnt and interesting anecdotes to be told. In this episode we look at four future-focused projects that have never really taken off: Google Glass, solar roads, space tourism and hyperloop technology. GuestsDr Paul Sutter – Astrophysicist, SUNY Stony Brook and the Flatiron Institute, New York Sarah Marquart – freelance journalist, editor of From Quarks to QuasarsAndrew Hawkins – Transportation editor, The Verge Quinn Myers – Chicago-based journalist and author 'Google Glass'

The UN General Assembly has passed a Declaration on Future Generations. It’s designed to ensure the generations of tomorrow aren’t disadvantaged by the decisions we make today. But is it more than feel good symbolism? Could it one day be as powerful as the Declaration on Human Rights? Also, how a focus on the here and now restricts visionary thinking; and we get the results from the latest 4-day work week trial, this time in Germany. GuestsProfessor Thomas Hale – Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University Professor Brett Bowden – Professor of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, School of Humanities & Communication Arts, Western Sydney University Professor Julia Backmann – University of MünsterFurther information University of Münster - Germany’s four-day working week trialBlavatnik School of Government - Implementing a Declaration on Future GenerationsBrett Bowden - Now is Not the Time: Inside our Obsession with the Present

Robot vacuum cleaners are so innocuous, many people treat them almost like pets. But they're also potential portals into our private life. Story Lab journalist, Julian Fell, learns how to hack a robot vacuum cleaner and uncovers some disturbing facts about the security of connected household appliances. Also, acts of aggression and abuse committed in virtual reality environments. So-called "metacrimes" may be cyber in nature, but they can feel very real and have physical world consequences.GuestsDr Milind Tiwari – Postdoctoral research fellow, Charles Sturt UniversityDennis Giese – independent security researcherSean Kelly – robot vacuum ownerDaniel Swenson – US-based victim of robot vacuum hackDonald Dansereau – senior lecturer, Australian Centre for Robotics, University of SydneyYong Zhi Lim – former cybersecurity tester, TUV SUDFurther informationABC News - Hackers take control of robot vacuums in multiple cities, yell racial slursABC News - We hacked a robot vacuum — and could watch live through its camera

The heating climate is now recognised as a threat to our inner world – to brain health and rationality. Extreme temperatures not only impact our ability to think and our decision-making they also increase the presence of neurotoxins in the environment. And that can lead to disease and mental degeneration. We speak with the head of the newly formed International Neuro Climate Working Group. Climate anxiety is also caused by changes in our brains. So, is that a blessing or a curse?GuestsClayton Page Aldern – Neuroscientist, author and senior reporter, Grist.Dr Burcin Ikiz – Neuroscientist and Chair of the International Neuro Climate Working GroupProfessor Joshua Carlson – Director of the Cognitive X Affective Behaviour and Integrative Neuroscience Lab, Northern Michigan UniversityFurther informationClayton Aldern - The Weight of Nature.How a Changing Climate Changes Our Minds, Brains and BodiesThe Melting brainJoshua Carlon - The Age of Climate AnxietyClimate change on the brain: Neural correlates of climate anxiety

Rana Sylvatica is an unassuming wood frog with an extraordinary gift. In the depths of winter, it can slow down its metabolism, flood its cells with ice and remain in a state of suspended animation for months. But it's what it might be able to teach us about preserving human organs for transplant that has scientists really excited. Also, the menagerie in an icy test tube — San Diego's Frozen Zoo and the fight to preserve biodiversity.GuestsDr Ken Storey — Professor of Biology and Biochemistry, Carleton University, Canada.Dr Saffron Bryant – Senior lecturer, Department of Physics, RMIT UniversityMarlys Houck – Curator, Frozen Zoo, San Diego Wildlife AllianceDr Justine O’Brien – Manager, Conservation Science,Taronga Conservation Society AustraliaFurther informationYoutube video of a frozen frog thawing

The demand for sex tech is booming. That is, toys and apps that can be used for pleasure, communication or to improve sexual health.Developers are using innovative ways to incorporate AI in a way that is respectful of both consent and the diversity of human desire.But it seems some male developers are intent on weaponising it against women.In this special episode of Future Tense, Stephen Stockwell, explores the power of the emerging technology, its potential benefits and harms, and the need to keep a clear focus on consent.GuestsMadison Griffiths – Melbourne-based writer, artist and producerBryony Cole – host of the Future of Sex PodcastProfessor Alan McKee – pornography researcher and Head of the School of Art, Communication and English, University of SydneyAshley Neale – founder of My Peach AIFurther informationMadison Griffiths - Orifice.ai, and the Arousal of Rejection

It was known as Wolf Warrior diplomacy – a brand of Chinese foreign ministry posturing that was as aggressive as it was unexpected. But has Beijing now changed tack? And if so, why? Also, does the theory of Institutional Amnesia explain why our preparedness for natural disasters is often found wanting?GuestsAssistant Professor Tyler Jost — Political Science, International and Public Affairs, Brown University (US)Dr Sarah Robertson – Research Fellow in sustainability, RMIT UniversityDr Paul Barnes — Senior Research Fellow and emergency and risk management expert, Griffith UniversityDr Alastair Stark – Associate Professor in Public Policy, School of Political Science and International Studies, Queensland UniversityFurther informationFuture Tense - The best response to disasters: centralised strength or community mitigation?Select Committee on Australia's Disaster ResilienceHave China's Wolf Warriors Gone Extinct?

Gone are the grandiose infrastructure projects, replaced by an emphasis on smaller development opportunities. China's Belt and Road initiative has entered its second decade — and it's changing. It now also includes a determined focus on green technology. But is the recalibration a sign of the project's overall success? Or a scaling back because of China's growing economic problems? And what has Beijing learnt about debt-levels and governance?GuestsProfessor Christoph Nedopil – Director of Asia Institute, Griffith UniversityAssociate Professor Chong Ja Ian – Political Science, National University of SingaporeAssociate Professor Jessica Liao – Political Science, North Carolina State University

2024 has been an eventful year for democracies around the world. More than 80 countries, containing over half the world's population, are holding elections this year. It's democracy's mega test. The implications for the future of democracy and world order are profound.GuestsProfessor Nick Bisley – Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe UniversityDr Gorana Grjic – Senior Researcher, Swiss and Euro-Atlantic Security Team, ETH Zürich's Center for Security Studies (CSS)Dr Priya Chako – Associate Professor, International Politics, University of AdelaideDr Raul Sanchez-Urribarri – Senior Lecturer in Crime, Justice and Legal Studies, Department of Social Inquiry, La Trobe University

Could the realities of an aging population and a declining birth rate soon make our obsession with youth a thing of the past? It's not just an equity issue it also has implications for politics and economics, because the citizens and consumers of the future will inevitably be older. So, how do we reframe our perceptions of aging to make the most of a very different future workplace?GuestsAssistant Professor Sven Brodmerkel – Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications, Bond UniversityAssistant Professor Nicole Dalmer — Associate Director of the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, McMaster University (Canada)Avivah Wittenberg-Cox — CEO of the consultancy 20-first — specialising in gender and generational balanceDr Markus Wettstein – Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, Humboldt University of Berlin

Chat GPT pioneer, Sam Altman, reckons democratic countries will need to re-write their social contracts once AI reaches its full potential, such is its power to shape the future. But to quote a famous political aphorism: "he would say that, wouldn't he?" Princeton computer scientist, Arvind Narayanan, joins us to talk about the hype, the reality and the true limits of Artificial Intelligence. His new book is called "AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What it Can't, and How to Tell the Difference". Also, AI's dirty secret – it's a huge consumer of both power and water. And the more popular it becomes, the thirstier it gets.GuestsProfessor Arvind Narayanan – Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton UniversityGordon Nobel – Research Director, Business, Economy and Governance, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology SydneyAssociate Professor Shaolei Ren — Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, RiversideFurther informationNarayanan, Arvind — AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What it Can't, and How to Tell the DifferenceMaking AI Less "Thirsty": Uncovering and Addressing the Secret Water Footprint of AI ModelsIT and Data Centre Sustainability in Australia

Every crisis, they say, presents an opportunity. But history tells us differently. Social philosopher, Roman Krznaric, spells out the vital elements needed to initiate rapid change – and why a better understanding of the way we respond to crises could help in the fight against climate change.GuestsDr Roman Krznaric – Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Oxford UniversityDr Stefan Peters – Senior Lecturer in Geospatial Science, University of South AustraliaFurther informationKrznaric, Roman – History for Tomorrow: inspiration from the Past for the Future of Humanity

Do we underestimate the value of Liberalism? Political philosopher, Alexandre Lefebvre, says liberalism underpins the modern Western world, even if we sometimes struggle to define it. And even when its brand is coopted by party-politics. Rediscovering its pure form, he argues, could be the key to a more tolerant and prosperous future. Also, is the European Union losing its taste for regulation, particularly where big tech is involved? GuestsDr Alexandre Lefebvre – Professor of Politics and Philosophy, University of SydneyLaura Petrone – Analyst, Thematic Intelligence Team, Global DataDr Anabela Malpique – Senior lecturer, Department of Education, Edith Cowen University Further information Alexandre Lefebvre – Liberalism as a Way of Life

In a world where Donald Trump embraces anti free-trade protectionism and "leftish" governments are going heavy on law and order, do the old political labels of Left and Right really make sense? Is it time for a new way of thinking and talking about political difference? And how do ordinary voters actually choose their political positions? Are their decisions based on ideology or simple tribalism?GuestsDr Gregory Millard – Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Kwantlen University, CanadaDr Simon Otjes – Assistant Professor, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University, The NetherlandsDr Verlan Lewis – Stirling Professor of Constitutional Studies, Utah Valley University. Visiting scholar, Center for American Political Studies, Harvard UniversityFurther informationLewis, Verlan – The Myth of Left and Right

The Anthropocene – the idea that we now live in a geological age shaped by human activity — is a controversial topic. It irritates those who reject the whole notion of adverse climate change — and it's also now causing a fight among geologists themselves. So, what's behind the scientific contention?Also, why some argue that textiles are the new "hidden" plastic plague.GuestsDr Erle Ellis – Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of MarylandDr Francine McCarthy – Professor of Earth Studies, Brock University, CanadaDr Rebecca Van Amber – Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University

The night sky is getting brighter by about ten per cent each year — that's the scientific estimate. While new forms of lighting technology can reduce the amount of light pollution, the sheer impact of a global boom in artificial lighting is just too much. It threatens the health of both humans and other animals. Historically, darkness has been seen in a negative social and cultural context, so can we change our attitudes and learn to embrace the dark sky? In other words, see the light about the beauty of darkness!GuestsRuskin Hartley – Executive Director, Dark Sky InternationalDr Paul Bogard – Associate Professor Hamline University (US) and author of The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial LightDr Tim Edensor – Cultural Geographer, Manchester Metropolitan University Further informationDarkSky International: Five principles for responsible outdoor lightingNick Dunn/Tim Edensor - Dark Skies: Places, Practises, Communities

If we're genuinely concerned about the impact livestock can have on our environment, why aren't we equally worried about pets? The pet industry is booming and despite the many positive psychological and emotional benefits of pet ownership, concerns about global pet numbers and environmental sustainability are mounting. So, do we need to rethink how we live with domesticated animals? And how can we strike a balance between our seemingly insatiable desire for fur-babies and their subsequent impact on the natural world and our hip pocket?GuestsDr Jen Gale – Veterinarian and Director of Vet Sustain (UK)Dr Emily Hemendinger – Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of ColoradoDr Andrea Laurent Simpson – Research Assistant Professor, Southern Methodist University; Author of Just Like Family: How Companion Animals Joined the HouseholdDr Andrew Rowan – founder of the Tufts Centre for Animals and Public Policy; President, Wellbeing InternationalDr Belinda Jane Dunstan – Principal Lead, Creative Robotics Lab, University of New South Wales

The rate of technological advancement in sport is unprecedented. From data analytics to robotic umpiring to smart equipment, technologies are reshaping what it means to achieve and compete. Even the International Olympic Committee has now developed an AI strategy. It's also big business with the sport industry conservatively estimated at around one per cent of global GDP.So, when does ingenious innovation become cheating? And if technology pushes us past the point of physical capacity, why bother with human competitors at all?GuestsProfessor Sascha Schmidt – Director of the Centre for Sports and Management, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of ManagementLouis Weston – Barrister and sports lawyer, Outer Temple Chambers, LondonDr John Holash – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, The University of CalgaryRobert Marchiori – CEO Cognizant AustraliaFurther information21st Century Sports. How Technologies Will Change Sports in the Digital AgeInternational Olympic Committee - Olympic AI Agenda

Global media players now dominate the entertainment business and hold the whip-hand when it comes to accessing local news content. In this program we get an update on Meta's ban on Canadian news content, specifically how it's impacted production of serious news and what's been the public reaction. We also get a reality check on just how interested the giant US steaming services are in Australian content.GuestsAengus Bridgman – Director, Media Ecosystem Observatory (Canada)Matthew Deaner – CEO, Screen Producers AssociationProfessor Anna Potter – Digital Media and Cultural Studies, Queensland University of TechnologyFurther informationWhen journalism is turned off: Preliminary findings on the effects of Meta’s news ban in CanadaAustralian Television Drama’s Uncertain Future: How Cultural Policy is Failing Australians

NASA's new telescope will revolutionise the search for non-Earth based life. It's to be called the Habitable Worlds Observatory and will be powerful enough to peer into the atmosphere of planets outside of our solar system.But if, or when, we do find evidence of a life form beyond our solar system what do we do next? And who should decide whether or even how we make contact? A new research hub at the University of Andrews is among those drawing up a plan.GuestsDr Megan Ansdell – Program Manager, Habitable Worlds Observatory, NASAProfessor Adam Frank – Astrobiologist and astrophysicist, University of Rochester, New YorkDr John Elliott – Computational linguist and Coordinator of the SETI Post Detection Hub, University of St AndrewsProfessor Ian Roberts — Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, University of Cambridge

While technology platforms increasingly dictate the way we write and converse, language is being modified to fight back, to subvert the platforms. In this show we examine the growth of "algospeak".And if you want to know how we'll all be communicating in the future, just listen to the way teenage girls speak, because young women lead the ongoing development of language.GuestsDr James Cohen – Assistant Professor, Media Studies, Queens College, City University of New YorkDr Sali Tagliamonte – Professor of linguistics and Chair of the Department of Linguistics, University of TorontoPhilip Seargeant – Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, Open University UKFurther informationPhilip Seargeant's book "The Future Of Language"

It's time to rethink what we mean by productivity, says work futurist, Dominic Price. What's important isn't output, but outcomes. And confusing the two, he says, is simply counter-productive! Also, benefit corporations — why many businesses are moving away from an obsession with profit at all cost; And why a compulsory savings model could help control inflation without raising interest rates.Original broadcast on August 20, 2023GuestsEd Chambliss – founder and CEO, Best Friend BrandsLachlan Kerwood-McCall – Economist, Australian National UniversityJessica Lynd – Attorney and Senior Associate, International Trade Group, White and CaseDominic Price – Work Futurist, Atlassian

When a company CEO can be paid 1,000 times the average employee's salary it's probably time to take a long hard look at wealth inequality. And those calling for the rich to pay more aren't always the ones you'd expect – Patriotic Millionaires is a group of mega rich individuals demanding greater, not lesser taxation. Then there's the Dutch philosopher urging ordinary citizens to put a cap on their own personal wealth. She calls her approach Limitarianism. Also, Rewilding the Internet – how to purify an online environment made toxic by monopolistic capitalism.GuestsDr Ingrid Robeyns – author, philosopher and Chair in Ethics of Institutions, Ethics Institute, Utrecht University (The Netherlands)Robert Guest – Deputy Editor, The EconomistMorris Pearl – Chair of the Board, The Patriotic MillionairesProfessor Jean-Etienne Joullie — EMLV Business School, ParisMaria Farrell – Writer and keynote speaker on technology and the futureFurther informationIngrid Robeyns: Limitarianism, The Case Against Extreme WealthRobert Guest: The fallacious case for abolishing the richMaria Farrell: We need to rewild the InternetListen to Future Tense - Managerialism and our obsession with hierarchy

They've just unveiled the world's largest air purifier in Iceland. Christened "Mammoth" the machine can filter up to 36,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere every year. It's the biggest carbon capture device ever built – but is it mammoth enough? And do the economics stack up?Other scientists are using microbes to speed the process of mineralisation, the turning of CO2 into rock.And all the while the search for alternative energy sources continues with an Icelandic company even getting ready to drill down into an underground magma chamber to try and tap its thermal potential.Dr Rudy Kahsar – Manager, Carbon Dioxide Removal Team, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)Dr Gokce Ustunisik – Associate Professor of Petrology, South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyBjorn por Gudmundsson – Chief Executive Officer, Krafla Magma TestbedDr Jess Adkins – Professor of Geochemistry and Global Environmental Science, California Institute of Technology

Exploring new ideas, new AI isn't magic, but many of us are accustomed to thinking and talking about it as if it was. It can't solve every problem and its application can sometimes make matters worse. To make the most of Artificial Intelligence we should follow the dictum often used by data scientists – garbage in, garbage out. In other words, AI is only as good as the person who deploys it. In this episode we explore several cautionary examples.GuestsDr Guillaume Desjardins – Associate Professor, Industrial Relations, Université du Québec en OutaouaisDr Magdalena Soffia – Lead author, Workplace AI study, Institute for Work, UKVirginie Simoneau-Gillbert – Researcher, Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of OxfordDr Wellett Potter – Lecturer in Law, University of New EnglandFurther informationBriefing Paper: What impact does exposure to workplace technologies have on workers' quality of life? - IFOW The Dangers of AI farming (animals)approaches, new technologies — the edge of change.

Australia's disaster response procedures are under review. The new reality requires us to deal with multiple natural disasters simultaneously — to tackle polycrises. While some suggest a more centralised approach, others are calling for something very different — a greater focus on strengthening local community resilience and prioritising mitigation over clean-up. The climate clock is ticking, so which direction promises the greatest return?GuestsDr Paul Barnes – Senior Research Fellow and emergency and risk management expert, Griffith UniversityRebecca McNaught – Research Fellow, University Centre for Rural Health, Lismore, NSWMark Duckworth – Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies, Deakin UniversityProfessor Mehmet Ulubasoglu – Director of the Centre for Energy, the Environment and Natural Disasters, Deakin UniversityListen to Future Tense — Designing buildings for disasters

Across the globe single household occupancy is skyrocketing. In some Western cities "singletons" make up almost fifty per cent. But it's a trend that's largely slipped under the radar. Policy makers are yet to catch up with the new social reality. The growing cohort has significant economic potential, but they continue to face stereotyping and discrimination.

Globally, around 300 million people consider themselves "influencers" or professional content creators. In the United States alone the number is approximately 13 million – that's roughly the same size of the US manufacturing sector. It's a precarious profession and the reasons for choosing to become an influencer are many and varied. So, what does their rise tell us about the modern workforce? Also, building islands to create offshore energy hubs; and a warning about the dangers of normalising the abnormal.

Many of us take actions to improve the environment and make for a better planet. But in a consumerist world where status is all, it can be hard to avoid making choices that negate your original intentions and send you back to square one. It happens in everyday life when picking a car or building a new house. And it happens on a large scale. For example where mass tree-planting occurs in habitats that were never meant to be forested. Shouldn't we know better?

Insecure housing has long-term effects on both individuals and communities, it's impacting the social fabric of countries around the world. Corporations buying up housing stocks are further adding to the pressure. In rich and poor countries alike the cost of housing is outstripping growth in incomes. As a result, more than 100 million people have been made homeless, according to the UN. While more than 1.6 billion lack adequate housing and essential services. We also explore some possible solutions. But the big question mark hanging over the future of the sector remains political will.

For more than a decade serious news organisatons, including public broadcasters, have increasingly relied on social media and other third-party digital distribution platforms to reach audiences. But now the big tech platforms are no longer interested in traditional news. So, can public interest journalism survive without the online networks they let cannibalise their content? How can serious news outlets avoid slipping into obscurity? And what impact would such a decline have on our culture and democracy?

It's estimated that by 2030 more than 100 thousand satellites are likely to be buzzing around in low-Earth orbit – and the implications of that for our dark skies is potentially significant. We hear from the Executive Director of the non-profit network DarkSky International. Also, is our environmental future written in the past? Paleo-conservation could be the answer to how we adapt to the adverse effects of climate change; and in Stockholm, engineers and builders are hard at work creating an entire city district in wood – from apartments to office towers. So, what's the advantage to building in timber?

The world's largest Universal Basic Income trial is currently underway in Kenya. It involves 295 villages and more than 20,000 families. The trial has just reached the two-year mark and Nobel-Prize winning economist, Abhijit Banerjee, joins us to talk about its progress – both economic and social. Also, why it's counterproductive to talk about "screentime" and people being "addicted" to their phones; and speech writer, Lucinda Holdforth, who worries that we've supplanted old fashioned values that emphasised community responsibility with a new array of virtues that are all about personal wants and a focus on self.

Most people want to eat better. And many of us have embraced the trend toward "natural" foods and conscious eating. We equate "natural" with healthy, nutritious and virtuous, but that can often be way off the mark. New research shows many healthy alternatives are anything but. And our embrace of the term natural is more about expressing identity and morality rather than healthy eating. Empowering people to understand what and how they should eat is what it should be about – and one way to do that is by using a food labelling app.

Why do otherwise sensible people continue to do things that are bad for them, that impact negatively on their personal future? Also, what happens in the brain when you're trying to make or break a habit? Temptation, addiction and habit formation – mapping the pathways to self-destruction and how to navigate a better course.

Authoritarians rule through fear. We can clearly see that from China to the Middle East to eastern Europe. But why do we constantly overlook the way in which fear also shapes democratic societies? It's fuelling populism and distorting our future focus. Then there's anger. It's inspired generations to man the barricades and right society's wrongs. But anger is increasingly becoming a driver of commerce. There's billions to be made in getting you riled up and keeping you that way. Fear fuels anger, and anger blinds you to recognise that your fear might be misguided. A truly vicious cycle.

Algorithmic feeds are meant to personalise our online experiences, but increasingly they're flattening our culture and fostering a dull conformity, according to best-selling author Kyle Chayka. And the influence they exert on our lives is increasingly physical not just digital. Also, data scientist Gloria Mark who has crunched the numbers on how our attention spans have fared over the past decade or so. If you can keep focused, you might find it fascinating.

Nostalgia triggers our emotions and that in turn makes us vulnerable to manipulation. We speak with RICHARD KING about the commodification and weaponisation of nostalgic sentiment. Also, New York Times critic-at-large, Jason Farago, on why he believes our cultural age might be the least innovative in half a millennium.

Social cohesion is under strain. The result, researchers say, of economic, political and work-based pressures. At the same time levels of volunteering are falling and people are showing far less willingness to take part in community-based activities. Some even fear our "cultural evolution" has been disrupted. That is, the process by which our interactions shape future cultural norms. It's complicated.

Fans are spending thousands of dollars a month to support their favourite streamers on TikTok Live, but most of the money is going to TikTok itself.