Science & Technology

The future is in good hands with these innovators, and these stories of inventions, technology, and scientific ingenuity are changing not only the way we see the world, but also the world itself.

5 min read

Image: The tide rolling in on a beach from above.

Using the Moon to Power our Cities with Tidal Power

What if the moon could be our next renewable energy source? Okay, maybe not the moon itself, but a force that it’s controlled since the first oceans covered our planet: the tides. More consistent and constant than wind or solar, this energy source could be the next leap in renewable energy.

NASA’s Message to Alien Life Celebrates the Best of Humanity

Did you know that back in 1977, NASA launched a time capsule into outer space? This historic message in a bottle is called the Golden Record, and it is a feast for the eyes, ears, mind, and soul. Let’s discover how scientists described humanity to extraterrestrial life forms, and see if it still holds up today!

How to Invent Yourself with Innovative Thinking with Ann Makosinski

Ann Makosinski is our youngest guest in Happy[ness] Hour history but don’t let that fool you her accomplishments are much greater than your average 23 year old. Ann is an inventor, writer, global keynote speaker, and CEO of her own company! A person with aspirations this high who is able to achieve so much at a young age is someone we can all learn something from. She will show us the power of innovative thinking. How it has changed her life and how it has the potential to change all of ours.

Image: One of the mushroom slabs that is cut to create mushroom bacon.

Mushrooms Could Start Replacing Leather, Bacon, and Styrofoam in the Next 5 Years

Have you ever tasted bacon made of fungi? Received a package cushioned by mushrooms? My guess is not yet… but probably soon! New York-based company Ecovative has created an alternative to plastic, which can save water, time, money, and the planet, too!

Image: Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols, whose work on the show grew to a diversity campaign within NASA

Boldly Going Where No Black Woman Had Gone Before: How Star Trek Changed NASA

Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura) changed far more than the television game. As one of the only black women on the small screen at the time and with words of encouragement from Martin Luther King Jr., this champion for diversity changed not only the history of science fiction, but the history of space exploration. Her work became undeniable proof that if you can see it, you can be it.

Image: Two boys dressed as their favorite superheroes.

This App Lets Kids With Hearing Loss Enjoy Movies

This caring high school senior is improving accessibility for youngsters with hearing loss by creating an app that translates Disney movies into sign language.

Image: The Green Bank Observatory Telescope in the town with no WiFi

The Town with No Wi-Fi: Connecting With Others By Leaving Your Phone Behind

How could it be that a town with no Wi-Fi is more connected than the rest of us? Join us on a trip to West Virginia, where this tiny town is thriving without technology.

Are Automatons the Ancestors of Google? How Finding Inspiration in the Past Improves the Future

What can we learn from a mechanical humanoid that mesmerized people hundreds of years ago? Let’s see what the future can gain from peering into the past, at phenomenons known as automata.

55 min listen

Kindness Koin$: Harnessing Technology to Advance Humanity with Bert Pope (Episode #59)

Today's guest on the Conspiracy of Goodness Podcast is Bert Pope, a widower raising 4 kids and the Creator and CEO of the Awesome Company, took the world by storm when he decided to make a social network for the good of mankind.

The Magical Music of Trees: Artist Transforms Biology Into Song

Yes, trees sing! A special technology lets you hear this magical song. An artist is harnessing this technology to connect people with nature in an ethereal concert, increasing respect and awareness for majestic trees.

50 min listen

Is Happiness Just for Humans? Why Machines Should Love with Mo Gawdat (Episode #56)

Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google X, tells us that we can teach machines to work with remarkable Happiness, Love, and Compassion! And here’s why that could be really good news: Mo describes a possible future where Artificial Intelligence can amplify these three impulses a billion times over! In this episode, he shares with us exactly how to get there.

World’s First Underwater Farm is Growing Fruits and Vegetables

Nemo's Garden is not your typical farm. That's because this unique agricultural enterprise is located under the sea just off the coast of Italy. And the unique biosphere is teaching us tons about the future of sustainable agriculture.

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