The Future of Everything

Fungi are “nature’s biological recycling machines,” says guest Vayu Hill-Maini, a former chef turned bioengineer. That is, they take waste and turn it into good things. Hill-Maini now melds his scientific and culinary skills to create new foods, but also medicines, faux leather, pigments and other valuable products from mushrooms and molds. He uses CRISPR gene editing technology to “domesticate” these fungi – removing off-flavors and increasing nutritional content to make new-age cheeses, burgers, salami, and more. “We call it the DBTL cycle – design, build, taste, learn,” Hill-Maini tells host Russ Altman about his creative process on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Vayu Hill-Maini, a professor of bioengineering at Stanford University.

(00:03:33) From Chef to Bioengineer

How Hill-Maini’s culinary background led him to study food through science.

(00:05:23) Building a Lab with a Kitchen

Why his Stanford lab combines bioengineering research with culinary experimentation.

(00:07:32) What Are Fungi?

A primer on yeasts, molds, mushrooms, and their role in food and medicine.

(00:10:22) Domesticating Fungi

How humans have shaped fungi over thousands of years.

(00:14:23) Mushrooms as a Food Source

The nutrients, proteins, vitamins, and beneficial molecules found in fungi.

(00:16:21) Fungi as Biological Recyclers

Using fungi to turn food waste, agricultural waste, and other materials into useful products.

(00:18:22) Making Waste-Based Foods Desirable

Why taste, emotion, and culinary design matter for sustainable foods.

(00:20:22) Engineering Delicious Fungi

Using genetics and CRISPR to improve flavor, nutrition, and usability.

(00:22:50) Gentle Genetic Tweaks

Making small changes to reduce off-flavors or enhance useful traits.

(00:23:46) Design, Build, Taste, Learn

How the lab moves between kitchen and bench science to improve foods.

(00:24:06) Chefs in the Lab

How culinary collaborators help guide research and creativity.

(00:28:58) Fungi-Based Materials

The potential to create textiles, leather alternatives, and building materials.

(00:31:03) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: sustainability, students, and the promise of fungi.

(00:33:25) Conclusion

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In the dotcom era, communication professor Angèle Christin embedded herself in newsrooms, where she witnessed how audience metrics tilted journalism toward viral content over in-depth reporting. Christin now researches the influencer economy and how content creators monetize their production by any of three means – brand sponsorships, engagement-based payments from social media platforms, and direct-to-audience subscriptions, donations, or sales. She says this engagement-based ecosystem steers communication toward what captures attention, not always what best informs. To improve our reeling national dialogue, we must first change the financial model of social media content, Christin tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Angèle Christin, a professor of sociology at Stanford University.

(00:02:28) From Journalism to Social Media

How Angèle’s research moved from journalism to influencers.

(00:03:23) Journalism’s Digital Disruption

How platforms and advertising shifts changed the news industry.

(00:06:16) Metrics in Newsrooms

Why journalists began tracking clicks, traffic, and audience behavior.

(00:09:01) Redefining Success

The tension between editorial quality and online popularity.

(00:14:08) Unbundling Media

How digital platforms changed the way audiences consume news.

(00:15:29) The Pull of Virality

Why going viral can be both rewarding and distorting.

(00:16:22) The Creator Economy

How influencers emerged as a new media ecosystem.

(00:19:09) Studying Influencers Online

How Christin researched creators during the pandemic.

(00:23:59) The Passion Principle

Why many creators begin by sharing expertise or personal experience.

(00:25:44) Influencer Revenue Models

The three main ways creators make money online, and the pitfalls of each model 

(00:33:59) Rethinking Monetization

The case for subscriptions, donations, and direct support.

(00:35:09) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: incentives, social media, and research.

(00:36:23) Conclusion

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Earlier this year, we got to witness the incredible launch and return of Artemis II, a NASA mission meant to lay the groundwork for a future lunar landing. Among the many accomplishments of the Artemis II mission, the crew successfully gathered real-time observations of the Moon that will contribute to our increased understanding of the cosmos. If you were inspired the same way we were, we thought it would be an opportune time to re-share an episode we recorded with astrophysicist Risa Wechsler on the future of the universe. We hope you’ll take another listen and that this episode will help you tap into more of that wonder the Artemis II crew sparked.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Risa Wechsler, a professor of astrophysics from Stanford University.

(00:01:30) Big Questions About the Universe

What the universe is made of, how it evolved, and how galaxies formed.

(00:02:15) Mapping the Universe

New surveys and telescopes enabling more detailed cosmic maps.

(00:04:22) What Is a “Map” of the Universe?

2D images, 3D structure, and looking back in time through light.

(00:05:48) Spectroscopy & Redshift

How astronomers measure distance and motion using light.

(00:08:41) Our Place in the Universe

Why there is no clear center or edge in the observable universe.

(00:10:54) A Clumpy Universe

How small early fluctuations led to galaxies and large-scale structure.

(00:12:06) How Galaxies Form

The role of dark matter and gas in building galaxies over time.

(00:14:35) Types of Galaxies

Why galaxies vary in size, structure, and environment.

(00:17:06) Gravity Across Scales

How the same laws govern everything from planets to galaxies.

(00:19:02) What Is the Universe Made Of?

The invisible matter shaping galaxies and cosmic structure.

(00:22:03) Using Maps to Study the Unknown

How large-scale surveys reveal dark matter and energy effects.

(00:24:43) The Milky Way as a Laboratory

Studying nearby galaxies to understand fundamental physics.

(00:26:48) Diversity in Galaxy Formation

How different histories shape galaxies.

(00:28:02) Reading Cosmic History

Using observations to reconstruct galaxy evolution.

(00:28:50) Observing Nearby Galaxies

Why distance matters for studying full galactic systems.

(00:29:17) Conclusion

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Michael Jewett is a pioneer of cell-free biotechnology. Instead of using living microbes as factories, he uses their internal molecular machinery to make valuable proteins, medicines, diagnostics, and other chemicals. Jewett recently used the technique for vaccine production in an approach that could produce up to 150,000 doses from one liter. He believes cell-free biotech could democratize the production of essential medicines, improve water safety, and help convert atmospheric carbon into useful products, among other promising possibilities. “It’s just-add-water biotechnology,” Jewett tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces Mike Jewett, a professor of bioengineering and chemical engineering at Stanford University.

(00:03:23) What Is Cell-Free Biotechnology?

Using the internal machinery of cells without the cells themselves.

(00:04:20) Removing “Evolutionary Baggage”

Why cells’ natural priorities can conflict with engineering goals.

(00:07:41) Advantages of Cell-Free Systems

From large-scale production to decentralized, on-demand manufacturing.

(00:11:40) Making Proteins Outside Cells

How DNA instructions are used to produce functional proteins.

(00:13:49) Biosensors for Water Safety

Detecting contaminants like lead using engineered proteins.

(00:17:05) Engineering Better Sensors

Improving sensitivity and selectivity through protein design.

(00:20:33) AI in Bioengineering

How data and models accelerate discovery and design.

(00:23:22) Sustainability & Carbon Capture

Turning atmospheric carbon into useful chemicals.

(00:26:18) Building New Biological Pathways

Combining chemistry and biology to create novel production systems.

(00:27:54) From Molecules to Materials

How acetyl-CoA enables fuels, plastics, and other products.

(00:30:51) Teaching Biotechnology

Making biotech accessible through hands-on, “just-add-water” kits.

(00:33:12) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: innovation, collaboration, and the future of biotech.

(00:35:32) Conclusion

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Education researcher Susanna Loeb studies the broad spectrum of learning experience, including ways to recruit and retain expert teachers, how to optimize classrooms, and the impact of technology on learning. She says pandemic-inspired innovations in tutoring have led to greater student engagement and improved learning outcomes. And on the growing influence of AI in education, Loeb counts herself an optimist. She sees it as a tool for good, enhancing personalized learning and supporting teachers. These innovations that didn’t exist a few years ago stand to help students to thrive, Loeb tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Susanna Loeb, a professor of education at Stanford University.

(00:02:58) Path into Education

Susanna’s journey from engineering to education and her focus on impact at scale.

(00:04:41) The Field of Learning Science

The different approaches and challenges in education and its research.

(00:07:06) Tutoring After the Pandemic

How COVID exposed learning gaps and accelerated interest in tutoring.

(00:10:14) What Makes Tutoring Effective

The different factors that go into making tutoring effective.

(00:12:16) Spreading Proven Practices

Using proof points and partnerships to drive adoption across districts.

(00:14:00) Building Education Networks

The importance of trusted relationships and communication channels.

(00:14:50) AI in the Classroom

How schools are beginning to adopt AI tools and respond to demand.

(00:16:00) AI & Education

How teachers are leading AI adoption, with limited direct student use.

(00:19:37) A Framework for Using AI

The focus on improving student experiences and personalized learning.

(00:21:23) Studying AI in Real Time

Challenges of evaluating fast-changing tools and the need for rapid testing.

(00:23:22) Partnering with AI Companies

Collaborating with industry to test tools like ChatGPT in schools.

(00:25:26) AI & Tutoring

Blending human tutors with AI support to improve outcomes.

(00:27:22) The Limits of AI Tutors

Why human motivation and relationships remain essential.

(00:28:54) The Future of Education Systems

Balancing innovation with equitable access and student engagement.

(00:30:51) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: optimism, scaling education, and collaboration.

(00:32:54) Conclusion

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