Occam's Laser

If the Universe is so vast, then where are all the aliens? We run through the implications of this idea, named after Enrico Fermi. Before that, we look at the case to be made for visiting the outer planets of the solar system which don't get as much love as Mars et al. Links: The Fermi paradox: https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html The Case for Visiting the Outer Planets https://onezero.medium.com/the-case-for-visiting-the-outer-planets-d74b6e68452f Twitter: @occamslaserpod Instagram: @occamslaserpod Intro music: Triplecee – Funcky

On the back of the European elections, we discuss the European Union from the perspective of its influence on research. We look at whether nuclear power is a viable option when it comes to ditching coal and other fossil fuels. And lastly, is Murphy the most popular surname in Ireland because of cosmic rays? (Hint: No.) Twitter: @occamslaserpod Instagram: @occamslaserpod Intro music: Triplecee – Funcky Links: Exploding stars led to humans walking on two legs, radical study suggests: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/may/28/exploding-stars-led-humans-walking-on-two-legs-study

We discuss beekeeping in detail with apriast and friend, Joe Bonfield. We get into the practical details about keeping bees, and talk about how climate change is impacting insect populations. Is eating insects a viable way of cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions from farming? Twitter: @occamslaserpod Instagram: @occamslaserpod Intro music: Triplecee – Funcky

In this episode, we discuss the recent study published in Nature, where scientists restored some cellular functions in the brains of pigs hours after they were disembodied. Neat! Also, why are some animals bigger than others? As animals scale, different physical effects dominate. We pick apart the reasons that some animals evolve to be large, while others find it beneficial to stay small. Intro music: Triplecee – Funcky Follow us: Twitter: twitter.com/occamslaserpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/occamslaserpod Links: Pig brains kept alive outside body for hours after death: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01216-4 Disembodied pig brains revived: Your questions answered: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01289-1 Pig experiment challenges assumptions around brain damage in people: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01169-8. Part-revived pig brains raise slew of ethical quandaries: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01168-9 What Happens If We Throw an Elephant From a Skyscraper? Life & Size 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7KSfjv4Oq0 How to Make an Elephant Explode – The Size of Life 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUWUHf-rzks

In this episode, we discuss the physics and mechanisms regarding recent news that Event Horizon Telescope has produced an image of the supermassive black hole at the centre of M87, the first ever image of a black hole! We talk about the topic of chess computational engines and their progress over the years. Are chess engines any good?!... Yes, yes they are. Intro music: Triplecee – Funcky Follow us: Twitter: twitter.com/occamslaserpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/occamslaserpod Soundcloud: @podcastoccamslaser

In this episode, we discuss the idea of a teletransporter, as used in Star Trek and The Prestige. This idea was popularised by philosopher Derek Parfit and discussed in the work of Douglas Hofstadter. Intro music: Triplecee – Funcky Follow us: Twitter: twitter.com/occamslaserpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/occamslaserpod Soundcloud: @podcastoccamslaser

In this episode, we discuss the docking of the SpaceX Dragon capsule with the International Space Station and what it means for the space industry. We also take a wider look at how private companies are shaping the Space Race of our generation. Intro music: Triplecee – Funcky Follow us: Twitter: twitter.com/occamslaserpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/occamslaserpod Soundcloud: @podcastoccamslaser

In this episode we speak to astrophysicist Dr Laura Hayes, who is working at NASA Goddard. We cover topics from cows to gene editing. Links: Gene edited babies: www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-46368731 Intro music: Triplecee – Funcky Follow us: Twitter: twitter.com/occamslaserpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/occamslaserpod Soundcloud: @podcastoccamslaser