The Future of Everything

Live from the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute 2026 Symposium, and in partnership with the institute’s podcast From Our Neurons to Yours, host Russ Altman talks with brain development researchers Karen Parker and Jason Yeatman. Parker studies autism at the molecular level, translating those findings to clinical trials. Yeatman studies dyslexia, deploying assessment tools to 1.2 million students at nearly 3,000 schools. While their individual work is different in approach, the conversation sheds light on the similar obstacles both face in turning scientific discovery into real-world impact. Their mutual takeaway is that scientific breakthroughs are increasingly the work of diverse teams, not lone investigators. “The magic happens at the interdisciplinary boundaries,” Parker tells 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] Reference Links:Learn more about Karen & Jason's work lab: Parker Lab | Yeatman LabListen to Jason’s Episode: The Future of Learning to ReadYou can also listen to this episode on the podcast, From Our Neurons to Yours. We created this show in collaboration with their team.Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guests Karen Parker, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and comparative medicine, and Jason Yeatman, a professor of pediatrics and education at Stanford University.(00:03:25) Connecting Molecules to BehaviorHow interdisciplinary teams can connect biology, behavior, and clinical outcomes.(00:04:36) From Research to EducationWhy education lacks the research-to-practice infrastructure found in medicine.(00:06:09) Testing What Works in SchoolsThe challenges of bringing stronger scientific evidence into education.(00:08:12) Bridging Neuroscience and PsychologyWhy better infrastructure is needed to connect brain science and psychology.(00:10:05) Building Better CollaborationsHow competing incentives can complicate interdisciplinary partnerships.(00:11:51) Training Scientists to CollaborateWhy academic incentives can make collaboration harder for early-career researchers.(00:13:34) Working Across DisciplinesHow different specialties can work together to study brain development.(00:14:07) Partnering with SchoolsWhy successful school partnerships start with addressing real needs.(00:15:51) Research That Matters in PracticeHow school partnerships can shape more relevant scientific questions.(00:18:22) Building Research NetworksThe challenge of connecting schools and districts through shared research infrastructure.(00:19:26) Studying Brain Development in ChildrenThe challenges of studying developing brains, especially in children with neurodivergence.(00:21:24) Building Long-Term Research CohortsHow registries and school networks can accelerate developmental research.(00:23:05) Longitudinal Data at ScaleHow large school datasets can support long-term research on development.(00:24:20) AI in Brain and Education ResearchHow AI could accelerate research while creating new risks.(00:27:44) Future In a MinuteRapid-fire Q&A: research infrastructure, interdisciplinary science, and learning.(00:29:51) Conclusion  Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In her research, Madalina Vlasceanu explores the psychology of sustainability. She’s keenly interested in how people form beliefs and what motivates them to action. Her research shows that the erosion of institutional trust is an intentional tactic and that climate polarization is manufactured by fossil fuel interests to drive disengagement. Vlasceanu offers evidence-based recommendations for turning despair into action. Concern for future generations is an effective strategy for generating policy support, she says, while restoring trust in institutions is key to action. Climate change is a collective problem and we must address it collectively, Vlasceanu 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] Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Madalina VlasceanuConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guest Madalina Vlasceanu, a professor of environmental social science and organizational behavior at Stanford University.(00:01:50) Studying Climate BeliefsHow Vlasceanu moved from memory research to studying misinformation, belief formation, and climate action.(00:03:33) Climate Misinformation and DisinformationThe large amount of false information shared both unintentionally and deliberately to mislead.(00:05:35) The Polarization of Climate BeliefsHow climate change shifted from a relatively nonpartisan issue to one strongly shaped by political identity and elite influence.(00:08:28) How Groups Shape BeliefsWhy people form beliefs not only through evidence and reasoning, but also through social cues, identity, and the desire to belong.(00:10:02) Individual vs. Collective Climate ActionHow climate solutions range from personal lifestyle changes to collective action and system-level change.(00:11:25) Misjudging Climate ImpactWhy people tend to overestimate low-impact actions like recycling and underestimate higher-impact choices.(00:14:15) Correcting Climate MisperceptionsHow simple information can help people better understand which climate actions have the greatest impact.(00:15:51) Prediction and LearningWhy prediction errors can strengthen learning, memory, and belief updating.(00:16:25) Algorithms, AI, and Climate BeliefsHow online systems can amplify misinformation and existing biases—and how better policy could potentially redirect them.(00:18:13) AI’s Climate ImpactHow AI affects the climate not only through data centers, but also by increasing efficiency across existing energy industries.(00:21:42) Collective Action’s ImpactThe difficulty of quantifying the impact and the power of collective action(00:24:41) Motivating Civic EngagementHow contacting representatives, voting, joining organizations, and participating locally can influence climate policy.(00:26:38) What Motivates Climate Action?Large-scale studies compare interventions to identify which psychological strategies work best.(00:31:07) Extreme Weather and Climate BeliefsWhy experiencing a natural disaster does not necessarily change climate beliefs unless people connect the event to climate change.(00:33:27) Future In a MinuteRapid-fire Q&A: collective action, democracy, and hope for the future.(00:34:57) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York Fashion Week wrapped up last month, but the questions it raises don't go away once the runways come down: why do clothes carry so much meaning, and who really gets to decide what "professional" looks like? Today we’re re-releasing a conversation I had with Stanford law professor Richard Ford, who's spent his career studying the surprising legal history behind our clothes — from laws in the Middle Ages that dictated what you could wear based on rank, to modern fights over workplace hairstyles and school dress codes. We get into how dress codes have shaped the fight for civil rights, and why so many workers in Silicon Valley wear the exact same fleece vest. Whether your closet is full of statement pieces or you’ve been wearing the same shirt on repeat all week, we hope you’ll take another listen to this interesting conversation.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] Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Rich FordConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces this re-release with Richard Ford, a professor of law at Stanford University, on the history, meaning, and power of dress codes. (00:02:12) Why Study Dress Codes?How civil rights, constitutional law, workplace rules, and school policies led Ford to study fashion and dress codes. (00:03:30) The Origins of Dress CodesHow fashion emerged in the late Middle Ages and sumptuary laws regulated clothing by social rank. (00:05:09) Written and Unwritten RulesHow formal dress codes gave way to powerful social expectations about what people should wear. (00:06:31) Fashion and Self-ExpressionHow people, especially young people, find ways to express themselves even within strict dress codes. (00:08:04) The Great Masculine RenunciationHow men’s fashion shifted toward sober, practical clothing as political and social values changed. (00:11:00) Dress Codes and Social ControlHow rules about clothing can reinforce hierarchy while also inspiring resistance and social change. (00:12:46) Hair as Fashion and IdentityHow hairstyles have reflected class, professionalism, gender, and cultural identity across history. (00:14:51) Dress Codes and Civil RightsHow clothing and hairstyles became tools of protest, respectability, and racial identity during the civil rights era. (00:17:45) Clothing, Race, and RespectHow Ford’s father shaped his understanding of dress as a way to express self-respect and command respect from others.(00:20:29) Reverse SnobberyWhy dressing down can sometimes signal higher status in academia, Silicon Valley, and other elite environments. (00:22:18) Gender and FashionHow clothing expectations have historically constrained women and reinforced ideas about gender. (00:24:38) The Midtown UniformWhy workers can converge on an unofficial uniform even after formal workplace dress codes disappear. (00:25:54) The Case for UniformsHow uniforms can reduce status competition while creating tension with self-expression.(00:27:36) The Future of Dress CodesWhy self-expression through clothing is unlikely to disappear even as fashion becomes increasingly casual. (00:28:41) Future In a MinuteRapid-fire Q&A: fashion, young people, sustainability, equality, and the future.(00:30:07) Conclusion  Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nir Halevy, an expert on organizational behavior, first grew interested in social hierarchies as a basketball fan. He now studies what makes for healthy workplaces. Organizational hierarchies can be beneficial, but can turn toxic. When people have power without status – control but little respect – conflict often follows. Halevy says that collaboration, not competition, is key to employee well-being. “If you care about freedom, seek cooperative environments. They will liberate you,” Halevy tells listeners – and 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] Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Nir HalevyLearn more about Nir’s Book ‘Level Up’Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guest Nir Halevy, a professor of organizational behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the dynamics of power, status, and hierarchy. (00:03:42) Studying Social InfluenceHow Halevy became interested in the ways people gain influence in groups, teams, and organizations. (00:05:40) What Is a Hierarchy?How formal and informal hierarchies emerge around power, status, achievement, and influence. (00:07:56) Why Hierarchies Are StickyThe Positive and negative forces that contribute to the persistence of hierarchies (00:10:15) Navigating HierarchiesHow people lower in a hierarchy can influence others without resorting to manipulation or undermining colleagues. (00:13:01) Power vs. StatusWhy having control over resources is different from being respected and admired. (00:14:36) The Danger of Power Without StatusHow low status combined with power can fuel resentment, conflict, and abuse of authority. (00:16:39) Respect and RecognitionWhy giving people dignity, appreciation, and status can matter as much as giving them more power. (00:20:03) Autonomy at WorkHow cooperation and competition shape people’s sense of freedom and control in the workplace.(00:23:26) Secrets at WorkHow workplace secrecy can increase stress and loneliness while also making work feel more meaningful and important.(00:25:30) Supporting People in Confidential WorkWhy social support can help reduce the isolation that comes with confidential work.(00:26:12) Three Dimensions of WellbeingHow happiness, interestingness, and meaningfulness can each shape the experience of work.(00:28:30) A Pluralistic Approach to LeadershipWhy recognizing different ways people contribute can help leaders support status, value, and wellbeing. (00:29:54) Future In a MinuteRapid-fire Q&A: cooperation, work-life balance, research partnerships, and hope for the future.(00:30:56) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi everyone, we had big news out of Stanford this week: Karl Deisseroth has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries leading to optogenetics, a technique that makes it possible to switch individual nerve cells on or off in the living brain. To celebrate, we're re-releasing a live conversation Russ had with Karl a few years ago. He's both a bioengineer and a practicing psychiatrist, and he tells me how he built a way to control brain cells with light, why the odds were stacked against it, and how it could open the door to better treatments for psychiatric disorders. We also talk about his book Projections and what it takes to turn a long-shot idea into a tool that changes neuroscience. Congratulations, Karl, on an honor so well deserved. Whether this is your first listen or your second, it's one worth hearing.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] Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Karl DeisserothLearn more about Karl's Nobel Prize winLearn more about OptogeneticsReactions to Karl's Nobel Win    Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces Karl Deisseroth, a professor of bioengineering, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences at Stanford University.(00:04:49) Technology and DiscoveryWhy Deisseroth sees technology development and basic neuroscience as inseparable.(00:06:36) What Is Optogenetics?How light can be used to precisely turn specific cells in the brain on or off. (00:08:27) Turning an Idea into a ToolThe process that led to optogenetics(00:10:57) Microbial OpsinsHow light-sensitive proteins from microorganisms became the foundation for controlling neurons with light.(00:14:11) Optogenetics in HumansHow optogenetics has already been used to restore limited vision, and what that suggests for future therapies.(00:17:37) Psychiatry and the LabHow Deisseroth’s work with patients shapes the scientific questions his lab pursues.(00:21:48) The Most Pressing Questions in Neuroscience TodayWhy identifying the brain’s many cell types became a central goal of the BRAIN Initiative. (00:24:28) Correlation vs. CausalityWhy understanding which neurons actually drive behavior requires more than simply observing brain activity. (00:26:52) Controlling Brain NetworksHow researchers are beginning to study and manipulate multiple brain regions with precise timing. (00:28:19) The Need for Neuroscience TheoryWhy better technology creates a growing need for theories that can guide which neural circuits to study.(00:29:38) Writing ProjectionsWhy Deisseroth wrote about the inner worlds of psychiatric patients alongside the science of the brain. (00:32:59) Capturing Patients’ Inner WorldsHow feedback from people with psychiatric disorders shaped Deisseroth’s view of the book’s impact. (00:34:26) Conclusion  Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.