Future Tense

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