A podcast about how we understand the world, scientifically and as humans. Each conversation brings together visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, huma...
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1:07
Can you be a "real" scientist and believe in God? Brian Keating & Michael Dennin Debate
Can a "real" scientist believe in God? Physics professors Brian Keating and Michael Dennin engage in a fascinating discussion about the existence of God, exploring the intersection of science and faith. From cosmic origins to the nature of miracles, these two accomplished scientists examine different perspectives on religion, including insights from Judaism and Catholicism. They tackle challenging questions about the Big Bang theory, multiple universes, and whether scientific evidence can prove or disprove God's existence. The conversation features reactions to arguments from both William Lane Craig and Neil deGrasse Tyson, offering a balanced and nuanced exploration of one of humanity's most fundamental questions.
This inaugural episode of The God Question brings together scientific expertise and personal faith journeys, demonstrating how two physicists with similar backgrounds can arrive at different but respectful conclusions about the divine.
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47:28
How to train ChatGPT to serve you | AI Legend Terry Sejnowski [Ep. 475]
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Can AI tools like ChatGPT actually "think," or is it just really good at mimicking human conversation? How much of what AI spits out is a reflection of our own ideas and intentions? And where's all this tech headed in the future?
Today, I’m joined by Terry Sejnowski, a renowned computational neuroscientist and pioneer in AI and deep learning. Based at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the University of California, San Diego, he bridges neuroscience and AI to explore how biological brains and artificial systems learn and process information.
Terry is also the co-creator of the Boltzmann Machine, a game-changing algorithm that has shaped today’s AI and is a foundation for modern neural networks. He has also written some incredible books, including The Deep Learning Revolution” and “ChatGPT and the Future of AI.
In our conversation, we discuss the current state of AI, what’s next, the ins and outs of prompt engineering, the mirror hypothesis (how AI reflects us), its impact on productivity, and the ethical challenges we must tackle.
Tune in to discover the truth about AI!
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Key Takeaways:
00:00 Intro
00:36 Judging a book by its cover
07:05 The impact of AI on human capabilities
12:32 Einstein's happiest thought and can AI think?
16:51 Can AI come up with something novel?
24:20 The role of learning and neural networks in AI
32:37 The future of AI and its potential impact
46:43 The mirroring effect
50:52 Practical applications of AI
54:00 Outro
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Additional resources:
➡️ Learn more about Terry Sejnowski:
📚 ChatGPT and the Future of AI: https://a.co/d/cZnuZbs
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating
🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1
📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast
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Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
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59:54
An Astronomer and a Philosopher Search for Truth in the Infinite | Jordan B. Peterson
Jordan Peterson sits down with experimental cosmologist Dr. Brian Keating. They discuss the importance of awe for the human spirit, the fundamental ethos behind all true science, the idea of the useless genius, and the necessity of sacrifice for improvement of the self and the broader community.
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1:43:25
Alien Civilizations, Exomoons, and Cool, Habitable Worlds | David Kipping [Ep. 474]
Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥
Could life exist on moons orbiting distant planets? Are We Alone? What if the key to understanding life's origins lies in the moons of distant worlds?
Exoplanetary scientist David Kipping is here to answer these big questions. He is a professor at Columbia University, the leading mind behind exomoons, and also the host of the Cool Worlds Lab.
He shares his groundbreaking research, including the discovery of Kepler-1708 b-i, a potential exomoon candidate. He explains why moons, like Earth’s, might be the unsung heroes in stabilizing conditions for life and how the latest tools, like the James Webb Space Telescope, are changing the game for astronomers.
But that’s not all. You’ll hear about the role of panspermia (yes, life traveling between planets!), the fine-tuning of our universe, and what it takes to push the boundaries of scientific communication.
If you’ve ever pondered the question, “Are we alone?” or simply love a good cosmic mystery, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Tune in now for an eye-opening journey through the cosmos and beyond!
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Key Takeaways:
00:00 Intro
01:58 David Kipping's background and motivation
05:09 The role of moons in the origin of life
10:59 Bayesian frameworks and panspermia
19:30 Exomoon detection and research strategy
32:40 JWST observations and data analysis
41:14 Balancing scientific communication and public engagement
50:48 Future missions and their impact on exomoon research
54:49 Advice for young scientists and final thoughts
57:32 Outro
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Additional resources:
➡️ Learn more about David Kipping:
📱 Website: https://www.coolworldslab.com/
✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/david_kipping
🔔 YouTube Channel: Cool Worlds Lab
✍️ Kepler-1708 b-i Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-021-01539-1
➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:
✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating
🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1
📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list
✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/
🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast
—
Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.
Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A podcast about how we understand the world, scientifically and as humans. Each conversation brings together visionaries from the worlds of arts, sciences, humanities, and technology discussing the nature of reality and how we collaborate to create the future. Hosted by Dr Brian Keating, Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego. For show notes go to: https://briankeating.com/podcast