Philip Ball has two brains… In 1818 Mary Shelley wrote the seminal work ‘Frankenstein’, an exploration of the consequences of rivalling God by building a human being using parts stolen from dead bodies. 101 years later, Philip Ball explored in his book ‘How to Grow A Human’ how science is moving us closer to a different possibility, unguessed in Shelley’s novel: not of building but of growing a human artificially. The book arose from Philip’s experience of having a "second brain" grown from his own cells in a lab in London. As a visiting scholar at Harvard, he takes us to Boston to speak to the foremost leaders in the fields of biotechnology, genetics and AI about whether it’s now possible, and desirable, to consider treading the path of Victor Frankenstein in creating our own artificial human.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
How To Grow A Human
Claim This Podcastby Dr Philip Ball
Podcast Overview
Philip Ball has two brains… In 1818 Mary Shelley wrote the seminal work ‘Frankenstein’, an exploration of the consequences of rivalling God by building a human being using parts stolen from dead bodies. 101 years later, Philip Ball explored in his book ‘How to Grow A Human’ how science is moving us closer to a different possibility, unguessed in Shelley’s novel: not of building but of growing a human artificially. The book arose from Philip’s experience of having a "second brain" grown from his own cells in a lab in London. As a visiting scholar at Harvard, he takes us to Boston to speak to the foremost leaders in the fields of biotechnology, genetics and AI about whether it’s now possible, and desirable, to consider treading the path of Victor Frankenstein in creating our own artificial human.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/1/2021
1 verified contact email on file for How To Grow A Human
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
October 26, 2021
Living With Our Creation
<p>Part Six. The final episode in this series looks forward into the future. If we are able to reach the point where we can create advanced AI ‘beings’, will we be able to live alongside them – especially if they are in some ways more intelligent than us, or hold our lives in their hands? Phil puts this question to Iyad Rahwan, a social psychologist formerly of MIT’s Media Lab, who is working on the ramifications of human-machine interactions.</p> <p>Thanks to Philip Ball for original music and <a href= "http://www.freesound.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.Freesound.org&source=gmail&ust=1636110111099000&usg=AFQjCNFqDfyT1JtYSow7k51YKQ3TCMXjAw">www.Freesound.org</a> for supplying sound effects under creative commons Attribution 3.0 license created by the following artists;</p> <p>Decembered</p> <p>The licence can be read here: <a href= "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
October 26, 2021
Artificial Intelligence
<p>Part Five. IBM is one of the world’s biggest makers of “thinking machines” – computers. So what better place to find out about the prospects for machine alternatives to the human brain? Would a cyborg be more successful, for example, than a being made entirely from human parts? Can a machine be considered to truly ‘think’? Phil speaks to David Cox of IBM, an expert in the intersection between machine intelligence and neuroscience, to find out what current and future artificial intelligence might achieve. Could it ever become more intelligent than us?</p> <p>Thanks to Philip Ball for original music and <a href= "http://www.freesound.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.Freesound.org&source=gmail&ust=1636110111099000&usg=AFQjCNFqDfyT1JtYSow7k51YKQ3TCMXjAw">www.Freesound.org</a> for supplying sound effects under creative commons Attribution 3.0 license created by the following artists;</p> <p>Decembered</p> <p>The licence can be read here: <a href= "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
October 26, 2021
Helping It Learn
<p>Part Four. Phil goes to Harvard University to speak to eminent psychologist Tomer Ullman about how humans think and to ask if (and how) we could teach an artificial mind to learn what it needs to become ‘sentient’ and behave like a human.</p> <p>Thanks to Philip Ball for original music and <a href= "http://www.freesound.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.Freesound.org&source=gmail&ust=1636110111099000&usg=AFQjCNFqDfyT1JtYSow7k51YKQ3TCMXjAw">www.Freesound.org</a> for supplying sound effects under creative commons Attribution 3.0 license created by the following artists;</p> <p>Decembered</p> <p>The licence can be read here: <a href= "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
6 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for How To Grow A Human
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is How To Grow A Human?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.