Neural Surprise -— Groks Science Show 2024-10-09

The study of free will is often couched in broadly philosophical terms, but is it possible to develop a science of free will? On this episode, Dr. Roy F. Baumeister discussed his book, The Science of Free Will.

A picture says a thousand words, but attention to good design and imagery in science communication is often overlooked. How can we promote good visual elements in science? On this episode, Felice Frankel discussed her books, The Visual Elements.

Although the medieval period may seem to be greatly underdeveloped, the history of the age may be able to inform the construction of a modern sustainable society. On this episode, Dr. Annette Kehnel discussed her book, The Green Ages.

Humans have now begun to influence the climatic conditions of the earth, but how can we use our collective efforts to guide a solarpunk future? On this episode, Dr. Phoebe Wagner discussed her book, Almanac for the Anthropocene.

The onslaught of digital media continues to compete for our limited attention spans. How do we survive in the digital age? On this episode, Dr. Richard Cytowic discussed his book, Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age.

The oceans cover most of the surface of the earth, but they still remain largely unexplored, particularly in their deepest regions. On this episode, James Bradley discussed the ocean depths.

The gang is back for the science news roundup to discuss applications of artificial intelligence. On this episode, we explore AI in nuclear reactors and protein folding.

Advancements in artificial intelligence have raised concerns about their impact on human well being. What are the benefits of this new technology? On this episode, Drs. Ravi Bapna and Anindya Ghose discussed their book, Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI.

Engaging the brain to receive information requires activating particular neural circuits that mediate surprise. On this episode, Rich Carr discussed his new book, Surprised: The Science and Art of Engagement.

Hypothyroidism is often caused by an overlooked, but prevalent, autoimmune condition known as Hashimoto Thyroditis. On this episode, Dr. Heather Stone discussed these thyroid disorders.