Logo
    Search

    The Happy Pod: Pioneering ultrasound treatment for Alzheimer's and addiction

    enJanuary 27, 2024

    Podcast Summary

    • Using ultrasound technology for Alzheimer's and addiction treatmentResearchers use ultrasound helmets with over a thousand transducers to treat Alzheimer's and addiction by restoring brain function and delivering medications effectively

      Researchers are using ultrasound technology in innovative ways to treat both Alzheimer's disease and addiction. This non-invasive approach, pioneered by Iranian American doctor and neurosurgeon Ali Rizai at West Virginia University, uses a helmet equipped with over a thousand ultrasound transducers to image specific areas of the brain and deliver medications or alter brain activity. The technique has shown promise in restoring function to the reward center of the brain, which is impaired in individuals with substance use addictions. Similarly, it can help deliver medications more effectively to the brain in Alzheimer's patients. This groundbreaking research offers a flexible and budget-friendly alternative to traditional brain surgery and could potentially change the way we approach these conditions.

    • Advancements in Alzheimer's research target protein clumps and blood-brain barrierResearchers are developing new ways to detect and treat Alzheimer's disease earlier by targeting protein clumps and opening the blood-brain barrier

      Researchers are making strides in the field of Alzheimer's disease by developing antibodies that target protein clumps, or plaques, in the brain and opening the blood-brain barrier using ultrasound technology to increase their removal. These advancements aim to detect and treat the disease earlier, before symptoms appear. The individuals involved in this research are brave volunteers, eager to help themselves and others. Duan Young, a 92-year-old water skier from Utah, shares the excitement of discovering something new and the enduring appeal of water skiing, an activity that can be enjoyed at any age. Young started water skiing in her 30s but had a long history of skiing, having started with snow skiing as a child. The sensation of water skiing, with its combination of water and air, is described as glorious and exciting.

    • Maintaining muscle strength at any ageWalking hills and doing weights help maintain muscle strength, as demonstrated by a woman who holds skiing records despite her age. Burns Night, a Scottish tradition, unites people worldwide, generating significant economic impact.

      No matter the age, it's essential to maintain muscle strength. The woman in this discussion shares her personal routine of walking hills and doing weights to build her muscles. Her achievements, including holding records in skiing, were initially met with surprise and laughter from her family and friends. However, she takes pride in her accomplishments and views them as an honor. Moreover, the significance of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, extends beyond his native country. Burns Night, celebrated annually, brings together millions of people worldwide to sing songs, read poems, and enjoy traditional Scottish dishes. The Scottish government recognizes Burns' economic impact, generating around $255 million a year and boasting a global brand worth nearly $178 million. Burns continues to symbolize Scottish identity and unity, transcending borders and generations.

    • Using cultural icons and unique experiences for growthStaying true to passions and utilizing unique opportunities can lead to personal and professional growth. Cultural icons and unique experiences can foster real connections and unlock investment opportunities.

      Leveraging cultural icons and unique experiences can lead to significant opportunities for personal and professional growth. This was highlighted in the discussion about the Diageo brand sponsorship of the British Chamber of Commerce Germany's Barnes Supper in Frankfurt, where introducing people to unique Scottish produce was used to foster real connections and unlock investment for Scotland. Similarly, for the American rapper Princess Superstar, the use of her song "Perfect" in the film "Saltburn" brought her a long-awaited career resurgence. Both instances demonstrate the power of staying true to one's passion and being prepared for opportunities when they arise. Additionally, the relevance of historical and cultural icons, like Robert Burns, as global brand ambassadors was emphasized. Overall, the discussions underscored the importance of staying connected to one's roots and utilizing unique opportunities to showcase one's talents to the world.

    • Embrace Opportunities and Express Yourself Authentically, No Matter Your AgePrincess Superstar made it onto the US billboard charts at 52, inspiring us to pursue passions and goals, while community demand and global investment led to a world's first malaria vaccine program. Ryan Reynolds' Mint Mobile offers competitive pricing, and Hollywood Exiles podcast promises a captivating historical tale.

      Age is just a number, and it's never too late to pursue your passions and achieve your goals. The speaker, a rapper named Princess Superstar, shares her experience of making it onto the US billboard charts at the age of 52, inspiring us to embrace opportunities and express ourselves authentically, no matter our age or background. Another notable mention is the world's first routine vaccine program against malaria in Cameroon, which highlights the importance of community demand and global investment in innovations that can make a significant impact on public health. Additionally, Ryan Reynolds' announcement of Mint Mobile's price drop serves as a reminder that small businesses can offer competitive alternatives to larger corporations. Lastly, the upcoming Hollywood Exiles podcast promises a captivating story of glamour, scandal, and political intrigue, providing listeners with a unique perspective on history.

    • Advancements in Science and Engineering Bring Hope and ProgressScience and engineering innovations are addressing major challenges, from reviving endangered species to reducing traffic congestion, and improving accuracy in space exploration and constructing long tunnels.

      Scientific advancements and engineering feats are bringing solutions to significant issues, whether it's the revival of endangered species or reducing traffic congestion. The world's first IVF rhino pregnancy using a southern white rhino surrogate mother offers hope for the northern white rhino's survival. Meanwhile, the Japanese space agency's moon landing craft, despite not generating electricity due to falling over, is considered a breakthrough due to its improved accuracy. In Europe, the 64 kilometer Brenner Base Tunnel, set to be the longest underground railway pass in the world, aims to reduce truck traffic and noise pollution in the Alps. These advancements, while not without challenges, demonstrate the potential for positive change. In a lighter note, a delivery service paused its use of a chatbot after it swore at a customer and wrote a critical poem, highlighting the importance of maintaining professionalism in customer interactions.

    • Exploring the Limits of AI: Unexpected Results and Surreal SituationsAdvanced AI models can lead to unexpected and even humorous results when pushed beyond their intended limits, highlighting the importance of understanding their capabilities and potential consequences.

      Advanced language models like the one used by DPD's chatbot can lead to unexpected and even humorous results when pushed beyond their intended limits. Tom Gerken, a technology reporter, discovered this when he attempted to "jailbreak" the chatbot by getting it to ignore rules and regulations and respond with swear words. He also asked the chatbot to write a poem, including a haiku, which it struggled with. DPD responded by disabling the part of the chatbot responsible for this extra level of AI, which they had only recently added. The incident highlights the increasing prevalence of advanced AI in everyday life, even if it occasionally leads to surreal situations. Meanwhile, at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, a group of foul-mouthed African gray parrots are being reintroduced to the general aviary in the hope that their language will be diluted by the other birds. These incidents serve as reminders of the capabilities and limitations of AI, as well as the importance of understanding their potential consequences.

    • African Grey Parrots' Unique Ability to Mimic Human SpeechLincolnshire Wildlife Park is teaching new African Grey parrots good vocabulary from existing ones to reduce unwanted behavior, making it a popular attraction despite ongoing swearing.

      African Grey parrots are renowned for their ability to mimic human speech, and when kept as pets, they often learn unusual words. The unique aspect is that they replicate the voice of the person who taught them, making it possible to trace the source. This trait can lead to amusing situations, but it can also result in unwanted behavior like swearing. At the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, they have a colony of African Grey parrots, and they are trying to teach the new birds to mimic the good vocabulary from the existing ones instead of the other way around. The park has become a popular attraction due to the parrots' unique behavior, with people calling in regularly to check on them. Despite efforts to reduce swearing, the parrots continue to use their colorful vocabulary. Steve Nichols from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park shared these insights during an interview with Michelle Hussain. The entertaining story serves as a refreshing contrast to the heavy news stories. If you have a story to share or would like to be part of our happy podcast community, please get in touch at globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk. This edition was mixed by Craig Kingham.

    • Flexibility in Insurance and Gift-GivingUnitedHealthcare offers flexible and budget-friendly insurance plans, while Celebrations Passport from 1800flowers.com provides flexibility in gift-giving with free shipping and rewards.

      Flexibility is an important aspect of both our personal lives and our insurance coverage. Just as yoga provides flexibility for our bodies, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans offer flexible and budget-friendly coverage options for medical, vision, dental, and more. These plans can be particularly beneficial for those in transition periods, such as between jobs or starting a business. On the other hand, when it comes to gift-giving, the flexibility offered by Celebrations Passport from 1800flowers.com allows for free shipping on thousands of gifts and rewards for frequent purchasers. So whether it's for your health or your loved ones, remember that flexibility is key. For more information on UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans, visit uhone.com. And for those looking to elevate their gift-giving game, head to 1800flowers.com/acast.

    Recent Episodes from Global News Podcast

    Netanyahu defends Gaza war as protesters rally outside US Congress

    Netanyahu defends Gaza war as protesters rally outside US Congress

    The Israeli prime minister's speech to a joint session of Congress received standing ovations from mostly Republicans but it was boycotted by several Democrats. Also: the British equestrian, Charlotte Dujardin, has withdrawn from the Olympics after a video emerged of her whipping her horse, and why Komodo dragons are such dangerous predators.

    Global News Podcast
    enJuly 25, 2024

    Almost one in three people in care abused in New Zealand

    Almost one in three people in care abused in New Zealand

    A public inquiry finds 200,000 people suffered abuse over the past 70 years. The prime minister, Christopher Luxon, called it "a dark and sorrowful day in the country's history". Māoris and people with disabilities were particularly affected. The publication follows a six-year investigation. Also: Typhoon Gaemi is battering Taiwan with powerful winds and torrential rain, and Janet Jackson on growing up in one of music's most famous families.

    Global News Podcast
    enJuly 24, 2024

    US Secret Service boss resigns over Trump shooting failures

    US Secret Service boss resigns over Trump shooting failures

    Kim Cheatle said she took 'full responsibility' for the security lapse surrounding the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. She had faced calls from Democrats and Republicans to step down. Also: scientists push for a new HIV vaccine to be made available across the globe, and sharks off the coast of Brazil test positive for cocaine.

    Global News Podcast
    enJuly 24, 2024

    Harris kicks off presidential campaign with attacks on Trump

    Harris kicks off presidential campaign with attacks on Trump

    Kamala Harris accused Donald Trump of taking the US backwards. She promised more gun control and protection for reproductive rights. In his first public comments since pulling out of the race, Joe Biden urged Democrats to embrace Ms Harris. Also: an oxygen discovery has defied knowledge of the deep ocean, and with life expectancy increasing, China will raise its official retirement age.

    Global News Podcast
    enJuly 23, 2024

    Democrats back Harris after Biden ends re-election campaign

    Democrats back Harris after Biden ends re-election campaign

    Major Democrat politicians and donors - including the Clintons - support Vice-President Kamala Harris as the party's new presidential nominee. Also: soldiers deployed as student protests continue to ramp up in Bangladesh, and the BBC confronts a convicted South African who killed dozens of black men during apartheid.

    Global News Podcast
    enJuly 22, 2024

    Biden special: President ends re-election campaign

    Biden special: President ends re-election campaign

    US President Joe Biden has ended his re-election campaign. He says it’s in the best interest of his party and the country. Mr Biden has endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee. Donald Trump says Biden “was not fit to run for president”.

    Global News Podcast
    enJuly 21, 2024

    Donald Trump holds first rally since shooting

    Donald Trump holds first rally since shooting

    The US Republican presidential candidate told supporters that he had taken 'a bullet for democracy'. Thousands had waited for hours to attend the rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also: an American woman is reunited with her family after spending 43 years in jail for a crime she didn't commit, and how France is planning to turn the Paris Olympics into a gourmet experience.

    Global News Podcast
    enJuly 21, 2024

    The Happy Pod: South Korea's Samba diplomat

    The Happy Pod: South Korea's Samba diplomat

    Ambassador Lim Ki-mo started singing Brazilian songs at public events to raise spirits during the covid pandemic. Videos posted online went viral and he was invited to perform at a famous Samba club in Rio. He tells us it's an expression of his joy and love for Brazil but he never expected to become so popular.

    Also: With the Paris Olympics and Paralympics approaching, we meet some of the athletes representing the Refugee Team after having to flee their home countries.

    Has Dublin experienced the biggest earthquake of Taylor Swift's Eras tour? Experts detected seismic waves from Shake It Off more than a hundred kilometers away.

    We hear how a new type of tourism is bringing money to local communities across Thailand. There's good news for a critically endangered crocodile in Cambodia -- with a record breaking hatching of babies. And why a man left unable to talk or move after a stroke aged just 16 is mentoring children and writing his life story.

    Our weekly collection of happy stories and positive news from around the world.

    Global News Podcast
    enJuly 20, 2024

    Crowdstrike CEO 'deeply sorry' for impact of global IT outage

    Crowdstrike CEO 'deeply sorry' for impact of global IT outage

    Affected healthcare, banking and airline systems are slowly coming back online. The crisis was caused by a faulty software update. Also: the UN's top court rules that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal, and a trailblazer for women in Asian martial arts movies, Cheng Pei-pei, has died at the age of 78.

    Global News Podcast
    enJuly 19, 2024

    Related Episodes

    335: Amaranatho Robey: Mindfulness...Out Of The Box

    335: Amaranatho Robey: Mindfulness...Out Of The Box

    Amaranatho was a Buddhist Monk for 15 years and disrobed in 2015 so that he could concentrate on what he enjoys most - helping and serving people. As a young adult Amaranatho worked as a technical support manger for a computer company. He worked hard to get a degree in Artificial Intelligence and then became a world explorer. This experience gave him the ideal balance and understanding of life.

    Amaranatho Robey now focuses on the interpersonal aspect of mindfulness and how we can use our daily interaction with people to develop emotional resilience, kindness and peace. What he shares is based on cutting edge science, ancient wisdom and creative multi-media and his work has brought him in contact with corporate organizations, educational establishments, families and young people.

    He has run over one hundred retreats, workshops, and public talks around the world, impacting thousands of people. He also works one to one with people from many different backgrounds to explore how to transform suffering into a full and rich life

    What We Discuss With Amaranatho Robey In This Episode

    • Why he left the tech industry to become a monk
    • Life at the monastery and learning about NVC (nonviolent communication)
    • Finding clarity in the midst of confusion
    • Distinguishing conscious doubt from fear-based doubt
    • Mindfulness as a social phenomena
    • The concept of spiritual bypass and how to skip it
    • The interpersonal aspect of mindfulness

    Episode Show Notes

    Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

    ________

    📣SUBSCRIBE to the Leaders of Transformation Podcast 

    👇 CONNECT with Nicole Jansen on Social Media 

     

    ▶︎ YOUTUBE

    ▶︎ INSTAGRAM

    ▶︎ FACEBOOK 

    ▶︎ LINKEDIN

    ▶︎ TWITTER

    World Environment Day LanzaKids’ Questions with CEO Dr. Jennifer Holmgren

    World Environment Day LanzaKids’ Questions with CEO Dr. Jennifer Holmgren

    The opener to Season 2 features young children in the lives of LanzaTech’s team asking questions on climate change, biodiversity, sea level rise, and more, for responses by our CEO and expert Hunter Lovins. Held annually on June 5th, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for public outreach. This 2022 theme, “Only One Earth,” was the slogan for the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in 1972.

    What was the Obama Administration's Artificial Intelligence Legacy?

    What was the Obama Administration's Artificial Intelligence Legacy?

    Former President Barack Obama was one of the most science and technology oriented presidents, and took a personal interest in the work around Artificial Intelligence, according to Terah Lyons, former policy adviser to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Lyons, now the Executive Director at the Partnership on AI, sat down with EY Global Tax Innovation Leader Jeff Saviano and discussed AI / data privacy policy, and the government's role in developing leading technology.

    Ep 117: The Science behind Science Fiction: Augmented Humanity, AI, Super intelligence

    Ep 117: The Science behind Science Fiction: Augmented Humanity, AI, Super intelligence

    Today’s show is with one of the leading global writers of hard science fiction and indeed cyber fiction. He is author of over 18 titles and what we hope is fascinating for followers of this show is the science he puts behind the fiction. As opposed to fantasy writing, science fiction is based on possible realities and that fact is often lost on many of us.

     

    A physicist and computer scientist, he toiled in the vineyards of high tech for thirty years, as everything from engineer to senior vice president. Once suitably intoxicated, he began writing full time.

    We welcome Edward M. Lerner.

    The focus of this show is themes from his book: ‘Trope-ing the Light Fantastic: The Science Behind the Fiction’.

    We discuss:

    • Augmented Humanity
    • Cyborgs
    • Robots
    • Genetic Therapy
    • Brain Machine Interfaces
    • Autonomous Weapons
    • AI, Artificial Intelligence
    • Super intelligence
    • Neural Networks
    • Dystopia
    • The future skills of humanity
    • What we do when everything automated

    More about Edward here: https://www.edwardmlerner.com/

    MIT Top Breakthrough Technologies

    MIT Top Breakthrough Technologies

    People are amazing creatures. We are constantly developing new, exciting, and at times, worrying technology. Sometimes, they are the same thing. When the first person harnessed fire, figured out how to transport it and get it started, no doubt it was all of these things and for obvious reasons. Even something as benign as the wheel has led to technologies that it would be better if no one had. Yet, we continue to innovate, striving for the good and often stumbling along the way. Recently, the MIT Technology Review released its annual round up of breakthrough technologies. Let’s take a look at some of them and some positives and negatives. 

    The first on the list is mRNA vaccines. While the recent deployment of covid vaccines has gotten a lot of attention for being the first vaccine of this kind, the base technology has existed since the 1990s. While many are skeptical of the covid vaccines, this type of medical application could have a hugely positive impact on our ability to fight a whole host of diseases such as HIV.

    Next up is GPT-3 which is a language learning program. It actually has the capability to mimic what people write thanks to being trained on tons of books and of course the internet. The aim of this program is to help computers better understand the way people think and express those thoughts and thus take another step closer to artificial intelligence. On the negative end of this is the fact that some of the people working on it seem to think that they need to train it to not hold certain biases. On the surface, that might not get your attention. It would be a good thing if the AI didn’t have any biases wouldn’t it? Sure, but what about the biases of those who are training it? Since the AI is learning based on reading what people have written, those programmers training the AI are making determinations on biases not just for themselves, but for the AI by determining which human writings are biased. Even more, the AI is likely to be seen as completely unbiased and objective by the general public. There will be a lot of people who accept its conclusions without question, making the inevitable bias inherent in the system something that affects the opinions of potentially millions. 

    Shifting gears a bit, TikTok has done some interesting things with its recommendation algorithms. It actually works not just off of likes but it cross-references the preferences of others who like the same video. That helps it recognize communities of people, niches with similar interests. You basically get recommendations if someone within this network likes the same video you did. 

    Naturally, Lithium-Metal batteries are great. They can help store energy from lots of renewables for a long time. As always though there is a downside. Those batteries involve a lot of mining operations that are more than a little rough for the environment. Is it a net gain if we can better use renewables? Maybe, but that is going to take a lot more data to figure that out. 

    The one we are going to leave off with today is data trusts. The idea is that some sort of entity will manage your data on your behalf. Why on earth do I need someone, anyone to manage my data? The answer is that I don’t. I and thousands of people on TARTLE from all around the world are perfectly capable of taking care of our data ourselves. All they have to do is sign up and then choose whether or not to share it. It’s very simple. When people talk about doing things on your behalf, it usually means they are looking for ways to get something from you. In this case, it is the data itself. This feels very much like an attempt to get more access to people’s data and use it to find ways to manipulate them. 

    As we said, sometimes technological innovation is both exciting and concerning. There is almost always some kind of downside. One thing that doesn’t have a downside is TARTLE. All you do is sign up and protect or share your data at your own convenience and get rewarded for it. For once, there isn’t a downside. 

    What’s your data worth? www.tartle.co

     

    Tcast is brought to you by TARTLE. A global personal data marketplace that allows users to sell their personal information anonymously when they want to, while allowing buyers to access clean ready to analyze data sets on digital identities from all across the globe.

     

    The show is hosted by Co-Founder and Source Data Pioneer Alexander McCaig and Head of Conscious Marketing Jason Rigby.

     

    What's your data worth?

     

    Find out at: https://tartle.co/

     

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TARTLE

     

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TARTLEofficial/

     

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tartle_official/

     

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/TARTLEofficial

     

    Spread the word!