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Artwork for Bridging the Gaps: A Portal for Curious Minds

Bridging the Gaps: A Portal for Curious Minds

Dr Waseem Akhtar
Migration
Nobel Prize
Two Great Ideas
Artificial Intelligence
Language
Archaeology
Domestication
Neanderthals and Denisovans
Public Image Of Science
Science Communication
Subjectivity
AI Fairness
Metaverse
Moon
Ethics Of Space Colonization
Mars
Reproduction In Space
Ancient DNA
Objectivity
Reality

In-depth conversations with researchers, explorers and thought leaders from around the world, on cutting edge research and original ideas.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes95Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Bridging the Gaps: A Portal for Curious Minds

Latest Episodes

How does the brain produce consciousness? Why should electrical and chemical activity in the brain give rise to thoughts, emotions, colors, sounds, and the feeling of being alive? Despite major advances in neuroscience, the inner nature of experience... more

Achieving meaningful and sustainable social change is a complex task and a demanding challenge. Many of the most urgent problems, such as climate change, racism, and poverty are structural. They arise from collective practices, including laws, econom... more

We are entering a new era of space exploration—one in which, for the first time, large numbers of people may travel beyond Earth. Some may even choose to remain there. This raises important questions: how will the extreme conditions of space affect t... more

The idea that evolutionary theory applies far beyond biology is not new. Yet one major obstacle to the broader acceptance of a generalised evolutionary theory is our tendency to begin with biology and extend outward from it. This approach obscures an... more

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Recent Guests

Scott Solomon
Biologist, science communicator, teaching professor at Rice University
Rice University; Smithsonian Institution
Episode: “Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds” with Prof. Scott Solomon
Mark Vellend
Professor of Biology at University of Sherbrooke, fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
University of Sherbrooke
Episode: “Everything Evolves” and the Generalised Evolutionary Theory with Professor Mark Vellend
Dr. Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio
Expert on AI and big data, behavioral science and future of work
Harvard Law School; Kennedy School of Government; UN ITU; People Culture Data Consulting Group
Episode: Building a Thriving Future: Navigating the Metaverse and Multiverse with Dr Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio
Michael Gurven
Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
Episode: “Seven Decades: How We Evolved to Live Longer” with Professor Michael Gurven
Derek Leben
Professor of Business Ethics at the Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business
Episode: “AI Fairness: Designing Equal Opportunity Algorithms” with Professor Derek Leben
Linda Zagzebski
Professor Emerita and the Kingfisher Chair of the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics Emerita at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
Episode: “How Our Grasp of the Universe and Our Minds Changed Everything” with Professor Linda Zagzebski
Massimiano Bucchi
Professor of Science and Technology in Society
University of Trento
Episode: “The Nobel Prize and the Public Image of Science” with Professor Massimiano Bucchi
Peter Bellwood
Professor Emeritus at the Australian National University; expert in human population prehistory
Australian National University
Episode: “The Human Journey From Ape to Agriculture” with Professor Peter Bellwood

Host

Dr. Vasim Akhtar
Host of Bridging the Gaps

Chart Rankings

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Apple Podcasts
#134
India/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Building a Thriving Future: Navigating the Metaverse and Multiverse with Dr Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio
Q: What is a practical way for a medium-sized business to start leveraging these technologies?
Start with a clear strategic fit by mapping a business layer that aligns with virtual capabilities (e.g., storefronts, staff training, or customer engagement), set small, budgeted experiments, and measure KPI-driven outcomes to achieve short-term wins while learning and iterating.
Building a Thriving Future: Navigating the Metaverse and Multiverse with Dr Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio
Q: How do you define the metaverse in a way that goes beyond gaming or narrow simulations?
It's about interoperable, AI-powered virtual worlds rooted in real-world contexts, where technology enables seamless communication across devices and platforms, while addressing governance, privacy, and inclusivity so that it benefits broad humanity rather than siloed users.
“Everything Evolves” and the Generalised Evolutionary Theory with Professor Mark Vellend
Q: Can you explain the evolutionary soundboard analogy and how it helps communicate the idea of evolution across different domains?
The evolutionary soundboard uses knobs to represent generation of variation, inheritance, and differential success; by turning these knobs, you can conceptually model how populations or systems drift or adapt over time, illustrating how evolution operates with tuning parameters rather than needing explicit genetic mechanisms, which helps non-specialists grasp cross-domain evolutionary dynamics.
“Everything Evolves” and the Generalised Evolutionary Theory with Professor Mark Vellend
Q: What is generalized evolutionary theory?
Generalized evolutionary theory rests on three core ingredients—variation, inheritance, and differential success—which together describe how any system with those elements changes over time; this framework extends beyond biology to include culture, technology, and social policies, showing that evolution is a broad, unifying process across domains.
“Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds” with Prof. Scott Solomon
Q: What biomedical data are we collecting on Artemis II, and how does that differ from Apollo?
Artemis II will carry four astronauts and perform a deeper lunar loop to collect more comprehensive biomedical data to understand how extended stay and higher activity levels affect the human body, beyond what Apollo collected.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series features deep conversations with researchers, scientists, and thought leaders tackling big questions at the frontiers of science, technology, and human knowledge. Episodes frequently explore space biology, evolution, artificial intelligence ethics, science communication, aging and longevity, and philosophy of mind, often tying empirical findings to practical implications for policy, governance, and society. A notable strength is the rigorous integration of research with accessible storytelling, including interdisciplinary threads that connect biology, technology, culture, and future-focused challenges. Listeners can expect thoughtful, evidence-based discussions with prominent academics and researchers, along with provocations ab... more

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1. The Daily
2. The Ezra Klein Show

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this podcast launched 11 years ago and published 95 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Scott Solomon
2. Mark Vellend
3. Dr. Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio
4. Michael Gurven
5. Derek Leben
6. Linda Zagzebski
7. Massimiano Bucchi
8. Peter Bellwood

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