Best Synthetic Population Podcasts (2025)

1
How a warming Arctic may be eroding Indigenous history in Alaska 5:56

6d ago5:56

5:56

In a remote part of Alaska, global warming is being blamed for endangering a treasure trove of Indigenous artifacts. Archaeologists at one dig site near the Bering Sea say they’re in a race against time. Nelufar Hedayat reports for the nonprofit news organization Evident Media. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

1
How NIH staffing cuts may delay a promising cancer treatment’s implementation 6:19

6d ago6:19

6:19

Earlier in April, doctors at the National Institutes of Health made a promising step in the fight against cancer, announcing an immunotherapy treatment was able to shrink gastrointestinal tumors for about a quarter of patients. But NIH staffing shortages, layoffs and cuts are threatening to delay the rollout of this promising development. William B…

1
Coral bleaching is affecting nearly all the world’s reefs, new NOAA report says 3:22

6d ago3:22

3:22

Coral reefs are a crucial part of the marine ecosystem, providing habitats for all sorts of marine life and protecting coastlines from storm damage. But scientists say rising ocean temperatures are posing a grave threat to the future of the world’s reefs. Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

1
On construction and clinical use of multipurpose neuron models - with Etay Hay - #27 1:13:21

6d ago1:13:21

1:13:21

Numerous neuron models have been made, but most of them are "single-purpose" in that they are made to address a single scientific question. In contrast, multipurpose neuron models are made to be used to address many scientific questions. In 2011, the guest published a multipurpose rodent pyramidal-cell model which has been actively used by the comm…

1
Mining Meaning: Laura Sheppard on Gender, Academia, and the Power of Public Data 39:40

10d ago39:40

39:40

In this episode of The Flux, we talk with Laura Sheppard, a research fellow at University College London’s Centre for Longitudinal Studies, about how data mining can uncover powerful insights from unexpected sources. Laura shares her work using the British Library’s Ethos dataset, a comprehensive record of UK doctoral theses - to explore gender ine…

1
Gaia space observatory bids farewell after a decade of mapping the stars 4:08

14d ago4:08

4:08

After more than a decade of mapping billions of stars across the Milky Way and beyond, a groundbreaking spacecraft is retiring. The European Space Agency’s space-based observatory known as Gaia is leaving behind a legacy of stunning discoveries that changed what we know about the universe. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.p…

1
How synthetic braiding hair may be putting Black women’s health in jeopardy 7:19

14d ago7:19

7:19

For years, Black women have used synthetic braids to help style their hair. But a recent study by Consumer Reports found that these fake hair strands can contain dangerous chemicals that pose a health threat. Ali Rogin reports on the history of braiding in Black culture and speaks with Adana Llanos, co-leader of the Cancer Population Science Progra…

1
Farmers turn to seaweed in attempt to reduce methane emissions from livestock 7:46

19d ago7:46

7:46

As the world races to curb climate change, scientists are taking aim at cows, a surprisingly potent source of greenhouse gases. Science correspondent Miles O’Brien traveled from California to Mexico and Australia to explore a bold idea that could make a big impact. It's part of our series, Tipping Point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.o…

1
From Micro-Behaviors to Macro-Patterns: Exploring Agent-Based Models with Andrew Crooks 30:12

23d ago30:12

30:12

In this episode of The Flux, host John Cordier sits down with Andrew Crooks at the Complex Social Systems Society Conference in Santa Fe. They dive into the world of agent-based modeling (ABM) - what it is, why it matters, and how it helps us simulate and better understand human behavior in complex systems. From simulating traffic jams to modeling …

1
Why the military is creating artificial reefs to protect U.S. shorelines 5:27

28d ago5:27

5:27

Artificial, human-made reefs have been deployed around the country to enhance and protect coastlines. The Department of Defense is working to deploy them in waters off its coastal military bases with its “Reefense” project. Ali Rogin speaks with Catherine Campbell, who manages the program, to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.o…

1
Scientists work to restore wild ocelot populations with fertility treatments 2:55

28d ago2:55

2:55

While ocelots are widespread in South and Central America, in the United States they are on the brink of extinction. They were once overhunted for their coats, and now they face shrinking habitats. Researchers hope that the key to restoring this species can be found in fertility treatments. John Yang reports for our series, “Saving Species.” PBS Ne…

1
How 200-year-old whaling logs are helping scientists track climate change 7:30

28d ago7:30

7:30

What can centuries-old whaling ship logs tell us about today’s extreme weather? According to scientists, the answer is a lot. They’re using the information recorded by mariners going back hundreds of years to push the frontier of modern-day climate science. Special correspondent Pamela Watts with Rhode Island PBS reports. PBS News is supported by -…

1
Scientists sound alarm on Trump administration’s dismantling of research funding 6:46

1M ago6:46

6:46

The Trump administration is waging a ‘wholesale assault on U.S. science’ that threatens the country’s health, economic development, national security and scientific preeminence. That's according to an open letter published by nearly 2,000 doctors, scientists and researchers. William Brangham discussed the letter with Dr. Steven Woolf, one of its au…

1
On the population code in visual cortex - with Kenneth Harris - #26 1:24:49

1M ago1:24:49

1:24:49

With modern electrical and optical measurement techniques, we can now measure neural activity in hundreds or thousands of neurons simultaneously. This allows for the investigation of population codes, that is, of how groups of neurons together encode information. In 2019 today’s guest published a seminal paper with collaborators at UCL in London wh…

1
The effect of NIH funding cuts on vaccine access and hesitancy research 5:01

1M ago5:01

5:01

The National Institutes of Health has terminated dozens of grants for scientific research projects related to vaccine use and hesitancy, informing researchers that their studies no longer aligned with the Trump administration’s priorities. Ali Rogin speaks with Sophia Newcomer, one of the researchers whose grant was cancelled, whose work focuses on…

1
From Neural Networks to Synthetic Populations: Hamdi Kavak’s Journey 25:59

2M ago25:59

25:59

What if we could predict the impact of a pandemic, a policy change, or even a war before it happens? Hamdi Kavak joins The Flux to discuss how agent-based modeling enables researchers to explore "what if" scenarios and simulate real-world behaviors at both small and massive scales. We dive into the applications of ABM in government-funded projects,…

1
Earth is ‘perilously close’ to a global warming threshold. Here’s what to know 5:58

2M ago5:58

5:58

This past week, the EPA said it is reconsidering the scientific finding that greenhouse gases are a danger to public health. This comes as research shows average global temperatures in 2024 likely rose above a 1.5 degree Celsius threshold that for years has been a red line for climate change. Ali Rogin speaks with Michael Mann at the University of …

1
Wild beavers return to England’s countryside centuries after their extinction 4:45

2M ago4:45

4:45

This past week, beavers were legally released into the English countryside for the first time since they were hunted into extinction there in the 17th century. Conservationists hailed it as a watershed moment for this keystone species, which helps combat flooding and drought by engineering the landscape with dams and channels. Alex Thomson of Indep…

1
Scientists shed new light on the mysterious ‘lost years’ of sea turtles 2:39

2M ago2:39

2:39

Sea turtles are considered one of the oldest living species on Earth, but it’s been a mystery where their babies go after heading out to sea. Known as their “lost years,” the lack of information makes it hard for conservationists to protect these turtles. Now, a team of marine scientists is working to change that. John Yang reports. PBS News is sup…

1
California art initiative examines how science and art collide 2:59

2M ago2:59

2:59

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles is featuring two exhibitions that explore the relationship between movies and technology as part of PST ART: Art & Science Collide. PBS Student Reporting Labs Ebonie Shelley has the story for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funder…

1
From Curiosity to Complexity: Paul Amoruso’s Journey into Agent-Based Modeling 18:39

2M ago18:39

18:39

In this episode of The Flux, host John Cordier, CEO of Epistemix, sits down with Paul Amoruso to explore his unexpected journey into the world of agent-based modeling (ABM). What started as a course recommendation turned into a passion for understanding complex systems and using data to drive better decisions. Paul shares insights from his academic…

1
Blue Ghost lunar landing highlights NASA’s partnership with the private sector 4:53

2M ago4:53

4:53

NASA’s partnership with the private sector took a key step forward with a successful moon landing. The Blue Ghost lunar lander, built by the company, Firefly Aerospace, stuck the landing safely early Sunday, making it the first commercial spacecraft to do so. It's carrying a number of experiments for NASA as part of a larger effort to have private …

1
How AI was used in the making of some of this year’s Oscar favorites 4:23

2M ago4:23

4:23

At this year’s Oscars, there is a subplot of controversy over the use of artificial intelligence in the production of a number of nominated films, including some in the running for best picture. Katey Rich, awards editor at The Ankler and host of the podcast Prestige Junkie, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org…

1
On growing synthetic dendrites – with Hermann Cuntz - #25 1:34:34

2M ago1:34:34

1:34:34

The observed variety of dendritic structures in the brains is striking. Why are they so different, and what determine the branching patterns? Following the dictum “if you understand it, you can build it”, the lab of the guest builds dendritic structures in a computer and explore the underlying principles. Two key principles seem to be to minimize (…

1
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on their longer than expected stay in space 9:56

2M ago9:56

9:56

For NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, the long wait to return to Earth is almost over. They went to the International Space Station last June in a Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They were supposed to return a week later, but because of problems with the Starliner, they’ve stayed at the station for over 250 days. Amna Nawaz discussed mo…

1
Complexity in Government Contracting: Jim Malone's Journey into Computational Social Science 18:21

2M ago18:21

18:21

In this episode of The Flux, host John Cordier interviews Jim Malone at the Complex Social Systems Conference in Santa Fe. Jim, an experienced government acquisition professional, shares his fascinating journey from contracting to pursuing a PhD in Computational Social Science. He discusses the importance of understanding complexity in systems, par…

1
How NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission may help us understand the origins of life on Earth 2:46

3M ago2:46

2:46

The origins of life on our planet remains one of science’s great mysteries. Now, a NASA mission that brought a piece of an ancient asteroid back to Earth has revealed that the building blocks of life may have been scattered throughout the solar system billions of years ago. Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/…

1
Why engineers are turning to beavers for insights into managing water resources 7:40

3M ago7:40

7:40

Beavers and the dams they build are not always embraced in the areas where they do their work. But there's a growing recognition that they also are building a kind of natural infrastructure that helps with water management and the climate. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien went to see the beavers at work during their busy season and has the story…

1
On neuroscience foundation models - with Andreas Tolias - #24 1:31:43

3M ago1:31:43

1:31:43

The term “foundation model” refers to machine learning models that are trained on vast datasets and can be applied to a wide range of situations. The large language model GPT-4 is an example. The group of the guest has recently presented a foundation model for optophysiological responses in mouse visual cortex trained on recordings from 135.000 neu…

1
Decision-Making in Complex Systems: Insights from Agent-Based Modeling with Aaron Frank 38:48

3M ago38:48

38:48

Welcome to The Flux! In this episode, host John Cordier, CEO at Epistemix, explores the intricacies of agent-based modeling and its impact on decision-making with Aaron Frank. Recorded live at the Complex Social System Society of America's conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Aaron shares his journey from traditional national security research to co…

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Synthetic Population Podcasts

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