Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea

Epizode

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  Observing the Solar Eclipse 09.08.2026 46min

  Guests:Peter Gallagher, Director of Dunsink Observatory at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and an Adjunct Professor at Trinity College DublinJohn Regan from Maynooth UniversityLaura Hayes, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS)If you would like to listen to Jonathan’s experience of flying into the path of totality of the solar eclipse in 2015, here’s the link:https://soundcloud.com/whipsmart-media/path-of-totality-1
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  Gold: How does the brain conjure consciousness? 04.08.2026 21min

  For centuries, philosophers have theorised about the mind-body question. Is the mind something separate from the body? If so what does that mean?So, how does the brain conjure consciousness?In this interview from 2021, Jonathan speaks with Anil Seth, Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, Editor-in-Chief of Neuroscience of Consciousness and author of ‘Being You: A New Science of Consciousness’.
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  Could AI be conscious? 02.08.2026 1h

  Guests:Charlotte Blease, Philosopher at Uppsala University and author of ‘Dr Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us – and How AI Could Save Lives’Kevin Mitchell, Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin and author of ‘Free Agents – How Evolution Gave Us Free Will’Alan Smeaton, Professor of Computing at DCUMatthew Campbell from TCDLaura Hayes, DIAS
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  Extra: Could base editing lead to designer babies? 28.07.2026 13min

  Guest: Oliver Bower, Founding Scientist at ‘Preventive’
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  The fish species with no males 26.07.2026 41min

  Guests:Ed Ricemeyer, Senior Bioinformatician and Chair of Animal Systems Genomics at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenJessamyn Fairfield from the University of GalwayShane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD
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  Extra: ET Code of Conduct 21.07.2026 18min

  Guest: Professor Michael Garrett, Astrophysicist at the University of Manchester and Chair of the International Academy of Astronautics’ SETI Committee
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  The problem solving powers of bumblebees 19.07.2026 31min

  Guests:Jussi Kantola, Data Analyst at the University of OuluMatthew Campbell, Professor of Neurovascular Genetics, Trinity College DublinDr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland
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  Extra: Neuroscience and AI 14.07.2026 21min

  Guest: Rana Gujra, CEO of Behavioural Signals, tech entrepreneur and AI expert
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  Is sitting down for long periods killing us? 12.07.2026 25min

  Guests:Dr. Frederick Ho, Senior Lecturer in Public health at the University of GlasgowLaura Hayes, Assistant Professor and Royal Society-Research Ireland University Research Fellow at the Dublin Institute for Advanced StudiesPhil Smyth, Physicist, Engineer and Science Communicator
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  Extra: What is Cystinosis? 07.07.2026 12min

  Guest: Anuj Chauhan, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines
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  Is photographic memory a real thing? 05.07.2026 33min

  Guests:Gabrielle Principe, Professor in the Department of Psychology at the College of CharlestonJessamyn Fairfield from the University of GalwayShane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD
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  Extra: How VR can improve the health of the elderly 30.06.2026 21min

  Guest: Martin O’Neill, Lecturer in Population Health Informatics & Statistics at the Atlantic Technological University
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  The Internet of Animals 28.06.2026 33min

  Guests:Martin Wikelski, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorAndrea Kwakowsky, Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of Galway
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  Extra: How Wi-Fi can be used for surveillance 23.06.2026 14min

  Guest: Felix Morsbach, Privacy and Security Researcher at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
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  What happens when you're struck by lightning? 21.06.2026 44min

  Guests: Jessamyn Fairfield from NUI Galway, Eoin Murphy Science Communicator, Mary Ann Cooper Managing Director in the African Centres for Lightning Education & Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois and Felix Morsbach Privacy and Security Researcher at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
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  Extra: Can we cure nightmares? 16.06.2026 17min

  Guest: Michelle Carr, Director of the Dream Engineering Laboratory at Montreal's Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine and author of ‘Into the Dream Lab: The New Science of Dreams and Nightmares’.
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  Before Trees - What Were ‘Prototaxites’? 14.06.2026 31min

  Guests:Dr. Corentin Loron, Paleobiologist in Trinity College DublinDr. Susan Kelleher, Associate Professor of Chemistry in DCUShane Bergin, Physicist & Assistant Professor in Science Education at UCD
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  Extra: Was there human sacrifice in ancient Rome? 09.06.2026 13min

  Guest: Frederic Auth, Doctoral Researcher at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
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  How does sperm work in outer space? 07.06.2026 33min

  Guests:Hannah Lyons, Reproduction Researcher in Adelaide UniversityMatthew Campbell from Trinity College DublinDr Ruth Freeman from Research Ireland
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  Extra: How microbes tackle pollution 02.06.2026 15min

  Guest: Ludmilla Aristilde, Environmental Engineering Professor at Northwestern University