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In this Weird Science edition, we look at the achievements of 13-year-old Willis Gibson, the first human player to complete the classic game Tetris. Technology and nature intersect as our hosts discuss the potential use of plants to create supercapacitors for energy storage, opening possibilities for organic, biodegradable power sources.In AI news, there’s only a 5% chance it will decide to destroy humanity. Or one in twenty, if you like those odds. Plus, they touch on the ethical dilemmas surrounding posthumous digital cloning and the replication of deceased individuals' personalities using AI.A breakthrough in robotics, where scientists have developed an artificial pain-sensing system for robots, could enable machines to differentiate between safe and harmful objects, potentially revolutionizing surgical procedures and enhancing safety in human-robot interactions.And in the medical files, resonant frequencies in human cells could be used as both a therapeutic and diagnostic tool. Not to mention a sad trombo

Happy 2024 everyone. ßorry there's been a gap uploading. A lot of personal nonsense. The show has been going out on BFM bu we haven't been uploading here consistently. Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage offer a satirical and insightful review of technology in 2023. Alongside Matt’s obsession with creating conspiracy theories, we look at the proliferation of disinformation and the continued polarization of social media and broadcast platforms.  We cover the advancements and setbacks in electric vehicles (EVs) and the continuing uncertainty of the crypto space.There’s good news, too. The amazing pictures and scientific discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope. Breakthrough health treatments for Alzheimer’s and cancer. We end with a focus on the potential and pitfalls of AI in 2024, touching upon virtual assistants, disinformation in elections, and the growing detachment of Gen Z from technology.Business as usual, really.Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury fo

In this episode, Matt and Richard explore the complex relationship between technology and memory, focusing on the preservation of digital content after death and the concept of digital avatars.They look at concerns around the preservation of digital records for future generations, questioning what our current digital footprints will contribute to the historical record. And examine how society can ensure that digital formats are accessible and usable over time.As a mirror they look at grief tech, technology used in the grieving process, such as digital avatars that can recreate the appearance and personality of deceased individuals. They examine its ethical and psychological implications, questioning its impact on the grieving process and its potential benefits and harms. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/25/wordpress-preserve-digital-content-100-yearshttps://www.newscientist.c

In the future, we might not be able to see the stars for the trees if wood becomes the material of choice for interstellar habitation. Plus wilful ignorance, scent location and self-driving cars. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://gizmodo.com/daye-tampon-can-test-for-stis-1851000035?utm_source=viphttps://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034640-400-sweeteners-the-bitter-truth-about-low-calorie-sugar-substitutes/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401348-rats-squeak-with-happiness-when-they-are-with-another-rat/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401087-swarm-of-robots-can-make-collective-decisions-by-imitating-bees/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401141-skull-shows-man-survived-surgery-to-ease-brain-pressure-2700-years-ago/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401171-ocean-heat-could-supply-essentially-endless-clean-energy-to-islands/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400887-rats-can-use-imagination-to-menta

Celine Dion terrorizes a New Zealand city as officials in Guangzhou wipe the Halloween smile from riders’ faces and Meta’s chatbots sow confusion and apathy. Plus, VR helps with the horrors of hoarding. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://futurism.com/neoscope/vr-hoarders-practice-throwing-garbagehttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/24/porirua-siren-kings-new-zealand-city-speaker-battleshttps://www.iflscience.com/archax-japan-engineers-make-transformer-robot-that-actually-works-71235https://futurism.com/facebook-jane-austen-spamhttps://futurism.com/meta-ai-tom-brady-colin-kaepernickhttps://futurism.com/the-byte/bomb-threat-explosives-delivery-robotshttps://techcrunch.com/2023/10/24/dmv-immediately-suspends-cruises-robotaxi-permit-in-california/?guccounter=1https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398656-gpt-4-gave-advice-on-planning-terrorist-attacks-when-asked-in-zulu/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2399370-chat

As AI unveils its ability to speak to us, we take a look at the hidden world of data labelling, the secrets of 100-year-old blood and in-the-box updates.Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: ·       https://gizmodo.com/chatgpt-gains-the-ability-to-see-hear-and-speak-1850869977·       https://sea.mashable.com/tech/27883/what-are-metas-ai-personas-and-how-do-you-chat-with-them·       https://sea.mashable.com/tech/27865/we-have-more-questions-than-answers-after-chatting-with-metas-ai-personas·       https://about.fb.com/news/2023/09/introducing-ai-powered-assistants-characters-and-creative-tools/·       https://sea.mashable.com/mobile/27893/apple-will-be-able-to-update-iphones-while-theyre-still-in-the-box-report-claims·       https

What’s in a word? From the leisurely shopping arcades of the 19th Century to the algorithm-driven surfing of today, the nature of browsing has transformed from casual entertainment to coercive click-bait.Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Image by Kulturpop via MidJourneySubscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.comFollow us:Tw: @kulturmattIn: @kulturpop & @kulturmattW: www.kulturpop.com

It’s Fat Bear Week on Mattsplained, with a cast of characters including purring cats, U2, Mean Girls, and disembodied hands and tongues. If it sounds weird, it’s only science. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2395709-scientists-have-only-just-figured-out-how-cats-purr/https://www.popsci.com/technology/electronic-tongue-ai-robot/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394911-robotic-hand-has-the-dexterity-to-handle-tricky-objects-with-care/https://www.slashgear.com/1336606/technology-las-vegas-msg-sphere-explained/https://www.archdaily.com/1007658/the-sphere-at-the-venetian-resort-opens-to-the-public-in-las-vegas#:~:text=The%20entire%20spherical%20façade%20acts,fountains%20or%20the%20half%2Dscalehttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/04/style/tiktok-movies-mean-girls.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67009468?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGAhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67

Human NPCs, phlubbing your partner and AI influencers fail to to out-weird Elon Musk’s latest X-rated escapade.Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Image by Kulturpop via MidJourneySubscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.comFollow us:Tw: @kulturmattIn: @kulturpop & @kulturmattW: www.kulturpop.comIn this episode of Mattsplained, hosts Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage explore the weird world of recent breakthroughs in science and technology. First up is a peculiar trend called "NPCs," where content creators pretend to be non-playable characters in video games. These NPC streamers mimic repetitive behavior, earning substantial amounts of money through livestreams. The hosts speculate on the potential reasons behind this trend and its commercial implications.Moving on, they delve into the rise of AI influencers. While virtual influencers like lil miquela have been around for a few years, new AI

In a world where everything is rated, what value do those ratings have? And how are they driving generational change in our attitude to work?Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9In this episode, hosts Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage discuss various topics related to work, technology, and society. Matt talks about a documentary he watched on AI development and its potential to spread chaos. The film explores scenarios for AI becoming sentient and how to defeat it. They also touch on the obsession with feedback and ratings in today's culture, leading to discussions about the impact of constant rating on individuals' mental health and work performance.Matt introduces the concept of "lazy girl jobs," which are undemanding jobs that pay enough to live well without requiring an emotional commitment. This idea is seen as a response to the fast-changing job landscape driven by technology and remote work. The hosts explore the shift in expectations regarding wor

What do exit surveys for exes, a global glitter shortage, red coloured green screens and the brain patterns of lonely people have in common? They’re all extremely weird.Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Introduction:Welcome to another episode of Mattsplained, where we delve into the weird and wonderful happenings of the week. From unusual physics stories to dating trends and scientific discoveries, this week's roundup is filled with intriguing topics. Join us as we explore the world of glitter shortages, AI press conferences, and the effects of loneliness on the brain.Weirding Out and Stealth Physics:On this episode of Mattsplained, Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage dive into the concept of "weirding out." They discuss how last week's episode focused on stealth weirding, where they disguised a physics-centered story behind a captivating narrative. Matt reveals his intention to cover various topics in more depth, including AI, CRISPR, UFOs, working tren

History is a wild and savage place. And one day that wild and savage place will be us. Will future societies cringe at our selfies, food shots and obsession with screens?Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/26/style/culture-regret-crocs-social-media-cringe.htmlSubscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.comFollow us:Tw: @kulturmattIn: @kulturpop & @kulturmattW: www.kulturpop.com

Sorry! We accidentally uploaded MSP238 as 237. This is the real episode. Hope you enjoy it. Web3 promises to democratise the Internet, and return control to users at the expense of Big Tech. But is it a problem masquerading as a solution?Further Reading: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25734220-200-web3-promises-to-reclaim-the-internet-from-tech-giants-will-it-work/https://www.adelphi.edu/news/could-blockchain-revolutionize-voting/Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.comFollow us:Tw: @kulturmattIn: @kulturpop & @kulturmattW: www.kulturpop.com

Bingbots, algo-cheating, taped-up batteries, aliens and Neanderthals are just some of the topics Mattsplained is weirding out with today. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/14/23599300/hyundai-kia-car-theft-software-update-free-tiktok-challengehttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/battery-power-laptop-phone-research-dalhousie-university-1.6724175https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/14/23600358/elon-musk-tweets-algorithm-changes-twitterhttps://arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/its-not-aliens-itll-probably-never-be-aliens-so-stop-please-just-stop/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2359553-early-risers-may-have-inherited-faster-body-clocks-from-neanderthals/https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/15/23599072/microsoft-ai-bing-personality-conversations-spy-employees-webcamsImage by Kulturpop via MidJourneySubscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.comFollow us:Tw: @kulturmattI

Does the idea of shape-shifting T-1000 robots terrify you? Science create a robot that can shift from metal to solid, as this week’s Weird Science takes in comets, aquatic dairy farms and more ChatGPT. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://www.iflscience.com/chatgpt-can-pass-part-of-the-united-states-medical-licensing-exam-67233https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.12.19.22283643v2.fullhttps://gizmodo.com/twitter-elon-musk-algorithm-for-you-tab-1850026346https://futurism.com/giant-asteroid-actually-swarm-particles-impossible-destroyhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/19/floating-dairy-farm-rotterdam-climate-crisishttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/24/us-electric-vehicles-lithium-consequences-researchhttps://futurism.com/giant-asteroid-actually-swarm-particles-impossible-destroyhttps://www.newscientist.com/article/2356076-metal-robot-can-melt-its-way-out-of-tight-spaces-to-escape/https://www.newsci

It’s the first Weird Science of 2023. Inside our almanack of insane ideas are an elixir of youth, an insulating superwood and a system that creates a 3D surveillance system from your WiFi box. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://gptzero.mehttps://gizmodo.com/cnet-ai-chatgpt-news-robot-1849996151https://www.cnet.com/tech/cnet-is-experimenting-with-an-ai-assist-heres-why/https://www.engadget.com/scientists-gave-a-robot-a-sense-of-smell-with-locust-antennae-and-ai-234427753.html?src=rss&guccounter=2https://www.newscientist.com/article/2355174-children-aged-5-are-better-at-switching-their-attention-than-chimps/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2354698-a-blast-of-ultrasound-waves-could-rejuvenate-ageing-cells/https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3p7xj/scientists-are-getting-eerily-good-at-using-wifi-to-see-people-through-walls-in-detailhttps://www.newscientist.com/article/2353759-how-ai-is-shifting-the-limits-of-knowledge-

Electric cars, lies and the metaverse. As far as Mattsplained is concerned, it’s all you need to know about 2023.Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/29/technology/personaltech/new-tech-2023-ai-chat-vr.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/dec/31/ai-assisted-plagiarism-chatgpt-bot-says-it-has-an-answer-for-thathttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/02/america-social-recession-less-friends-sex-mental-healthhttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/04/apple-artificial-intelligence-ai-audiobookshttps://www.riffusion.com/?fbclid=IwAR0J2sm3fwS_F8IxFyrFlqqZWv-aVJEcDpXSFBLjVAvv-8HrwaqdQCZrmIEhttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/03/tesla-shares-price-value-decline-elon-muskhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/05/flutes-synths-a-human-voice-how-should-electric-vehicles-soundhttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/03/why-a-67bn-takeover-could-make-microso

Mattsplained went goblin mode in 2022. How else do you cope with Twitter warfare, quiet quitting and crypto collapses? Oh yeah, there was some good stuff about the year, too. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/05/crypto-ftx-collapse-bankruptcy-companies/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/13/us-scientists-confirm-major-breakthrough-in-nuclear-fusionhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2022/12/13/4-mind-boggling-technology-advances-in-store-for-2023/?sh=48a58b5a1a40  https://universityofcalifornia.edu/news/11-incredible-uc-research-breakthroughs-2022Image by Kulturpop via MidJourneySubscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.comFollow us:Tw: @kulturmattIn: @kulturpop & @kulturmattW: www.kulturpop.com

ChatGPT, a chatbot from  OpenAI, has been creating headlines with its incredible ability to generate screenplays, write code and seemingly answer questions on any topic. Sage or snake oil: is it too good to be true?Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Image by Kulturpop via MidJourneySubscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.comFollow us:Tw: @kulturmattIn: @kulturpop & @kulturmattW: www.kulturpop.com

If the Metaverse is the Internet, where does that leave VR? Exploring the Immersive layer of XR – extended reality.Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard BradburyProduced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9Further Reading: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2323682-working-in-virtual-reality-for-a-week-made-people-less-productive/https://futurism.com/the-byte/facebook-metaverse-users-quit-monthhttps://www.wired.com/story/extreme-fashion-metaverse/https://futurism.com/the-byte/founder-oculus-zuckerberg-metaversehttps://www.wired.com/story/china-threatens-splinter-metaverse/Image by Kulturpop via MidJourneySubscribe to the Kulturpop Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.comFollow us:Tw: @kulturmattIn: @kulturpop & @kulturmattW: www.kulturpop.com