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WTP

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WTP

Podcast: Spider Web Strength – It’s More Than Just the Silk

By Clark Boyd ⋅ February 10, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Common garden spider, underside, spinning web. (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Technology Podcast 356: Spider silk is as strong as steel. Literally. But some new research shows that a spider web’s power lies in more than just strength. There’s also its stretchiness…

Podcast: B-Sides – The Diamond Light Source

By Clark Boyd ⋅ January 6, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Diamond Light Source (Photo: diamond.ac.uk)

New Year, New Podcast. In this B-side episode, we take you inside the UK’s national synchrotron – the Diamond Light Source. Epic.

Podcast: Helping Amputees Fight Phantom-Limb Pain

By Clark Boyd ⋅ December 12, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

kbomkamp

This week you’ll get to meet Katherine Bomkamp, who at the age of 16 was inspired to find a way to help amputees suffering from phantom limb pain. Now she’s 20, and she tells you about the Pain Free Socket. Also, the changing rules of Cyberwar.

Podcast: Soft Robots Take Cues from Nature

By Clark Boyd ⋅ December 5, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Starfish Robot from George W. Whitesides and his team at Harvard. (Photo: Harvard)

Technology Podcast 348: This week, we hear about a new breed of soft, squishy robots that have been developed by researchers at Harvard. These bots take their cues from starfish and worms, not the Terminator.

Podcast: The Kiira – Uganda’s Electric Car

By Clark Boyd ⋅ November 18, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

The Kiira electric car (Photo: Makerere University)

Stories this week on Uganda’s electric car, Liberia’s new undersea fiber optic cable, and some Nigerians who are recycling plastic bottles into houses. Also, Syrian web monitoring and an app called Instant WILD.

Podcast: Celebrating Everyday Technology Genius

By Clark Boyd ⋅ November 10, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Bubble Wrap (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Most tech podcasts spend all of their time talking about the newest, hottest thing to hit the shelves. But sometimes, I like to highlight those everyday bits of tech that people actually use, and find useful. Take bubble wrap, for instance. Did you know that it was originally created in the 1950s to be used as wallpaper? [...]

Tech Podcast: ‘Inspire Japan’

By Clark Boyd ⋅ April 15, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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On this episode of our weekly technology podcast, we revisit the PechaKucha phenomenon. It’s short, regular brainstorming sessions hosted the world over by architects, designers and other creative types. Find out what they’re doing for Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. Download MP3 (35:27)

Tech Podcast: Revisiting past nuclear accidents

By Clark Boyd ⋅ April 8, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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In this week’s Technology Podcast, look into past nuclear accidents at Chernobyl (pictured), Three Mile Island, and Tokaimura to understand the current events at Fukushima in Japan. We’ll try to give you some historical perspective on the breaking news. (Photo: Elena Filatova) Download MP3 (36:09)

Tech Podcast: A German and his cellphone…tracked

By Clark Boyd ⋅ April 1, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Cell phones seem so innocent, and we use them so much. One German politician decided to find out just how much he uses his phone, and how much of that use was tracked by his cell phone company. You’ll be amazed at how much information was kept. Just listen in to this edition of The World’s Technology Podcast. Download MP3 (27:03)

Tech Podcast: Japan’s nuclear crisis

By Clark Boyd ⋅ March 18, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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This is one of the damaged reactors from the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan. During the past week, the plant has been the focus of global attention, as plant operators try to avoid the release of radioactive material, caused by damage wrought by last week’s earthquake and subsequent tsunami. On this week’s Tech Podcast, you’ll hear a variety of viewpoints on the unfolding crisis. (Photo: BBC screengrab) Download MP3 (24:20)

Tech Podcast: Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks

By Clark Boyd ⋅ March 4, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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This week, the US Army charged Bradley Manning with 22 counts in connection with the alleged leaking of documents to WikiLeaks. The new charges include one that could carry the death penalty, although prosecutors say they will not ask for it. Find out more in this episode of The World’s Technology Podcast. (Photo: US Army) Download MP3 (19:33)

Tech Podcast: PechaKucha Day for Haiti Update

By Clark Boyd ⋅ February 24, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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In this week’s technology podcast, we give you an update on a story we brought you a year ago. It’s about a group of global architects, designers and other creative people who tried to raise awareness, and money, for the rebuilding of Haiti. Now, their efforts have paid off with the building of a new school. (Photo: PechaKucha) Download MP3 (31:03)

Tech Podcast: Social networks past, present and future

By Clark Boyd ⋅ January 27, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Ah, a good old-fashioned wedding, organized entirely via Facebook and Twitter. In a special BBC series, we’ll take a look at “The Secret History of Social Networking.” We’ll find out how social networks got started, and where they might be headed. Download MP3 (27:04)

Tech Podcast: 3D printing for the masses?

By Clark Boyd ⋅ January 17, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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“Tea. Early Grey. Hot.” That’s what Captain Picard would ask for, and (usually) that’s what the Star Trek replicator gave him. Well, the Thing-o-Matic’s not quite that sophisticated, but it can print 3D objects. On this episode of The World’s Technology Podcast, we’ll find out if the 3D printing revolution has truly come to our desktops. Download MP3 (22:01)

Tech Podcast: Robotic limbs assist in Japan

By Clark Boyd ⋅ December 28, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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In this episode of our Technology Podcast, you’ll hear about some amazing new robotic technologies in Japan. Some are designed to help stroke victims walk again. Others are built to help the blind take walks. We’ll also tell you about mobile banking in Haiti, and Cuba’s own homegrown Wikipedia site. Download MP3 (29:54)