Immunology Deep Dive - an introduction to the central dogma of molecular biology, protein structure, virology, antigen presentation, T-cells, and acquired (adaptive) immunity. I reference and describe some of my favorite resources to learn more about these fascinating topics. Rich with high-resolution images and diagrams. Total length 1h24m duration including Q&A. Presented to the Foresight Institute on May 28 2020 (towards the beginning of the covid panic). Over 6,200 views.
Amazing Immunology - A somewhat shorter (1h16m) discussion on Ivor Cummins’ video podcast covering many of the same topics but with less introductory material. Suitable for those who already well know the so-called “central dogma” of molecular biology and who like more of a back-and-forth style instead of straight lecture format. Presented June 6 2020. Over 46,000 views.
Potential Upsides of COVID-19 - Presented at the very beginning of the covid panic (April 1 2020) this is a survey what good things I suspected at the time might come out of the pandemic. I feel this talk has aged rather well although: 1) I wasn’t right about everything, and 2) I did not foresee - much less discuss - all of the self-inflicted devastation (lockdowns, mandates, etc, etc, etc). Presented to the Foresight Institute. 1h4m duration including Q&A. Over 1,500 views.
Space Debris and The Kessler Syndrome - For several years at NASA I worked on the problems of orbital space debris (“space junk”) and space traffic management. This presentation is an updated graphically-rich survey of these topics. The Long Now Foundation’s production team did a lot of wonderful editing - inserting cool video in places where it was just my talking head. Presented at the Long Now Foundation’s Interval salon series in April 2022. 1h12m duration including Q&A. Over 3,400 views.
Interview/discussion with Pete Worden - Pete is a former professor of astrophysics, former US Air Force General, former Director of NASA Ames Research Center from 2006 to 2015 (where I reported to him) and currently Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. Pete is perhaps the central figure - to some extent operating behind the scenes - in the “New Space” movement which started in the late 1990s and has been growing ever since. 57m duration including audience Q&A, for the Foresight Institute Space Group.
Learning to Learn and Favorite Discoveries - A short (10m) presentation on how (and why) I keep learning, and on Intelligence Amplification (I.A). From the Foresight Institute Vision Weekend 2019.