Host Russ Altman, a professor of bioengineering, genetics, and medicine at Stanford, is your guide to the latest science and engineering breakthroughs. Join Russ and his guests as they explore cutting-edge advances that are shaping the future of everything from AI to health and renewable energy. Along the way, “The Future of Everything” delves into ethical implications to give listeners a well-rounded understanding of how new technologies and discoveries will impact society. Whether you’re a researcher, a student, or simply curious about what’s on the horizon, tune in to stay up-to-date on the latest developments that are transforming our world.
The world of women’s sports is experiencing unprecedented growth, attention, recognition, and investment. Elite athletes including Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, Serena Williams, and many others are having a significant impact on culture, and more women than ever are participating in both professional and recreational sports. Earlier this year, Russ sat down with Dr. Emily Kraus to talk about the future of female athletic health and we’re re-running the episode today. She shared a number of key differences between women and men in sport, and illuminates that these differences are vastly understudied, though she’s working to close that gap. This is an episode we shared with a number of athletes we know, and we hope you’ll do the same.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces Dr. Emily Kraus, professor of orthopedics at Stanford University.
(00:01:55) Injury Trends in Female Athletes
Prevalent injuries and health issues unique to female athletes.
(00:03:34) Menstrual Health in Young Athletes
How training affects puberty, periods, and long-term health.
(00:06:30) Body Image & Mental Health
Navigating body composition, stigma, and disordered eating.
(00:08:30) Competing Through Motherhood
Postpartum athletes and the need for more scientific support.
(00:11:34) Sharing vs. Guarding Performance Data
Whether female athletes are sharing information or staying competitive.
(00:12:25) Fueling, Recovery & Modern Training
Nutrition, rest, and strength training as key performance tools.
(00:15:31) Gender-Based Nutrition Differences
How under-researched female athletes are fueling without guidance.
(00:18:55) The Female Athlete Voice Project
What elite athletes want researched—and what’s missing.
(00:21:21) FASTR & the Science of RED-S
New initiatives addressing energy deficiency and performance.
(00:24:05) Applying Elite Insights to All Women
How weekend warriors can benefit from elite research.
(00:25:11) Cultural Challenges in Sport
Sexism, inequity, and overlooked institutional barriers.
(00:27:03) Getting the Word Out
Finding ways to educate athletes, coaches, and clinicians more effectively.
(00:29:37) Conclusion
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Nora Freeman Engstrom is a professor of law who says that in three-quarters of cases one or more of the parties lacks legal representation. Worse yet, often the litigants are involved in high-consequence civil cases where there is no right to a lawyer and costs are prohibitive. Some states are looking at alternatives including non-lawyer representation, curated legal help for low-income citizens, and even AI, as Engstrom tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering's The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces guest Nora Freeman Engstrom, a professor of law at Stanford University.
(00:03:11) Path to Justice Work
Nora’s journey into legal ethics and justice reform.
(00:04:46) Misconceptions About Civil Court
How civil cases often involve one represented and one unrepresented party.
(00:08:40) Limits of Judicial Help
Why the U.S. adversarial system limits judicial involvement.
(00:10:40) Problems with Self-Help
The lack of reliable resources for people trying to represent themselves.
(00:13:41) The Cost of Legal Help
The high cost of representation and how legal aid is overwhelmed.
(00:15:20) A Missing Middle
How law lacks mid-level professionals to offer affordable legal help.
(00:17:41) Expanding Legal Access
Why law lacks mid-level roles and bans non-lawyer advice.
(00:22:22) New Models for Legal Support
The ways some states are testing trained non-lawyers to expand access.
(00:27:22) Legal Help in the Past
The history of legal access, including lawyers in banks and auto clubs.
(00:30:29) Legal Protectionism
How depression-era protectionism led to today’s lawyer-only model
(00:32:48) The Role of AI in Legal Access
The potential of AI for creating smarter legal tools for courts.
(00:35:52) Conclusion
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Physician Tina Stankovic is an ear, nose, and throat specialist and a lover of music whose seemingly disparate pursuits — medicine and music — have led her to a groundbreaking career in hearing research. She recently worked with music legend Paul Simon during his well-publicized battle with hearing loss and he has become a vocal advocate for hearing research. New understandings and new approaches like regenerative medicine have put the once-impossible dream of hearing restoration within reach, Stankovic tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces guest Tina Stankovic, a professor of otolaryngology and neurosurgery at Stanford University.
(00:03:36) Why Hearing Loss
What inspired Tina’s lifelong journey into hearing science.
(00:04:17) Treating Hearing Loss
Limits of current options and lack of FDA-approved therapies.
(00:05:23) Causes of Hearing Loss
The two main categories of hearing loss: conductive vs. sensorineural.
(00:07:47) Inside the Inner Ear
The complexity of the inner ear, and why diagnosis is so difficult.
(00:09:22) Tinnitus & Hearing Loss
Why ear damage can cause phantom sounds in the brain.
(00:10:28) Emerging Technologies in Hearing Research
New technologies that are evolving treatment approaches.
(00:15:19) Recreating the Ear in the Lab
Challenges the inner ear’s unique composition pose to researchers.
(00:20:02) AI Applications in Hearing Diagnosis
The ways AI is transforming diagnosis and genetic analysis.
(00:21:31) Can Ears Regrow?
Why humans don’t regenerate ear cells—but mice might help.
(00:23:55) Emotional & Social Toll of Hearing Loss
How hearing loss can lead to isolation, stigma, and cognitive decline.
(00:26:06) Born Deaf vs. Later Hearing Loss
Experiential differences between those with early and late hearing loss.
(00:27:52) Paul Simon’s Role and Advocacy
How the artist got involved with Tina’s work and the initiative at Stanford.
(00:29:44) Protecting Your Hearing
Best practices for protecting your hearing.
(00:33:21) Conclusion
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Michael Rau is a professor, theater director, and tech innovator in one. He says that today’s technologies – AI, gaming, interactive storytelling, and even email – are reshaping what performers can do on stage and how audiences experience those performances. The best of the stage has always been about reflecting life, and technology is part of how we live today. It belongs on the stage, as Rau tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces guest Michael Rau, a professor of theatre and performance studies at Stanford University.
(00:03:16) Why Theater Needs Technology
How AI and digital media are reshaping live performance.
(00:05:15) AI & Emerging Theater Tech
AI scripts, machine learning, AR, and interactive storytelling.
(00:07:28) Theater as Food
How both classic and experimental theatre styles can coexist.
(00:10:13) The Relationship Between Theater & Gaming
Theatrical storytelling and its deep connection to gaming.
(00:14:40) The Debate on Liveness
Whether live actors are necessary to theatre performances.
(00:20:2) Temping: A Play Without Actors
Rau’s theatrical piece where the audience becomes the protagonist.
(00:25:38) AI’s Role in Theater
AI-generated visuals and scripts reshape storytelling and performance.
(00:30:44) AI-Driven Improv
AI-driven improv requires new skills, blending structure with spontaneity.
(00:33:44) Should Audiences Know AI Is Involved?
How transparency increases audience engagement and appreciation
(00:35:30) Conclusion
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We've been thinking a lot about culture recently, and reflecting on how–whether or not we’re aware of it–culture is a force that’s always exerting influence on us. It’s typically only when we get outside of our daily routine, our city or even our country, and are confronted with new ways of doing things that we can clearly see the values, norms, and practices that make up the culture we live in. Today, we’re re-running a thought-provoking conversation we had with Michele Gelfand about notions of what she calls “tight” and “loose” cultures. It’s a conversation that helps illuminate some of the invisible forces of culture, and also sheds light on how understanding these forces helps us better navigate the world. We hope you’ll take another listen and enjoy.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces Michele Gelfand, a professor of psychology and business studies at Stanford University.
(00:02:22) What is Culture?
Defining culture as a set of norms, values, and beliefs.
(00:03:36) The Tight-Loose Continuum
Tight versus loose cultures and their enforcement of social norms.
(00:06:20) Individual vs Societal Tight-Loose
The differences in tight-loose orientation across individuals and nations.
(00:08:25) Tight-Loose Across Societal Levels
How history, ecology, and mobility shape cultural tightness or looseness.
(00:11:25) Cultural Intelligence (CQ)
The role of cultural intelligence in negotiations and leadership.
(00:16:21) Tight-Loose in Personal & Professional Life
Negotiating cultural differences in relationships and organizations.
(00:19:53) Cultural Evolutionary Mismatch
Cultural responses to crises and the influence of perceived vs. real threats.
(00:23:45) Tight-Loose Differences in Business
Cultural differences in mergers, acquisitions, and financial performance.
(00:25:58) Improving Cultural Intelligence
Whether individuals can improve their CQ through practice and exposure.
(00:28:37) Tight-Loose in Politics
The growing tight-loose divide in political and social issues.
(00:31:09) Conclusion
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We are on the cusp of a materials revolution – in electronics, health care, and avionics – says guest engineer-scientist Eric Pop. For instance, silicon and copper have served electronics admirably for decades, he says, but at the nanoscale, better materials will be needed. Atomically thin two-dimensional semiconductors (like molybdenum disulfide) and topological semimetals (like niobium phosphide) are two candidates, but with AI tools to design new materials, the future is going to be really interesting, Pop tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ introduces guest Eric Pop, a professor of electrical engineering and materials science at Stanford University
(00:02:59) The Status of Electronics Today
The stability of silicon and copper and the challenges with miniaturization.
(00:06:25) Limits of Current Materials
How miniaturization has increased speed but also created new bottlenecks.
(00:10:29) Universal Memory
The need for faster, non-volatile memory that integrates directly with the CPU.
(00:14:57) The Search for Next-Gen Materials
Exploring better materials for chips, from silicon to copper alternatives.
(00:17:54) Challenges of Copper at Nanoscale
Issues with copper at the nanoscale and the potential of niobium phosphate.
(00:24:46) Two-Dimensional Semiconductors
The potential of carbon nanotubes and 2D materials as replacements for silicon.
(00:29:47) Nanoelectronics and Manufacturing
The shift to 2D materials and the challenges in scaling up production
(00:32:34) AI in Material Discovery
AI’s potential in discovering and manufacturing new materials.
(00:34:56) Conclusion
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Physician Ash Alizadeh has seen the future of disease diagnosis and monitoring. It is coursing through every patient’s veins. Traditionally, biopsies have required invasively gathering tissue – from a lung, a liver, or a fetus. Now it’s possible to look for disease without surgery. The DNA is sitting there in the bloodstream, Alizadeh tells host Russ Altman, as they preview the age of liquid biopsies on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces guest Ash Alizadeh, a faculty member at Stanford University in Oncology and Medicine.
(00:03:39) What is a Liquid Biopsy?
Accessing tissues non-invasively using bodily fluids.
(00:04:31) Detecting Cancer with Liquid Biopsies
How localized cancers can be detected through blood samples.
(00:06:32) The Science Behind Cancer DNA Detection
The differences between normal and cancer DNA
(00:09:51) How Liquid Biopsy Technology Works
The technologies behind detecting cancer-related DNA differences.
(00:12:36) Advances in Liquid Biopsy
New detection approaches using non-mutant molecules and RNA.
(00:14:10) RNA as a Real-Time Tumor Marker
How RNA reveals active tumor processes and drug resistance.
(00:15:55) Tracking Cancer Reccurence
Using tumor-informed panels to monitor cancer recurrence.
(00:16:28) Adapting to Tumor Evolution
Why core mutations remain detectable despite cancer changes.
(00:17:57) Stability of DNA, RNA, and Methylation
Comparing durability and reliability of different biomarkers.
(00:20:49) Listener Question: Early Cancer Detection
Daniel Kim asks about pre-cancer detection and its potential impact.
(00:24:44) Liquid Biopsy in Immunotherapy
Using liquid biopsy to track and improve immune-based treatments.
(00:27:35) Monitoring CAR T-Cell Therapy
How liquid biopsy helps assess immune cell expansion.
(00:32:02) EPIC-Seq: Inferring RNA from DNA
Using DNA fragmentation to predict gene expression in tumors.
(00:34:49) Targeting Tumor Support Systems
Treatment strategies disrupting the tumor microenvironment.
(00:35:52) Conclusion
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February is American Heart Month, and in light of that, we’re bringing back an episode about a group here at Stanford Engineering that’s developing 3D printing methods for human tissues and organs, a process known as bioprinting. Motivated in part by the critical need for heart transplants, Mark Skylar-Scott and his team are specifically working to bioprint tissues of the human heart. It may sound like science fiction, but it’s actually just another example of the groundbreaking research we do here. We hope you’ll take another listen and be inspired by the possibilities.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces guest, Mark Skylar-Scott, a professor of bioengineering at Stanford University.
(00:02:06) What is Bioprinting?
The role of cells and biopolymers in printing functional biological structures.
(00:03:31) Bioprinting a Heart
The potential of printing organs on demand, especially heart tissue.
(00:04:38) Obtaining Cells for Bioprinting
Using stem cells derived from the patient's own cells to create heart tissue.
(00:06:29) Creating Multiple Cell Types for the Heart
The challenge of printing eleven different heart cell types with precision.
(00:08:50) The Scaffold for 3D Printing
The support material used in 3D printing and how it’s later removed.
(00:10:10) Cell Migration and Organ Formation
How cells organize themselves to form functional heart tissue.
(00:12:08) Growing a Full-Sized Heart
Whether they’re printing full-sized hearts or starting with smaller organs.
(00:13:34) Avoiding Overgrowth Risks
The role of bioreactors in shaping the early stages of the organ.
(00:14:57) Scaling Up Cell Production
The need to generate massive numbers of cells for experimentation.
(00:18:32) The Challenge of Vascularization
Creating a blood vessel network to supply oxygen and nutrients.
(00:22:35) Ethical Considerations in Bioprinting
Consent, stem cell sourcing, and the broader ethical landscape.
(00:26:04) The Timeline for Bioprinted Organs
The long timeline for bioprinted organs to reach clinical use.
(00:27:24) The State of the Field & Collaboration
The collaborative, competitive biofabrication field and its rapid progress.
(00:28:20) Conclusion
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Welcome to Stanford Engineering's The Future of Everything, the podcast that delves into groundbreaking research and innovations that are shaping the world and inventing the future. The University has a long history of doing work to positively impact the world and it's a joy to share about the people who are doing this work, what motivates them, and how their work is creating a better future for everybody. Join us every Friday for new episodes featuring insightful conversations with Stanford faculty and to discover how Stanford's research is transforming tomorrow's world.
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Guest Kristy Red-Horse is a biologist who specializes in coronary artery development and disease. She says the latest advances in treatment of blockages could do away with invasive bypass surgeries in favor of growing new arteries using molecules like CXCL12, known to promote artery regrowth in mice. Red-Horse explains how leaps forward in medical imaging, expanding atlases of gene expressions, and new drug delivery mechanisms could someday lead to trials in humans. But, before that day can arrive, much work remains, as Red-Horse tells host Russ Altman in this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces Kristy Red-Horse, a professor of biology at Stanford University.
(00:03:46) Replacing Open-Heart Surgery
Why bypass surgery is invasive, risky, and requires long recovery.
(00:05:09) Challenges in Artery Growth
The difficulty of targeting artery growth with medical interventions.
(00:07:32) The Role of Collateral Arteries
Definition and function of collateral arteries as natural bypass.
(00:09:37) Triggers for Natural Bypass Formation
Genetic factors that may influence the growth of these bypass arteries.
(00:10:49) Unique Properties of Coronary Arteries
Challenges of ensuring artificial growth replicates natural artery function.
(00:13:04) The Discovery of CXCL12
A key molecule that stimulates collateral artery formation.
(00:16:16) Precise Artery Growth Control
The results of targeted CXCL12 injections into mice hearts.
(00:17:32) CXCL12’s Overlooked Role
The molecule’s role in the immune system and stem cells.
(00:20:27) Guinea Pigs and Heart Attack Resistance
How guinea pigs naturally develop collaterals.
(00:23:19) Preventing Heart Disease
Using artery growth treatments to target early-stage coronary disease.
(00:25:25) Breakthroughs in Imaging Technology
New technology that enables identification of collateral growth pathways.
(00:27:07) How Collateral Arteries Form
The two mechanisms in which new arteries form.
(00:28:48) The Future of Medical Artery Growth
The possibility of eliminating bypass surgery with targeted artery growth.
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Materials scientist and physicist Guosong Hong is an expert in getting materials to do remarkable things. Recently, he and collaborators used a common food dye found in snack chips to turn living tissue transparent, allowing light to penetrate through skin and muscle. Hong is now working to realize a new age of medical imaging that lets doctors see deep into the body – without surgery. It’s a miracle of physics but it could change medicine, Hong tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces Guosong Hong, an expert in physics, material science, and biology from Stanford University.
(00:02:52) Material Science Meets Neuroscience
How Guosong’s research blends nanomaterials and brain science.
(00:04:01) Why Tissue Isn’t Transparent
The challenge of light penetration in biological tissues.
(00:05:55) A New Approach to Tissue Clearing
The physics behind tissue transparency and refractive index manipulation.
(00:08:57) UV Light and Transparency
How manipulating UV absorption can align refractive indexes.
(00:11:17) First Experiments and Results
Initial tests that demonstrate successful tissue clearing.
(00:13:19) Applications in Medicine
The potential of transparent tissues in dermatology and medical imaging.
(00:15:36) Testing on Live Tissue
The results of testing transparency techniques on live mice.
(00:19:30) Transparency in Nature
How some species have naturally transparent tissue.
(00:20:52) Human Eye and Protein Transparency
The unique proteins that keep our lenses clear using similar physics.
(00:23:24) Wireless Light Inside the Body
The development of ultrasound-activated light sources for tissue imaging.
(00:26:56) Precision of Ultrasound Light
How precisely ultrasound can trigger tiny particles to emit light.
(00:29:14) Conclusion
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