Maria Barna is an authority on ribosomes – “life’s most ancient and spectacular molecular machines.” Ribosomes make proteins in the body. There can be a thousand different types of ribosomes in a single cell, she says, each with a specific job to do. But sometimes things go awry and ribosomes get “hijacked,” leading to disease. Barna studies these “diabolical” variations to find new therapies to treat diseases ranging from cancer and COVID to Parkinson’s. When diseases hit, it’s all about the ribosomes, Barna 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 Maria Barna, a professor of genetics at Stanford University.

(00:04:21) Origins of Ribosome Research

Maria explains why ribosomes became the focus of her work.

(00:06:14) Ribosome Function and Scale

Ribosomes’ functions and the energy required for their production.

(00:08:28) Ribosomes as Machines

How ribosomes influence which proteins are produced and when.

(00:09:48) Ribosome Regulation

The regulatory layers within ribosomes and their possible variants.

(00:14:35) Ribosomes and Disease

How ribosomal dysfunction is linked to a wide range of diseases.

(00:18:16) Ribosome Mutations and Development

Congenital disorders that can be attributed to specific ribosomal mutations.

(00:20:44) RNA vs. Protein Output

Why RNA measurements alone do not accurately predict protein levels.

(00:24:16) Designing Ribosomes for Therapy

The potential of using engineered ribosomes for target therapies.

(00:26:16) Small-Molecule Ribosome Modulators

Screening compounds that may enhance ribosome activity for treatments.

(00:28:39) Future Ribosome Profiling

Isolating individual ribosomes to understand their specific roles.

(00:30:35) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: scientific progress, community, and alternative career interest.

(00:34:01) Conclusion

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In October, chemical engineer Will Tarpeh was awarded a 2025 MacArthur “Genius Grant” in recognition of his pioneering work to turn wastewater into a source of valuable materials. Will envisions a future in which the concept of wastewater is obsolete, thanks to advances in recycling. A couple of years ago, we sat down to talk with him about this work, and we hope you’ll take another listen today to learn more about the research Will is doing to transform the potential of wastewater into resources.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces Will Tarpeh, a professor of chemical engineering at Stanford University.

(00:03:01) Wastewater as a Modern Mine

How elements like nitrogen and phosphorus can be recovered from waste.

(00:04:15) Path to Sanitation Research

Will shares what led to his interest in studying wastewater.

(00:06:55) The Science of Separation

The electrochemical and material techniques to extract valuable compounds.

(00:08:37) Urine-Based Fertilizer

How human urine could meet up to 30% of global fertilizer needs.

(00:11:08) Drugs in Wastewater

The potential of reclaiming pharmaceuticals from waste streams.

(00:14:14) Decentralized Sanitation

Opportunities for neighborhood or household-scale treatment systems.

(00:16:48) Source Separation Systems

How dividing waste at the source improves recycling and recovery.

(00:18:56) Global Sanitation Challenges

Ways that developing countries can adopt modern waste solutions.

(00:23:51) Preventing Algal Blooms

The systems that are helping to reduce nutrient pollution and dead zones.

(00:27:16) The Urine Summit

A community advancing urine recycling and sustainable sanitation policy.

(00:28:43) Conclusion

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Gabriel Weintraub studies how digital markets evolve. In that regard, he says platforms like Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb have already disrupted multiple verticals through their use of data and digital technologies. Now, they face both the opportunity and the challenge of leveraging AI to further transform markets, while doing so in a responsible and accountable way. Weintraub is also applying these insights to ease friction and accelerate results in government procurement and regulation. Ultimately, we must fall in love with solving the problem, not with the technology itself, Weintraub 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 Gabriel Weintraub, a professor of operations, information, and technology at Stanford University.

(00:03:00) School Lunches to Digital Platforms

How designing markets in Chile led Gabriel to study digital marketplaces.

(00:03:57) What Makes a Good Market

Outlining the core principles that constitute a well-functioning market.

(00:05:29) Opportunities and Challenges Online

The challenges associated with the vast data visibility of digital markets.

(00:06:56) AI and the Future of Search

How AI and LLMs could revolutionize digital platforms.

(00:08:15) Rise of Vertical Marketplaces

The new specialized markets that curate supply and ensure quality.

(00:10:23) Winners and Losers in Market Shifts

How technology is reshaping industries from real estate to travel.

(00:12:38) Government Procurement in Chile

Applying market design and AI tools to Chile’s procurement system.

(00:15:00) Leadership and Adoption

The role of leadership in modernizing government systems.

(00:18:59) AI in Government and Regulation

Using AI to help governments streamline complex bureaucratic systems.

(00:21:45) Streamlining Construction Permits

Piloting AI tools to speed up municipal construction-permit approvals.

(00:23:20) Building an AI Strategy

Creating an AI strategy that aligns with business or policy goals.

(00:25:26) Workforce and Experimentation

Training employees to experiment with LLMs and explore productivity gains.

(00:27:36) Humans and AI Collaboration

The importance of designing AI systems to augment human work, not replace it.

(00:28:26) Future in a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: AI’s impact, passion and resilience, and soccer dreams.

(00:30:39) Conclusion

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Biochemist Lingyin Li survived breast cancer at just 30 and now works to harness the human immune system to fight cancers that have long evaded treatment. T cells, she says, are powerful cancer killers, but they can be oblivious. She and her lab colleagues have discovered a masking enzyme that squelches the immune system’s “danger signals” and are now developing drugs to block that enzyme. She likens her work to an arms race between cancer and immunotherapy. “The cancers are not getting smarter, but we are,” Li 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 Lingyin Li, a professor of biochemistry at Stanford University.

(00:03:38) Research Motivation

Lingyin explains how her breast cancer diagnosis inspired her research.

(00:04:31) How T-Cells Work

T-cell mechanisms and why they struggle to reach solid tumors.

(00:05:38) Immune System Overview

Innate and adaptive immunity and how mutations make cancer recognizable.

(00:07:28) Awakening the Immune System

Efforts to stimulate innate immune cells to detect and expose tumors.

(00:10:54) The Cancer Signal

Discovery of cancer-derived DNA signals that alert the immune system.

(00:13:01) Cancer’s Evasion Mechanism

How tumors destroy immune signals to hide from detection.

(00:14:26) ENPP1 Enzyme

Identification of ENPP1 as the enzyme enabling immune evasion.

(00:15:22) Balancing Immunity and Safety

Role of ENPP1 in autoimmunity and the challenge of targeting it safely.

(00:19:30) ENPP1 Inhibitors

Development of molecules to block ENPP1 and enhance immune signaling.

(00:24:55) Preclinical Findings

The promising results against aggressive solid tumors in animal studies

(00:28:05) From Lab to Clinic

The progress toward FDA approval and preparation for human testing.

(00:31:04) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: innovation, collaboration, and the outlook for cancer treatment.

(00:33:14) Conclusion

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On our 300th episode, Stanford Hoover Institution Director and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talks about her return to Stanford after years in government and the impact she sees rapidly advancing technologies having on democracy and public policy. She says the future demands greater collaboration among industry, academia, and government to ensure promising fields like quantum computing and AI are used for the greatest good—in education, medicine, and the sciences. We are in a race that we must win, Rice tells host Russ Altman on this special episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and a professor of political science and political economy at Stanford University.

(00:04:08) Returning to Stanford

Why Condoleezza returned to academia after serving as Secretary of State.

(00:04:50) Higher Education & Public Trust

Potential factors impacting universities' connection to the broader public.

(00:07:31) Why Research Still Matters

The importance of curiosity-driven, federally funded university research.

(00:09:32) Hoover’s Emerging Tech Initiative

An outline of the Hoover Institution’s Tech Initiative and its policies.

(00:12:11) Uniting Scientists & Policymakers

How engineers and researchers are engaging with policy and ethics.

(00:13:41) The Race For Innovation

Emerging themes and key enablers in the technology innovation race.

(00:19:17) Industry in the Lead

How private companies are now the primary drivers of innovation.

(00:22:02) Global Tech & National Interests

The tension between globalized tech firms and U.S. policy interests

(00:24:35) AI & Education

Using AI as a tool to enhance teaching and critical thinking in students.

(00:28:30) Students Driving Policy

The contribution students are making to Hoover’s tech policy work.

(00:29:23) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: hope, innovation, time, humanity, and alternate careers.

(00:31:09) Conclusion

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Tune in on Friday, November 7th to listen to our 300th episode with a very special guest.

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About a year ago, a research team at Stanford Engineering led by Guosong Hong published a paper about their work to use a common food dye to make mouse skin transparent. Their findings made a big splash and have the potential to provide a range of benefits in health care. You can imagine that if we have the ability to see what’s going on under the skin without having to cut into it, or use radiation to get a clear look, this could improve everything from invasive biopsies to painful blood draws. We hope you’ll tune in again and enjoy.

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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.

(00:01:52) Material Science Meets Neuroscience

How Guosong’s research blends nanomaterials and brain science.

(00:03:00) Why Tissue Isn’t Transparent

The challenge of light penetration in biological tissues.

(00:04:54) A New Approach to Tissue Clearing

The physics behind tissue transparency and refractive index manipulation.

(00:07:57) UV Light and Transparency

How manipulating UV absorption can align refractive indexes.

(00:10:16) First Experiments and Results

Initial tests that demonstrate successful tissue clearing.

(00:12:19) Applications in Medicine

The potential of transparent tissues in dermatology and medical imaging.

(00:14:36) Testing on Live Tissue

The results of testing transparency techniques on live mice.

(00:18:30) Transparency in Nature

How some species have naturally transparent tissue.

(00:19:52) Human Eye and Protein Transparency

The unique proteins that keep our lenses clear using similar physics.

(00:22:24) Wireless Light Inside the Body

Developing ultrasound-activated light sources for tissue imaging.

(00:24:55) Precision of Ultrasound Light

How precisely ultrasound can trigger tiny particles to emit light.

(00:28:14) Conclusion

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Clinician-scientist Jill Helms is an expert on healing. Until about age 30, people heal easily, she says, but later on, not so well. Regenerative medicine suggests avenues for improvement, she promises. Her research focuses on understanding the physical and molecular processes of healing to design better therapies. One approach awakens “sleeper” stem cells to aid healing, a new drug in trial regenerates bone, and another avenue targets infections that appear near medical devices using gum-like tissues that create sealing barriers. In many ways, nature remains our best model for healing, Helms 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 Jill Helms, a professor of surgery at Stanford University.

(00:03:42) Why Study Wound Healing

Jill shares what led her to explore how the body repairs itself after injury.

(00:04:23) How Healing Works

Explanation of physical signals, stem cells, and the stages of tissue repair.

(00:07:23) Healing Declines with Age

How healing quality and speed drop significantly after age thirty.

(00:10:48) Physical vs. Biological Signals

The biological and physical signals that work together to guide healing.

(00:13:21) Regenerative Medicine

Therapies designed to restore healing capacity and accelerate repair.

(00:16:55) Infection and Implants

Challenges of preventing infections around skin penetrating medical devices.

(00:21:54) Nature’s Blueprint

Using biological models to inspire self-renewing wound interfaces.

(00:26:19)  Biomimicry and Evolutionary Insight

What scientists are learning from animals to inform human tissue repair.

(00:30:51) Future In a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: scientific curiosity, young researchers, and supportive environments.

(00:33:04) Conclusion

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Bioengineer Michael Fischbach studies alternative vaccine delivery methods, like self-administered creams with no needles, health professionals, or side effects. He teases a day when vaccines that don’t make you feel bad come in the mail in ketchup-style packets. Such innovations would greatly improve vaccine uptake, especially in developing countries, and speed global response to novel viruses. It would change how we think about vaccines, Fischbach 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 Fischbach, a professor of bioengineering at Stanford University.

(00:04:24) Cream-Based Vaccines

The discovery that revealed the skin’s ability to spark systemic immunity.

(00:07:36) Engineering Immunity

Modifying staph epidermidis to carry antigens and test immune response.

(00:09:38) Tumor Regression

How engineered bacteria triggered tumor-killing immunity in mice.

(00:12:53) Antibody Discovery

Evidence that skin exposure can generate long-lasting antibodies.

(00:17:02) Antibody Response in Humans

Whether humans show antibody responses to their own skin bacteria.

(00:18:42) Turning Bacteria into Vaccines

Embedding harmless pathogen fragments into bacterial surface proteins.

(00:20:55) Immunity Without Shots

How mice achieved vaccine-level immunity through topical application.

(00:24:00) Reimagining Vaccine Delivery

The potential for self-applied, needle-free, and multiplexed vaccines.

(00:26:50) Mechanism Behind Skin Immunity

How skin immune cells may constantly sample microbes for defence.

(00:28:14) Next Steps in Development

The path toward testing safety, dosage, and delivery in higher models.

(00:29:57) Choosing Vaccine Targets

Viruses and diseases that could be targets for early skin-based vaccines.

(00:31:11) Safety and Reversibility

Ensuring safety with reversible bacteria and limited trial participants.

(00:33:04) Transitioning to Biotech

Transitioning research from Stanford to large-scale biotech development.

(00:34:31) Future In a Minute

Rapidfire Q&A: creative science, vaccine innovation, and biology’s future.

(00:36:56) Conclusion

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As fall arrives, many regions experience dramatic weather shifts—think early frosts, storms, or unusual temperature swings. Last year, we sat down with Noah Diffenbaugh, an expert on climate change. We discussed the fact that extreme weather is becoming more frequent. Noah pointed out that there are still things we can do to mitigate the impacts of severe weather. We hope you’ll take another listen to this episode to learn about the solutions that are within reach. 

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Noah Diffenbaugh, a professor of Earth System Science at Stanford University.

(00:02:07) Global Impact of Climate Change

The areas where climate change is having the greatest impact globally.

(00:03:00) Climate Phenomena and Humans

Connecting climate science with localized human impacts.

(00:05:49) Understanding Climate Forcing

The concept of "climate forcing" and its significance in Noah’s research.

(00:09:34) Geoengineering & Pinatubo Cooling

The risks associated with reflecting sunlight to cool the planet.

(00:13:23) Climate Interventions

Why manipulating the climate could have unforeseen outcomes.

(00:20:51) Adaptation to Climate Change

Humanity’s response to climate change as impacts accelerate.

(00:24:53) Increase in Extreme Events

Why extreme climate events are more frequent and severe.

(00:28:08) AI in Climate Research

How AI enables testable, data-driven climate predictions.

(00:32:02) Conclusion

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Rishee Jain is an engineer and an expert in the built environment – the manmade structures of modern life. The future, Jain says, will be a place where everyone has a safe, comfortable place to live and work, and the built environment adapts in real time to our needs. Jain is now exploring cool roofs that reflect heat to lower indoor temperatures and improve occupants’ well-being. We once believed that humans bent infrastructure to our needs, but now we understand how infrastructure changes us, too, Jain tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’sThe Future of Everything podcast.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Rishee Jain, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University.

(00:03:50) Focus on Built Urban Environments

Rishee Jain shares how early hands-on projects inspired his career.

(00:04:51) The Social Dimension

Why infrastructure must account for human behavior and social needs.

(00:07:03) How Infrastructure Shapes Us

Examples of sidewalks, bike lanes, and design choices influencing wellbeing.

(00:09:11) Defining Urban Form

Defining urban form as design across buildings, neighborhoods, and cities.

(00:10:58) Decision-Makers at Every Level

How policymakers, communities, and building owners shape design.

(00:13:38) Dynamic Infrastructure

The shift from static infrastructure to adaptable, responsive systems.

(00:15:19) Levers of Change

Using thermal and lighting design as key factors for wellbeing.

(00:19:36) Climate & Extreme Heat

The impact of extreme heat on building design and vulnerable communities.

(00:23:25) Measuring Impact

Studies using wearables to track the benefits of infrastructure interventions.

(00:24:25) Community Feedback

The optimistic research results on infrastructure interventions.

(00:26:18) Retrofitting Old Buildings

Challenges in adapting existing infrastructure with minimal disruption.

(00:31:12) Future in a Minute

Rapid-fire Q&A: hope, infrastructure, research needs, and lessons from history.

(00:33:01) Conclusion

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