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 worl
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Nov 13, 2026 · 36:00
Keith Humphreys is an expert in substance use disorder, treatment, and drug policy whose research helped explain why fentanyl overdose deaths have dropped by a third since 2023.…
Nov 6, 2026 · 30:51
Live from the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute 2026 Symposium, and in partnership with the institute’s podcast From Our Neurons to Yours , host Russ Altman talks with brain…
Oct 30, 2026 · 35:43
In her research, Madalina Vlasceanu explores the psychology of sustainability. She’s keenly interested in how people form beliefs and what motivates them to action. Her research…
Oct 23, 2026 · 30:59
New York Fashion Week wrapped up last month, but the questions it raises don't go away once the runways come down: why do clothes carry so much meaning, and who really gets to…
Oct 16, 2026 · 31:53
Nir Halevy, an expert on organizational behavior, first grew interested in social hierarchies as a basketball fan. He now studies what makes for healthy workplaces.…
Oct 9, 2026 · 35:03
Hi everyone, we had big news out of Stanford this week: Karl Deisseroth has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries leading to optogenetics, a…
Oct 2, 2026 · 36:20
Clinical psychologist James Gross is fascinated by what emotions are, and he champions emotional literacy – a deeper understanding of what makes each of us tick. In his research,…
Sep 25, 2026 · 31:43
About a year ago, the Future of Everything team was in New York taping a special episode on the innovation economy in front of a live audience, and today we're re-releasing it.…
Sep 18, 2026 · 25:37
Hi everyone, it's your host Russ. As summer winds down and everyone heads into a new season, I wanted to share something a little different. Recently, I sat down with Matt…
Sep 11, 2026 · 33:48
Microbiologist Justin Sonnenburg wants you to know that you – and all humans, really – are not alone. Inside each of us live uncountable bacteria without whom we could not…
Sep 4, 2026 · 31:20
As kids head back to school this month, we're re-releasing a conversation with cognitive scientist Michael Frank on the future of language learning. Michael studies the…
Aug 28, 2026 · 30:16
Jackelyn Hwang is an expert on the social dynamics of cities. In one line of research, she combines AI and Google Street View to measure quality-of-life factors – such as trash,…
Aug 21, 2026 · 30:06
Today, we're re-releasing my conversation with psychiatrist Anna Lembke on the future of addiction. Whether its substances, screens, or work itself, addiction in some form…
Aug 14, 2026 · 34:07
Psychologist Russ Poldrack is a mind reader of sorts, but not in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, he makes movies of blood flow in the brain using functional MRI to…
Aug 7, 2026 · 36:43
Prior to becoming an anesthesiologist, Alyssa Burgart trained in bioethics. She now counts herself among a growing number of certified clinical bioethicists who help doctors,…
Jul 31, 2026 · 34:26
These days, AI is everywhere, and it’s increasingly hard to separate the gains from the slop. With that in mind, we're re-releasing my conversation with Stanford Law professor…
Jul 24, 2026 · 33:39
Dr. Karen Adams, obstetrician/gynecologist and Farwell Family Director of the Stanford Program in Menopause and Healthy Aging, studies menopause and, perhaps more importantly,…
Jul 17, 2026 · 32:34
Biochemist Suzanne Pfeffer is an expert on the molecular roots of Parkinson’s disease. Her work focuses on mutated proteins linked to Parkinson’s risk. She’s discovered, for…
Jul 10, 2026 · 37:44
Law professor Julian Nyarko has drawn attention for his studies using large language models to investigate and improve legal education and explore AI’s biases. He hopes AI can…
Jul 3, 2026 · 32:32
In the western United States and Canada, this time of year is the beginning of peak wildfire season, a reality that's become impossible to ignore. In light of this, we're…
Jun 26, 2026 · 30:40
“Stories … are powerful tools that can help us make sense of our lives,” says physician-scientist Maya Adam . She now combines visual storytelling and health education to create…
Jun 19, 2026 · 27:57
The World Cup is here, and while we watch some of the world's greatest athletes competing on a global stage, it's fascinating to consider what effect this intense activity may…
Jun 12, 2026 · 34:11
Professor of ophthalmology Daniel Palanker is a physicist who has combined his skills in optics and electronics to create PRIMA – the Photovoltaic Retinal Implant. Inserted…
Jun 5, 2026 · 37:16
Engineer Aaron Lindenberg is an expert in the ways atoms and electrons move through materials. He uses X-ray “flash photography” to make movies of atoms moving at ultrafast…
May 29, 2026 · 32:19
Commencement season is here and, as many students are closing one chapter and stepping into the next, it's a nice moment to ask: what did learning really look like for these…
May 22, 2026 · 33:52
Food security expert David Lobell is immersed in the data of agriculture. He uses satellite imagery, yield data, and advanced computational modeling to analyze the roughly 500…
May 15, 2026 · 34:15
Fungi are “nature’s biological recycling machines,” says guest Vayu Hill-Maini , a former chef turned bioengineer. That is, they take waste and turn it into good things.…
May 8, 2026 · 37:14
In the dotcom era, communication professor Angèle Christin embedded herself in newsrooms, where she witnessed how audience metrics tilted journalism toward viral content over…
May 1, 2026 · 30:06
Earlier this year, we got to witness the incredible launch and return of Artemis II, a NASA mission meant to lay the groundwork for a future lunar landing. Among the many…
Apr 24, 2026 · 36:35
Michael Jewett is a pioneer of cell-free biotechnology. Instead of using living microbes as factories, he uses their internal molecular machinery to make valuable proteins,…
Apr 17, 2026 · 33:45
Education researcher Susanna Loeb studies the broad spectrum of learning experience, including ways to recruit and retain expert teachers, how to optimize classrooms, and the…
Apr 10, 2026 · 41:48
Computer scientist Keith Winstein is an expert in how computers communicate. Computer networks create what he calls shared fictions – abstract realities, like a website or a Zoom…
Apr 3, 2026 · 29:40
April is Earth Month, and in appreciation of the plant life all around us, we’re re-running a conversation we had with Beth Sattely last year on the future of plant chemistry.…
Mar 27, 2026 · 36:16
Candace Thille is an authority in learning science, educational technology, and AI-enabled learning environments. She is closing the two-way gap between the science of learning…
Mar 20, 2026 · 31:00
Legal expert Richard Ford studies the intersection of dress codes and the law. Clothing and hairstyles communicate power, identity, and social status, he says. Legal restrictions…
Mar 13, 2026 · 33:41
Epidemiologist Yvonne “Bonnie” Maldonado is an expert in vaccine research and public health. Look back centuries, and the story is always the same, she says: Death rates from…
Mar 6, 2026 · 37:02
For many of us, this coming weekend marks the start of Daylight Saving Time, when we “spring forward” and move our clocks ahead by an hour. While the extra evening daylight can…
Feb 27, 2026 · 36:26
Heart disease should be treated just like cancer, says guest Mike McConnell , an author and expert in preventive cardiology at Stanford: Detect and stage early, then treat…
Feb 20, 2026 · 32:50
Psychiatrist Jennifer Derenne specializes in eating disorders. Most eating disorders begin in adolescence, but they can appear much earlier – or later – in life, too. To begin…
Feb 13, 2026 · 36:29
Spring is right around the corner and as the weather changes and things begin to bloom, that also means the onset of allergy season. Last fall, we sat down with Tina Sindher who…
Feb 6, 2026 · 41:46
Chuck Eesley , a professor of management science and engineering, studies entrepreneurship across diverse contexts – from refugee entrepreneurs in Uganda to semiconductor…
Jan 30, 2026 · 34:23
Developmental psychologist Bonnie Halpern-Felsher specializes in teenage health-related decision-making, especially in their use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and other…
Jan 23, 2026 · 30:17
As 2026 gets underway we know that many take time around this new beginning to improve not only their physical, but also their mental health. With that in mind, we’re rerunning…
Jan 16, 2026 · 32:58
Pediatrician Yair Bannett studies and treats ADHD in preschool-age children. His interests stem from watching too many families struggle to understand their child’s behavior. He…
Jan 9, 2026 · 32:05
Physician-scientist Randall Stafford studies the effects of alcohol use on population health – the true health impact, he emphasizes. Stafford explains how early research…
Jan 2, 2026 · 31:28
We're here to wish you a very happy New Year! We hope you’re ringing in the new year in good health and looking forward to what’s ahead in 2026. As people are setting goals and…
Dec 31, 2025 · 1:11
Hi everyone, it’s your host, Russ . As we celebrate another holiday season and round out the year, I want to take a moment to say thank you for listening. This show started out…
Dec 26, 2025 · 30:55
We hope you’re enjoying the holiday season with family, friends, and loved ones. We’ll be releasing new episodes again in the new year – in the meantime, today, we’re re-running…
Dec 19, 2025 · 32:30
Microbes are awesome, says biologist Paula Welander . They have shaped Earth’s chemistry and its environment over billions of years, including oxygenating the planet to make it…
Dec 12, 2025 · 34:41
Molecular biologist Judith Frydman studies the nuances of protein folding and how defects in the process lead to neurodegenerative diseases. Her team studies protein folding in…
Dec 5, 2025 · 34:40
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…
Nov 28, 2025 · 29:19
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…
Nov 21, 2025 · 31:32
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…
Nov 14, 2025 · 33:52
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…
Nov 7, 2025 · 31:46
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…
Nov 5, 2025 · 0:25
Tune in on Friday, November 7th to listen to our 300th episode with a very special guest. Connect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website Connect with…
Oct 31, 2025 · 29:02
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…
Oct 24, 2025 · 33:50
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…
Oct 17, 2025 · 37:39
Bioengineer Michael Fischbach studies alternative vaccine delivery methods, like self-administered creams with no needles, health professionals, or side effects. He teases a day…
Oct 10, 2025 · 32:46
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…
Oct 3, 2025 · 33:40
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,…
Sep 26, 2025 · 32:07
In a special Future of Everything podcast episode recorded live before a studio audience in New York, host Russ Altman talks to three authorities on the innovation economy. His…
Sep 19, 2025 · 36:11
About a year ago we released an episode on the future of ultrafast electronics and it quickly became one of our most popular episodes on YouTube. We’re excited to re-share it…
Sep 12, 2025 · 37:56
Allergist Tina Sindher acknowledges that allergies may be affecting more people worldwide, influenced by a combination of factors such as environmental changes, modern…
Sep 5, 2025 · 33:28
Endocrinologist Joy Wu says that osteoporosis can affect more than half of women and a quarter of men over 50 – often without symptoms until a fracture changes everything,…
Aug 29, 2025 · 29:25
It’s still summer, but many children and teachers are back in school or preparing to return to the classroom. About a year ago, we sat down with Rebecca Silverman , a professor…
Aug 22, 2025 · 34:36
Sociologist David Grusky argues that all the usual debilitating debates about inequality can be sidestepped if we focus on the worst forms – those rooted in cronyism, racism, and…
Aug 15, 2025 · 31:13
Neurologist Michelle Monje studies the close relationship between cancer and the nervous system, particularly in an aggressive brain cancer that often strikes in childhood. Her…
Aug 8, 2025 · 29:34
It’s summertime, and for many of us that means a recreational trip to the beach or coast. Worldwide, billions of people live year-round near a coastline, and these settings can…
Aug 1, 2025 · 31:21
Chemical engineer Beth Sattely studies the intricate chemistry of plant life. Plants are more than food, she says: They are living chemical factories churning out molecules that…
Jul 25, 2025 · 33:55
Biologist Lauren O’Connell studies poisonous frogs, but not just the toxins that make them dangerous. She also studies the neuroscience of their complex parenting. She’s learned…
Jul 18, 2025 · 29:07
We’re in the midst of summer and we know that power outages can happen more frequently during this season due to higher temperatures and an increased demand for electricity. A…
Jul 11, 2025 · 35:43
Law professor Daniel Ho says that the law is ripe for AI innovation, but a lot is at stake. Naive application of AI can lead to rampant hallucinations in over 80 percent of legal…
Jul 4, 2025 · 29:36
Psychiatrist Carolyn Rodriguez studies hoarding disorder and says that all of us have attachments to our possessions. But for many, these attachments can disrupt daily life and…
Jun 27, 2025 · 29:14
Summer is in full swing and we hope you are enjoying it with family and friends. As we spend more time outdoors, it’s an opportune moment to revisit a conversation we had with…
Jun 20, 2025 · 31:35
Guest Lisa Goldman Rosas is an authority on public health who says that food insecurity goes deeper than hunger and can lead to chronic diabetes, heart disease, and even anxiety…
Jun 13, 2025 · 32:47
Everyone has goals — some are monumental, others modest — but every goal matters. Join guest Szu-chi Huang , an expert in sustaining enthusiasm for individuals, customers, and…
Jun 6, 2025 · 28:30
It’s graduation season here at Stanford and students are getting ready to collect their diplomas and take their education out into the real world. A couple years ago, we sat down…
May 30, 2025 · 38:31
Jason Yeatman is an expert in the neurobiology of literacy whose lab is fostering a virtuous research cycle between academia and school communities, aligning scientific inquiry…
May 23, 2025 · 38:13
Neurobiologist Jamie Zeitzer is an expert on sleep – or, more accurately, an expert on why so many can’t sleep. He notes that, ironically, it’s often anxiety about sleep that…
May 16, 2025 · 34:49
Deborah Kado is a geriatrician who believes her field is misunderstood. Her interest in the science of aging began with a childhood encounter in a nursing home but recently…
May 9, 2025 · 29:44
It's teacher appreciation week and along with schools across the country, we here at The Future of Everything want to send out a heartfelt thank you to the teachers who make a…
May 2, 2025 · 31:47
Lisa Patel is a pediatrician and an expert in environmental health who says that pollution is taking an increasing toll on children’s health. Pollution from wildfires, fossil…
Apr 25, 2025 · 33:44
Michael Wara is a lawyer and an expert in wildfire policy who says that solutions are out there, but face financial, political, and cultural resistance. What’s needed, he says,…
Apr 18, 2025 · 31:42
Physician and psychologist Heidi Feldman is a pioneer in the field of developmental behavioral pediatrics who says that the world’s understanding of childhood disability is…
Apr 11, 2025 · 30:25
The world of women’s sports is experiencing unprecedented growth, attention, recognition, and investment. Elite athletes including Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, Serena Williams,…
Apr 4, 2025 · 36:44
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…
Mar 28, 2025 · 34:05
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…
Mar 21, 2025 · 36:13
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…
Mar 14, 2025 · 31:53
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…
Mar 7, 2025 · 35:42
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…
Feb 28, 2025 · 36:38
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…
Feb 21, 2025 · 29:03
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…
Feb 18, 2025 · 1:18
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…
Feb 14, 2025 · 32:37
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…
Feb 7, 2025 · 30:03
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…
Jan 31, 2025 · 30:44
With the tremendous amount of information available to us today, the ability to discern what’s reliable from what’s not is crucial to combating the spread of misinformation. In…
Jan 24, 2025 · 32:40
Oceanographer Kristen Davis , an authority on ocean physics and climate sustainability, discusses the growing excitement around seaweed and kelp as tools to combat climate…
Jan 17, 2025 · 33:43
Nephrologist Manjula Tamura discusses the downsides of kidney dialysis, especially for old or frail patients. Her field has set its sights on offering alternatives, including…
Jan 10, 2025 · 33:32
Guest Renee Zhao works at the cutting-edge of robotic surgery – literally. Emboldened by advances in 3D-printing and miniaturization, she builds “millibots,” magnet-controlled,…
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