Chimera Embryos, Voice-Profiling Problems, Stressed into Middle Age

Top of Mind with Julie Rose

Dec 1, 2021 9:00 pm
1:44:10 mins

Organs developed in monkeys or pigs could be the future of organ donation, but the process carries ethical concerns. What exactly is your smart voice assistant listening for when it sits in your home? American middle-aged people are physically and mentally more unhealthy than past generations, and it has ties to stress. Also, on today's show: innovations in urban farming as the fields move indoors and upwards; people who declare themselves and their land independent of their country can make things difficult for the host nation; small, safe doses of electricity could power your smartwatch throughout the day so you can still wear it at night to track sleep patterns.

Episode Segments

Episode Segments

Growing Human Organs in a Monkey Raises Lots of Ethical Questions

18m

The breakthrough means one day we could grow human organs in monkeys or pigs that could save the lives of people languishing on organ transplant lists.

Big Cities Can’t Have Big Farms –Unless They Go Vertical in Office Buildings

15m

A potential solution to supply chain problems and urban accessibility to fresh foods is to grow the food in the city two miles up.

Automated Voice Marketing

18m

Smart assistants and voice-activated customer service give unprecedented access to cues in your voice that companies can analyze to know what you will buy.

Middle Age in America

15m

Middle-aged Americans today are less healthy –physically and mentally –compared to people who were middle-aged in the 1990s.

What is a Micronation?

19m

The urge some people have to declare themselves beyond the reach of government does carry risks for countries with micronations.

Electricity from Skin Can Power Smartwatch

17m

Human skin conducts electricity, so what if your wrist was the charging dock for your fitness tracker or smart watch?