Ignition Sequence

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Dr. Fevziye Hasan, biodiversity scientist and curator of entomology at Uppsala University’s Museum of Evolution in Sweden, joins host Dylan Bohbot on this episode of Ignition Sequence to explore the mighty world of insects—from their hidden ecolo...

This podcast is produced by volunteers at Accelerator Media, a nonprofit educational media organization. Our work is supported by listeners and viewers like you. If you’d like to help us ignite curiosity and inspire long-term thinking about our shared future, please consider making a donation: https://acceleratormedia.org/donate/Dr. Stuart Hameroff, co-founder of the Center for Consciousness Studies and Professor Emeritus at the Un...

Marlin Strub, roboticist and autonomy expert, joins this episode of Ignition Sequence to explore the challenges of designing autonomous systems for some of the most extreme environments. From programming Mars helicopters to retrieve rock samples for NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission to pioneering autonomous excavation with Gravis Robotics, Strub’s work is pushing the boundaries of what machines can accomplish on their own.In this c...

Can we trust AI to make life-or-death decisions? What does the unpredictability of artificial intelligence mean for humanity’s future—from autonomous weapons to the Fermi Paradox?

Dr. Mark Bailey, a professor at the National Intelligence University and author of Unknowable Minds: Philosophical Insights on AI and Autonomous Weapons, joins host John Murphy on this episode of Ignition Sequence to explore the ethical and existential fro...

How did we get from the Big Bang to the age of artificial intelligence? What can the entire 13.8-billion-year history of the universe teach us about humanity’s future—from AI breakthroughs to space colonization?

David Christian, renowned historian and creator of Big History, joins host John Murphy on this episode of Ignition Sequence to unravel the grand narrative of existence—from the Big Bang to the present day. In this thought-pr...

Jörg Matthias Determann, historian, professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, and author of Islam, Science Fiction, and Extraterrestrial Life, joins Ignition Sequence to explore the intersection of religion, science fiction, and the cosmos. In this wide-ranging conversation, Matthias unpacks the Islamic perspective on extraterrestrial life, the long history of Arab contributions to astronomy, and how science fiction c...

Keith Cowing, biologist-turned-space journalist, founder of NASA Watch, and self-proclaimed “space pirate,” joins Ignition Sequence to unpack the wild, weird, and wondrous world of space exploration. From hacking into an old satellite and bringing it back online to dissecting the legacy of Voyager and the blistering speed of the Parker Solar Probe, Keith blends technical insight with unapologetic commentary. In this conversation, ...

Dr. Jingmai O’Connor is a vertebrate paleontologist, Associate Curator of Fossil Reptiles, and lead researcher for the Chicago Archaeopteryx at The Field Museum. In this episode of Ignition Sequence, Jingmai takes us on an exploration of paleontology, dinosaurs, and avian evolution. Known as the “punk rock paleontologist,” Dr. O’Connor shares her unconventional journey into the field, the groundbreaking discoveries in bird fossils,...

How do you turn complex science into captivating stories that inspire millions? In this episode of Ignition Sequence, we sit down with Paula Apsell, a visionary force behind NOVA who shaped the groundbreaking series during her three-decade tenure, including 33 years as senior executive producer. From the infancy of PBS to the technological leaps in science filmmaking, Paula shares her journey of making science accessible and engag...

How is cutting-edge genetics revolutionizing our understanding of life and unlocking the future of biotechnology? In this episode of Ignition Sequence, Dr. George Church, a pioneering geneticist, synthetic biologist, and professor at Harvard, takes us on a journey through the cutting edge of science and technology. From helping launch the Human Genome Project to exploring synthetic biology and reviving extinct species, Dr. Church o...

What does it take to follow your childhood dreams and break barriers in the process? In this episode of Ignition Sequence, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant—large carnivore ecologist, conservationist, and host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild—shares her inspiring journey from a young girl fascinated by nature shows to becoming a leading voice in wildlife ecology. Dr. Wynn-Grant reflects on the challenges she faced, includi...

What does it mean to be human in an age of exponential technological change? In this episode of Ignition Sequence, host John Murphy explores transhumanism, a transformative movement that aims to radically enhance human longevity, cognition, and well-being. Joining him is Zoltan Istvan—journalist, futurist, and former U.S. presidential candidate—who has dedicated his career to reimagining humanity’s potential through science and te...

How can we prepare young minds to thrive in an AI-driven world? Imagine a future where children learn coding through playful co-creation, generative AI fosters critical thinking, and education adapts to each student’s unique style. In this episode of Ignition Sequence, host John Murphy explores the groundbreaking work of Stefania Druga, a research scientist shaping the way we teach and understand artificial intelligence. From her ...

How can human ingenuity transform the way we interact with the world’s most mysterious frontier? Imagine a state-of-the-art underwater research habitat revolutionizing how we study and protect our oceans. In this episode of Ignition Sequence, host John Murphy dives deep with Randy Brandenburg, a leading innovator and advocate for ocean exploration, to explore the groundbreaking vision of the Proteus Ocean Group. From the design of...

What ancient secrets lie hidden beneath the jungle canopy? How do archaeologists uncover lost cities and decode the lives of those who built them? In this episode of Ignition Sequence, host John Murphy is joined by Dr. Ivan Šprajc, a world-renowned archaeologist, archaeoastronomer, and expert in Mesoamerican studies, to delve into the extraordinary discovery of ancient Maya cities buried deep in the Yucatán jungle. Using cutting-e...

Are we alone in the universe? What does life look like at the extremes, and could synthetic biology unlock new frontiers for humanity? In this episode of Ignition Sequence, host John Murphy is joined by Dr. Lynn Rothschild, an evolutionary biologist and astrobiologist at NASA Ames Research Center. Together, they embark on a journey through the origins, limits, and future of life. From her groundbreaking work in synthetic biology t...

How did early life harness sunlight to transform Earth and make complex life possible? Could Greenland’s rock powder hold the key to capturing CO2? In this episode of Ignition Sequence, renowned geologist Dr. Minik Rosing takes us back to the Archean Eon, over 3.8 billion years ago, when Earth’s earliest lifeforms transformed the atmosphere through photosynthesis. These profound changes laid the foundation for all complex life as ...

In this episode, we’re joined by paleoecologist Dr. Emily Lindsey, the assistant curator and excavation site director at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Known for her groundbreaking research on Ice Age ecosystems and the late Pleistocene extinction, Dr. Lindsey takes us deep into one of the most unique fossil sites in the world. Together, we explore the secrets of Ice Age megafauna held within the tar pits—from saber-toothed c...

Where did Earth get its water? In this captivating episode, host John Murphy explores the mysteries of Earth’s formation and evolution with Dr. Mark Harrison, a distinguished professor of geochemistry from UCLA.

They dive into fascinating topics such as the origin of Earth’s water, tectonic plate movement, and what ancient zircons reveal about early Earth. Dr. Harrison challenges the traditional view of a “hellish” early Earth, of...