Manifold
Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Join him for wide-ranging conversations with leading writers, scientists, technologists, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and more.
- Update frequency
- every 13 days
- Average duration
- 74 minutes
- Episodes
- 145
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Raman Sundrum: Physics and the Universe – #44
Steve and Corey talk with theoretical physicist Raman Sundrum. They discuss the last 30 years in fundamental physics, and look toward the next. Raman argues that Physics is a marketplace of ideas. Wh…
Vineer Bhansali: Physics, Tail Risk Hedging, and 900% Coronavirus Returns – #43
Steve and Corey talk with theoretical physicist turned hedge fund investor Vineer Bhansali. Bhansali describes his transition from physics to finance, his firm LongTail Alpha, and his recent outsize …
Jaan Tallinn: Coronavirus, Existential Risk, and AI – #42
Steve talks with Skype founder and global tech investor Jaan Tallinn. Will the coronavirus pandemic lead to better planning for future global risks? Jaan gives his list of top existential risks and d…
Dan Gable: Legendary NCAA and Olympic Wrestler & Coach – #41
Steve and Corey talk to legendary NCAA and Olympic wrestler and coach Dan Gable. Gable describes the final match of his collegiate career, an NCAA championship upset which spoiled his undefeated high…
Klaus Lackner on Carbon Capture, Climate Change, and Physics – #40
Steve and Corey talk to Klaus Lackner, director of the Center for Negative Carbon Emissions (CNCE) at Arizona State University and the first person to suggest removing CO2 from air to address climate…
COVID-19, Blockchain, and the Global Startup Scene – #39
Steve and Corey talk to Kieren James-Lubin and Victor Wong of the blockchain technology startup, BlockApps. They begin with a discussion of the COVID-19 epidemic (~25m): lockdown, predictions of ICU …
Claude Steele on the Challenges of Multi-Cultural Societies – #38
Corey and Steve talk to Claude Steele of Stanford about his article “Why Campuses are So Tense?”. The essay explores stereotype threats across racial lines. Colorblindness is a standard of fairness, …
A.J. Robison on the Neural Basis of Sex Differences in Depression – #37
Corey and Steve talk with MSU Neuroscientist A.J. Robison about why females may be more likely to suffer from depression than males. A.J. reviews past findings that low testosterone and having a smal…
Kaja Perina on the Dark Triad: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy – #36
Kaja Perina is the Editor in Chief of Psychology Today. Kaja, Steve, and Corey discuss so-called Dark Triad personality traits: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy. Do these traits manifest…
Adam Dynes on Noisy Retrospection: The Effect of Party Control on Policy Outcomes – #35
Steve and Corey talk to Adam Dynes of Brigham Young University about whether voting has an effect on policy outcomes. Adam’s work finds that control of state legislatures or governorships does not ha…
Yang Wang on Science and Technology in China, Hong Kong Protests, and Coronavirus – #34
Yang Wang is Dean of Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Professor Wang received his BS degree in mathematics from University of Science and Technology of China in 1983, an…
Elizabeth Kolbert on Climate Change: Impacts and Mitigation Technologies – #33
Steve and Corey talk to Elizabeth Kolbert, author of the Sixth Extinction, about the current state of the climate debate. All three are pessimistic about the possibility that emissions will be substa…
Meghan Daum on the New Culture Wars – #32
Corey and Steve talk to Meghan Daum about her new book “The Problem With Everything: My Journey Through The New Culture Wars”. Meghan describes how she became aware of the “Red Pill” through what she…
Steven Broglio on Concussions, Football and Informed Choice – #31
Steve and Corey talk with Steven Broglio, Director of the Michigan Concussion Center, about concussion risk, prevention and treatment. Broglio describes how the NCAA emerged from the deaths that almo…
Barbara O’Brien on Race, Reform and Wrongful Conviction Rate Estimates- #30
Our guest, Barbara O’Brien, explains why we don’t know much about conviction error outside of murder cases, making error rates for the vast majority of crimes: misdemeanors, sexual assaults, armed ro…
Sebastian Junger: Meaning from War and Technological Isolation in America – #29
This conversation occurred just after President Trump withdrew US forces from Northern Syria. Steve, Corey and Sebastian debate ISIS and the Kurds. Sebastian argues that men who went to war after 9/1…
Zach Hambrick on Psychometrics and the Science of Expertise – #28
MSU Psychology Professor Zach Hambrick joins Corey and Steve to discuss general cognitive ability, the science of personnel selection, and research on the development of skills and expertise. Is IQ r…
Andrew Hartman: The Culture Wars Then and Now – #27
Steve and Corey talk to Andrew about his new introduction to his book “The War for the Soul of America.” While the left largely won the culture wars, the three wonder whether the pendulum has swung …
Bruno Maçães: China, Russia and the Future of Eurasia – #26
Originally from Portugal, Bruno Maçães earned a PhD in Political Science at Harvard under Harvey Mansfield, and served as Portugal’s Secretary of State for European Affairs from 2013-2015. He is rega…
Ted Conover on Immigration, Prisons and 21st Century Homesteading – #25
Steve and Corey talk to Ted about his article for the August issue of Harper’s Magazine, “The Last Frontier”. Ted describes how Trump’s election led him to seek out his new project on people living o…