Stuff To Blow Your Mind

The role of AI in the classroom is evolving rapidly. When students and teachers embrace this technology, it has the ability to democratize access to education through programs like IBM SkillsBuild. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM , Dr. Laurie Santos, host of Pushkin’s The Happiness Lab podcast, spoke with two innovators in the space. Justina Nixon-Saintil is Vice President and Chief Impact...

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of odd and even numbers. How does it factor into our psychology, our art and our culture? Find out…  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bonejackers thought they could jack Alex Furlong, but now he's gone freejack in the future of 2009. Yep, in this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe jack their way into the 1992 sci-fi thriller "Freejack," starring everyone and costing $30 million. (originally published 2/12/2021) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe explore the mind-bending, non-narrative CGI acid trip that is 1992’s “Beyond the Mind’s Eye,” directed by Michael Boydstun and featuring the music of Jan Hammer.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow your Mind, Rob and Joe discuss the alleged Eltanin Antenna and the natural-world explanation for the image. What does this case and others like it reveal about our craving for extraordinary explanations of perplexing evidence? (originally published 08/10/2023) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of odd and even numbers. How does it factor into our psychology, our art and our culture? Find out…  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bored with dragons, the wizard Argomandanies turns his arcane attention to the fantastic fauna of the natural world. Welcome to Animalia Stupendium, a chronicle of Earth’s amazing biodiversity with all the enthusiasm of a fantasy monster book. In this episode, the wizard will discuss the Portuguese Man o’ War! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Joe chats with physicist Suzie Sheehy, author of "The Matter of Everything: How Curiosity, Physics, and Improbable Experiments Changed the World." (originally published 08/08/2023) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the world of Russian cinema and also to… Middle Earth? Yes, let’s bask in the glory of “Khraniteli” AKA “The Keepers” AKA that 1991 Leningrad Television adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring.” (originally published 8/13/2021) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Michael Denis Higgins, Professor Emeritus of Earth Science at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi and author of the new book “The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Science, Engineering and Technology.” What was the Colossus of Rhodes, why did it impress the ancient Hellenistic world and how might we recreate it in the modern...

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss Ridley Scott’s dark fairy tale “Legend,” starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Tim Curry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once more, it's time for a dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a rapidly evolving AI landscape, open-source models can further accelerate the pace of progress and help expand access to all. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell sits down with Mo Duffy, Software Engineering Manager at Red Hat.  They discuss InstructLab and the benefits of open-source technology, such as flexible deployment and the ability to enhance transparency, as well...

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the mysteries and marvels of oar-powered galleys and warships in the ancient Mediterranean world. How many oars did they depend on? How many rowers and how many levels of rowers? And what are we to make of Ptolemy IV Philopator’s 40-oar Tessarakonteres? Find out…  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a solar conjunction allows all ant species to unite against their enemies? Find out as Rob and Joe discuss the delightfully weird 1974 film “Phase IV.” (originally published 01/28/2022)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The interaction between oil and water has fascinated us since ancient times, and it has factored into practices as diverse as divination rituals and attempts to calm turbulent waters at sea with storm oil. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the effect of oil on troubled waters. (Originally published 08/03/2023, Part 2 of 2) See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe take a street gang odyssey across New York City with 1979’s “The Warriors.”  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the mysteries and marvels of oar-powered galleys and warships in the ancient Mediterranean world. How many oars did they depend on? How many rowers and how many levels of rowers? And what are we to make of Ptolemy IV Philopator’s 40-oar Tessarakonteres? Find out…  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert shares his thoughts on the latest film in the “Alien” Franchise. This episode contains spoilers.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the mysteries and marvels of oar-powered galleys and warships in the ancient Mediterranean world. How many oars did they depend on? How many rowers and how many levels of rowers? And what are we to make of Ptolemy IV Philopator’s 40-oar Tessarakonteres? Find out…  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Weirdhouse Cinema classic, Rob and Joe watch on as world’s grumpiest detective Rutger Hauer investigates a series of monstrous murders in the climate change-ravaged future of 2008. It features Kim Cattrall, a great monster, flooded tunnels and a fun cast of character actors. (originally published 3/5/2021) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The interaction between oil and water has fascinated us since ancient times, and it has factored into practices as diverse as divination rituals and attempts to calm turbulent waters at sea with storm oil. In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the effect of oil on troubled waters. (Originally published 07/20/2023, Part 1 of 2) See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

In this Weirdhouse Cinema two-parter, Rob and Joe enter the arena to discuss the 1995 video game adaptation “Mortal Kombat,” directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and featuring show favorite Christopher Lambert as Lord Rayden.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the curious biology of North America’s horned lizard – especially their ability to squirt blood from their eyes – as well as some culture and history surrounding their existence.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of STBYM’s The Monstrefact, Robert discusses the perfect organism.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.