Latest Interviews

How could veganism change the world?

Jaap Korteweg

Facing a projected 10 billion population and a food system responsible for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, experts warn that without a shift toward plant-based diets, climate targets will remain out of reach. Industry leaders like Jaap Korteweg of The Vegetarian Butcher are demonstrating the viability of this transition by repurposing meat-processing infrastructure for plant alternatives, a move projected to save $1 trillion annually in healthcare costs while drastically reducing land use. Although a fully vegan world by 2050 is considered unlikely, policymakers and industry stakeholders agree that widespread adoption of plant-based foods is essential to avoid dangerous climate thresholds and improve public health outcomes.

Discover Hyderabad

Jonty, Usha, Saurabh Chatterjee, Srinivas Kolipara, JNT Raj Gopalan

Hyderabad has evolved from a historic center of diamond and pearl wealth into a vibrant modern metropolis anchored by T-Hub's rapid startup growth and Google's expanding campus in the Cyberabad district. The city's unique identity seamlessly blends this technological boom with deep cultural traditions, ranging from the ancient Charminar markets and royal Taj Falaknuma Palace to innovative experiences like Ayurvedic cocktails and local flower trade photography. Visitors engage with this duality through immersive activities such as traditional haggling, home-style cooking classes, and participation in religious festivals that welcome strangers into local celebrations.

How MDMA is being used to treat PTSD

Rick Doblin, John Lubecki

With standard treatments effective in only 20% of cases, researchers led by Rick Doblin are pursuing FDA approval for MDMA-assisted therapy after trials showed over 60% of participants no longer met PTSD criteria. The non-profit-funded study utilizes a regimen of three drug sessions paired with psychotherapy to allow veterans like John Lubecki to process trauma without fear, a potential breakthrough for the 8 million Americans suffering from the disorder. Because the drug cannot be patented, this initiative by a small organization aims to transform the illicit substance into a regulated medicine that addresses a public health crisis costing the Department of Veterans Affairs $400 million annually.

The data revolution: privacy, politics and predictive policing

Dr Tom Devlin, Trump, Nick Bowers, Carol Reed, Hal Hodson, David Carroll, Mark Zuckerberg, Jamie Garcia, Hamid Khan, Sergeant David Rich, Anthony, Leo Hu

The event examines how the exponential growth of data generation is transforming healthcare through AI tools like Viz.ai while simultaneously enabling invasive surveillance in consumer marketing, law enforcement, and state control systems. Key case studies include the medical success of stroke detection algorithms, the electoral manipulation via Cambridge Analytica's unauthorized data harvesting, and the controversial implementation of China's Social Credit System. Furthermore, the discussion highlights significant ethical conflicts surrounding predictive policing biases in Los Angeles and the ongoing legal battles to ensure transparency in how personal data is collected and utilized by governments and corporations.

Can a cure for diabetes be found through surgery?

Peter Hansel, Professor Francesco Rubino

Despite the global surge of Type 2 diabetes affecting one in ten people by 2040, Professor Francesco Rubino's research demonstrates that gastric bypass surgery can induce immediate remission by correcting duodenal hormone signaling rather than relying solely on weight loss. While only 0.1% to 1% of eligible patients currently access this life-saving procedure, Rubino is leading clinical trials on non-invasive alternatives and driving updates to international guidelines that recognize surgery as a primary treatment option. This work provides critical biological evidence that challenges the "lifestyle disease" narrative, offering a pathway for future pharmaceutical cures to address the epidemic without requiring invasive intervention.

El Salvador's violent gang members are finding God in prison

Wilfredo Gómez

Following his deportation from the U.S. to El Salvador in 1996, former 18th Street gang member Wilfredo Gómez founded a Christian prison ministry that expanded to house over 900 inmates within a violent, overcrowded system. While the program offered temporary sanctuary and social mobility through a segregated religious zone, its long-term success remains limited as societal stigma and a lack of employment opportunities prevent most converts from maintaining their faith outside prison. Ultimately, the initiative highlights a critical gap between individual rehabilitation within the jail and the structural barriers preventing former gang members from achieving permanent reintegration into Salvadoran society.

Ireland: divided by abortion

On May 25th, Irish voters will decide whether to repeal the Eighth Amendment, a 1983 constitutional provision that currently bans abortion except when the mother's life is at risk. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and pro-choice advocates, citing the unsafe nature of current cross-border travel and shifting public sentiment, support legalization up to the twelfth week, while pro-life campaigners warn that removing the amendment permanently prevents future legislative control. With recent polls showing the electorate is nearly evenly split, this referendum represents a definitive test of Ireland's transition toward a secular society or its retention of traditional conservative values.

Exploring and protecting the Antarctic

Dr. Susan Lockhart, John Hosevar

Dr. Susan Lockhart and co-pilot John Hosevar achieved the first human submersion in the Antarctic Weddell Sea, where their observations of fragile ecosystems like deep-sea sponges contradicted assumptions that the deep seabed was barren. Their data revealing the extreme vulnerability of these communities to industrial fishing underscores the urgent need to expand global ocean protection beyond the current 3.7%. This evidence is now poised for a critical Antarctic Commission vote in July 2018, where unanimous consensus from member states could establish the region as the world's largest no-fishing zone despite historical delays in such approvals.

How does sci-fi influence the real world?

Martin Cooper, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Paul McAuley, Syd Mead

Prominent innovators like Martin Cooper, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk have directly translated science fiction concepts from works such as *Star Trek* and *Blade Runner* into tangible technologies ranging from mobile phones to Mars colonization efforts. By examining the mechanical viability strategies of designers like Sid Mead and the ethical warnings embedded in narratives about AI and virtual reality, industry leaders utilize the genre to anticipate both technological trajectories and societal risks. Ultimately, the event highlights how a sci-fi foundation drives real-world innovation while serving as a crucial cautionary framework for navigating future ethical dilemmas.

How can banks be used to stop human trafficking?

Tamir, Nunzio Tramantosi, Peter Warwick, Aidan Larkin, David McLaughlin, Samart, Archna Katecha, Som Pong Sigeo, Mr. J

Global financial institutions and law enforcement agencies are collaborating to combat the $150 billion human trafficking industry by leveraging data-sharing initiatives like Canada's "Project Protect" and the UK's Joint Money-Laundering Intelligence Task Force. These partnerships, supported by machine learning technologies and NGO intelligence from regions like Thailand, have successfully increased suspicious activity reports by 350% and dismantled major criminal rings that previously evaded detection. Despite these advances, the rapid adoption of cryptocurrencies by traffickers and persistent data silos continue to drive a technological arms race requiring ongoing adaptation of anti-money laundering strategies.

Can conservation save our ocean?

Patricia Gandolfo

Conservation initiatives ranging from the armed enforcement efforts by Sea Shepherd in Mexico's Gulf of California to community-led recovery in Cabo Pulmo and Madagascar demonstrate that locally managed marine areas can reverse biomass loss and boost local incomes. These regional successes are being scaled globally through satellite technology and port state controls, which track illegal fishing vessels to disrupt supply chains and secure the $23 billion annual economic value lost to overfishing. Despite these advancements, experts warn that current ocean protection covers only 3.6% of the global sea, necessitating urgent action to achieve the 30% target by 2030 and prevent irreversible ecological collapse.

How did Kosovo become a country?

Slobodan Milosevic, Petric Salimi

Following a brutal 1999 NATO intervention triggered by Serbian crackdowns and the Racak massacre, Kosovo declared independence in 2008 to establish a fragile democracy with a 33% unemployment rate. The nation remains deeply divided along ethnic lines as tens of thousands of Serbs fled, while the remaining minority continues to reject statehood and align with Belgrade. Despite these persistent tensions, both Kosovo and Serbia are pursuing European Union membership, recognizing that resolving their shared violent history is a prerequisite for regional integration.

Winter sports are facing many challenges. Can they survive?

Rising temperatures and shifting consumer preferences are driving a decline in traditional European winter sports markets, threatening resorts that rely heavily on natural snow. In response, the industry is pivoting toward energy-intensive artificial snowmaking and seeking growth in Asia, where markets in China and South Korea are expanding despite their own climate challenges. This adaptation strategy aims to preserve mountain economies and secure future participation, though it risks increasing costs for consumers and creating a feedback loop that further accelerates environmental degradation.

Welcome to the startup jungle

Janos Amstutz, Sandro, Isabel, Vinicius Guzmão, Chris Haley, Corrie Vu

Entrepreneurs in the UK and Brazil navigate a high-risk environment where intense competition and a scarcity of venture capital force rapid pivots, as exemplified by HoloMe founder Janos Amstutz securing commercial traction through strategic partnerships after failing to secure immediate investment. Simultaneously, the Medroom team in Brazil overcame a last-minute technical crisis to successfully demonstrate their VR medical training tool to major university partners, proving the viability of their solution for reducing patient errors. These divergent case studies highlight how founders must combine technical iteration, market validation, and sheer determination to survive the transition from self-funded prototypes to commercially sustainable businesses.

Returning ISIS fighters: How should governments deal with them?

James Mattis, Usama Hasan, Bashar al-Assad, Vera Mironova

With the territorial collapse of the Caliphate, approximately 6,000 European nationals have returned from Syria, creating urgent security challenges for Western governments that must balance due process against the high risks of prison-based radicalization and unmonitored reintegration. While nations like the United Kingdom and France utilize citizenship deprivation and incarceration, pilot programs in Denmark attempt to mitigate threat levels through rehabilitation and social support, a strategy critics argue lacks sufficient evidence given the severe potential for lone-wolf atrocities. Governments now face a resource-constrained dilemma in allocating limited surveillance manpower to specific high-risk individuals versus preparing for a strategic shift by ISIS toward increased global terrorism.