Latest Interviews

The deep ocean is the final frontier on planet Earth

Bobby Moore, Greg stone, Jim Delgado

Utilizing the US government vessel *Okeanos Explorer* and its advanced *Deep Discover* ROV, an international team is investigating the World War I-era submarine wreck of the S-19 while contending with extreme pressures and critical technical failures. Although scientists hope to uncover clues about the origins of life in deep-sea ecosystems and assess the economic potential of rare earth mineral mining, they simultaneously document pervasive marine debris to underscore the urgency of stewarding these fragile environments. This mission highlights the accelerating race to explore the uncharted depths, balancing historical discovery and resource extraction against the need to protect the ocean's closed-system integrity.

Corals: can they be saved from climate change?

Darwin, Dr. Ruth Gates, Ginny, Yimnang Golbu, Craig

With over half of global coral reefs already dead and climate change outpacing natural adaptation, scientists are racing to preserve marine biodiversity through a global "Noah's Ark" project led by researchers like Dr. Ruth Gates and Dr. Mary Hagedorn. Utilizing cryopreservation technology to bank genetic material and developing "super corals" via assisted evolution, these efforts aim to deploy heat-resistant strains to critical ecosystems in Hawaii and Palau. Despite logistical challenges limiting species collection, the initiative seeks to prevent the irreversible loss of habitats that support one-quarter of marine life and sustain 500 million people.

The Agenda: Minouche Shafik discusses education and inequality

Minouche Shafik

Drawing on personal experience from post-revolution Egypt and global economic trends, the speaker argues that nationalization and rigid educational systems have eroded social mobility while lifelong learning gaps disproportionately favor the wealthy. The presentation critiques the failure of traditional models, including German vocational training, to prepare workers for careers that may shift two to five times, a disconnect that fuels public backlash against elitist experts. Consequently, the argument posits that policy reform depends on replacing jargon with accessible communication to bridge the divide between economic realities and public perception.

Populism is reshaping our world

Matteo Renzi, Beppe Grillo, Jeff Siegel, Virginia Raggi, Robert Callista, Russell Hancock, Harry Part Ovi, Sebastian Thrun

Following the 2016 Italian referendum defeat of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, the Five Star Movement capitalized on economic stagnation to emerge as the primary opposition party, signaling a broader global surge in populism driven by automation-induced inequality. While experts identify technological displacement, particularly in sectors like trucking, as a root cause of economic dislocation, leaders such as Sebastian Thrun and Harry Part Ovi advocate for systemic reforms including lifelong learning and accessible retraining programs. Ultimately, restoring stability to Western democracies requires political and business leaders to address the grievances of alienated populations through concrete economic solutions rather than allowing technological disruption to fuel further anti-establishment sentiment.

Discover London: royal shopping and wild-swimming

Megan Clay Jones, James, David Morgan-Hewitt, Peter, Edward Boddenham

London recently welcomed 30 million visitors, solidifying its status as the globe's premier international destination through a unique blend of historic luxury and emerging subcultures. The city showcases this duality via high-end establishments like The Goring hotel, which continues to attract global icons, alongside transformative shifts in East London where former slums have evolved into creative hubs featuring floating businesses and canal-side communities. Beyond the traditional tourist trajectory, London distinguishes itself with extensive green spaces like Hampstead Heath and authentic local experiences such as the Campfire Club and traditional greyhound racing in Romford, offering residents and tourists alike a mix of urban retreat and vibrant social connection.

Discover Osaka: sushi, tattoos, and a flourishing nightlife

Kai Tatsuo, Hori Beni, Kanayo Ueda

Osaka's distinct cultural identity as a rambunctious merchant town is embodied by residents like kappo chef Kai Tatsuo, artist Hori Beni, and poet Kanayo Ueda, who navigate a landscape ranging from the frantic, rock-paper-scissors-decided tuna auctions at its massive fish market to the communal intimacy of its post-war public bathhouses. Despite historical wartime destruction and modern stigmas associating tattoos with organized crime, the city offers a unique culinary and recreational experience through its street food, strategic board games, and extended nightlife in districts like America-mura. Visitors are consistently encouraged by locals to embrace the city's outgoing atmosphere, which contrasts sharply with Japan's typical demeanor and allows newcomers to quickly feel accepted as fellow Osakans.

Oil and gas companies are facing major technological disruption

Kristina Bechteler, Farmer Einsiedler, Günter Mürgele

Amidst the seismic financial shifts of the global energy sector, traditional giants like Statoil and E.ON are fundamentally restructuring to adapt to post-Paris climate mandates and halving valuations. These industry leaders are pivoting from centralized fossil fuel dominance toward decentralized renewable models, exemplified by Statoil's offshore carbon capture and E.ON's split into distinct renewable and commodity units. Concurrently, technological breakthroughs in floating wind farms and local energy cooperatives are enabling a transition where billions of euros are deployed to secure a future where clean energy generation consistently outpaces consumption.

The music industry and the digital revolution

Nick Raphael, Willard Ardritz, Jacob Whitesides, Elliot

While traditional major labels have long dominated the market by financing artist development and retaining master rights, the industry is shifting toward a service-based model driven by technological disruption. Startups like Cobalt now enable thousands of songwriters to retain full ownership and access previously hidden revenue streams, challenging the status quo that relied on catalog sales to fund new acts. This evolving landscape empowers established independent artists with significant leverage, prompting major corporations to adapt from strict ownership models to partnerships focused on specific commercialization services.

Discover Buenos Aires: slabs of meat, Malbec and polo

Buenos Aires presents a cultural landscape where street art, historical street polo played by rural gauchos, and the communal "asado" ritual define the social fabric alongside a thriving market economy born from the 2001 financial crisis. The city's unique identity is further expressed through politically charged Murga dance groups and a sophisticated nightlife scene of password-protected speakeasies that evolved during times of economic hardship. These diverse elements collectively offer a deep exploration of Argentine heritage, from government-designated notable bars to the world's largest street mural by artist Alfredo Segatore.

Discover Colombo: travel in the fastest-growing city in the world

Sonali Dharmavardana, Darshan Munitasa, Gabby White

Following the end of its civil war, Colombo is rapidly transforming into the world's fastest-growing city destination through a fusion of heritage preservation and modern creative industries. Key figures such as celebrity chef Darshan Muniasami, fashion designer Sonali Dharmavardana, and former cricketer Kumar Sangakkara are driving this renaissance by revitalizing culinary identity and showcasing the unique blend of colonial architecture with contemporary lifestyle in venues like the Ministry of Crab. Local experts and residents now urge immediate international engagement, positioning the current moment as a unique window for travelers to experience the city's authentic cultural depth before these rapid developments become fully mainstream.

The future of the car industry

Bhavish Aggarwal, Shantam, David Rust

Global ride-hailing platforms like India's Ola and the United States' Lyft are driving a fundamental shift in consumer behavior where smartphone access has replaced car ownership as the primary mode of urban transport. This disruption forces traditional automotive manufacturers, including Ford and General Motors, to pivot from hardware-centric models to software-driven mobility solutions and strategic partnerships to survive the transition toward shared, autonomous fleets. As a result, the industry's revenue dynamics are reconfiguring, compelling legacy players to innovate with self-driving technology or risk obsolescence in a market increasingly defined by processing power rather than horsepower.

Discover Miami: travel the bars and beaches with the locals

Regla, Elaine Lancaster, Raven, Roberto Ramos, Sharif Malnik

This presentation outlines how Cuban migration since 1959, alongside waves from Latin America, transformed Miami into a multicultural metropolis where the local population represents one-third of the city's total residents. The discussion highlights the region's economic prosperity and cultural evolution, citing landmarks like the Wynwood art district and the historic Little Havana enclave, while noting Miami's unique status as a global art hub established by the 2002 Basel festival. Finally, the narrative examines the city's physical geography and social fabric, detailing the man-made origins of Miami Beach, the revitalization of South Beach, and the enduring community figures such as runner Raven and iconic venues like The Forge.

Body Builders: the science and technology of bionic limbs

Hilda Einersdottir, Gummy, David Johnson, Farmer David Ingvason, Gunner

Iceland is emerging as the global hub for the bionics industry, where companies like Ossur are deploying brain-controlled prosthetics that translate subconscious neural signals into intuitive movement. Pioneering trials with users ranging from farmers to 92-year-olds have validated the technology's ability to restore mobility in high-stress and aging populations, with the Power Knee offering rotational force comparable to a motorcycle. Driven by medical necessity and a market projected to exceed $20 billion within five years, engineers anticipate a major leap in capabilities over the next decade toward fully autonomous thought-driven systems.

Meat Makers: the artificial beef revolution

Professor Mark Post, Ethan Brown, Bill Gates, John, Simone, Greg Boland, Peter

Facing the $1 trillion global meat market and its environmental impact, cellular agriculture pioneer Mark Post and Beyond Meat's Ethan Brown are pursuing divergent strategies to decouple meat production from animal slaughter. While Post focuses on scaling lab-grown muscle tissue from stem cells, Brown employs plant-based extraction to engineer sensory profiles that mimic animal fat and texture for mass adoption. Despite facing distinct technical hurdles in texture, flavor, and price, both leaders aim to execute a food revolution comparable to the shift from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles.

Space Invaders: the entrepreneurs taking humans into space

Stu Witt, Enrico Palermo, Ben, Ellen, Sean Mahoney, Jeremy Voigt

Mojave Air and Space Port has evolved from a civilian airfield into the United States' first commercial spaceport, hosting a dense cluster of pioneering firms like Virgin Galactic, Masten Space Systems, and X-Core Aerospace. These entities are driving a rapidly expanding industry by developing reusable vertical-landing technology and radical rocket engines to enable high-risk flight testing and sustainable space access without reliance on traditional government contracts. While Virgin Galactic secures millions in pre-revenue bookings following a fatal 2014 accident, the collective focus remains on establishing a private sector capable of transporting thousands of people to space by 2030.