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Program: Future Tense

Source:ABC Radio National

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A critical look at our shape-shifting world and how we're learning to adapt: the new technologies, new approaches and new responses arising from rapid change.

Airs Sunday 12.30pm Repeated: Wednesday 12.30am, Thursday 1.30pm, Friday 5.30am.

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Dark sky at night, everyone's delight

It's estimated that by 2030 more than 100 thousand satellites are likely to be buzzing around in low-Earth orbit – and the implications of that for our dark skies is potentially significant.

Published: ThuThu 18 Apr 2024 at 10:00pmwith Antony Funnell

silhouette of man and woman and bike against a night sky with stars

Duration: 29 minutes 8 seconds

More from Future Tense

Nobel-Prize laureate Abhijit Banerjee on the world's largest UBI experiment

The world's largest Universal Basic Income trial is currently underway in Kenya. It involves 295 villages and more than 20,000 families.

Pile of coins

Duration: 29 minutes 9 seconds

Published: 11 Apr 2024Thu 11 Apr 2024 at 10:00pmwith Antony Funnell

The manufacturing of "natural food" and how tech can demystify what we eat

Most people want to eat better. And many of us have embraced the trend toward "natural" foods and conscious eating. We equate "natural" with healthy, nutritious and virtuous, but that can often be way off the mark.

A table of healthy food, including fruit, vegetables and healthy snacks.

Duration: 29 minutes 8 seconds

Published: 4 Apr 2024Thu 4 Apr 2024 at 10:00pmwith Antony Funnell

Self-destructive behaviour — the enemy within 

Why do otherwise sensible people continue to do things that are bad for them, that impact negatively on their personal future? Also, what happens in the brain when you're trying to make or break a habit?  Temptation, addiction and habit formation –…

close up of chocolate glazed donut - man biting into donut

Duration: 29 minutes 8 seconds

Published: 28 Mar 2024Thu 28 Mar 2024 at 9:00pmwith Antony Funnell

Fear and anger – the complicated emotions that govern our world

Authoritarians rule through fear. We can clearly see that from China to the Middle East to eastern Europe.

An illustration showing two red-faced men yelling and pointing at each other

Duration: 29 minutes 9 seconds

Published: 21 Mar 2024Thu 21 Mar 2024 at 9:00pmwith Antony Funnell

Feature Articles

Why are we all so angry right now? Many experts say we're being manipulated for profits

Anger and fear dominate our world right now, but experts say those who are engineering these emotions are often doing so for the money.

Angry woman punching her screen

Published: ThuThu 18 Apr 2024 at 4:06amby Antony Funnell

Meet the team preparing for the possibility that intelligent life exists beyond our galaxy

Humans have long been fascinated by how aliens could communicate — it's the plot of countless blockbuster science fiction films. Yet there's also a team of experts who are investigating this idea.

Large radio telescopes in the outback with a star filled sky.

Published: 22 Mar 2024Fri 22 Mar 2024 at 6:02amby Fiona Pepper

This researcher analysed 12 ways cities are trying to cut traffic. A congestion tax worked best

What can Australia learn from other cities reducing CBD traffic? It's about disincentives for drivers and incentives for those who choose other means of getting around.

A man in a shirt and jeans rides in bicycle along a bridge during the day in a Medieval-looking city.

Published: 22 Dec 2023Fri 22 Dec 2023 at 12:43amby Sam Nichols

Economic sanctions are failing to slow down Russia. Research showed this could happen

An economic sanction is intended to peacefully protect the world's citizens. Too often, they have the opposite effect.

Vladimir Putin wins Russian vote

Published: 31 Oct 2023Tue 31 Oct 2023 at 6:11amby Sam Nichols

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