DESIGNER HUMAN
In this episode, Stephen Hawking and his team investigate how breakthroughs in technology are being applied to human being, not only for more effective repairs and replacement body parts, but also for upgrading the brain! Ultimately, will science be able to improve on evolution?
First up, Jim Al Khlalili travels to Oxford, to test a radical new innovation that uses electrical stimulation of the brain to improve maths ability. Aarathi Prasad then checks out how ligament damage that affects over 400,000 people in the US alone is being tackled with advanced regenerative techniques. Carin Bondar investigates MIT’s cutting edge bionic limbs and Chris Eliasmith looks into new technology that will revolutionise our approach to sight. Lastly, Daniel Kraft visits the US army’s Natick research centre to discover how science is enabling precision, tailor made training to improve an individual’s capabilities.
Hawking ties the concepts and breakthroughs together and presents a vision of how we will become stronger, how our senses will be heightened and whether people will all one day become super intelligent cyborgs.
Innovations featured:
Brain Stimulation (Jim Al Khalili investigates)
At Oxford University a technique called transcranial direct current stimulation is being used to improve the brain’s ability to perform arithmetic tasks.
Synthetic ligaments (Aarathi Prasad investigates)
Boston researchers have found a way to use synthetic materials to help anterior cruciate ligaments regenerate themselves.
Bionic Limbs (Carin Bondar investigates)
Hugh Herr’s biomechatronic lab at MIT leads the world in designing microprocessor controlled prostheses.
Artificial eyes (Chris Eliasmith investigates)
At Cornell University, researchers are analysing how the brain interprets visual signal which will greatly improve the quality of electronic retina implants .
Natick (Daniel Kraft investigates)
The US army uses advanced physiology and motion capture measurements to study fitness and performance and improve soldiers’ efficiency.
Stephen Hawking's Future Universe was broadcast on SBS ONE at Tuesday 8 March 2016, 05:35. This episode was initially placed on Monday 10 March 2014.