We trade data for convenience every day. But at what cost? Rakibul Hasan breaks down how everyday tech became a surveillance network that determines what we see, what we pay — and maybe even what we think.

Resources

• Try Brave or Duck Duck Go as a browser
• Try the Start Page search engine

Further reading and watching:

• Privacy Is Power by Carissa Veliz
• LOST GENERATION
• The Social Dilemma from Netflix

Learn more about the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.

Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu.

Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice!

Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu.

Special thanks to our No. 1 fan Meg Hebing for her cameo

Episode credits

Executive produced by Kate Howells

Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka

Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka

Shot by Alexander Chapin

Edited by Alexander Chapin and Quinton Kendall

Original music from Patrick Cheung

Motion graphics by Andy Ramos

Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz

Editorial support from Diane Boudreau

Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

Disclosure:

Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

Astrophysicist Skylar Grayson explains how she uses supercomputer simulations to study black holes, how scientists can piece together a picture of phenomena billions of light years away and why communicating science clearly matters just as much as discovering it.

Find Skylar on:

• YouTube
• Tiktok
• Instagram

Further reading:

• Read The End of Everything by Katie Mack
• Check out Starts with a Bang by Ethan Siegal

Learn more about the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University.

Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu.

Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice!

Support our friends!

Check out AskABiologist wherever you get your podcasts!

Special thanks to Kaden Ryback for suggesting this episode!

Do you have an idea for an episode, or just want to torture the host with facts about dark matter? Get in touch at ke.podcast@asu.edu!

Episode credits

Executive produced by Kate Howells

Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka

Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka

Shot by Alexander Chapin

Edited by Alexander Chapin and Quinton Kendall

Original music from Patrick Cheung

Motion graphics by Andy Ramos

Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz

Editorial support from Diane Boudreau

Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

Plastic is everywhere. The same material that makes modern life easier has also become a persistent environmental pollutant.

Charlie Rolsky — ASU alumnus and executive director of the Shaw Institute in Blue Hill, Maine — explores how microplastics move through our environment and into our bodies, what we do and don’t know about their impacts, and why “biodegradable” often doesn’t mean what we think. He also reflects on his journey from ASU to Maine — and how scientists balance urgency with responsible communication.

Learn more about

• The Shaw Institute (and their free touch tank!)
• Dirigo Sea Farm

Further listening

• Listen to Science Vs!

Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu.

Please give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! It helps other listeners find us.

Got an idea for us? Get in touch at ke.podcast@asu.edu.

Episode credits

Executive produced by Kate Howells

Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka

Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka

Shot by Alexander Chapin

Edited by Alexander Chapin and Quinton Kendall

Original music from Patrick Cheung

Motion graphics by Andy Ramos

Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz

Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

Disclosure:

Lab Coat Optional is intended for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. This show does not create a doctor-patient relationship, and the information provided is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health. In case of a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

As AI and emerging technologies reshape daily life, Andrew Maynard — scientist, author and professor in the Rob Walton College of Global Futures — discusses how we navigate disruptive innovation responsibly — and how we can hold onto our humanity in a rapidly changing world.

Further reading:

• Andrew’s Substack
• AI and the Art of Being Human
• Future Rising

Listen to Andrew’s show, Modem Futura wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about Andrew’s Future of Being Human Initiative, and the Rob Walton College of Global Futures, part of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at ASU.

Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu.

Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice!

Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu.

Episode credits

Executive produced by Kate Howells

Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka

Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka

Shot and edited by Alexander Chapin

Original music from Patrick Cheung

Motion graphics by Andy Ramos

Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz

Editorial support from Diane Boudreau

Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

Energy demand is surging. To understand what’s driving it and how we’re going to meet it, I’m joined by energy veterans Kelly Barr and Gary Dirks from the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. They explain the complicated nature of energy planning, why nuclear energy is getting another look and why when it comes to navigating our energy future — reliability is king.

Further reading:

• Analysis from the International Energy Agency
• Reports from the U.S. Energy Information Administration
• RMI research and analysis

• EPRI
• California Burning by Katherine Blunt

Learn more about Energy Forward, a unit of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.

Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu.

Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice!

Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu.

Episode credits

Executive produced by Kate Howells

Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka

Hosted by Pete Zrioka

Shot by Alexander Chapin

Edited by Alexander Chapin

Original music from Patrick Cheung

Motion graphics by Andy Ramos

Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz

Social media by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

Clips

The growing environmental impact of AI data centers’ energy demands — PBS News Hour

How AI is driving a sharp rise in electricity bills — PBS News Hour

NBC 5 Responds: Soaring energy bills — NBC 5 Chicago

POWER CRISIS: Electricity demand SURGES as AI takes over — Fox Business

Inside the numbers: How data centers are increasing energy use — ABC15 Arizona

Nadya Bliss — executive director of the Advanced Capabilities for National Security Institute — explains how national security is more than tanks and battleships. She breaks down the vital role university research plays behind the scenes to anticipate emerging needs, strengthen infrastructure, accelerate innovation and quietly prevent conflict.

Further reading:

• Listen to Sources & Methods, NPR’s nat sec podcast
• Check out Phantom Orbit: A Thriller, by David Ignatius

Learn more about the Advanced Capabilities for National Security Institute at Arizona State University.

Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu.

Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice!

Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu.

Episode credits

Executive produced by Kate Howells

Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka

Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka

Shot by Alexander Chapin

Edited by Alexander Chapin

Original music from Patrick Cheung

Motion graphics by Andy Ramos

Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz

Editorial support from Diane Boudreau

Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

Disclosure:

Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

Water law expert Rhett Larson explains why 2026 is a make-or-break year for the 40 million people who depend on the Colorado River for drinking water, power, agriculture and so much more. What happens if states can’t agree on how to share this resource going forward, and what do we have to give up to ensure a sustainable future for us all?

Further reading

Explore the Kyl Center’s Arizona Water Blueprint to find out the source of your water: azwaterblueprint.asu.edu

Read Rhett’s book, Just Add Water: Solving the World's Problems Using its Most Precious Resource.

Look out for Rhett’s next book, Day Zero, a comparative legal analysis of the water crises faced in recent years by Cape Town, Chennai, and Mexico City, and draws water policy lessons from those crises for other cities.

Learn more about the Kyl Center for Water Policy and the Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law at ASU.

Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram and LinkedIn, or visit us at research.asu.edu.

Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice!

Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu.

Episode credits

Executive produced by Kate Howells

Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka

Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka

Shot by Alexander Chapin

Edited by Quinton Kendall and Alexander Chapin

Original music from Patrick Cheung

Motion graphics by Andy Ramos

Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz

Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

Disclaimer:

Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

Director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Jay Bhattacharya joins the show to discuss his priorities for the agency, building trust with Tribal communities, his advice to young researchers — and some of his favorite board games.

Jay's board game recs:

• Azul
• Castles of Burgundy
• Anything by Vital Lacerda!
  • Specifically: On Mars or Vinhos

Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu.

Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice!

Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu.

Episode credits

Executive produced by Kate Howells

Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka

Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka

Shot and edited by Alexander Chapin

Original music from Patrick Cheung

Motion graphics by Andy Ramos

Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz

Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson