Finding Genius Podcast

As it currently stands, the only way of making metal parts in small and medium volumes is through the use of CNC machines, which is a fast and accurate yet wasteful method. In fact, 90-95 percent of the metal blocks purchased for this purpose are ultimately thrown out. 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing), on the other hand, allows for a less wasteful process and extremely geometrically flexible products, but cannot produce the necessary surface finishes. Until now, there's been no way to use the most beneficial aspects of each process by combining them into one system. This is where Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies comes in, a company that has introduced the first-ever commercial system that integrates the best of both worlds. As the CEO of Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies, Dr. Jason Jones offers a detailed explanation as to how exactly their machine works, gives examples of several interesting use cases and argues that the system itself represents the ability to overcome the biggest hurdle that faces 3D printing today. "Additive [manufacturing] has been developed in isolation from mainstream manufacturing...by combining it with CNC machines, there's automatic uptake into mainstream manufacturing, which is exciting," says Dr. Jones. Press play to hear the full conversation, and visit hybridmanutech.com to learn more.

Right now in today's vast agricultural fields, teams of semi-autonomous, low-cost, and intelligent robots are scanning fields of corn and providing measurements that will allow breeders to better characterize the environment and breed better seeds. The next task will be for these robots to autonomously collect more complex information that will allow for earlier detection of plant diseases and nutritional deficiencies. Drones are commonly used for the collection of data in large-scale farming today, but the robots that are being designed in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Illinois can detect what's unobservable by drones by harnessing a higher level of resolution that can only be achieved from working under the canopy. What's the third task planned for these robots? Acts of manipulation, such as weeding and pruning, which will be unprecedented. As an assistant professor working on this project, Girish Chowdhary discusses how the deployment and development of these robots will cause us to rethink the way we do agriculture and allow for the globe to be fed in a sustainable way from small gardens with multiple plants. However, he also discusses some of the biggest challenges, which involve the varying and unpredictable nature of outdoor environments. Will robots be able to learn to operate intelligently enough to mitigate uncertainty and unforeseen changes? Tune in for the full discussion, reach out to Girish via email at girishc@illinois.edu, and visit daslab.illinois.edu for more information.

Rachel Burke, the ketogenic enthusiast and founder of Aussie Keto Queen (aussieketoqueen.com), discusses the ketogenic diet and lifestyle. Burke's journey to better health was a long one, as she spent many of her earlier years battling weight, feeling uncomfortable with her body, and being unhappy about it all. From the tender age of just 10 years old, she began weighing herself and struggling with her weight issue. She spent a significant amount of time, unfortunately, experimenting with this diet plan and that diet plan, magic diet shakes and pills that really weren't so magical, along with massive amounts of exercise, but nothing seemed to work for the long haul. It was all of these years of frustration that finally brought her to nutritional ketosis—which was a game changer. After she made the decision and stuck with it, keto transformed her life. Burke describes how she reached her goal weight even sooner than she expected, and how she has more energy than ever before. In addition, when checking with her doctors through the process she found that the ketogenic lifestyle was not only helping her to lose weight but that her overall health markers were improving too. Burke is living proof that you are what you eat. Burke recounts how she was so satisfied with her results that she wanted to share all that she had learned, through her exhaustive research, with everyone. She began posting her favorite recipes and helpful tips online, which led to the site she currently inhabits, aussieketoqueen.com, which is full of helpful information for those who want to find their own success. With tens of thousands of visitors to her site on a regular basis, it's clear that there is a keen interest in the ketogenic diet and lifestyle. She discusses the importance of mindset. As Burke states, changing one's mindset is perhaps the most important step, and it is not something that happens for everyone immediately. For some, it takes time, a gradual change, but committing to the nutritional life change pays off in the end for those who are ready to make a difference in their diet and health. Burke talks about how, in Australia, that doctors and nutritionists are now beginning to advise patients and clients about the possible benefits of switching to a ketogenic diet. She discusses the options people have when eating out and trying to stay focused on their ketogenic diet. And she expects that perceptions will continue to change as ketogenic options become more widely offered everywhere. The nutrition and health advocate states that it is really all about finding what works for you as an individual considering your own body, lifestyle, work, and timetable, etc. Burke provides an overview of her site's recipes, the types of foods she prefers, and also what she recommends. From the basic meat and veggie options to sweeter options, her website offers something for every keto-conscious eater. And while she does not recommend many sweets, she includes some sweets recipes as the keto community appreciates a full range of food options. However, as Burke states, when people really take on the keto nutrition lifestyle and are eating ketogenic regularly, they often find their taste buds change a bit and begin to taste the natural sweetness in foods more obviously. Some have found that this effect is so pronounced that they no longer crave traditional sweets. Burke discusses her future plans for ketogenic consulting and what she is excited about. She states that the ketogenic lifestyle's impact on her friends and family has been so profound that she is determined to bring all that she has learned to a wider audience, and help everyone reach their personal goals for health and wellness.

An estimated 10 percent of all people have some level of kidney disease--a disease that's most commonly associated with diabetes and high blood pressure. The numbers are only growing, but much of the research has been limited in the sense that the progression of kidney diseases in humans is difficult to track. For example, polycystic kidney disease--a very common one that's genetic in nature and affects millions of people--is usually diagnosed in the later stages, only once the changes can be visualized via ultrasonographic imaging. At that point, many people are faced with just two options: dialysis, or a kidney transplant. But the team at the University of Washington's Freedman Lab are doing something that's never been done before: using pluripotent stem cells to grow kidney organoids which have many of the same properties and characteristics as human kidneys in order to create the genetic mutations that are seen in this disease and to study the origination and progression of it. The creation of organoids aren't just limited to kidneys though; given how powerful pluripotent stem cells are, they can be developed into any organ in the body. Just imagine being able to conduct experiments on miniature brain and liver organoids, for example. In the long run, this technology could result in the creation of more complex structures with the capability of replacing functional human organs altogether. Benjamin Freedman is the head of the Freedman Lab and offers an in-depth discussion on the observations his team has made so far, and hypotheses as to what exactly is at play in the development and progression of common kidney diseases. Tune in for a compelling conversation and visit freedmanlab.com to learn more.

Just a few years ago, Angela M. Poff noticed that a lot of leading scientists and clinicians were studying ketosis and metabolic therapies for different diseases, but weren't getting together to share their ideas and have productive conversations; this all changed when she decided to found the Metabolic Health Summit in 2015, which now serves as a hub for those who want to work together to develop ideas and move new information in the field to the next level. The goal of the 2019 Metabolic Health Summit is to foster a global conversation about the ketogenic diet and how to implement it in the real world and will feature several personal stories from those whose lives have been affected by the adoption of the keto lifestyle. The conference is not just for scientists this year; it's for everyone. The best scientists and clinicians will lead sessions dedicated to different uses of the ketogenic diet, including for Alzheimer's, mental health, obesity, migraines, cancer, and longevity. Poff also works as a research scientist at the University of South Florida, where she focuses primarily on the effects of metabolic therapies on cancer. In particular, she studies how the ketogenic diet affects cancer models, the role of exogenous ketones in the development of cancer, and the role of metabolic targeted agents, such as dichloroacetate and metformin. Poff discusses a variety of topics, including how and why hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be successful in treating tumors and the biggest roadblock to continued research in the field. If you or a loved one is dealing with cancer, Poff suggests visiting clinicaltrials.gov and working closely with your oncologist. Visit www.metabolichealthsummit.com for more information about the upcoming Metabolic Health Summit conference.

Stemina Biomarker Discovery was founded about 11 years ago by Elizabeth Donley, who aimed to use the study of metabolism (metabolomics) to understand how the underlying biological and biochemical reactions differ between various disorders. Donley works primarily within the neurological disorders division for NeuroPoint DX and is focused on applying metabolomics for the detection of autism spectrum disorders. The most recent paper on the subject looked at amino acid dysregulation in autism spectrum disorders and showed a strong association between low levels of branched amino acids and concurrently high levels of three other amino acids. The association accurately identified 17 percent of kids with autism and suggests that the outcome for those affected by autism spectrum disorders could be improved with a high protein diet. The metabolic markers are identified by subjecting a sample of blood to mass spectrometry, which will show whether or not a child is positive for any of the 13 metabotypes that have been identified to date and that describe 30 percent of kids who fall on the autism spectrum. As it currently stands, the average age at which a child will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder is 24 months based on behavioral characteristics, but many children do not receive diagnoses until they are much older, which means that time that could otherwise be spent using valuable behavioral therapies is being lost; it is Donley's goal to change this. The team at NeuroPoint DX plans to launch its first panel before the end of the year and has already received lab certification to accept blood samples from children in 45 states. They're currently raising money to support further testing and validate the second panel, looking for partners for distribution, and exploring options in foreign markets. Tune in for the full discussion and send your questions to info@neuripouintdx.com.

Dr. James V. Hardt, president and founder of Biocybernaut Institute, Inc. (biocybernaut.com), shares his personal experiences with biofeedback and brainwave work in general, and the incredible documented results that biocybernaut training can deliver for improved health and wellness. Dr. Hardt is a celebrated research scientist with an established history of over 40 years in the study and research of biofeedback. Hardt has authored or co-authored countless scientific research papers on the subject and he currently has more than 30 patents for the core technology, headset, training methodology and brain-centered portion of various virtual reality applications. Much of his extensive research has been supported by private and federal grants as well as generous contributions from respected organizations such as the Fetzer Foundation, and others. Hardt is a valued guest and keynote speaker and he has presented presentations at many prestigious national as well as international events. His findings have been published in numerous scholarly journals such as Science, Psychophysiology, and the Journal of Experimental Psychology, just to name a few. Dr. Hardt received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Carnegie Institute of Technology, as well as a master's degree, and Ph.D., in psychology from Carnegie-Mellon University. Dr. Hardt states that a biocybernaut is to inner space what an astronaut is to outerspace. The name biocybernaut is derived from linguistic components: bio, cyber, and naut. Naut is a Greek suffix that is defined as someone who 'goes on a voyage or adventure.' Cyber, which is derived from the word 'cypher' is used to denote 'calculations' and is, today, commonly referred to in computer calculating technology. Biocybernauts go on an inner adventure into the depths of their awareness. He recounts an interesting story that details his first experience with this type of training, in a research study many years ago. He describes that he became so interested in the research study that he requested to have additional time in the chamber that the study participants utilized. While taking his own time in the chamber, after hours, he was subsequently forgotten about, and was kept in the chamber for several hours, and during this time he experienced profoundly moving states and alpha surges that supercharged him to research and study the field further, which led to his eventual founding of the Biocybernaut Institute. As is similar to meditation, the biocybernaut training is an attempt to tune into the interior state of mind. Brainwaves rule our thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Dr. Hardt explains that when we change our brainwaves we can actually, fundamentally change who we are. He discusses some of his federally funded projects that delved into the study of biofeedback in regard to anxiety. As Hardt explains, anxiety is more prominent in women than men, and in both sexes, it increases with age in those who suffer from it. His findings showed that the biocybernaut training provided new benefits to those in the study at 6 months and also at 12 months. Dr. Hardt relates how the training expands awareness, so individuals see themselves more accurately and in greater depth. With traditional meditation, the process is effective at increasing alpha waves, but it can be quite slow, as it can take 21 to 40 years to be rated 'advanced' in Zen meditation. The benefit to biocybernaut training is that it uses technology to speed up the process, to detect and amplify alpha waves up to 100,000 times, so the signal is large enough to be worked with by computers. Feedback is given when the alpha waves increase, and the tones get louder, essentially producing a symphony of your own mind's creation. Essentially, biocybernaut training allows the brain to know what it's doing, while it is doing it, and as a result, the brain can improve in a myriad of ways. Dr. Hardt details how creativity, IQ, as well as emotional intelligence (EQ) can all be dramatically increased through the process and training. The meditation and brainwave expert discusses the importance of clearing emotional traumas and how they can be major impediments to brainwave improvement. And the biocybernaut training provides effective means to remove emotional trauma baggage that can limit an individual's progress forward. He discusses the pillars of training and the means for achieving profound improvements in one's life. Dr. Hardt has devoted his life to the study of the electrophysiological basis of advanced spiritual states. He has traveled the globe in pursuit of his research, and to India especially to study advanced Yogis, with his technology. From Zen masters to Christian prayer, Dr. Hardt has continued his relentless pursuit of advanced brainwave and meditation connections that allow people to become the best form of themselves that they can be, reducing limitations and addictions, experiencing more joy, less anxiety, improving health and awareness, and developing more meaningful relationships.

Dan Faggella, the founder and CEO of TechEmergence (techemergence.com), delivers an insightful overview of the power of AI and how companies can utilize it to move their business forward. TechEmergence is a sophisticated artificial intelligence market research and media platform. Its CEO and founder is passionate about AI and machine learning and believes that the most important ethical considerations of the next three decades will be the creation or expansion of sentience and intelligence in our technology. Dan Faggella is a writer and keynote speaker. He has written for multiple publications that focus on the nexus of business and technology such as the popular Bay Area-headquartered, TechCrunch; the Boston Business Journal; VentureBeat; VICE MotherBoard, the online magazine and video channel dedicated to technology, science, and humans; as well as many other respected sites and publications. As Faggella states, TechEmergence is the platform that answers the question, "What do the new capabilities of AI mean for me?" And TechEmergence is the definitive platform that allows business leaders to better understand how AI is impacting their business and industry, and most importantly, what they should do about it. As they state, TechEmergence is the industry source for authoritative market research and competitive intelligence for the many and varied business applications of artificial intelligence. Their critical mission is to provide executives and decision-makers the knowledge that they will need to maintain competitive insight, to engage in informed AI technology procurement, as well as strategic planning that centers on AI. Faggella discusses their mission of leveraging AI for business and policy leaders, and how they deliver usable, critical information that provides valuable insight. Fagella discusses some of the inevitable future trends that are, in his words, "almost unstoppable." He recounts how companies often know that AI is important and is something that they should incorporate if they haven't already, but the basic tenets of what they need versus what they think they need are often quite divergent. As he states, many times whatever makes its way into tech media and creates a splash is precisely what business leaders naturally gravitate toward, though their true needs may lie elsewhere. He acknowledges that consumer interaction and chat is beneficial but that there could be other areas a business may want to engage beforehand in regard to AI. He explains how cost is a significant factor, for implementation of quality AI in a business framework requires technologists such as data scientists, time, testing, and tinkering, and therefore smaller companies might fare better to wait until their capital expenditures in the AI sector can be more robust. Fagella discusses some of the major forces of AI, such as user interface and usability, and how the needed skill level has constantly changed over the years. He states that while the implications for AI are enormous, that we are still only in an infantile stage, early phase two as he describes it. And unfortunately, the user interface of much AI that is being driven to the market is designed for those with wizard skills, so it will take some time for it to be ironed out and simplified such that the basic user can implement all that AI can offer. Fagella underscores the strong correlation between market share and large amounts of data, and how venture capitalists are excited about controlling the voluminous data that is continually being generated in the marketplace and shows no sign of slowing down.

Maximilian Freiermuth, CEO of Genesis Cloud (genesiscloud.com) discusses the accelerating market of cloud computing, services, advantages, and the future of public clouds in the marketplace. Maximilian Freiermuth has a serious goal—to make Genesis Cloud the largest public cloud on the market. He discusses the birth of Genesis as it rose from the founders of Genesis Mining who provided the necessary resources to start and scale their revolution in cloud computing. Genesis Mining is a powerful leader in the bitcoin mining space. In bitcoin mining, 'miners' purchase computing chips that are designed specifically for the process and they use them to run the specially crafted software. The software essentially forces the system to engage in and complete complex and difficult calculations, and when the process goes as planned, these miners are rewarded with bitcoin for their efforts. Freiermuth's company, Genesis Cloud, is focused on achieving tremendous growth, and its roots are firmly planted in hardware accelerated computing, as well as cryptocurrency and blockchain services. As they state, they have a variety of the largest GPU data centers in the world and they are bringing them together with an advanced, modern infrastructure for applications in machine learning, and select hardware accelerated applications as well. Freiermuth discusses cryptocurrency mining and the general assumptions people make, some of which are correct and some incorrect. He talks about the importance of keeping operating costs low in order to be profitable in the space. And he details the costs of building data centers that can achieve the results necessary for growth. Freiermuth provides an overview of their services regarding infrastructure, etc., from renting computers within their existing data centers to use and direct at one's discretion, to rendering, such as with studio movies, etc. that require long renders to create visual scenes, which would be a more service-oriented task. And with the latter, the cost savings can be incredible as cloud-generated rendering of computer graphic scenes can sometimes be produced at a significantly lower cost than creating scenes in a real-life setting. The cloud computing authority discusses some of the supercomputing conferences that they will be attending and their goals for future progress and advances. One clear benefit for smaller companies is that they can take advantage of the expanding AI opportunities in business by utilizing Genesis Cloud's computing power. By partnering in this way with Genesis Cloud, smaller companies will not need to incur risky capital expenditures for purchasing massive computing equipment themselves. Freiermuth hopes to find new ways to offer services and support to the many individuals and companies that can certainly benefit by utilizing public clouds. And the Genesis Cloud team feels that no idea is ever too big to be considered, and they continually push themselves to advance and grow, as leaders in the booming cloud industry.

John Prisco, president, and CEO of Quantum Xchange (quantumxc.com), provides a very detailed overview and analysis of the ever-changing data security industry, and how quantum computers are forcing every business and government agency to rethink how they send and receive sensitive data. Quantum Xchange provides impeccable defense to commercial enterprises and government agencies that seek to keep their high-value assets safe and secure currently, and on into the future. As quantum computers will significantly change how organizations secure their most sensitive data, Quantum Xchange will continue to be a sought-after partner for any entity that requires the most premium security. John Prisco has over 30 years of solid experience in the areas of cybersecurity, telecommunications, and quantum physics. He has championed successful revenue growth and provided quality leadership and management to a multitude of companies such as Triumfant, GeoVantage, and Ridgeway Systems. Prisco is devoted to Quantum Xchange's mission, and its valued customers, partners, investors, and the many quality employees who have helped make Quantum Xchange the gold standard in data security. Prisco discusses how his company is a respected provider of unbreakable quantum keys and secure communications, and how they are enabling organizations to send unbreakable data over any distance utilizing the laws of quantum physics. He elaborates on quantum key distribution, which is a secure communication process that implements a cryptographic protocol involving components of quantum mechanics. Via quantum key distribution, two parties can produce a shared random secret key known only to them, which can be used to encrypt and decrypt messages. As Prisco explains, the keys will change their state if an unauthorized party were to attempt to eavesdrop on them. Anything intercepted will be completely unusable by the breaching party and will not unencrypt any of the secure data whatsoever. The security expert gives a thorough analysis of the process that parties use to decide upon their encryption, as he details the transmission of photons, overall security, and the classification known as teleportation. Prisco discusses the future of computing and progress that has been made in a relatively short time, and what advances are on the horizon. Large prime numbers that form the structure and base of today's public-private key encryption protocols, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) will be easily and quickly factored by quantum computers and will leave mission-critical data exposed, and very much at risk. Prisco states that with their system, even one photon that is tampered with will be evident to the end user. He explains quantum random number generators that work on photonic principles and provides an in-depth analysis of the wave nature of light that impacts the security of data in the process. Further, the data security executive discusses the future of data security and how his company, Quantum Xchange, will continue to address the shortcomings inherent with modern-day encryption.