Curiosity Unbounded
- Episodes
- 19
- Released
- monthly
- Latest episode
- Oct 28, 2026
About the podcast
The Curiosity Unbounded podcast brings you behind the scenes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) through conversations between MIT President Sally Kornbluth and the people working in its labs and in the field. Along the way, Sally and her guests discuss pressing issues, as well as what inspires the people running at the world’s toughest challenges at one of the most innovative institutions on the planet.
License: Copyright 2026 Curiosity Unbounded
Contributors
Episodes 19
Quantum Computing: Promise, Hype and Reality — William D. Oliver
With William D. Oliver
Quantum computers promise to tackle problems that are beyond the reach of today’s most powerful computers—but how close are we to making that promise a reality? MIT quantum engineer Will Oliver joins President …
Show notes
Quantum computers promise to tackle problems that are beyond the reach of today’s most powerful computers—but how close are we to making that promise a reality? MIT quantum engineer Will Oliver joins President Sally Kornbluth to explain what makes quantum computing different, why scaling quantum computers is so difficult, and what these machines could eventually mean for fields from drug discovery to materials science. They also explore the role of AI, MIT’s growing quantum ecosystem, and why Oliver believes we’ve already had our “Wright brothers moment” in quantum computing.Inside Efficient AI: From GPUs to GPTs — Song Han
With Song Han
Song Han is an associate professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science whose research focuses on efficient AI computing. His work spans high-resolution computer vision for autonomous vehicles, more …
Show notes
Song Han is an associate professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science whose research focuses on efficient AI computing. His work spans high-resolution computer vision for autonomous vehicles, more efficient image generation, improved GPT performance, and novel methods for training machine learning models. He also leads the Efficient AI team at NVIDIA Research, focused on optimizing GPU-accelerated AI systems.From boom to bust, the workings of financial crises — Emil Verner
With Emil Verner
Emil Verner is the Jerome and Dorthy Lemelson Professor of Management and Financial Economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His research examines how finance and the broader economy interact, with a …
Show notes
Emil Verner is the Jerome and Dorthy Lemelson Professor of Management and Financial Economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His research examines how finance and the broader economy interact, with a focus on the causes and consequences of financial crises — from bank runs and insolvency to debt booms, economic volatility, and political polarization.
Show notes and transcript:
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Toxoplasma and the Human Host — Sebastian Lourido
With Sebastian Lourido
Sebastian Lourido is an associate professor of biology and a member of the Whitehead Institute. Sebastian studies human pathogens and seeks to unravel the genetic pathways that help parasites like Toxoplasma …
Show notes
Sebastian Lourido is an associate professor of biology and a member of the Whitehead Institute. Sebastian studies human pathogens and seeks to unravel the genetic pathways that help parasites like Toxoplasma gondii exist in human cells. He hopes that his work will lead to new treatments for toxoplasmosis as well as drugs that could treat diseases caused by similar parasites.
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-16-toxoplasma-and-human-host
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Making sense of your dollars — Christopher Palmer
With Christopher Palmer
Christopher Palmer is an Associate Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is also a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and an Affiliate with the Jameel …
Show notes
Christopher Palmer is an Associate Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is also a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and an Affiliate with the Jameel Poverty Action Lab, based here at MIT. He studies consumer credit, and household financial decision making.
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-15-making-sense-your-dollars
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Putting a glacier in its place — Brent Minchew
With Brent Minchew
Brent Minchew is an Associate Professor of Geophysics in the department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT. He studies the behavior of glaciers in respect to environmental factors and is …
Show notes
Brent Minchew is an Associate Professor of Geophysics in the department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT. He studies the behavior of glaciers in respect to environmental factors and is dedicated to understanding sea level rise and exploring viable interventions to stabilize ice sheets.
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-14-putting-glacier-its-place
Join our mailing list and send us feedback:
The future of customizable 3D printing — Stefanie Mueller
With Stefanie Mueller
Stefanie Mueller is an associate professor with a joint appointment in MIT's Electrical and Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering departments. Her work is mostly focused on developing novel hardware and …
Show notes
Stefanie Mueller is an associate professor with a joint appointment in MIT's Electrical and Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering departments. Her work is mostly focused on developing novel hardware and software systems that advance personal fabrication technologies. She envisions a world in which anyone can use 3D printing to create any object at any time.
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-13-future-customizable-3d-printing
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Making sense of cities — Andres Sevtsuk
With Andres Sevtsuk
Andres Sevtsuk is an associate professor of Urban Science and Planning at MIT. His work focuses on the influence of urban design on travel behavior and quality of life, and contributes to making cities more …
Show notes
Andres Sevtsuk is an associate professor of Urban Science and Planning at MIT. His work focuses on the influence of urban design on travel behavior and quality of life, and contributes to making cities more walkable, sustainable and equitable.
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-12-making-sense-cities
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Get out the vote — Ariel White
With Ariel White
Ariel White is an associate professor of Political Science at MIT. She studies voting and voting rights, race, the criminal legal system, and bureaucratic behavior as a way to shed light on people's everyday …
Show notes
Ariel White is an associate professor of Political Science at MIT. She studies voting and voting rights, race, the criminal legal system, and bureaucratic behavior as a way to shed light on people's everyday interactions with government. Her recent work investigates how potential voters react to being affected by punitive government policies, such as incarceration and immigration enforcement, and how people can make their way back onto the voting registries after these experiences.
Links:
Timestamps:
- (07:58) - What is actually known immediately following an election
- (10:47) - How does mail-in voting affect elections
- (13:09) - Why some people don't vote
Show notes and transcript: https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-11-get-out-vote
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Making medicine easier to swallow — Giovanni Traverso
With Giovanni Traverso
Giovanni "Gio" Traverso is an associate professor in MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering and a gastroenterologist at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. His work focuses on innovative methods for drug …
Show notes
Giovanni "Gio" Traverso is an associate professor in MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering and a gastroenterologist at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. His work focuses on innovative methods for drug delivery, diagnostics, and biological sensing. Here, Gio speaks with MIT President Sally Kornbluth about tackling the core challenges of taking medication, the unique perspective that comes with being both a professor and a practicing gastroenterologist, and the importance of entrepreneurship.
Links:
- The Laboratory for Translational Engineering
- MIT School of Engineering
- MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering
Timestamps:
- (04:48) - Electroceuticals
- (06:08) - The gut-brain connection's affect on appetite
- (08:29) - The challenges of adherence to medication schedules
- (15:45) - Entrepreneurship
Show notes and transcript: https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-10-making-medicine-easier-swallow
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Silk, the fabric of more sustainable agriculture — Benedetto Marelli
With Benedetto Marelli
Benedetto Marelli is a biomedical engineer by training and a materials scientist. He is an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His work is focused on the fabrication …
Show notes
Benedetto Marelli is a biomedical engineer by training and a materials scientist. He is an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His work is focused on the fabrication of new biopolymers that can interact with biomolecules, living matter, and the environment. Here, Benedetto speaks with MIT President Sally Kornbluth about the advantages of using silk-based coatings in agriculture as well as for water filtration, and why being bold and creative can lead to powerful discoveries.
Links:
Timestamps:
- (01:23) - The benefits of silk use for agriculture
- (06:00) - MIT’s Climate Grand Challenges
- (07:12) - Using silk to filter out forever chemicals
- (09:31) - MIT’s Climate Project
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-8-hard-facts-soft-skills
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Hard facts on soft skills — Namrata Kala
With Namrata Kala
Namrata Kala is an associate professor in applied economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management. She studies the value of employee training and incentives, how communities adapt to environmental change and …
Show notes
Namrata Kala is an associate professor in applied economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management. She studies the value of employee training and incentives, how communities adapt to environmental change and regulation, and the returns on environmental technology investment. Here, Namrata speaks with MIT President Sally Kornbluth about the importance of soft skills training, and the benefits of being a straight shooter.
Links:
Timestamps:
- (10:07) - Communication skills and productivity
- (13:14) - Building relationships to benefit climate work
- (15:29) - MIT’s climate efforts
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-8-hard-facts-soft-skills
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Staying radical and relevant — Skylar Tibbits
With Skylar Tibbits
Skylar Tibbits is a designer and computer scientist whose research focuses on self-assembling and programmable materials, and 3D and 4D printing. He is the founder of the MIT Self-Assembly Lab. Here, Skylar …
Show notes
Skylar Tibbits is a designer and computer scientist whose research focuses on self-assembling and programmable materials, and 3D and 4D printing. He is the founder of the MIT Self-Assembly Lab. Here, Skylar speaks with MIT President Sally Kornbluth about the inspiration for his lab’s projects, why design at MIT is unique, and the magic in combining the creative with the technical.
Links:
- Skylar Tibbits
- Self-Assembly Lab
- Video: Cube self-folding strand
- MIT Morningside Academy for Design
- Growing Islands
Timestamps:
(01:01) 4D printing
(06:05) Self-assembly
(07:21) Growing Islands
(13:00) Design at MIT
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-7-staying-radical-and-relevant
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Healing the ailing heart — Ellen Roche
With Ellen Roche
Ellen Roche is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and the associate head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. Her research team develops new devices and therapeutic strategies for …
Show notes
Ellen Roche is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and the associate head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. Her research team develops new devices and therapeutic strategies for repairing the heart and other tissues. Here, she speaks with MIT President Sally Kornbluth about her work, the advantages of taking a nonlinear route to one’s chosen career, and the importance of saying "yes" to unexpected opportunities.
Links:
- Ellen Roche
- Therapeutic Technology Design and Development Lab
- Video: Patient-specific, 3D-printed, soft-robotic hearts
- Dassault Systèmes
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science
Timestamps:
(03:35) - Potential for 3D-printing hearts
(08:14) - Hydrogels
(17:33) - On AI
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-6-healing-ailing-heart
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Beyond words — Joshua Bennett
With Joshua Bennett
Joshua Bennett is a professor of literature and distinguished chair of the humanities at MIT. Additionally, he is an accomplished spoken word artist, and author of several books. Here, he speaks with MIT …
Show notes
Joshua Bennett is a professor of literature and distinguished chair of the humanities at MIT. Additionally, he is an accomplished spoken word artist, and author of several books. Here, he speaks with MIT President Sally Kornbluth about the power of words, the beauty of quiet things, and about the value in learning for its own sake. Plus, we hear him perform his poetry.
Links:
Timestamps:
(08:38) - On AI
(13:40) - The benefits and joy of learning for its own sake
(20:01) - The distinction between poetry on the page and on the stage
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-5-beyond-words
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Build your own superpower, then share it with the world — Fadel Adib
With Fadel Adib
Fadel Adib is an associate professor at the MIT Media Lab and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His work pushes the limits of wireless sensing: to monitor climate change in the oceans …
Show notes
Fadel Adib is an associate professor at the MIT Media Lab and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His work pushes the limits of wireless sensing: to monitor climate change in the oceans; to impact food production, health, and space exploration; and to see through walls.
In this episode, MIT President Sally Kornbluth talks with Adib about his work and how he’s inspired to solve pressing global issues. Along the way, they discuss his belief in the importance of inspiring others and democratizing advanced tools and technologies, as well as his early life in Lebanon and his family-held belief that education has the power to change lives.
Links:
- Fadel Adib
- The Big Bang Theory episode
- Emerald Innovations
- Signal Kinetics group
- Cartesian Systems
- MIT 100k Entrepreneurship Competition
- Sensea
Timestamps:
(01:38) - The superpower question
(07:48) - Detecting emotions through walls and The Big Bang Theory episode
(09:00) - Ocean work and implications for aquaculture, climate change, and space exploration
(17:50) - Early life in Lebanon
(21:10) - Democratization of technology
(25:52) - Family and the importance of education
(28:26) - Local impact
(29:24) - Public education through videos
Show notes and transcript:
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Decoding the tree of life — Greg Fournier
With Greg Fournier
Greg Fournier is an associate professor of geobiology at MIT. Greg’s work focuses on the microbial world, and by studying the evolution of microbes, he and his team further our understanding of the history of …
Show notes
Greg Fournier is an associate professor of geobiology at MIT. Greg’s work focuses on the microbial world, and by studying the evolution of microbes, he and his team further our understanding of the history of life on Earth.
In this episode, MIT President Sally Kornbluth and Fournier discuss fine-tuning our understanding of evolution; lab life and how research surprises often lead to new discoveries; and advice for those just beginning a career in science.
Links:
- Greg Fournier
- Fournier Lab
- Craters of the Moon
- Wind Cave
- Permian–Triassic mass extinction
- Purgatory Chasm
- NASA postdoctoral fellowship
- Course 1
- EAPS (Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences)
Show notes and transcript:
https://news.mit.edu/podcast/podcast-curiosity-unbounded-episode-3-decoding-tree-life
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Bureaucracies, dictatorships, and the power of Africa's people — Mai Hassan
With Mai Hassan
In this episode, MIT President Sally Kornbluth sits down with associate professor of political science and faculty co-director of MIT-Africa, Mai Hassan. Her work looks at bureaucracy, public administration …
Show notes
In this episode, MIT President Sally Kornbluth sits down with associate professor of political science and faculty co-director of MIT-Africa, Mai Hassan. Her work looks at bureaucracy, public administration, and the state in Africa, and more recently, how people mobilize against repressive dictatorships.
Links:
Show notes and transcript:
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
How a free-range kid from Maine is helping green-up industrial practices — Desirée Plata
With Desirée Plaata
In this episode, MIT President Sally Kornbluth sits down with newly tenured associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, Desirée Plata. Her work focuses on making industrial processes more …
Show notes
In this episode, MIT President Sally Kornbluth sits down with newly tenured associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, Desirée Plata. Her work focuses on making industrial processes more environmentally friendly, and removing methane (a key factor in global warming) from the air.
Links:
Show notes and transcript:
Join the mailing list or send us feedback:
Similar podcasts
More Science podcasts
Is this your podcast?
Confirm it with an entry in your feed: you get a code here, add it as podcast:txt to the channel of your feed, and we check it. Your podcast is then shown as “verified” on SoundNode.