SCIENCE CHANNEL AND POPULAR SCIENCE PREVIEW OUR FUTURE LIVES IN THE NEW SERIES POPULAR SCIENCE'S FUTURE OF
-- POPULAR SCIENCE'S FUTURE OF World Premieres Monday, August 10 at 9 PM (ET/PT) --
(Silver Spring, Md.) � Science Channel, in partnership with Popular Science magazine, is bringing viewers an extraordinary glimpse of the unbelievable scientific and technological innovations destined to shape our lives in five, ten, 15 or 25 years with the new series POPULAR SCIENCE'S FUTURE OF, premiering Monday, August 10 at 9 PM (ET/PT). Hosted by author, comedian, writer and pundit Baratunde Thurston, each episode examines how one important characteristic of human life will fundamentally change within our lifetimes.
Through in-depth interviews with maverick scientists and hands-on experience with breakthrough research and extraordinary prototypes, Thurston guides viewers on a deep exploration of how each aspect will fundamentally evolve within our lifetimes.
In the premiere episode, "The Future of Play," Thurston examines how we will spend our leisure time in the future. He travels to M.I.T. Media Lab where a research team led by Dr. David Merrill is developing "siftables," tiny computers shaped like square blocks, which may forever change how humans and computers interact. By using a small LCD screen, blue tooth technology, infrared capability and more, each siftable can be programmed so the user can play games, learn math or create music. Thurston also explores the virtusphere, among other technologies, which is a large spherical device being developed by researchers in Binghamton, N.Y. A new form of virtual reality, users step into the virtusphere and actually feel like they are in a video game shooting monsters or chasing down an enemy.
Airing Mondays at 9 PM (ET/PT), upcoming episodes include:
� "The Future of War," soldiers wear exoskeletons that increase their strength and endurance or communicate telepathically using special helmets.
� "The Future of Sex," mates are selected using compatible genome mapping, babies are designed to reduce the likelihood of diseases and a high-tech MRI scanner can prove that you love your spouse.
� "The Future of Security," a smart camera identifies potential danger with facial recognition technology and new tools help indentify criminals dubbed brain fingerprinting.
� "The Future of Superhuman," investigating cutting-edge prosthetic limbs and ways for humans to potentially re-grow limbs.
About Baratunde Thurston
Baratunde Thurston is a comedian and vigilante pundit who lives at the intersection of comedy, technology and politics. Currently, Thurston serves as the web editor for The Onion, but also writes for The Huffington Post and his own website baratunde.com. He is also the co-founder of Jack & Jill Politics, one of the top 10 black blogs. He has authored three books, including "Keep Jerry Falwell Away From My Oreo Cookies", was nominated for the Bill Hicks Award for Thought Provoking Comedy, declared a Champion of the First Amendment by Iowa State University, and called "someone I need to know" by Barack Obama. His geek credentials are unassailable. Baratunde graduated Harvard University with a degree in Philosophy and spent eight years offering strategic advice to Fortune 100 companies on the future of communications and media. Comedy Central hired him to tweet the inauguration, and Mashable called him "ever-hilarious" and featured him on its best of NYC social media list. Baratunde speaks at colleges and conferences around the country and performs regularly in New York City, where he lives.
POPULAR SCIENCE'S FUTURE OF is produced by The Incubator. For The Incubator, Simon Andreae and James Younger are executive producers. For Science Channel, Christo Doyle is executive producer. Debbie Myers is general manager of the Science Channel.
About Popular Science
Founded in 1872, Popular Science (www.popsci.com) is the world's largest science and technology magazine, with a circulation of 1.3 million and 7.1 million readers. Each month, Popular Science delivers "The Future Now," reporting on the intersection of science and everyday life with an eye toward what's new and why it matters. Our readers believe that the future is going to be better, and Popular Science gives them the tools and information to improve their technology and their world. Nominated for the 2009 and winner of the 2004 National Magazine Award for General Excellence, Popular Science is published by the Bonnier Corporation. The Bonnier Corporation (www.bonniercorp.com) is one of the largest consumer-publishing groups in America and the leading media company serving passionate, highly engaged audiences through more than 40 special-interest magazines and related Web properties; television, cable, radio, VOD and mobile content; live events; and branded products.
About Science Channel
Science Channel is broadcast 24 hours a day and seven days a week to more than 56 million U.S. homes and simulcast on Science Channel HD. We immerse viewers in the incredible possibilities of science, from string theory and futuristic cities to accidental discoveries and outrageous inventions. We take things apart, peer inside and put things together in new and unexpected ways. We celebrate the trials, errors and brinking moments that change our lives forever. To find out more go to www.sciencechannel.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
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