About this episode

Rob Marciano discusses the technologies shaping our future and the optimism surrounding them.

CBS News Senior Meteorologist Rob Marciano joins Randall Kenneth Jones for an eye-opening conversation about the technologies shaping our future—and why we should feel hopeful about them. Drawing from his new National Geographic book, "The Next Big Thing: Innovations for a Better, Smarter, Stronger Tomorrow" (co-authored with James Trefil), Marciano explores everything from artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and renewable energy to 3D printing, robotics, and the future of infrastructure. With warmth, humor, and genuine curiosity, Jones serves as the perfect guide for science devotees and listeners who don't consider themselves "science people," often asking the questions many of us are afraid to ask. Together, they discuss why understanding technology can reduce fear, how innovation is addressing some of humanity's biggest challenges, and why the future may be far brighter than today's headlines suggest. Along the way, Marciano shares stories from his encounters with cutting-edge technologies—including a memorable conversation with a humanoid robot—and explains how researching this book transformed him from a skeptic into an optimist. The result is a fascinating…

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