What is truth? When does a pandemic “end”? What decisions do we want to leave to artificial intelligence… and which would we rather not? These are some of the questions “that keep them up at night,” as science journalist Pakinam Amer puts it. “They” are researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science: Adrien de Sutter, Alexander Blum, Dora Vargha, and Yishu Mao. In this special episode of Science Social, Pakinam and host Stephanie Hood sit together with them to journey through the multifaceted ideas and concepts at the intersections of science, society, and history. In conversation, we explore how the science of the past is deeply connected to our present and future. And, we ask how diverse perspectives from these interdisciplinary spaces can help us to better understand and navigate our ever-evolving world—from devastating pandemics, to cutting-edge physics, to the dawn of AI. Learn more about the researchers mentioned in the episode: Adrien de Sutter: https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/de/people/adesutter Alexander Blum: https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/de/people/ablum Dora Vargha: https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/de/people/dvargha Yishu Mao: https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/de/people/ymao Benjamin Johnson: https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/de/people/bjohnson Karolina Sobetska: https://www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/de/people/kasobecka This podcast is produced by the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG), www.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de Follow us on https://twitter.com/MPIWG Hosted and written by: Pakinam Amer and Stephanie Hood Produced by: Pakinam Amer, Verena Braun, and Stephanie Hood Sound editing by: Verena Braun Theme song by: Podington Bear - Pretty and Cruddy Beat, CC NY-NC 3.0 Transition Music by: Podington Bear - Flutterbee, CC NY-NC 3.0 Audio Quote Joe Biden: President Biden: "The pandemic is over" | 60 Minutes