This episode is presented by eBay.

Rob, everyone loves a deal and a bargain from time to time, don't they? Absolutely, mate. And you know where you can grab a great deal? Talk to me. Where? The eBay app. Yes, you are correct. You didn't need to talk to me. I already knew it. I love eBay. When you're buying, you can discover loads of hidden gems. there's so many items where you think I would have never found that anywhere else.

Then when you're buying, you can discover loads of hidden gems. There's so many items where you think,

I would have never found that anywhere else. Then when you're selling, it's so simple and most

importantly, free. It's free, Rob. When it's this easy to sell for free, and there's great deals

on things you love. You can't help but say when it's eBay. It excludes vehicles and business

sellers.

Welcome to Science Talk, the weekly podcast of Scientific American, for the seven days starting July 30th, 2008. I'm Steve Murski. The June 18th podcast featured a conversation with I-Tripple-E

Spectrum editor-in-chief Glenn Zorpet and writer John

Horgan about the so-called technological singularity in which artificial intelligence and

computing power would allegedly lead to a new era in human history.

Well, after that conversation, we kept yapping, as is our habit.

Glenn talked about his most recent trip to Iraq, and John shared an anthropological take on war in general. Our conversation took place at I-Therpile-E Spectrum's headquarters in New York City.

Glenn, you spent almost the entire month of January in Iraq.

I did do that.

And this is not your first trip to Iraq.

This was my second trip to Iraq.

And you were there for technology reasons, though?

Yeah, shortly after my first trip, I got interested in the idea of IEDs. When you're in Iraq,

you get interested in IEDs. Improvise explosive devices, which is kind of a catch-all term

that refers to roadside bombs, suicide bombs, and car bombs. And so I knew, I became aware,

I knew that there was a lot of work going on.

...