The boundary between human and machine is not entirely clear, although we often define ourselves by contrasting humans to machines and technology, says Trevor Pinch, the Goldwin Smith Professor of Science & Technology Studies. He examines the border between human and machine in “The Human Today,” a new episode in the “What Makes Us Human?” podcast series.

“Human experience has become more and more technologically mediated – from wearing spectacles to all sorts of prostheses and other technological, neuro- and pharmacological enhancements,” says Pinch in the podcast. “It’s also true that the world of technology and machines contains inescapable traces of the human.”

“What Makes Us Human?” from the College of Arts and Sciences showcases the newest thinking from across the disciplines about what it means to be human in the 21st century. Featuring 3-4 minute audio essays written and recorded by Cornell faculty, the series releases a new episode each Tuesday through the fall.

“What Makes Us Human?” podcasts are available for download on iTunes and SoundCloud and for streaming at as.cornell.edu/humanities, where text versions of the essays are also posted.

- Linda B. Glaser