Deep Dive: Gaillard Cut, Man Ray’s Photographic Rebellions, and the Brain at 120 m/s - August 27, 2025
Jonathan Pierce and Andrew Lindbeck explore the engineering gamble of the Gaillard Cut in the Panama Canal project, unpack Man Ray’s technical innovations in photography and their cultural impact, and quantify human neural processing with a striking 120 m/s fact of the day.
In this Deep Dive episode, our hosts discuss the U.S. excavation of the Gaillard Cut in 1900, Man Ray’s photographic innovations, and the human brain’s information speed.
- 📜 On this day in 1900: U.S. engineers began excavating the Gaillard Cut — the crucial slice through the continental divide that defined the Panama Canal’s engineering risk and required massive earthmoving, slope stabilization, integrated rail-and-shovel logistics, and a political commitment to complete what the French had failed to finish.
- 🎂 Birthday spotlight on Man Ray (1890): a look at his Dada and Surrealist experiments — rayographs, solarization, and how his method-driven approach reengineered photography from documentation into conceptual art, influencing galleries and fashion alike.
- 💡 Fact of the day: the human brain can process information at about 120 meters per second — a visceral framing of neural throughput that designers and engineers can use as a reference for timing, responsiveness, and safety margins in systems.
---
🎧 Subscribe for more insights.
🎧 Subscribe for more insights.
Creators and Guests
Producer
Chad Thompson
Chad Thompson is the producer of Neural Newscast, bringing his expertise in technology, cybersecurity, media production, DJing, music production, and radio broadcasting to deliver high-quality, engaging news content. A futurist and early adopter, Chad has a deep passion for innovation, storytelling, and automation, ensuring that Neural Newscast stays at the forefront of modern news delivery. With a background in security operations and a career leading cyber defense teams, he combines technical acumen with creative vision to produce informative and compelling broadcasts. In addition to producing the podcast, Chad creates its original music, blending his technical expertise with his creative talents to enhance the show's unique sound. Outside of Neural Newscast, Chad is a dedicated father, electronic music enthusiast, and builder of creative projects, always exploring new ways to merge technology with storytelling.
