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Recent episodes
The Physics of Un-Hackable Face Recognition | Rob Devlin on Metalenz
Apr 21, 2026
1h 13m 59s
The Real Economics of Data Centers in Space | Starcloud CEO Philip Johnston
Apr 1, 2026
1h 37m 34s
How To Make Quantum Algorithms Cheaper | Craig Gidney on Magic-State Factories, Resource Estimates
Mar 27, 2026
2h 03m 47s
How Neurons Translate Electricity into Chemistry | Tom Südhof
Mar 10, 2026
1h 30m 27s
How Engineers Solve “Impossible” Problems | Dan Gelbart
Feb 17, 2026
2h 03m 45s
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/21/26 | The Physics of Un-Hackable Face Recognition | Rob Devlin on Metalenz | How do you turn a flat piece of nanostructured material into a secure biometric sensor?In this episode, we speak with Rob Devlin, co-founder and CEO of Metalenz, about how metasurfaces are transforming optics and enabling a new generation of biosecure sensing. Devlin explains how engineers can control light at the subwavelength scale to replace bulky lens stacks with a single flat surface, and why the real breakthrough isn’t just miniaturization, but the ability to mass-produce optics in semiconductor fabs.We explore how Metalenz scaled metasurfaces from academic prototypes into millions of devices, and what it takes to design optics for manufacturing. Devlin breaks down the transition from building one perfect device in a cleanroom to producing millions that all meet tight specifications.The conversation focuses on polarization imaging as a new information channel in consumer devices. Unlike traditional cameras that capture only intensity and color, polarization reveals material properties. This enables a new approach to facial recognition that is both more secure and more compact than existing systems.Rob also shares the story behind Metalenz, from its origins in a Harvard lab to partnerships with major semiconductor manufacturers, and how the company navigated the challenges of finding product-market fit, scaling fabrication, and building a new sensing stack from scratch.Whether you’re interested in optics, nanofabrication, consumer electronics, or the future of biometric security, this episode explores how controlling light at the nanoscale is opening entirely new possibilities for sensing and identity verification.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Mikhail Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovMichael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:22 - Making Metalenses Mass-Producible10:58 - Metasurfaces for Polarimetry17:10 - Face ID Security and Pitfalls24:47 - Polar ID Principles29:02 - Polar ID Demo39:58 - Meeting Federico Capasso50:43 - Developing Metasurface Fabrication Techniques55:58 - Founding Metalenz 1:11:44 - Future of Metalenz and Metasurfaces#photonics #faceid #biometrics #metasurface #biosecurity #optics | 1h 13m 59s | ||||||
| 4/1/26 | The Real Economics of Data Centers in Space | Starcloud CEO Philip Johnston | Are data centers in space physically possible, or just another overhyped idea?In this episode, we speak with Philip Johnston, CEO of Starcloud, about the technical and economic case for putting AI infrastructure in orbit. The idea has gone viral in recent months, drawing strong criticism from science communicators like Scott Manley, Kyle Hill, and Hank Green, but rarely with detailed engagement on the underlying assumptions.We examine whether space-based data centers can compete with terrestrial infrastructure, and what constraints actually matter: energy generation, cooling, launch costs, and manufacturing at scale. Johnston walks through the core economic model behind Starcloud, including assumptions about SpaceX’s Starship, the cost of solar power in orbit, and why removing terrestrial constraints like land use, permitting, and energy storage could fundamentally change how compute is deployed.We discuss the physics of radiative cooling in space, the challenges of operating GPUs in a radiation environment, and how orbital systems compare to Earth-based data centers in terms of efficiency and cost structure. The conversation also explores broader questions around AI’s growing energy demands, the limits of terrestrial infrastructure, and whether shifting compute off-world is a niche solution or a long-term inevitability.Whether you’re interested in space technology, AI infrastructure, energy systems, or the economics of large-scale computing, this episode offers a detailed look at one of the most debated ideas in modern engineering, and a rare opportunity to hear its strongest arguments laid out in full.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Mikhail Shalaginov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikhail-shalaginov/Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:12 - What is Starcloud?02:44 - Why do data centers need to go to space?06:15 - Can’t we just build more solar panels on earth?11:10 - Economic analysis of Starcloud19:56 - How does Starcloud’s cooling work?28:26 - Training an LLM in space32:07 - Addressing critics on space Twitter34:23 - Is Starcloud overfunded?35:59 - Will demand for data centers keep going up?38:11 - GPU lifespan and disposal in space39:47 - Bus structures41:43 - Starcloud’s origin and founders49:29 - Fundraising, Competition, and Meeting Expectations53:29 - Satellite size and collisions56:29 - Manufacturing Bottlenecks1:00:20 - Starcloud 1 tests1:01:57 - Acceleration after YC1:03:43 - Testing on Earth1:05:06 - Motivations for Starcloud1:06:45 - Data centers on the Moon1:08:12 - Interacting with AI companies1:08:18 - What’s next for Starcloud?1:14:01 - Other uses for Starcloud satellites1:17:56 - Lunar hotels and space elevators1:24:28 - Complementary business ideas to Starcloud1:29:51 - Philip’s competitive twin1:32:18 - Philip and Mike’s thoughts on YC1:34:45 - Advice for young entrepreneurs#datacenter #aidatacenter #starlink #spacex #falcon9 #starcloud | 1h 37m 34s | ||||||
| 3/27/26 | How To Make Quantum Algorithms Cheaper | Craig Gidney on Magic-State Factories, Resource Estimates | How do you actually make quantum algorithms work on real hardware?Build your own quantum circuits in Crumble: https://algassert.com/crumbleIn this episode, we speak with Craig Gidney of Google Quantum AI, whose work focuses on the practical realities of building fault-tolerant quantum computers. Gidney explains how seemingly small implementation choices, like how you perform arithmetic, can dominate the cost of entire quantum algorithms.We explore why factoring small numbers like 15 in Shor's algorithm can be misleadingly easy, and why scaling to larger numbers requires dramatically more resources due to operations like modular multiplication. He breaks down how quantum circuits are often dominated by classical reversible logic, and why optimizing these routines is critical for making quantum computing viable.The conversation covers quantum error correction, including why T gates are especially expensive, how magic state factories works, and how different hardware architectures change what “cost” even means. Gidney also explains how resource estimates for breaking cryptography have dropped by orders of magnitude and what drove those improvements.We also dive into the tools he built, including Stim, Quirk, and Crumble, which help researchers simulate noise, visualize circuits, and track how errors propagate through complex systems. Gidney shares his unconventional path into the field, the role of intuition and tooling in discovery, and how software engineering shapes modern quantum research.Whether you’re interested in quantum computing, error correction, cryptography, or the engineering challenges behind scalable quantum systems, this episode offers a clear and grounded look at what it really takes to turn quantum algorithms into reality.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Mikhail Shalaginov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikhail-shalaginov/Yudong Cao: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yudong-cao-25b6a929/Subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:22 - Shor’s Algorithm04:02 - Why are Arithmetic Operations Important?08:35 - Why are T-Gates Important for QEC?13:47 - Motivations for Creating Crumble and STIM18:40 - Can AI Code Quantum Simulators?22:32 - Journey into Learning Quantum26:50 - How to Enter the Field of Quantum Computing31:16 - From Starcraft to Software Engineering36:05 - Crumble Demo53:18 - Quirk Demo1:00:48 - Estimating Resources for Quantum Computation1:08:58 - Optimizing Measurements for Computation1:16:40 - How Many Qubits Do We Actually Need?1:30:49 - Other Research Areas for Improving Fault Tolerance1:41:23 - Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithm Problem1:46:55 - New Tools for Quantum Computing1:50:23 - What Would Craig Do with Unlimited Funding?1:52:28 - How Learning Has Changed for Craig with Experience1:57:31 - Riding the Wave of Innovation vs Sticking to One Idea1:59:53 - Advice for Young Scientists#quantumcomputing #quantumphysics #computerscience #googleai #googlequantum | 2h 03m 47s | ||||||
| 3/10/26 | How Neurons Translate Electricity into Chemistry | Tom Südhof | How do neurons convert electrical signals into chemical messages in under a millisecond?In this episode, we speak with Thomas Südhof, Stanford neuroscientist and Nobel laureate whose discoveries revealed the molecular machinery that allows neurons to communicate at synapses. Südhof explains how an electrical impulse traveling down a neuron triggers the rapid release of neurotransmitters, transforming an electrical signal into a chemical one that can be received by the next cell.We explore the remarkable precision of synaptic transmission, including how calcium ions trigger vesicle fusion, how specialized proteins organize the release machinery, and why this entire process unfolds on the timescale of a single millisecond. Südhof walks us through the molecular components that make this possible, including the proteins that dock neurotransmitter-filled vesicles and control their release.The conversation also examines how these discoveries reshaped modern neuroscience by revealing the fundamental mechanisms underlying neuronal communication. Südhof discusses how synapses operate as highly specialized molecular machines and how disruptions in synaptic signaling are linked to neurological and psychiatric disorders.Whether you’re interested in neuroscience, synapses, brain signaling, neurotransmitters, or the molecular basis of thought, this episode offers a clear explanation of how neurons translate electricity into chemistry, and how this microscopic process makes brain communication possibleFollow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Mikhail Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovMichael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: [https://www.632nm.com](https://www.632nm.com/)Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:23 - What is a Synapse?07:01 - History of Synapse Discovery12:54 - How Electron Microscopy Helped Neuroscience15:11 - Early Electrophysiological Experiments18:31 - Why are Neurotransmitters Needed At All?21:25 - Electrical Connections Between Cells22:48 - How Signal Diversity is Created in Synapses29:04 - Why are Synapses Chemical?31:06 - How Tom Began his Neuroscience Career39:32 - Emerging Tools that Allowed for Researching Synapses44:16 - Discerning Protein Function49:36 - Discovering Mechanism through Data52:15 - Isolating Membrane Proteins55:09 - Voltage Gates57:50 - How Synapses Change Over Time1:02:14 - How are Synapses Formed?1:10:22 - The Need for New Tools1:11:53 - Implications for Drug Discovery1:17:07 - Exploring the Mouse Hippocampus1:22:35 - Tom’s Work on LDL Receptors1:26:33 - Understanding Molecular Logic#neuroscience #neuroplasticity #nobelprize #hubermanlab #neurobiology | 1h 30m 27s | ||||||
| 2/17/26 | How Engineers Solve “Impossible” Problems | Dan Gelbart | How do engineers solve problems that seem to violate the laws of physics?In this episode, we speak with Dan Gelbart, a prolific inventor and precision engineer, about what it really means to work at the limits of physical law. From lasers and optical systems to ultra-precision manufacturing and semiconductor tools, Gelbart has spent decades designing systems where nanometers, noise, and nonlinearities matter, and where small misunderstandings of physics can block real progress.We discuss the story of the first working laser, built by Theodore Maiman, and why it succeeded only after questioning widely accepted assumptions. Gelbart explains how many “impossible” engineering problems aren’t forbidden by physics at all: they’re constrained by measurement errors, incomplete models, or failure to explore edge cases like pulsed operation, material effects, and boundary conditions.We explore precision metrology, high-resolution imaging for satellite systems, the culture of engineering education, and the difference between a true physical limit and a design constraint. Gelbart reflects on why mastering fundamentals, mechanics, optics, electromagnetism, matters more than chasing trends, and how breakthroughs often come from carefully re-examining what others assume cannot be done.Whether you’re interested in physics, engineering, semiconductor manufacturing, lasers, or the philosophy of technological innovation, this conversation offers a rigorous look at how engineers operate at the edge of what nature allows, and sometimes push beyond what others think is possible.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Mikhail Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovMichael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: [https://www.632nm.com](https://www.632nm.com/)Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:35 - The World’s First Laser07:53 - Solving Impossible Problems23:37 - Underestimated Problems39:36 - Dan’s Backstory43:33 - How to Teach Yourself Anything47:03 - Shortcomings of Modern Education53:19 - Developing the Optical Tape Recorder1:01:39 - Machine Obsolescence1:08:04 - Why are Scientists Often Bad Businessmen?1:15:17 - Developing Medical Devices1:24:52 - Untapped Potential of Materials Science1:30:47 - Accidental Inventions1:35:37 - Surviving Bureaucracy1:42:27 - Humanoid Robots1:44:11 - Managing an Engineering Team1:50:06 - Developing the First Good Mobile Data Terminal1:54:15 - Building an Environment for Solving Problems2:02:18 - Why Aren’t We Inventing New Things?#machining #cnc #precisionengineering #metrology #machineshop | 2h 03m 45s | ||||||
| 2/3/26 | How Visual Experience Rewires the Brain | Mark Bear on Neuroplasticity | How does experience rewire the brain—and why is vision the ideal system for understanding neuroplasticity?In this episode, we speak with Mark Bear, MIT neuroscientist and a pioneer in the study of experience-dependent plasticity. Bear explains how the visual cortex became a model system for uncovering the synaptic mechanisms that allow the brain to change, adapt, and learn, especially during early development.We explore how visual experience shapes neural circuits, why the brain undergoes critical periods of heightened plasticity, and what classic experiments in visual deprivation revealed about how connections are strengthened or lost. Bear walks us through the discovery of binocular vision in the cortex, the role of inhibition in closing critical periods, and how these ideas reshaped our understanding of learning and memory.The conversation also covers modern views of cortical plasticity, including perceptual learning, visual recognition memory, and how the brain distinguishes familiar from novel stimuli. Bear discusses how insights from vision extend to broader questions about brain development, neurological disorders such as amblyopia, and whether adult plasticity can be reopened.Whether you’re interested in neuroscience, brain development, neuroplasticity, learning and memory, or the biology of vision, this episode offers a clear and authoritative look at how experience shapes the brain at the level of neural circuits and synapses.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Mikhail Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovMichael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro00:54 - Neuroplasticity in the Visual Cortex05:45 - Critical Periods for Neuroplasticity16:50 - Brain Development in Blind People19:25 - Hallucinations and Sensory Deprivation25:36 - How Mark’s Vision Disorder Led Him to a Career in Neuroscience31:35 - Intro to the Visual System35:52 - Visual System Processing40:52 - Pop Science Neuroplasticity45:00 - Memory Enhancing Pharmaceuticals50:18 - Other Ways of Modifying the Visual Cortex1:14:50 - Declarative vs Procedural Memory1:22:36 - Neural Networks and Memory Degradation1:25:16 - Neuron Transplants and Neurogenesis1:28:58 - Brain-Machine Interfaces1:33:46 - Most Prominent Issues in the Field1:40:47 - Fragile X Syndrome1:51:10 - Advice for Young Scientists#neuroplasticity #neuroscience #hubermanlab #braindevelopment #brainplasticity | 1h 55m 42s | ||||||
| 1/20/26 | Snell's Law, Metasurfaces, and Metalenses | Federico Capasso | How can flat surfaces shape light as powerfully as bulky lenses?In this episode, we speak with Federico Capasso, Harvard physicist and pioneer of metasurfaces, metalenses, and nanophotonics. Capasso traces the path from his work at Bell Labs on quantum cascade lasers to the invention of metasurface optics, showing how a practical challenge—collimating light without traditional lenses—sparked a new way to control light.We explore the physics behind metasurfaces and generalized Snell’s law, explaining how subwavelength structures enable precise control of wavefronts, phase, and polarization beyond what conventional diffractive optics or Fresnel lenses allow. Capasso clarifies common misconceptions, contrasts metasurfaces with diffraction gratings and phased arrays, and emphasizes the importance of physical intuition and simplicity.The conversation covers metalenses, polarization optics, holography, and how these ideas moved from theory to large-scale manufacturing in semiconductor foundries, ultimately appearing in consumer devices like smartphones. Capasso also reflects on commercialization, the legacy of Bell Labs, and the blurred boundary between basic science and real-world technology.Whether you’re interested in metasurfaces, metalenses, nanophotonics, optics, or the process behind breakthrough discoveries, this episode offers a clear and insightful look at how modern optical physics becomes transformative technology.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Mikhail Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovMichael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: [https://www.632nm.com](https://www.632nm.com/)Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:53 - Transition from Bell Labs to Harvard09:45 - Generalized Snell's Law21:25 - Facing the Diffractive Optics Community31:07 - Benefits of Well-Rounded Education45:16 - Metalenses55:55 - Can AI do Physics?1:07:39 - Industry vs Academia1:11:44 - Nanophotonics1:14:44 - What Allowed for the First Metalenses?1:17:38 - 632nm and Other Lasers1:20:47 - Quantum applications of Metalenses1:30:14 - Quantum Entanglement Redefines Spacetime1:43:22 - Stokes Parameters1:48:28 - Limits of Metasurface Pixel Size1:55:20 - Advice for Young Scientists2:01:45 - Critique of the H Index#metasurface #metalenses #quantumphysics #materialscience #optics #photonics | 2h 13m 09s | ||||||
| 1/6/26 | Graphene, Nanotubes, and Quantum Hall Physics | Philip Kim | How do electrons behave when they’re confined to a single layer, and why do entirely new laws of physics emerge when dimensions shrink?Papers discussed in this episode:Experimental observation of the quantum Hall effect and Berry's phase in graphene: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature04235Tunable Fractional Quantum Hall Phases in Bilayer Graphene: https://arxiv.org/abs/1403.2112Room-Temperature Quantum Hall Effect in Graphene: https://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0702408In this episode, we speak with Philip Kim, Harvard physicist and a leading experimentalist in low-dimensional quantum materials. Kim traces the experimental path from high-temperature superconductors and charge-density waves to carbon nanotubes and the earliest graphene devices, revealing how advances in nanofabrication and quantum transport opened the door to modern 2D materials physics.We dive deep into the Hall effect and quantum Hall effect, from their 19th-century origins to the discovery of quantized and fractional conductance, and explain why these effects were found experimentally before they were fully understood theoretically. Kim shares behind-the-scenes stories of early graphene experiments, mechanical exfoliation, Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations, and what it was like to be scooped by the work that launched graphene into the spotlight.Along the way, we explore how disorder, dimensionality, and magnetic fields shape electronic behavior; why carbon nanotubes paved the way for graphene; and how many of the most important discoveries in condensed matter physics arise from intuition, timing, and new experimental tools.Whether you’re interested in graphene, quantum transport, the quantum Hall effect, nanofabrication, superconductors, or the real stories behind breakthrough discoveries, this conversation offers a rare, technically rich look at how modern quantum materials research actually unfolds.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Mikhail Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovMichael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: [https://www.632nm.com](https://www.632nm.com/)Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:15 - How Philip Began Studying Graphene20:06 - Old Methods of Creating Graphene32:33 - Hall Effect and Quantum Hall Effect48:29 - Philip's Work at Columbia52:33 - Philip's First Experiments with Graphene1:06:43 - Did Philip Get Scooped from a Discovery?1:09:40 - The Power of Scotch Tape1:24:57 - High Temperature Quantum Hall Effect1:30:18 - Fractional Quantum Hall Effect1:41:17 - Collaboration with Particle Physicists1:54:13 - Single Layer Graphene1:59:44 - Next Gen Electronics with 2D Materials2:03:23 - Graphene Twisting2:14:48 - Superconductivity in Other Materials2:20:06 - Anyons2:30:00 - Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing2:36:05 - Can AI and Big Data Help Physicists?2:40:47 - What Would Philip Do with Unlimited Resources?2:43:44 - Optimizing the Education System#graphene #quantumphysics #materialscience #halleffect #electromagnetism | 2h 47m 03s | ||||||
| 12/23/25 | Quantum Matter, Super-conductors, and Black Holes | Subir Sachdev on the SYK Model | What makes high-temperature superconductors and “strange metals” some of the most perplexing systems in modern physics?In this episode, we speak with Dr. Subir Sachdev: Harvard physicist and one of the leading architects of today’s understanding of quantum matter. Sachdev explains why strange metals refuse to behave like ordinary conductors, how quantum entanglement reshapes the landscape of many-body physics, and why the quest to understand cuprate superconductors continues to push both theory and experiment to their limits.We explore the physics of the cuprate phase diagram, the collapse of quasiparticles, and the role of quantum criticality in creating universal, linear-in-temperature behavior. Sachdev walks us through the origins of the SYK model, its surprising connections to black-hole thermodynamics and holography, and how new lattice-based models may finally bridge the gap between solvable theory and real materials.Whether you’re curious about superconductivity, quantum criticality, black-hole analogies, emergent gauge fields, or the deep physics behind strongly correlated electrons, this conversation offers a rare, accessible look at how frontier theoretical work is redefining our picture of quantum matter—from the lab bench to the edge of spacetime.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Mikhail Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovMichael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:01:22 - Subir’s Path to Condensed Matter Physics06:24 - Challenges in Discovering Cuprates09:53 - History of Superconductivity20:07 - Subir's PhD work27:09 - Development of the SYK model41:09 - Strange Metals56:43 - Derivation of SYK Model1:03:53 - Signatures of Strange Metals1:09:58 - How Quantum Mechanics Affects Black Holes1:17:10 - What Brought Subir to Black Holes?1:19:43 - Black Hole Connections to SYK1:29:28 - ADS CFT Correspondence1:37:04 - Can Quantum Computers Help Advance the SYK Model?1:40:17 - Is AI Useful for Theoretical Physics?1:46:40 - How does Quantum Criticality Play into Superconductivity?1:49:11 - Derivation Quantum Criticality1:52:49 - What is Holography?1:55:07 - Holography2:00:19 - Green’s Function2:08:46 - Green’s equation slides2:13:23 - Yukawa Model vs SYK2:17:30 - Can AI Brute Force Physics Discoveries?2:23:51 - What Would Subir Do With Unlimited Funding?2:36:33 - Dissecting the Hype of Superconductivity2:31:15 - Raising the Next Generation of Great Physicists#theoreticalphysics #quantummaterials #astrophysics #superconductivity #superconductor #blackhole #quantumphysics #quantummechanics | 2h 34m 48s | ||||||
| 12/9/25 | How to Build Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers | Austin Fowler on Surface Codes + TQEC | Would we get a quantum computer sooner if everything was open source?In this episode, we speak with Austin Fowler, one of the architects of quantum error correction and a pioneer of the surface code used in today’s leading quantum computers. Fowler helped lay the groundwork for scalable, fault-tolerant computation at Google Quantum AI, before leaving to advocate for a more open and collaborative model of research.He explains why building a useful quantum computer will require millions of reliable qubits, why no known algorithm yet clearly outperforms classical computation, and why the field’s current competitive funding model may be slowing progress instead of accelerating it. From the engineering challenges of superconducting qubits to the economics of global research, Fowler offers a candid, inside look at the state of quantum technology.We explore the history and promise of quantum error correction, the software bottlenecks that still stand in the way, and how an open-source, international approach — modeled on CERN or the International Space Station — could transform the field. Along the way, Fowler reflects on his time at Google, the importance of collaboration, and what it will really take to make quantum computing practical.Whether you’re interested in quantum hardware, physics, computer science, or research policy, this conversation reveals the technical, ethical, and economic realities behind one of today’s most ambitious scientific pursuits.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: [https://www.632nm.com](https://www.632nm.com/)Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:40 - Austin’s Longevity in Quantum02:31 - What’s the Goal of Quantum Computing?05:01 - Creating Fault-Tolerant Qubits06:55 - Advantages of 2D Surface Code08:47 - Austin’s Journey into Quantum16:32 - Working at Google20:14 - Alternatives to Surface Codes22:18 - Should Quantum Computing Be Open Source?25:20 - Quantum Computing is Eating Itself30:52 - Open Source as a Mission35:46 - Advice for People Getting into TQEC39:03 - Bit Flips vs Phase Flips45:43 - History of Surface Codes49:05 - From Surface Code to Fault Tolerance57:19 - What Software do Quantum Computers Need?1:00:17 - Quantum vs Classical Error Correction1:05:57 - Manufacturing Superconducting Qubits1:12:02 - Noise Models in Software1:21:21 - How do NISQ Experiments help us Build Better Computers?1:24:01 - State of the Art Topological QEC1:31:38 - How did the TQEC Community Begin?1:34:46 - Future of TQEC1:36:03 - Quantum AI1:37:58 - Advice for Young Scientists1:41:35 - Underrated Quantum Research1:47:21 - What are the Most Important Upcoming Developments? | 1h 50m 14s | ||||||
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| 11/26/25 | Why Syncing Atomic Clocks is Virtually Impossible | Judah Levine on UTC | Why is syncing atomic clocks still one of the hardest problems in physics and engineering?In this episode, we speak with Judah Levine—legendary NIST physicist and one of the key architects of modern timekeeping—about the invisible systems that hold the digital world together. Levine explains why synchronizing atomic clocks across the planet is far more complex than the clocks themselves, and why seemingly simple ideas like “round-trip delay” break down in real-world media such as fiber optics and the internet.We explore how UTC is built from hundreds of atomic clocks, the difference between keeping time and *transferring* time, and the surprising challenges introduced by asymmetric delays, chromatic dispersion, and environmental noise. Levine walks us through the evolution of cesium clocks, the rise of optical clocks, and the technologies that make GPS, finance, power grids, and global communication possible.Along the way, we discuss the history of time synchronization, from railroad schedules to radio frequencies to modern satellite systems; the ongoing debate over leap seconds; and why the future of precision timing depends not just on better clocks, but on better *engineering* to deliver those clocks’ performance to the real world.Whether you’re curious about atomic clocks, relativity, fiber optics, GPS, the structure of time itself, or the hidden physics behind everyday technology, this conversation offers a rare look at how science, engineering, and careful statistical thinking keep modern civilization in sync—down to the nanosecond.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: [https://www.632nm.com](https://www.632nm.com/)Timestamps:00:00 – Intro01:03 – What is UTC?05:50 – Timekeeping for Satellites07:08 – How Radio Created Better Clocks18:32 – From Astronomy to Atoms25:25 – Why are there 24 Hours in a Day?29:55 – Why Synchronizing Clocks is so Hard47:09 – How did Judah get into Clocks?53:29 – Is UTC Vulnerable to Hackers?1:06:41 – Cesium vs Optical Atomic Clocks1:11:23 – How Cesium Clocks Work1:23:35 – Why Cesium Clocks are Imperfect1:26:17 – Judah’s 3 Year Experiment1:29:30 – Statistics with Clocks1:33:40 – Is Time Real?1:36:29 – Is the Universe Slowing Down?1:40:29 – Atomic Time and General Relativity1:42:17 – What’s Left for Atomic Clocks?1:54:34 – What would Judah do with Unlimited Funding?1:58:57 – Judah's Past in Programming2:02:55 – Advice for Young Scientists | 2h 04m 26s | ||||||
| 11/4/25 | Can We Predict History Like the Weather? | Peter Turchin on Cliodynamics | Why do civilizations rise, prosper, and then collapse? Here's what the math tells us.In this episode, we sit down with Peter Turchin, complexity scientist and founder of the field of cliodynamics, which uses data and mathematical models to study the long-term cycles of history. Turchin explains his theory of elite overproduction, how societies generate too many ambitious, educated elites competing for too few positions, and why this dynamic reliably leads to polarization, inequality, and political turmoil.We explore how his structural-demographic theory maps the recurring “boom and bust” rhythms that have shaped civilizations from ancient Rome to modern America, the role of military competition in driving cooperation and social complexity, and how new tools—from AI-assisted historical databases to ancient DNA and LiDAR—are transforming the study of the past.Whether you’re drawn to history, sociology, complexity science, or the fate of modern democracies, this conversation reveals how Turchin’s quantitative approach offers a new way to understand—and maybe even forecast—the forces that make societies rise and fall.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:48 - Overproduction of Elites10:56 - Did Models Predict the Rise of Trump?20:43 - Is Russian History Repeating in the US?26:48 - How Competition Stabilizes Societies32:14 - What Data Goes into Cliodynamic Models?38:13 - How New Technologies Shaped Archaeology43:28 - Can Historians Build Mathematical Intuitions?47:59 - What Questions can be Answered with Cliodynamics?52:23 - Does the NYC Mayoral Race Fit into Turchin's Theory?56:37 - Is Fear of China Bringing Us Together?58:29 - Do Historians Reject Turchin’s Work?1:00:03 - Trends in Civilizations and Outliers1:03:29 - Calvary and the Evolution of Societies1:10:03 - Is Evolution via Natural Selection a Suitable Analog for History?1:15:16 - Could Turchin's Ideas Be Misinterpreted Dangerously? | 1h 18m 29s | ||||||
| 10/21/25 | Why Do Quantum Computers Make So Many Mistakes? | Mikhail Lukin on Quantum Error Correction | You can’t copy a qubit. So how do quantum computers remember anything?In this episode, we sit down with Mikhail Lukin, Harvard physicist and co-director of the Harvard Quantum Initiative, whose lab is building quantum computers from arrays of individually trapped atoms. Lukin explains the paradox of quantum error correction—how you can safeguard quantum information even though it can’t be copied or measured directly—and why this breakthrough may be the key to making large-scale quantum computers possible.We dive into the strange logic of superposition, entanglement, and “small cat states,” explore what makes quantum evolution inherently analog, and learn how Lukin’s team uses optical tweezers and Rydberg interactions to engineer stable, reconfigurable qubits—atoms literally held and moved by light.Whether you’re fascinated by quantum mechanics, computing, Schrödinger’s cat, or the future of information, this conversation reveals how physicists are turning the weirdness of quantum physics into working technology—and why building a fault-tolerant quantum computer is one of the hardest and most exciting challenges in science today.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:32 - Fundamentals of Quantum Computers04:09 - Transistors vs Quantum Gates10:07 - What is Quantum Error Correction?14:23 - State of the Art QEC22:19 - Quantum Research Before Lukin27:35 - Lukin’s Breakout Work31:10 - From Quantum Optics to Quantum Computing36:59 - Working with Neutral Atoms48:17 - Funding Quantum Computers50:00 - Transverse Gate Operations58:22 - Is Quantum Computing All Hype?#quantumcomputing #quantumerrorcorrection #mikhaillukin #qubits #schrodingerscat #entanglement #superposition #quantumphysics | 1h 00m 47s | ||||||
| 10/9/25 | We Interviewed the Winners of the Ig Nobel Prize | Ig Nobel 2025 | The scientific stories behind this year's research that made people LAUGH, then THINK.Watch the 2025 Ig Nobel Ceremony here: https://youtu.be/z1cP4xKd_L4In this episode, we bring together three of this year’s Ig Nobel winners whose research spans psychology, food science and human biology. You’ll hear how a team of psychologists devised a counter-intuitive way to boost a narcissist’s self-confidence; how two physicists uncovered the “mozzarella phase” of pecorino cheese while perfecting cacio e pepe; and how a group studying lactation discovered that garlic changes breast-milk’s aroma and baby behavior.We explore the playful setups, surprising results and serious science behind each project, and how curiosity, humor and a dash of persistence turned ordinary questions into prize-winning research.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:19 - Physics Prize: Cacio e Pepe Sauce30:40 - Pediatrics Prize: Garlic Breast Milk44:48 - Psychology Prize: How to Boost Narcissism#ignobel2025 #cacioepepe #pastasauce #thermodynamics #psychology #dairy #pecorino | 1h 05m 36s | ||||||
| 10/7/25 | What Science can Learn from Startups | Adam Marblestone on Focused Research Organizations | Science has stalled. And Adam Marblestone thinks he knows why.Check out the Research Gap Map here: https://www.gap-map.org/?sort=rankIn this episode, we sit down with Adam Marblestone, neuroscientist, nanotechnologist, and founder of Convergent Research, to explore how new “Focused Research Organizations” (FROs) could reignite scientific progress. From DNA “ticker-tape” neural recording to optical connectomics and Neuralink, Marblestone explains how emerging neurotechnologies reveal both the brilliance and the bottlenecks of today’s research system.We discuss why traditional funding often fails to support ambitious, interdisciplinary projects, how FROs borrow the focus and speed of startups to build scientific infrastructure, and why projects like OpenAI, E11 Bio, and ultrasound-on-a-chip exemplify this new model. Marblestone breaks down his “Gap Map” of unsolved scientific challenges - from room-temperature superconductors to artificial ribosomes - and does the math on how tens of billions of dollars could close them.Whether you’re fascinated by neuroscience, scientific innovation, or the future of research itself, this conversation offers a rare insider’s look at how new institutions could rebuild the engine of discovery—and why the next wave of breakthroughs might depend more on organization than on ideas.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:25 - Working with George Church13:03 - Neuralink22:23 - Gap Maps31:47 - Artificial Ribosome36:45 - What is Convergent Research?40:03 - What are FROs?44:16 - What Made OpenAI So Successful?48:19 - Has AI Actually Impacted Science?52:15 - Notable FROs1:05:43 - Why Haven't There Been More Scientific Breakthroughs?1:09:47 - Lithography and Chip Design1:13:41 - We Can't Beat Insects1:16:45 - What Separates Good FROs1:18:40 - East vs West Coast Innovation1:27:21 - Research into Longevity1:33:27 - Advice for Grad Students1:39:40 - How to Get Involved in FROs#neuroscience #molecularbiology #quantumphysics #researchfunding #startups | 1h 41m 22s | ||||||
| 9/23/25 | What Optical Atomic Clocks Tell Us About Space-Time | Jun Ye | Times have changed. And cesium clocks can't keep up.In this episode, we sit down with Jun Ye, Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) Fellow and pioneer of optical lattice clocks, whose work has pushed timekeeping far beyond traditional cesium atomic clocks. Ye explains how combining ultra-stable lasers, frequency combs, and ultra-cold atoms produces clocks more than 100× more precise than today’s standards: so sensitive they can detect gravitational time dilation across the width of a human hair.We explore how this next generation of atomic clocks may open windows onto gravitational waves, test Einstein’s relativity in new regimes, and even help build a GPS for space travel. Ye also shares his personal journey from growing up during China’s Cultural Revolution to becoming a leader in precision measurement, and what that experience taught him about resilience, mentorship, and protecting scientific inquiry.Whether you’re curious about time, relativity, quantum physics, GPS technology, or the frontiers of precision measurement, this conversation offers a rare insider’s look at how breakthroughs in timekeeping can lead to entirely new physics.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:17 - Why Haven't Optical Clocks Replaced Cesium Clocks?10:45 - Fundamentals of Optical Atomic Clocks17:34 - History of Atomic Clocks30:18 - What is JILA?35:01 - What brought Jun to JILA?39:33 - What does it take to get a PhD in Physics?42:40 - Jun Ye's PhD work44:36 - Limitations of Laser Stabilization50:38 - How Do We Make the Most Stable Lasers?57:28 - How to Measure Laser Coherence Times1:04:24 - Building Atomic Clocks from First Principles1:08:59 - Jun's Notable Accomplishments1:14:00 - Magic Frequencies for Optical Traps1:21:04 - Can AI Improve Atomic Clocks?1:24:00 - How Does Quantum Entanglement Affect Clocks?1:30:29 - Development of Quantum Computers1:34:23 - Pros and Cons of Nuclear Clocks1:43:49 - What Would Jun Do With Unlimited Research Funding?1:47:09 - Lessons from China's Cultural Revolution#quantumcomputing #quantumphysics #atomicclock #laser #physics #optics #astrophysics #astronomy #spacetime | 1h 52m 35s | ||||||
| 9/9/25 | Laser Cooling and Quantum Timekeeping | Bill Phillips | How did cooling atoms with lasers revolutionize our understanding of time?In this episode, we speak with Bill Phillips, Nobel Laureate in Physics, about his groundbreaking work on laser cooling and trapping of atoms: research that not only won him the Nobel Prize but also transformed modern timekeeping and technology. Phillips explains why breaking the Doppler cooling limit changed physics forever and what it means that today’s clocks can measure time differences caused by moving a device just a few millimeters in Earth’s gravity.We discuss the history of timekeeping from sundials to atomic clocks, how Einstein’s relativity reshaped our view of time, and the serendipitous discovery of sub-Doppler cooling that opened the door to ultra-precise measurement, quantum computing, and fundamental tests of nature. Along the way, Phillips reflects on the culture of physics, the importance of mentorship, and the joy of discovery.Whether you’re curious about time, relativity, quantum physics, GPS technology, or the frontiers of precision measurement, this conversation offers rare insight into how science, collaboration, and curiosity converge to shape the modern world.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: [https://www.632nm.com](https://www.632nm.com/)Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:43 - What is Time?05:49 - How Did Bill Get Into Atom Cooling?18:30 - How Do Atomic Clocks Actually Work?31:08 - History of Atomic Clocks37:18 - Laser Cooling for Atomic Clocks40:49 - How To Synchronize Atomic Clocks43:20 - How Cesium Cooling Was Developed45:48 - Pushing Beyond the Doppler Limit49:47 - The Beginning of Thor Labs52:45 - The Previous Limits were Wrong1:05:37 - How Bill Broke the Doppler Limit1:12:22 - What is Optical Pumping?1:20:27 - Can Atom Trapping Be Leveraged For Cold Fusion?1:31:32 - What Makes Bill So Lucky?1:35:25 - How Bill's Work Led to Atomic Clocks1:41:05 - What Makes Cesium So Good For Atomic Clocks?1:47:38 - Quantum Effects on Atomic Clocks1:59:02 - Bose-Einstein Condensates2:09:05 - Did Bill's Work Lead To Quantum Computing?2:11:26 - Bill's Thoughts on the Future#billphillips #nobelprize #laser #atomicclock #dopplereffect #quantumcomputing #quantumphysics #gps #physics #boseeinsteincondensate #theoreticalphysics #relativity | 2h 24m 10s | ||||||
| 8/26/25 | Inside the Battle for Psychedelic Therapy | Rick Doblin | What does it take to turn a banned psychedelic into an FDA-approved medicine?Visit MAPS to read about the latest progress is psychedelic research: https://maps.org/In this episode, we speak with Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), about the decades-long mission to make MDMA-assisted therapy a legal treatment for PTSD and other mental health conditions. Rick received his PhD from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in public policy focusing on the regulation of medical use of psychedelics in 2001. Rick shares the science behind MDMA’s therapeutic effects, the strategy for winning over regulators, and the battles over claims of neurotoxicity. We discuss the history of psychedelic research, the rise of the underground therapy movement, and how clinical trials, policy change, and cultural perception must align to move psychedelics from stigma to science.Whether you’re curious about psychedelic science, drug policy reform, FDA clinical trials, or the future of mental health treatment, this conversation delivers expert insight into the intersection of research, regulation, and real-world impact.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: [https://www.632nm.com](https://www.632nm.com/)Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:32 - How Would Rick Describe a Psychedelic Experience?05:02 - What is Rick's Favorite Psychedelic?09:46 - The Underground is Ahead of the Research12:45 - How Rick Got Interested in Psychedelics26:39 - Can Psychedelics Stop War?40:45 - Do People Need Trauma?45:09 - Is America a Falling Empire?52:08 - What if MAPS was in the YC?55:00 - Why was MDMA the Choice to Push for Legality?1:02:22 - The Origins of Modern Psychedelic Therapy1:05:20 - Misinformation Around Psychedelics1:17:12 - How MAPS is Developing Psychedelic Therapies1:30:13 - How Should Healthy People Use Psychedelics?1:38:05 - Psychedelic Experiences as Rites of Passage1:42:02 - Finding Life's Purpose1:52:49 - Why Do Fears of Psychedelics Persist?1:56:44 - What Does It Take for Psychedelics to Get FDA Approved?2:13:55 - Rick's Pet Wolf2:23:39 - Rick's Last Interaction with his Wolf2:30:55 - Psychedelic Group Therapy2:33:37 - We Need More Psychedelic Therapists | 2h 38m 02s | ||||||
| 8/12/25 | Biology's Biggest Chicken and Egg Problem | Jacob Fine | Life’s First Blueprint Wasn’t DNA; it was RNA.Read Jacob Fine’s latest publication here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022283625001901Today we spoke with Jacob Fine, graduate student researcher in Computational Biology from the University of Toronto. We explore the physics of replication, the role of entropy and information theory, and how modern biology is reconnecting with theory to understand the most fundamental question in science. Our conversation takes place in a Russian sauna, where the hot and humid environment mimics some of the conditions needed for life to begin.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:22 - What does any theory of the origin of life need to explain?04:09 - When did people begin researching the origin of life?06:51 - Competing theories of the origin of life11:00 - The RNA world hypothesis21:38 - Biological vs computational error24:58 - Origin of life is the origin of information33:30 - Without error, there would be no life36:07 - Early compartmentalization mechanisms47:26 - What do we need to prove theories on the origin of life?57:23 - What makes a useful model for biology?1:04:44 - What inspired Jacob to investigate the origin of life?1:09:45 - Jacob's favorite theories for the origin of life1:11:58 - Do we need a Manhattan project to discover the origin of life?1:18:49 - What are the next steps for origins of life research?1:24:06 - Has exposure to religion shaped Jacob’s perspective on science? | 1h 31m 04s | ||||||
| 8/5/25 | The Final Interview with MIT Physicist Keith Johnson | One of Keith Johnson’s final interviews: a brilliant mind on dark matter, water, and fusion.Read about Keith’s legacy here: https://news.mit.edu/2025/keith-johnson-materials-scientist-independent-filmmaker-dies-0723This episode is one of the final recorded conversations with MIT physicist Keith Johnson, who passed away just weeks after our interview. In this conversation, he unpacks his early research on the quantum structure of matter, his cold fusion theories, and how it all led to a screenplay about a young female physicist. Johnson also suggests a radical idea: water clusters in space might explain some aspects of dark matter. A one-of-a-kind interview that blends science, art, and speculation.We’re honored to share this glimpse into Keith’s remarkable intellect, creativity, and curiosity. May his legacy continue to inspire.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:03- Early Life and Education03:27 - Graduate Studies and Research Funding05:44 - Postdoctoral Work and Quantum Chemistry09:45 - Starting at MIT and Collaborations15:05 - Cold Fusion and Film Making23:38 - Keith's First Screenplay28:55 - Filming a Movie at MIT43:50 - Water Clusters and Quantum Energy53:54 - Is Cold Fusion Possible?1:07:13 - Challenges in Fusion Energy1:12:09 - Advice for Young ScientistsAPPENDIX:1:15:42 - Water Might Be Connected to Dark Matter1:24:49 - Cosmic Dust and Supernovae1:28:36 - The Role of Water in the Universe1:38:32 - The Future of Dark Matter Research1:51:27 - Water Might Have Been Created Sooner After the Big Bang#KeithJohnson #MIT #ScienceAndStorytelling #QuantumPhysics #DarkMatter #Astrobiology #BreakingSymmetry | 2h 15m 37s | ||||||
| 7/29/25 | How We Build Telescopes to Explore the Early Cosmos | Brian Keating | Did the Big Bang really happen? Telescopes, dark matter & cosmic origins explored.Join cosmologist Brian Keating as we explore the mysteries of the universe, from building telescopes at the South Pole to measuring the polarization of the cosmic microwave background and chasing signs of gravitational waves. We discuss Galileo’s influence, cosmic inflation, and how the Nobel Prize could be changed to better reflect the way we do science. Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.com | 1h 43m 30s | ||||||
| 7/15/25 | Quantum Complexity: Scott Aaronson on P vs NP and the Future | In this episode of the 632nm podcast, Scott Aaronson shares his early fascination with calculus at age 11 and how “rediscovering” old mathematics led him toward groundbreaking work in complexity theory. He gives a lucid explanation of P vs NP, revealing how seemingly trivial questions about verifying solutions speak to some of the deepest unsolved problems in all of computing.Aaronson also explores the frontiers of quantum computing, from the nuances of quantum supremacy experiments to the idea of quantum money and certified randomness. He explains how amplitudes—rather than straightforward probabilities—unlock powerful interference effects, yet still face limits imposed by measurement. The conversation concludes with a look at the future of fault-tolerant quantum computers and the possibility that we’ve finally reached the ultimate horizon of computability—unless nature has even stranger surprises in store.02:01 Early Fascination with Mathematics05:10 Exploring Complexity Theory09:10 Understanding P vs NP22:38 The Significance of P vs NP in Cryptography and AI35:04 Mapping Problems and NP Completeness38:37 Quantum Computing and BQP41:41 Shor's Algorithm and Cryptography45:39 Simulating Quantum Systems52:04 Digital vs Analog Quantum Computers58:18 Grover's Algorithm and Quantum Speedup01:02:04 Challenges in Quantum Algorithm Development01:06:41 Beam Splitter Networks and Quantum Sampling01:15:22 Quantum Computing and Information Storage01:17:24 Shor's Algorithm and Factoring Numbers01:20:56 Google's Quantum Supremacy Demonstration01:49:19 Quantum Money and Unclonable Cash01:57:15 The Future of Quantum ComputingFollow us:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastSubstack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.com | 2h 01m 49s | ||||||
| 6/24/25 | Science Memes, Epigenetic Inheritance, and Rethinking Peer Review | In this episode of the 632nm podcast, we explore cutting-edge ideas in epigenetics and academic publishing. Oded Rechavi reveals how C. elegans worms defy conventional genetics by passing on traits through small RNAs, and discusses how these mechanisms might reshape our understanding of heredity. We also hear about a remarkable experiment hijacking Toxoplasma gondii—the so-called “cat parasite”—to deliver proteins into the brain, opening possible routes for new therapies.Beyond the lab, we explore problems with modern publishing, from glacial review timelines to flawed incentives that push quantity over quality. Learn how AI-driven solutions might speed up peer review, allow scientists to focus on what truly matters, and help keep the spark of curiosity alive.02:33 The Journey of Memeing on Twitter 06:50 Frustrations with Scientific Publishing 13:36 AI in Scientific Reviews 23:57 The Joys and Challenges of Academia 28:25 The Dead Sea Scrolls Project 45:15 Exploring Epigenetic Processes 47:16 Advantages of C. Elegans in Research 51:45 Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance 57:07 Challenges in Human Epigenetic Research 01:08:58 Model Organisms in Scientific Research 01:14:50 Innovative Brain Parasite Research 01:22:11 The State of Academic Science 01:29:19 Balancing Science and Life in Israel 01:32:00 Improving the Scientific SystemFollow us:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastSubstack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.com | 1h 33m 09s | ||||||
| 6/6/25 | Quantum Diamond Sensing: The Surprising Power of NV Centers | In this episode of the 632nm podcast, we explore how diamond-based nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers went from being a curiosity in gemstone physics to a transformative tool for precision magnetometry. You’ll hear how these tiny defects enable room-temperature quantum sensing, providing ultra-high spatial resolution and remarkable resilience in extreme conditions—from planetary research unlocking secrets of our solar system’s earliest days to potential biomedical diagnostics. Our guest recounts the serendipitous connections, engineering challenges, and surprising scientific discoveries along the way.We also discuss how interdisciplinary collaborations spark new ideas, how startups and academia differ in their pursuit of quantum breakthroughs, and why community-driven science can accelerate major scientific leaps.00:42 The Fascination with Diamonds and NV Centers02:58 Early Research and Collaborations10:21 Breakthroughs and Applications in Science50:48 Advancements in Magnetic Imaging51:59 Commercial Applications of Quantum Diamond Microscopes01:02:16 Challenges in Translating Research to Products01:11:11 Future Prospects and Innovations01:36:46 Exploring Quantum Systems and Defects01:39:03 The Harvard Quantum Community01:44:53 Precision Measurement and Quantum Applications01:54:28 Advice for Aspiring Scientists*Follow us:*Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastSubstack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYin*Subscribe:*Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.com | 2h 21m 20s | ||||||
| 5/19/25 | Origin of Life, Thermodynamics, and God: Jeremy England | In this episode, Jeremy England reframes the origin of life debate by applying non-equilibrium physics, challenging the notion that life’s emergence must be purely biological or chemical. He describes how matter can “learn” from its environment, drawing on examples from spin glasses, protein folding, and resonating mechanical systems.England also shares how his deep engagement with religious texts—and his unexpected cameo as “the next Darwin” in popular media—shaped his understanding of science and spirituality. From his ordination as a rabbi to his groundbreaking thermodynamic research, England offers a unique perspective on the interplay between faith, scientific inquiry, and the age-old search for meaning.Chapters: 02:59 Jeremy's Journey into Biophysics 08:46 Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics 35:30 Dissipative Adaptation and Evolutionary Principles 44:34 The Evolution of Energy Consumption 51:35 Thermodynamics in Microbiomes and Ecology 57:18 Protein Folding and Cellular Computation 01:01:43 Origins of Life and Prebiotic Scenarios 01:26:02 Exploring Thermodynamic Constraints on Aging 01:31:48 Science, Religion, and the Infinite Regress 01:36:04 Jewish Law and Modern Materials 01:39:47 Torah's Approach to Existence 02:01:56 Moses' Signs and Worldview 02:09:03 Balancing Practicality and Spirituality 02:14:02 Advice for Aspiring ScientistsMore About Jeremy:Twitter: Jeremy England (@lifelikephysics) / XBook: https://www.amazon.com/Every-Life-Fire-Thermodynamics-Explains/dp/1541699017Follow us:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastSubstack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.com | 2h 19m 27s | ||||||
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