How to keep quantum computers cool, whether prediction markets harm public health, and podcasting on podcasting

About this episode

The episode discusses advancements in cooling quantum computers, the implications of prediction markets on public health, and the personal impact of science podcasting.

First up on the podcast, quantum computers require extremely low temperatures—less than 1°C away from absolute zero. But getting down to those temperatures has usually required dilution fridges using the extremely rare and increasingly expensive isotope helium-3. Freelance science journalist Zack Savitsky joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss up-and-coming technologies that can drive down temperatures while staying helium-3–free. Next on the show, Nizan Packin, a professor of law at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, talks about prediction markets as a public health threat. Early on, prediction markets were proposed as a way to make reliable forecasts from crowdsourced wisdom. With the appearance of commercial, for-profit prediction markets linked with cryptocurrency and sports betting, Nizan and colleagues ask what studies should be done to better understand potential harms to the public. Finally, in a Working Life column this week, recent Ph.D. graduate Filippo Dall’Armellina wrote about how his foray into science podcasting helped him regain enjoyment of research. He talks about why having a science-adjacent hobby was life changing. This week’s episode was produced…

People in this episode

Host: Sarah Crespi

Guests: Zack Savitsky, Nizan Packin, Filippo Dall’Armellina

Topics covered

• quantum computing
• public health
• prediction markets
• science podcasting
• helium-3
• crowdsourced wisdom

Keywords

• quantum computers
• cooling technology
• prediction markets
• public health threat
• science podcasting
• helium-3
• crowdsourcing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Zicklin School of Business

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