632nm
Technical interviews with the greatest scientists in the world, hosted by Misha Shalaginov, Michael Dubrovsky, and Xinghui Yin. The podcast explores cutting-edge research and discoveries across various scientific fields.
Episodes
The Atomic Physics Behind Neutral Atom Computers | Mark Saffman
Why are so many companies betting on neutral atoms to build the first useful quantum computers?In this episode, we speak with Mark Saffman, professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and one of the pioneers of neutral atom quantum computing. Over the past two decades, Saffman has helped transform Rydberg atoms from a theoretical idea into one of the leading architectures for scalabl
Silicon Photonics and the Future of AI Scaling | John Bowers
Why are some of the world's largest technology companies betting on silicon photonics?In this episode, we speak with John Bowers, professor at UC Santa Barbara and one of the pioneers of silicon photonics, about the technologies that are transforming AI infrastructure and modern data centers. Bowers explains why moving data has become one of the central challenges in computing, how optica
Bioelectricity, Morphogenesis, and Two-Headed Worms | Michael Levin
How can a flatworm regenerate a complete head after being cut in half?In this episode, we speak with Michael Levin, developmental biologist and director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, about the emerging field of developmental bioelectricity. Levin explains how voltage gradients, ion channels, and gap junctions form a layer of biological control that operates alongside
Quantum Architecture, QAOA, and Cancer Biomarkers | Fred Chong
Are quantum computers changing the way we discover cancer treatments?In this episode, Misha and Yudong spoke with Fred Chong, Seymour Goodman Professor at the University of Chicago, about the future of quantum computer architecture and how quantum algorithms could eventually help solve real-world problems in medicine, optimization, and scientific computing.Chong explains the transition fr
How Quantum Sensors Can Measure Single Electrons | Amir Yacoby
How do you measure something as small as a single electron or map quantum behavior at the nanoscale?In this episode, Misha spoke with Amir Yacoby, professor at Harvard University, about the cutting edge of quantum sensing and the experimental tools redefining how we probe the quantum world.Yacoby explains how physicists build ultra-sensitive detectors, from single-electron transistors to
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
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 enga
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, c
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,
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 n
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 dur
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—spar
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-T
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
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 collab
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,
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
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
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
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 t
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
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 physic
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 h
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 reconnect
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 e
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
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 als
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 par
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 unloc
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 religi
Flux Grant by 1517 Fund: Backing Garage Science and Sci-Fi Tech
In this episode of the 632nm podcast, we sit down with 1517 Fund’s Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson to explore their Flux program, a unique pre-seed fellowship backing wild, unorthodox scientific and technical ideas. They share how they’ve helped founders transform “garage science” projects—like nuclear batteries, quantum computing prototypes, and cutting-edge materials—into serious
Trapped Ion Quantum Computing: Christopher Monroe of IonQ
In this episode of the 632nm podcast, our guest traces the evolution from the early days of Bose-Einstein condensation experiments to pioneering trapped ion quantum gateways. He reveals how breakthroughs in laser cooling and atomic clock research unexpectedly paved the way for the first quantum logic gates, beating out the BEC community at a pivotal conference. We also hear about the surp
Maintaining Moore's Law: Lithography, Semiconductors, and Chip Fabrication with Mordechai Rothschild
In this episode of the 632nm podcast, we explore how 193nm lasers unexpectedly overtook x-ray approaches and reshaped semiconductor manufacturing. Physicist Mordechai Rothschild describes the breakthroughs that turned a once “impossible” technology into the mainstay of chip fabrication, including the discovery of specialized lenses, the invention of chemically amplified resists, and the g
Quantum Cascade Lasers: Federico Capasso on Curiosity and Bell Labs
In this episode, physicist Federico Capasso recounts his winding path from struggling undergrad to pioneering inventor of the quantum cascade laser. He reveals how openness, daring ideas, and the bottom-up ethos at Bell Labs led to breakthroughs that redefined semiconductor research.Capasso also discusses the blurred lines between basic and applied science, the importance of nurturing cur
How Edison Inspired Eli Yablonovitch to Create Four World-Changing Inventions
Eli Yablonovitch shares how Thomas Edison's approach of requiring "a thousand failed discoveries for every one that works" shaped his scientific philosophy. From solar cells to semiconductor lasers to photonic crystals to cell phone antennas, Yablonovitch reveals how each invention evolved from identifying fundamental physics concepts that others overlooked. He explains how his light-trap
From Failed PhD to Nobel Prize | John Mather’s Journey to Revolutionize Astronomy
Join the 632nm team as we sit down with Nobel laureate Dr. John Mather. From his childhood days of building radios and telescopes to leading NASA's groundbreaking COBE mission, learn how a spectacular failure during his PhD research unexpectedly paved the way for his Nobel Prize-winning work. And hear the story of how NASA took a chance on a 28-year-old scientist who would change our unde
Hunting for Alien Artifacts | Avi Loeb
Join the 632nm team as we sit down with Harvard Professor Avi Loeb, in this fascinating exploration of astronomy, alien life, and the intersection of science and politics. From discussing the mysterious interstellar object that changed astronomy to explaining why Mars might not be the best destination for human colonization, Loeb challenges conventional wisdom with evidence-based insights
Are We Doomed? | Dan Aronovich on Norbert Wiener's 1948 “Cybernetics”
In this episode, the 632nm team sits down with Dan Aronovich (Data Science Decoded Podcast) to explore predictions about technology and society, starting with MIT pioneer Norbert Wiener's remarkably prescient warnings about AI from 1948. His concerns about artificial systems misinterpreting human instructions mirror modern discussions about AI alignment, while his skepticism of social sci
Information, Entropy & Reality | MIT Professor Seth Lloyd on Quantum Computing
The 632nm team sat down with MIT professor Seth Lloyd for a mind-bending journey through quantum mechanics, information theory, and the early days of quantum computing. Lloyd shares fascinating stories from his pioneering work in quantum information, including how he nearly got expelled from his PhD program for pursuing what was then considered a "crazy" research direction. Through engagi
From Medieval Glass to Nobel Prize | Moungi Bawendi on Mastering Quantum Dots
In this episode, the 632 team interviewed Nobel laureate Moungi Bawendi, revealing his serendipitous journey to the discovery and development of quantum dots. From a summer internship at Bell Labs to an expired bottle of chemicals that contained the perfect mixture, Bawendi shares how some of chemistry's biggest breakthroughs came from unexpected places. He draws remarkable connections be
How a Vision Disorder Led to Shocking Brain Science Discoveries | Mark Bear on Neuroplasticity
In this captivating episode, we explore how Mark Bear's personal experience with congenital nystagmus sparked a revolutionary career in neuroscience. Mark shares his remarkable journey from struggling with a visual impairment to making groundbreaking discoveries about how the brain processes visual information, including the identification of a previously unknown neural pathway discovered
The Current Reality of Quantum Computing | Yudong Cao on Deploying Quantum for Real-Life Problems
In this eye-opening episode, former Zapata Computing CEO Yudong Chen reveals the sobering truth about quantum computing's potential impact on drug discovery and the industry's inflated market expectations. Chen explains why even with perfect quantum chemistry calculations, the business case for quantum computing in pharmaceuticals falls dramatically short of the billions being invested, w
From Failed Project to 40 Million Eye Scans: David Huang on the Birth of OCT
Dr. David Huang shares the remarkable journey of how a failed laser surgery project during his MD-PhD studies at MIT led to the invention of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), now used in over 40 million eye procedures annually. The story includes a pivotal moment when Professor James Fujimoto volunteered as the first human subject for OCT testing when no other students would agree to ha
Origins of Life | Anna Wang on Artificial Cells and Nano-Robots
Origins of life researcher Anna Wang takes us on a fascinating journey through the latest theories about how life began, revealing why Darwin's "warm little ponds" are making a comeback and how ocean spray droplets may have served as nature's first test tubes. She explains why early cell membranes were more like soap bubbles - fragile and leaky - and how these imperfections were actually
The Future of Fusion | Dennis Whyte on Nuclear Fusion and MIT Plasma Science
MIT Professor Dennis Whyte's path to becoming a fusion energy pioneer began with an unlikely source - a Ripley's Believe It or Not comic strip he read as a teenager in rural Saskatchewan. The comic described how a bottle of water could theoretically contain the energy equivalent of 100 barrels of oil through fusion, sparking a lifelong fascination that would shape his career.This fascinat
Origins of Life | Jack Szostak on Basement Experiments to Nobel Prize-Winning Discoveries
Nobel laureate Jack Szostak takes us on a fascinating journey through his remarkable scientific career, from conducting dangerous chemistry experiments in his basement as a curious child to making groundbreaking discoveries about telomeres that would earn him the Nobel Prize. He reveals how a forgotten DNA sample in his freezer led to fundamental insights about chromosome stability, and e
The God Particle | Christoph Paus on Higgs Boson, CERN, and CMS
Professor Christoph Paus, a key figure in the discovery of the Higgs Boson at CERN's Large Hadron Collider, discusses his journey in high-energy physics, the challenges of leading large international collaborations, and the future of particle physics. As one of the co-conveners of the CMS Higgs physics group during the historic discovery, Paus provides unique insights into how the detecti
Cold Atoms: Mikhail Lukin on Quantum Optics and Neutral Atom Computing
In this episode, Harvard Professor Mikhail Lukin discusses his pioneering work in quantum computing using neutral atoms. He shares the journey from his early work in quantum optics and electromagnetically induced transparency to developing programmable quantum processors using arrays of individually trapped atoms. Lukin explains key breakthroughs in quantum error correction and how his te
Einstein Was Wrong: John Clauser on Bell's Theorem and the Nature of Reality
In this episode, we sit down with Nobel laureate John Clauser to discuss his experiments from the early 1960’s, testing Bell's inequalities and quantum entanglement. Clauser shares the story of how, as a graduate student, he proposed testing quantum mechanics against Einstein's local realism - an idea that most prominent physicists, including Richard Feynman, dismissed as a waste of time.
The Science of Drug Discovery: Insights from Artem Evdokimov
In this episode, drug discovery scientist Artem Evdokimov discusses the science of pharmaceutical development, from historical breakthroughs to the current landscape. He shares insights on antibiotics resistance, the obesity drug Ozempic, and technical details of drug screening methods like DNA-encoded libraries. The conversation covers the economics of drug development, the potential of
Optical Metatronics: Nader Engheta on Electromagnetics and Scientific Curiosity
In this episode of the 632nm podcast, Nader Engheta shares his journey and experiences within the field of electromagnetics, from his early days at the University of Tehran and Caltech, to his current research in optical metatronics and nonlinear dynamics. He discusses the importance of motivation and curiosity in scientific research, the potential of optics in AI, and the exciting new po
Quantum Computing: Peter Zoller and Ignacio Cirac on the Quantum Revolution
In this episode of the 632-nanometer podcast, we explore the evolution of quantum computing with theoretical physicists and experimentalists Peter Zoller and Ignacio Cirac, two pioneers in the field. They recount their personal journeys and discuss key breakthroughs in the development of trapped ion quantum computing.What are the fundamental challenges of quantum computing, and how did re
Gravitational Waves: Rainer Weiss (Nobel Prize 2017) on Laser Interferometer Observation
In 1916, Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves, however, it took almost a century for researchers to detect them. In this episode of the 632-nanometer podcast, the team has a fireside chat with Rainer Weiss, the man behind the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics for the observation of gravitational waves. What are
Synthetic Biology: George Church on Genome Sequencing and De-Extinction
The great George Church takes us through the revolutionary journey of DNA sequencing from his early groundbreaking work to the latest advancements. He discusses the evolution of sequencing methods, including molecular multiplexing, and their implications for understanding and combating aging. We talk about the rise of biotech startups, potential future directions in genome sequencing, the
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