632nm

Misha Shalaginov, Michael Dubrovsky, Xinghui Yin

Technical interviews with the greatest scientists in the world.

  1. −2 d

    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 genetics and biochemistry to regulate embryonic development, regeneration, and anatomical patterning. We explore the experimental foundations of bioelectricity research, including the use of voltage-sensitive dyes, ion channel manipulation, and computational models to read and write electrical information in living tissues. Levin discusses how bioelectric signals help establish left-right asymmetry in embryos, coordinate communication across developing tissues, and encode large-scale anatomical information that individual cells cannot possess on their own. The conversation examines classic and surprising experiments from the field, including the creation of two-headed planarian worms, the induction of ectopic eyes in frog embryos, and the restoration of normal development after severe genetic and environmental disruptions. Levin explains how bioelectric circuits can act as a control architecture for morphogenesis, allowing tissues to make collective decisions about growth, form, and regeneration. We also discuss voltage gradients, membrane potentials, gap junction networks, developmental pattern formation, regenerative medicine, collective cellular intelligence, and the relationship between electrophysiology and gene regulation. Throughout the episode, Levin argues that understanding development requires looking beyond genes alone to the dynamic electrical communication networks that coordinate living systems across scales. Whether you're interested in developmental biology, embryology, regeneration, electrophysiology, bioelectricity, morphogenesis, systems biology, ion channels, pattern formation, or the future of regenerative medicine, this episode provides a deep technical exploration of how electrical signals help shape living organisms. 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://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-dubrovsky/Xinghui Yin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xinghui-yin-168b94130/ Subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.com Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:40 - Early Interest in Bioelectricity05:22 - External Electric Stimulation19:54 - Two-Headed Planarians31:40 - Designing Bioelectric Experimental Methods56:37 - Different Model Organisms1:07:34 - TAME Theory1:24:16 - Xenobots and Advice for Young Scientists #planaria #morphology #neuroscience #biology #bioelectricity

    1 tim 27 min
  2. 19 maj

    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 from the NISQ era toward fault-tolerant quantum computing, why hardware-aware software design remains essential, and how compiler architectures, error correction, and quantum system design all interact across the full computing stack. The conversation explores the challenges of building scalable quantum machines, the tradeoffs between superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and neutral atoms, and why many quantum systems may ultimately function as specialized accelerators alongside classical computers. We also discuss quantum optimization algorithms like QAOA and how Chong’s group is applying them to cancer biomarker discovery and treatment prediction. By analyzing complex multimodal biological data, including DNA, mRNA, and pathology imaging, these methods aim to uncover patterns that are difficult for conventional machine learning systems to identify without overfitting. Along the way, Fred shares stories from the early days of supercomputing at Thinking Machines, the origins of his quantum research career, the founding of Super.tech, and his perspective on where quantum computing is genuinely making progress versus where hype still dominates the conversation. Topics include quantum computing, QAOA, fault-tolerant quantum computing, quantum error correction, quantum compilers, NISQ systems, neutral atoms, superconducting qubits, quantum architecture, cancer biomarkers, biomedical optimization, hybrid quantum-classical systems, and the future of quantum software and hardware co-design. 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.com Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:34 - From Jurassic Park to Quantum Computing10:13 - Modernizing NISQ Research13:45 - Designing Around Quantum Hardware20:30 - Variational Quantum Algorithms23:07 - Quantum Computers for Cancer Research30:35 - How Q4Bio Began37:20 -  Will We Need QEC in the Future?40:25 - What Quantum Computers Can Learn from Classical Architecture43:08 - Would Fred Return to Classical Computing?46:11 - Quantum Software and Quantum Compilers55:19 - Starting Super.tech1:01:43 - Classical Analogs to Quantum Hardware1:12:21 - Advice for Young Scientists1:17:43 - Is AI Impacting Quantum Research?1:22:38 - Importance of Formal Verification1:30:40 - QLDPC Codes1:35:48 - Fred’s Beginnings in Computer Science1:42:48 - Chicago vs Silicon Valley1:46:27 - Do We Need More Quantum Software Companies?1:53:17 - Future of Quantum Computing and Cryptography #quantumcomputing #quantumalgorithms #cancerresearch #computerscience

    1 tim 60 min
  3. 5 maj

    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 quantum dots and NV centers in diamond, that can measure charge, spin, and magnetic fields with extraordinary precision. These tools make it possible to study both strongly correlated systems, like those exhibiting the fractional quantum Hall effect, and isolated quantum systems used as qubits. We explore how accidental discoveries in the lab can evolve into entirely new sensing techniques, including momentum-resolved tunneling and nanoscale imaging methods. The conversation also highlights how quantum sensors are enabling researchers to bridge two regimes: complex many-body systems and controllable quantum devices, opening the door to new insights in topological physics and quantum information processing. Whether you're interested in quantum measurement, nanoscale imaging, or the future of quantum technologies, this episode offers a detailed look at how new instruments are driving discovery at the frontiers of physics. Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists: Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcast Instagram: 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/MYShalaginov Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovsky Xinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYin Subscribe: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6OR Website: https://www.632nm.com Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:23 - The Process of Creating Quantum Tools11:28 - Graduate School at Weizmann14:51 - From Aerospace to Condensed Matter26:53 - Starting at Harvard39:44 - Working at Bell Labs47:42 - Diamond NV Centers1:00:52 - Spin Waves1:16:10 - SQUIDs1:29:57 - State of the Art Sensors1:33:08 - Motivations for Building Better Sensors1:36:52 - Fabrication Challenges1:40:14 - New Sensors1:45:49 - Majoranas1:53:25 - Finding New Applications for Sensors1:57:16 - The Use of AI in Physics1:58:55 - Advice for Young Scientists

    2 tim 1 min
  4. 21 apr.

    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/XinghuiYin Subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.com Timestamps: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

    1 tim 14 min
  5. 1 apr.

    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/XinghuiYin Subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.com Timestamps: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

    1 tim 38 min
  6. 27 mars

    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/crumble In 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.com Timestamps: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

    2 tim 4 min
  7. 10 mars

    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 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/XinghuiYin Subscribe: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

    1 tim 30 min
  8. 17 feb.

    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/XinghuiYin Subscribe: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

    2 tim 4 min

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Technical interviews with the greatest scientists in the world.

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