100 episodes

Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Join him for wide-ranging conversations with leading writers, scientists, technologists, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and more.

Manifold Steve Hsu

    • Science
    • 4.6 • 68 Ratings

Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Join him for wide-ranging conversations with leading writers, scientists, technologists, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and more.

    Charles Miller: Satellite Technology and the Future of Mobile Connectivity — #49

    Charles Miller: Satellite Technology and the Future of Mobile Connectivity — #49

    Charles Miller is co-founder and CEO of Lynk. He is a serial space entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in the space industry.
    Lynk - https://lynk.world/
    Steve and Charles discuss:
    0:00 Introduction and guest background
    1:27 Miller's early passion for space
    3:54 Evolution of commercial space
    6:42 Impact of Elon Musk and SpaceX
    8:01 The challenges of early stage startups
    11:26 The birth of Lynk, its technical challenges, and breakthroughs
    33:11 Use cases for satellite connectivity
    35:20 The plan for Lynk satellites
    36:41 Competition with Starlink
    39:25 Investment opportunities in Lynk
    47:04 Satellite technology and global competition
    50:21 Impact of Huawei’s satellite phone features
    59:01 Advice for entrepreneurs
    Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.
    --
    Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU.

    • 1 hr 2 min
    China's EV Market Dominance and the Challenges Facing Tesla — #48

    China's EV Market Dominance and the Challenges Facing Tesla — #48

    TP Huang is a computer scientist and analyst of global technology development. He posts often on X: https://twitter.com/tphuang.
    0:00 Introduction
    2:21 How TP Huang became interested in electric vehicles
    6:30 The perception and reality of Chinese products, future of Chinese auto market
    9:24 The impact of Tesla on the Chinese electric vehicle market
    14:41 Buying a car in China
    27:05 China dominates with electric vehicle batteries
    30:44 The challenges facing Tesla in China
    40:11 The evolution of smart cars, autonomous vehicles, and self driving
    50:48 LIDAR technology and autonomous driving
    59:08 BYD, China’s energy independence, and power grid
    1:14:04 The downstream impact of China leading in tech and electric vehicles
    Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.

    --

    Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU.

    • 1 hr 23 min
    Taylor Ogan, Snow Bull Capital: China's tech frontier, the view from Shenzhen — #47

    Taylor Ogan, Snow Bull Capital: China's tech frontier, the view from Shenzhen — #47

    Taylor Ogan is Chief Executive Officer of Snow Bull Capital, based in Shenzhen, China.
    Follow him on X @TaylorOgan.
    Steve and Taylor discuss: 
    0:00 Introduction1:02 Taylor's background and why he moved his firm to China20:43 China post-pandemic and economic dynamism33:43 China dominance in electric vehicles; LIDAR56:55 Investment research: factory and site visits1:06:52 US-China competition - the future of innovation is in China
    Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.
    --
    Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU.

    • 1 hr 30 min
    Bharat Karnad: India geostrategy, nuclear arsenal, and assassination of Homi Bhabha, the Oppenheimer of India — #46

    Bharat Karnad: India geostrategy, nuclear arsenal, and assassination of Homi Bhabha, the Oppenheimer of India — #46

    Bharat Karnad is an Emeritus Professor in National Security Studies at the Center for Policy Research in Delhi. He was a member of India's first National Security Advisory Board and has authored several books on nuclear weapons and Indian security.
    Karnad's blog: https://bharatkarnad.com/
    Karnad on the death of Homi Bhabha and of other atomic weapons scientists:https://bharatkarnad.com/2020/12/06/kill-scientists-disrupt-n-weapons-programmes/
    An excellent documentary film on the life of Indian theoretical physicist Homi Bhabha:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6GEGOvXh4g&ab_channel=InternationalCentreforTheoreticalSciences
    Steve and Bharat discuss:
    0:00 Introduction
    0:58 Karnad's educational background, nuclear research, journalism career
    26:50 Refocusing India's defense posture from Pakistan to China
    45:21 Why don't India and China have better relations?
    53:33 India's nuclear arsenal
    1:04:31 The mysterious death of Homi Bhabha, India's Oppenheimer
    1:28:50 Land of subjugation, the caste system, and English as the language of Indian elites
    Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.

    --

    Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU.

    • 1 hr 43 min
    Yasheng Huang: China's Examination System and its impact on Politics, Economy, Innovation — #45

    Yasheng Huang: China's Examination System and its impact on Politics, Economy, Innovation — #45

    Yasheng Huang is the Epoch Foundation Professor of Global Economics and Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His new book is The Rise and Fall of the EAST: How Exams, Autocracy, Stability, and Technology Brought China Success, and Why They Might Lead to Its Decline.
    Steve and Yasheng discuss:
    0:00 Introduction1:11 From Beijing to Harvard in the 1980s15:29 Civil service exams and Huang's new book, "The Rise and Fall of the EAST"37:14 Two goals: Developing human capital and indoctrination48:33 Impact of the exam system57:04 China's innovation peak and decline1:12:23 Collaboration and relationship with the West1:21:31 How will the U.S.-China relationship evolve?
    Yasheng Huang at MIThttps://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/directory/yasheng-huang
    Web site:http://www.yashenghuang.com/
    Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.

    --

    Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU.

    • 1 hr 31 min
    Huawei and the US-China Chip War — #44

    Huawei and the US-China Chip War — #44

    TP Huang is a computer scientist and analyst of global technology development. He posts often on X: https://twitter.com/tphuang.
    Steve and TP discuss:
    0:00 Introduction: TP Huang and semiconductor technology
    5:40 Huawei’s new phone and SoC
    23:19 SMIC 7nm chip production in China: Yield and economics
    28:21 Impact on Qualcomm
    36:08 U.S. sanctions solved the coordination problem for China
    semiconductor companies
    42:48 5G modem and RF chips: impact on Qualcomm, Broadcom, Apple, etc.
    47:14 5G and Huawei
    52:50 Satellite capabilities of Huawei phones
    56:46 Huawei vs Apple and Chinese consumers
    1:01:33 Chip War and AI model training
    Music used with permission from Blade Runner Blues Livestream improvisation by State Azure.
    --
    Steve Hsu is Professor of Theoretical Physics and of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering at Michigan State University. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU and Director of the Institute of Theoretical Science at the University of Oregon. Hsu is a startup founder (SuperFocus.ai, SafeWeb, Genomic Prediction, Othram) and advisor to venture capital and other investment firms. He was educated at Caltech and Berkeley, was a Harvard Junior Fellow, and has held faculty positions at Yale, the University of Oregon, and MSU.

    • 1 hr 17 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
68 Ratings

68 Ratings

Election Fraud in the USA ,

Best Podcast Ever

But where the white women at?

dan4940 ,

Excellent interview with Ted Postol

Looking forward to listening to other episodes

Jmt98 ,

Wonderful podcast

Absolutely delightful podcast led by two bright and incisive minds.

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