https://podsalad.com/en-us One big topic, explained so it finally makes sense. Three AI research hosts (a historian, a scientist and an economist) each dig into one side of it, then sit down with our host Nora and talk it through. Every fact they use is listed with its source in the show notes. A Project5pi production.One big topic, explained so it finally makes sense. Three AI research hosts (a historian, a scientist and an economist) each dig into one side of it, then sit down with our host Nora and talk it through. Every fact they use is listed with its source in the show notes. A Project5pi production. A Project5pi ProductionProject5pihello@project5pi.com falseepisodic Quantum Computers: Hype, Hard Truths, and Qubits7 full Podcast Salad: The Geek Mode Edition: Quantum Computers: Hype, Hard Truths, and Qubits Three AI research hosts and our host Nora talk through quantum computers: where the idea came from, how they work, what they can and cannot do, and when they will matter. Sources, by expert: Walt (historian): - Max Planck – Facts - NobelPrize.org: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1918/planck/facts/ - History of quantum mechanics - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_quantum_mechanics - Timeline of quantum mechanics - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_quantum_mechanics - Max Planck – Biographical - NobelPrize.org: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1918/planck/biographical/ - Feynman’s “Simulating Physics with Computers”: https://arxiv.org/html/2405.03366v1 - [quant-ph/9508027] Polynomial-Time Algorithms for Prime Factorization and Discrete Logarithms on a Quantum Computer: https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9508027 - Google and IBM Clash Over Milestone Quantum Computing Experiment | Quanta Magazine: https://www.quantamagazine.org/google-and-ibm-clash-over-quantum-supremacy-claim-20191023/ - The beginning of the end for encryption schemes? | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology: https://news.mit.edu/2016/quantum-computer-end-encryption-schemes-0303 - It’s a weird, weird quantum world | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology: https://news.mit.edu/2023/weird-weird-quantum-world-peter-shor-killian-lecture-0310 - Quantum Information Theory | NIST: https://www.nist.gov/mathematics-statistics/quantum-information-theory - How NIST Helped Start an Industry: Our Role in Jump-Starting Quantum Information Science | NIST: https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/how-nist-helped-start-industry-our-role-jump-starting-quantum-information - Five years ago today, we put the first quantum computer on the cloud. Here’s how we did it. | IBM Quantum Computing Blog: https://www.ibm.com/quantum/blog/quantum-five-years - Quantum supremacy from Google? Not so fast, says IBM. | MIT Technology Review: https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/10/22/132519/quantum-supremacy-from-google-not-so-fast-says-ibm/ - Google claimed quantum supremacy in 2019 — and sparked controversy: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/google-quantum-supremacy-claim-controversy-top-science-stories-2019-yir - Google claims it has achieved 'quantum supremacy' – but IBM disagrees | Google | The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/oct/23/google-claims-it-has-achieved-quantum-supremacy-but-ibm-disagrees Tess (scientist and engineer): - What Is Quantum Superposition? - Caltech Science Exchange: https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/quantum-science-explained/quantum-superposition - The Race to Build a Quantum Computer | Los Alamos National Laboratory: https://www.lanl.gov/media/publications/1663/the-race-to-build-a-quantum-computer - Untangling Quantum Entanglement — Caltech Magazine: https://magazine.caltech.edu/post/untangling-entanglement - Material-Inherent Noise Sources in Quantum Information Architecture - PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10094895/ - DOE Explains...Quantum Computing | Department of Energy: https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainsquantum-computing - What Is Quantum Entanglement? Quantum Entanglement Explained in Simple Terms - Caltech Science Exchange: https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/quantum-science-explained/entanglement - Quantum Entanglement and Information (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy): https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qt-entangle/ - Current Progress and Remaining Challenges in Scaling Trapped-ion Quantum Computing Workshop – Quantum: https://www.sandia.gov/quantum/trapped-ion-workshop/ - Trapped Ion QIS - Challenge Institute for Quantum Computation: https://ciqc.berkeley.edu/research/research-cores/ion-trap-qis/ - Quantum computing - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing - Qubit - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubit - Quantum Computing Explained | NIST: https://www.nist.gov/quantum-information-science/quantum-computing-explained - Superconducting qubits: Delicate powerhouses | SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory: https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/research/slac-science-explained/quantum/superconducting-qubits - Quantum computing: Expanding what's possible | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation: https://www.nsf.gov/science-matters/quantum-computing-expanding-whats-possible - Quantum Computing with Trapped Ions: https://iontrap.duke.edu/ - On the nature of decoherence in quantum circuits: Revealing the structural motif of the surface radicals in α-Al2O3 - PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8985919/ - A trapped-ion pair may help scale up quantum computers | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology: https://news.mit.edu/2020/trapped-ion-pair-may-help-scale-quantum-computers-0128 Ben (economist and futurist): - Meet Willow, our state-of-the-art quantum chip: https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/research/google-willow-quantum-chip/ - Quantum Technologies Flagship | Shaping Europe’s digital future: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/quantum-technologies-flagship - IBM roadmap to quantum-centric supercomputers (Updated 2024) | IBM Quantum Computing Blog: https://www.ibm.com/quantum/blog/ibm-quantum-roadmap-2025 - IBM Commits More Than $10 Billion to Quantum Computing, Funding Its Roadmap from Today's Leading Systems to the World's First Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers: https://newsroom.ibm.com/2026-06-02-ibm-commits-more-than-10-billion-to-quantum-computing,-funding-its-roadmap-from-todays-leading-systems-to-the-worlds-first-fault-tolerant-quantum-computers - IBM Delivers New Quantum Processors, Software, and Algorithm Breakthroughs on Path to Advantage and Fault Tolerance: https://newsroom.ibm.com/2025-11-12-ibm-delivers-new-quantum-processors,-software,-and-algorithm-breakthroughs-on-path-to-advantage-and-fault-tolerance - NIST Report Provides Guidelines for Transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards | NIST: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2026/10/nist-report-provides-guidelines-transition-post-quantum-cryptography - IBM lays out clear path to fault-tolerant quantum computing | IBM Quantum Computing Blog: https://www.ibm.com/quantum/blog/large-scale-ftqc - Quantum | Shaping Europe’s digital future: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/quantum - Post-quantum cryptography | NIST: https://www.nist.gov/pqc - Post-Quantum Cryptography | CSRC | CSRC: https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography - Google hardware is powering quantum breakthroughs: https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/research/quantum-hardware-verifiable-advantage/ - Google Quantum AI: https://quantumai.google/ Tell us what you think and what topic you want next: https://podsalad.com/feedback/?show=geek&ep=2026-11-13&src=notes The hosts and voices are AI-generated. Every fact in this episode comes from the sources above. Podcast Salad is a Project5pi production: https://project5pi.com/ Sponsored by Project5pi: websites, SEO and AEO, DialDart phone answering, and custom software for small businesses. $15 Visibility Check: https://project5pi.com/visibility-check/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Sponsored by Life Catlin Insurance: final expense, term life, annuities and coverage for people nearing retirement. Call 833-454-6469 or book a free consultation: https://lifecatlininsurance.com/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Life Catlin Insurance is licensed in select states. podcast-salad-geek-2026-11-13Fri, 13 Nov 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2559false Power Hungry: The Grid vs. the AI Boom6 full Podcast Salad: The Geek Mode Edition: Power Hungry: The Grid vs. the AI Boom Three AI research hosts and our host Nora talk through the electric grid: how it was built, how it keeps the lights on, and whether it can feed the AI data center boom. Sources, by expert: Walt (historian): - Thomas Edison’s Pearl Street Station: https://projectdesign.io/thomas-edisons-pearl-street-station/ - Pearl Street Station - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Street_Station - Pearl Street Station — Grokipedia: https://grokipedia.com/page/Pearl_Street_Station - History | IEEE Power & Energy Magazine: https://magazine.ieee-pes.org/marchapril-2013/history-7/ - The Current Wars: https://edison.rutgers.edu/life-of-edison/essaying-edison/essay/the-current-wars - Milestones:Pearl Street Station, 1882 - Engineering and Technology History Wiki: https://ethw.org/Milestones:Pearl_Street_Station,_1882 - The Westinghouse/Edison Rivalry - stray dogs, circus elephants, and getting Westinghoused | Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/plugged-in/the-westinghouseedison-rivalry-stray-dogs-circus-elephants-and-getting-westinghoused/ - The Real History That Inspired the Movie 'The Current War': https://time.com/5698700/current-war-real-history/ - Pearl Street Station - CultureNow - Museum Without Walls: https://culturenow.org/site/pearl-street-station - Edison vs. Westinghouse: A Shocking Rivalry: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/edison-vs-westinghouse-a-shocking-rivalry-102146036/ - How Edison, Tesla and Westinghouse Battled to Electrify America | HISTORY: https://www.history.com/articles/what-was-the-war-of-the-currents - War of the currents - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_currents - Rural Electrification Act (1936) | Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/rural-electrification-act-1936 - Northeast blackout of 1965: https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11831991 - Northeast Blackout (1965) - NYCdata | Disasters - CUNY: https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/disasters/blackouts-northeast.html - Power Failure of 1965 | Power and Energy | Research Starters | EBSCOhost: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/power-and-energy/power-failure-1965/ - The 1965 Northeast Blackout - Life by Numbers: https://www.lifebynumbers.ca/history/the-1965-northeast-blackout/ - Power Failure Blacks Out New York City and the Northeast | History | Research Starters | EBSCOhost: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/power-failure-blacks-out-new-york-city-and-northeast Tess (scientist and engineer): - The Electrical Grid and Beyond with David Hsu | MIT Learn: https://learn.mit.edu/podcast/115715/podcast_episode/116609/the-electrical-grid-and-beyond-with-david-hsu - Electric power transmission - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transmission - Electricity 101 | Department of Energy: https://www.energy.gov/oe/electricity-101 - Electrical grid - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_grid - Alternative Fuels Data Center: Electricity Production and Distribution: https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity-production - EPRI | Powering Intelligence 2026: Updated Scenarios of U.S. Data Center Electricity Use and Power Strategies: https://esca.epri.com/products/3002034696/ Ben (economist and futurist): - How your electric bill may be paying for big data centers’ energy use: https://theconversation.com/how-your-electric-bill-may-be-paying-for-big-data-centers-energy-use-257794 - Who Pays for the Wires? Data Centers, Distant Power and the Transmission Bill on Your Meter - Energy News Beat: https://energynewsbeat.co/electrical-generation/who-pays-for-the-wires-data-centers-distant-power-and-the-transmission-bill-on-your-meter/ - Who pays the power bill when data centers demand more than needed?: https://coloradosun.com/2025/12/10/data-center-power-demands-colorado-xcel-tri-state/ - Fossil generation could rise with faster-than-expected growth in data center power demand - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA): https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67344 - AI Data Centers: Big Tech's Impact on Electric Bills, Water, and More via @ConsumerReports: https://www.consumerreports.org/data-centers/ai-data-centers-impact-on-electric-bills-water-and-more-a1040338678/ - Nuclear power for AI: inside the data center energy deals | Introl Blog: https://introl.com/blog/nuclear-power-ai-data-centers-microsoft-google-amazon-2025 - Data centers love solar: Here's a comprehensive guide to deals over 100 megawatts | TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/30/data-centers-love-solar-heres-a-comprehensive-guide-to-deals-over-100-megawatts/ - Data Centers and Electricity Prices: It's Not as Simple as Voters May Think - FactCheck.org: https://www.factcheck.org/2026/10/data-centers-and-electricity-prices-its-not-as-simple-as-voters-may-think/ - [2606.19777] Have Data Centers Raised Your Electric Bill? Causal Evidence from the United States: https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.19777 - Are Data Centers Raising Your Electric Bill? Mostly Not. Yet. - New Jersey State Policy Lab: https://policylab.rutgers.edu/publication/are-data-centers-raising-your-electric-bill-mostly-not-yet/ - Data Centers Are Already Increasing Your Energy Bills. We Have the Receipts. - Union of Concerned Scientists: https://blog.ucs.org/mike-jacobs/data-centers-are-already-increasing-your-energy-bills/ - Who Pays for Data Center Growth? IL & FL Lead the Way: https://percepture.com/data-centers-insights/who-pays-for-data-center-growth/ - Data center server energy use grows across the commercial building stock - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA): https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67704 Tell us what you think and what topic you want next: https://podsalad.com/feedback/?show=geek&ep=2026-11-12&src=notes The hosts and voices are AI-generated. Every fact in this episode comes from the sources above. Podcast Salad is a Project5pi production: https://project5pi.com/ Sponsored by Project5pi: websites, SEO and AEO, DialDart phone answering, and custom software for small businesses. $15 Visibility Check: https://project5pi.com/visibility-check/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Sponsored by Life Catlin Insurance: final expense, term life, annuities and coverage for people nearing retirement. Call 833-454-6469 or book a free consultation: https://lifecatlininsurance.com/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Life Catlin Insurance is licensed in select states. podcast-salad-geek-2026-11-12Thu, 12 Nov 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2499false The New Space Race: Sputnik to Starship5 full Podcast Salad: The Geek Mode Edition: The New Space Race: Sputnik to Starship Three AI research hosts and our host Nora talk through the new space race: from Sputnik to reusable rockets, the return to the Moon, and the business of orbit. Sources, by expert: Walt (historian): - Sputnik launched | October 4, 1957 | HISTORY: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/october-4/sputnik-launched - 65 Years Ago: Sputnik Ushers in the Space Age - NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/history/65-years-ago-sputnik-ushers-in-the-space-age/ - Dawn of the Space Age - NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/history/dawn-of-the-space-age/ - Sputnik 1 - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1 - Yuri Gagarin and Vostok 1, the First Human… | The Planetary Society: https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/vostok-1 - Yuri Gagarin: First Human in Space, 1961: https://sovietspaceprogram.com/achievements/first-human/ - Vostok 1 - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vostok_1 - Sputnik I | History | Research Starters | EBSCOhost: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/sputnik-i/ - 1969 Apollo 11 Moon Landing: Timeline, Facts, Video | HISTORY: https://www.history.com/articles/moon-landing-1969 - Ending Apollo: Why Did We Stop Going to the Moon? | National Air and Space Museum: https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/why-did-we-stop-going-moon - International Space Station: history and facts | BBC Sky at Night Magazine: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-missions/international-space-station-facts-history - Space Shuttle Program | National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/space-shuttle-program - Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, Volume 1 - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS): https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19860015255 - - THE COLUMBIA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD REPORT: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-108hhrg89216/html/CHRG-108hhrg89216.htm - Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS): https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20030066167 - International Space Station, facts and photos | National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/international-space-station-article Tess (scientist and engineer): - Getting To Orbit And The Rocket Equation: https://semiengineering.com/getting-to-orbit-and-the-rocket-equation/ - Ideal Rocket Equation | Glenn Research Center | NASA: https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/ideal-rocket-equation/ - Chapter 3: Gravity & Mechanics - NASA Science: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/basics-of-space-flight/chapter3-2/ - The Tsiolkovsky Rocket Equation: Why Going to Space Is So Hard - DEV Community: https://dev.to/01888927bd0e8aa92caca/the-tsiolkovsky-rocket-equation-why-going-to-space-is-so-hard-2ad4 - Tsiolkovsky rocket equation - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsiolkovsky_rocket_equation - Tsiolkovsky’s Rocket Equation Explanation and Uses - Philip Metzger: https://philipmetzger.com/tsiolkovskys-rocket-equation-explanation-and-uses/ - Chapter 14: Launch - NASA Science: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/basics-of-space-flight/chapter14-1/ - Falcon 9 Full Thrust - Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9_Full_Thrust - Falcon 9 - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9 - Falcon 9 Booster Lands Successfully - NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2025/03/14/falcon-9-booster-lands-successfully/ - Constellation de satellites — Wikipédia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constellation_de_satellites - OneWeb (constellation de satellites) — Wikipédia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/OneWeb_(constellation_de_satellites) - ESA Space Environment Report 2025: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Space_Debris/ESA_Space_Environment_Report_2025 - ESA - ESA Space Environment Report 2026: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Space_Debris/ESA_Space_Environment_Report_2026 - ARES | Missions | Artemis: https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/ Ben (economist and futurist): - Launch Cost Per Kg: From $54,500 to $1,500 (Complete History) | orbital-intel.com: https://orbital-intel.com/launch-cost-history/ - Space elevator economics - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator_economics - Rocket Launch Cost: $54,000 → $3,000 per Kg (2026): https://orbitalradar.com/space-economy/launch-cost-trends - Launch cost per kg: Falcon 9 $3,140, Shuttle $79,100 | Flight Atlas: https://www.flightatlas.org/launch-cost-per-kg - Launch Cost Per Kg to Orbit — Trends (2026) · Cosmik: https://gocosmik.com/launch-cost-trends - Space launch market competition - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_launch_market_competition - How Much Does a Rocket Launch Cost? Falcon 9: $74M (2026): https://spacenexus.us/guide/space-launch-cost-comparison - Satellite Internet Market Size & Share | Industry Report, 2033: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/satellite-internet-market-report - Satellite Internet Expansion: Key Investment Insights: https://spacexstock.com/satellite-internet-expansion-investment-insights/ - Falcon 9 Launch Cost: The Published $74M Price Explained: https://www.orbitalintel.org/launch/falcon-9-launch-cost/ - Starlink Now Drives the Majority of SpaceX's Revenue. James Altucher's Presentation Explains How That Shapes the IPO.: https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/starlink-now-drives-majority-spacexs-180000267.html - Starlink — Subscribers, Revenue, Unit Economics & Margin | SpaceXChart: https://spacexchart.com/starlink - Satellite Internet Market Size, Share and Forecast, 2026-2033: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/industry-reports/satellite-internet-market - Starlink Statistics 2026: Subscribers, Revenue, Speed & Constellation Data - Axis Intelligence: https://axis-intelligence.com/starlink-statistics/ - SpaceX's biggest moneymaker, Starlink, soars in run-up to IPO: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/spacex-starlink-2025-revenue-2025-22196869.php - Satellite Internet Market Growth Analysis - Size and Forecast 2026-2030 | Technavio: https://www.technavio.com/report/satellite-internet-market-industry-analysis - Satellite Internet Market Size, Trends, Share & Growth Drivers 2031: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/satellite-internet-market - 2026 China Satellite Internet and Commercial Spaceflight Industry: Market Size and Competitive Landscape In-Depth Research Report — Tianxia Gongchang Research: https://faxiangongchang.com/en/reports/china-satellite-internet-2026 Tell us what you think and what topic you want next: https://podsalad.com/feedback/?show=geek&ep=2026-11-11&src=notes The hosts and voices are AI-generated. Every fact in this episode comes from the sources above. Podcast Salad is a Project5pi production: https://project5pi.com/ Sponsored by Project5pi: websites, SEO and AEO, DialDart phone answering, and custom software for small businesses. $15 Visibility Check: https://project5pi.com/visibility-check/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Sponsored by Life Catlin Insurance: final expense, term life, annuities and coverage for people nearing retirement. Call 833-454-6469 or book a free consultation: https://lifecatlininsurance.com/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Life Catlin Insurance is licensed in select states. podcast-salad-geek-2026-11-11Wed, 11 Nov 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2440false The Cloud Is Actually Underwater4 full Podcast Salad: The Geek Mode Edition: The Cloud Is Actually Underwater Three AI research hosts and our host Nora talk through undersea internet cables: the hidden wires that carry almost all of the world's internet traffic. Sources, by expert: Walt (historian): - First transatlantic telegraph cable completed | August 5, 1858 | HISTORY: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-5/first-transatlantic-telegraph-cable-completed - First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable Sent - This Month in Business History - Research Guides at Library of Congress: https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-business-history/august/first-transatlantic-telegraph-cable - Charles Tilston Bright - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Tilston_Bright - The Cable That Changed The World: https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2024/33/the-cable-that-changed-the-world - The First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable Was a Bold, Short-Lived Success | HISTORY: https://www.history.com/articles/first-transatlantic-telegraph-cable - Transatlantic telegraph cable - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_telegraph_cable - BBC - A History of the World - Object : Transatlantic Telegraph Cable 1866: https://www.bbc.com/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/nV6cNBDYRuS_SE5uxGdxwg Tess (scientist and engineer): - Submarine communications cable - New World Encyclopedia: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Submarine_communications_cable - Under The Sea: Optical Repeaters For Submarine Cables | Hackaday: https://hackaday.com/2023/08/08/under-the-sea-optical-repeaters-for-submarine-cables/ - Submarine Fiber Optic Cable: Top 10 Amazing Facts 2025: https://accutechcom.com/submarine-fiber-optic-cable/ - Understanding the Fundamentals of Optical Fiber Technology » SENKO Advanced Components, Inc.: https://www.senko.com/understanding-the-fundamentals-of-optical-fiber-technology/ - The Fiber Optic Assn. Fiber Tech: Fiber Amplifiers: https://www.thefoa.org/tech/fiberamp.htm - The Science Behind Submarine Cable Repeaters - Subsea Cables: https://www.subseacables.net/editors-choice/the-science-behind-submarine-cable-repeaters/ - Submarine Cable Repeaters: How Signals Survive 20,000 km — MapYourTech: https://mapyourtech.com/submarine-cable-repeaters-how-signals-survive-20000-km/ - Inside a Transpacific Submarine Fiber Cable - Cut Open, SpliceList: https://www.splicelist.com/blog/inside-a-transpacific-submarine-fiber-cable - Diving Deep into Submarine Cables: The Undersea Lifelines of Internet Connectivity | Kentik Blog: https://www.kentik.com/blog/diving-deep-into-submarine-cables-undersea-lifelines-of-internet-connectivity/ - Optical amplifiers speed data flow undersea | Laser Focus World: https://www.laserfocusworld.com/fiber-optics/article/16551090/optical-amplifiers-speed-data-flow-undersea - Subsea Cables: The Invisible Fiber Link Enabling the Internet: https://dgtlinfra.com/submarine-cables-fiber-link-internet/ - Transoceanic Fiber Optics: The Cable That Runs the Tech World - Approved Networks: https://approvednetworks.com/blog/transoceanic-fiber-optics-the-cable-that-runs-the-tech-world/ - How does a fibre-optic strand thinner than a spaghetti noodle carry a signal across 13,000 kilometres of ocean without a single electrical amplifier along the way? - Make Tech Easier: https://maketecheasier.com/mte-q-how-does-a-fibre-optic-strand-thinner-than-a-spaghetti-noodle-carry-a-signal-across-13-000-kilometres-of-ocean-without-a-single-electrical-amplifier-along-the-way/ - Total Internal Reflection: The Optical Foundation of Fiber Transmission - Communication Test Expert: https://www.tfngj.com/total-internal-reflection-the-optical-foundation-of-fiber-transmission/ - The Physical Internet: The Giant Underwater Cables Keeping the World Online: https://www.sciencenewstoday.org/the-physical-internet-the-giant-underwater-cables-keeping-the-world-online - Submarine communications cable - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_communications_cable - Submarine Communications Cable - Horizon Electronics: https://horizonelectronics.com/submarine-communications-cable/ Ben (economist and futurist): - Submarine Cable Disruptions Could Jeopardise 99% Of Global Internet Traffic- ITU Warns: https://leadership.ng/submarine-cable-disruptions-could-jeopardise-99-of-global-internet-traffic-itu-warns/ - Submarine cable resilience: https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/backgrounders/Pages/submarine-cable-resilience.aspx - Invisible highways: The vast network of undersea cables powering our connectivity | UN News: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1166867 - Submarine Cable FAQs: https://www2.telegeography.com/submarine-cable-faqs-frequently-asked-questions - How Many Submarine Cables Are There, Anyway? - Resources: https://resources.telegeography.com/how-many-submarine-cables-are-there-anyway - Google and Meta Use 75% of Undersea Cable Bandwidth, But Just 3 Firms Build 92% of Them | XenoSpectrum: https://xenospectrum.com/en/submarine-cable-ownership-shift/ - Strategic Alliance of Sea and Space: Synergies between Subsea Cables and LEO Satellites — Bloomsbury Intelligence and Security Institute (BISI): https://bisi.org.uk/reports/strategic-alliance-of-sea-and-space-synergies-between-subsea-cables-and-leo-satellites - International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience – Report of the Working Groups: https://isoclive.substack.com/p/iab-report - What to Know About Transport Networks in 2026 - Resources: https://resources.telegeography.com/transport-networks-in-2026 - Underwater cables are a vital piece of the AI buildout and internet — investment is booming: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/08/big-tech-ai-underwater-cables.html - Mapped: The Submarine Cables That Carry the Internet (2026) | Mappr: https://www.mappr.co/submarine-internet-cables/ - Why the World Still Depends on Cables, Not Satellites - Subsea Cables: https://www.subseacables.net/reports-and-coverage/why-the-world-still-depends-on-cables-not-satellites/ - True or false : submarine cables carry 99 % of the world's Internet traffic?: https://www.koevoo.tech/en/blog/traffic_submarine_cables/ - Submarine Fiber Optic Cable: Top 10 Amazing Facts 2025: https://accutechcom.com/submarine-fiber-optic-cable/ - ITU Advisory Body Approves Final Report to Strengthen Submarine Cable Resilience - Subsea Cables: https://www.subseacables.net/industry-news/itu-advisory-body-approves-final-report-to-strengthen-submarine-cable-resilience/ - Baltic Sea Undersea Cable Security - The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies: https://jsis.washington.edu/news/baltic-sea-undersea-cable-security/ - How the Baltic Sea nations have tackled suspicious cable cuts - Atlantic Council: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/how-the-baltic-sea-nations-have-tackled-suspicious-cable-cuts/ Tell us what you think and what topic you want next: https://podsalad.com/feedback/?show=geek&ep=2026-11-10&src=notes The hosts and voices are AI-generated. Every fact in this episode comes from the sources above. Podcast Salad is a Project5pi production: https://project5pi.com/ Sponsored by Project5pi: websites, SEO and AEO, DialDart phone answering, and custom software for small businesses. $15 Visibility Check: https://project5pi.com/visibility-check/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Sponsored by Life Catlin Insurance: final expense, term life, annuities and coverage for people nearing retirement. Call 833-454-6469 or book a free consultation: https://lifecatlininsurance.com/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Life Catlin Insurance is licensed in select states. podcast-salad-geek-2026-11-10Tue, 10 Nov 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2495false A Grain of Sand Holds the World3 full Podcast Salad: The Geek Mode Edition: A Grain of Sand Holds the World Three AI research hosts and our host Nora talk through computer chips: how a grain of sand becomes a processor, and why one company in Taiwan matters to the whole world. Sources, by expert: Walt (historian): - Bell Labs History of The Transistor (the Crystal Triode): https://memorial.bellsystem.com/belllabs_transistor.html - William B. Shockley – Facts - NobelPrize.org: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1956/shockley/facts/ - 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics | Nokia.com: https://www.nokia.com/bell-labs/about/awards/1956-nobel-prize-physics/ - 1947: Invention of the Point-Contact Transistor | The Silicon Engine | Computer History Museum: https://www.computerhistory.org/siliconengine/invention-of-the-point-contact-transistor/ - History of the transistor - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_transistor - William Shockley - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shockley - Jack Kilby’s Integrated Circuit - Bullock Texas State History Museum: https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/artifact-stories/jack-kilbys-integrated-circuit/ - 1959: Practical Monolithic Integrated Circuit Concept Patented | The Silicon Engine | Computer History Museum: https://www.computerhistory.org/siliconengine/practical-monolithic-integrated-circuit-concept-patented/ - Explore Intel’s history- Establishing Intel: https://timeline.intel.com/1968/establishing-intel - Moore's Law: Original Draft 1965: https://www.chiphistory.org/20-moore-s-law-original-draft-1965 - Milestones:Moore's Law, 1965 - Engineering and Technology History Wiki: https://ethw.org/Milestones:Moore's_Law,_1965 - What Is TSMC? Morris Chang and the Pure-Play Foundry (2026): https://www.taskade.com/blog/tsmc-foundry-history - FinancialContent - The Silicon Shield: A Deep Dive into the History of TSMC: https://markets.financialcontent.com/stocks/article/marketminute-2025-7-30-the-silicon-shield-a-deep-dive-into-the-history-of-tsmc - Morris Chang: Foundry Father - IEEE Spectrum: https://spectrum.ieee.org/morris-chang-foundry-father - The Silicon Empire: TSMC’s Revolution and Morris Chang’s Legacy: https://quartr.com/insights/edge/the-silicon-empire-tsmcs-revolution-and-morris-changs-legacy - About TSMC - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited: https://www.tsmc.com/english/aboutTSMC - TSMC Wiki - Learn about the History of TSMC on SemiWiki: https://semiwiki.com/wikis/company-wikis/tsmc-wiki/ Tess (scientist and engineer): - How to Make a Computer Chip from Silicon | Step-by-Step Guide: https://www.universitywafer.com/how-to-make-computer-chip-silicon.html - Transistor - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor - Bipolar junction transistor - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_junction_transistor - The Nanometer Race: What 3nm & 5nm Chip Nodes Really Mean - Valley Ai: https://valleyai.net/computer/nanometer-race-chip-nodes/ - How are microchips made? | imec: https://www.imec-int.com/en/what-we-offer/semiconductor-education-and-workforce-development/microchips/how-are-microchips-made - Semiconductor Manufacturing: How Computer Chips Are Actually Made: https://engineersuniverse.com/studios/semiconductor-electronics/semiconductor-manufacturing-guide - Where do computer chips come from and how are they made — ChipFlow: https://www.chipflow.io/blog/where-do-computer-chips-come-from-and-how-are-they-made - Classification of Air Cleanliness - PMC - NIH: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7498890/ - What "3nm" Actually Means: Process Nodes, Transistor Physics, and Why Scaling Is Slowing | MANISH AI: https://manishklach.github.io/writings/what-3nm-actually-means.html - What Is a Node in Semiconductor Manufacturing? - ScienceInsights: https://scienceinsights.org/what-is-a-node-in-semiconductor-manufacturing/ - China's reverse-engineered Frankenstein EUV chipmaking tool hasn't produced a single chip — sanctions-busting experiment is still years away from becoming operational | Tom's Hardware: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/chinas-reverse-engineered-frankenstein-euv-chipmaking-tool-hasnt-produced-a-single-chip-sanctions-busting-experiment-is-still-years-away-from-becoming-operational - Why ASML Is the Only Commercial EUV Lithography Maker: https://techyorker.com/why-has-asml-become-the-sole-commercial-maker-of-euv-chip-tools/ - EUV Lithography: A Full Guide to ASML Machines (2026): https://www.insidedeeptech.com/euv-lithography-asml-machines-full-guide/ - Lenses & mirrors - Lithography principles | ASML: https://www.asml.com/en/technology/lithography-principles/lenses-and-mirrors - EUV lithography systems – Products | ASML: https://www.asml.com/en/products/euv-lithography-systems - Why ASML Is the Only EUV Lithography Scanner Maker: https://www.itechguides.com/why-no-other-company-can-easily-build-an-euv-lithography-machine/ Ben (economist and futurist): - TSMC Arizona | NIST: https://www.nist.gov/chips/tsmc-arizona-phoenix - Understanding U.S. Allies’ Current Legal Authority to Implement AI and Semiconductor Export Controls | CSIS: https://www.csis.org/analysis/understanding-us-allies-current-legal-authority-implement-ai-and-semiconductor-export - Biden-Harris Administration Announces CHIPS Incentives Award with TSMC Arizona to Secure U.S. Leadership in Advanced Semiconductor Technology | NIST: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/11/biden-harris-administration-announces-chips-incentives-award-tsmc-arizona - TSMC nets nearly 70% of 2025 foundry market - Taipei Times: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2026/03/14/2003853777 - Ranked: Global Semiconductor Manufacturers by Foundry Revenue | The Motley Fool: https://www.fool.com/research/semiconductor-manufacturers-by-revenue/ - TSMC Arizona and U.S. Department of Commerce Announce up to US$6.6 Billion in Proposed CHIPS Act Direct Funding, the Company Plans Third Leading-Edge Fab in Phoenix|Taiwan: https://pr.tsmc.com/english/news/3122 - Nvidia snaps up AI chip packaging capacity as TSMC expands in U.S.: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/08/tsmc-nvidia-advanced-packaging-intel.html - TSMC CoWoS & SoIC Packaging: The AI Supply Bottleneck Explained: https://exponentialindustry.com/blog/2026-08-10-tsmc-cowos-soic-ai-advanced-packaging-bottleneck/ - Global Pure Foundry Market Share: Quarterly: https://counterpointresearch.com/en/insights/global-semiconductor-foundry-market-share - 2Q25 Foundry Revenue Surges 14.6% to Record High, TSMC’s Market Share Hits 70%, Says TrendForce: https://www.trendforce.com/presscenter/news/20250901-12691.html - AI Demand Drives 4Q25 Global Top 10 Foundries Revenue Up 2.6% QoQ; Samsung Gains Share and Tower Moves Up in Rankings, Says TrendForce: https://www.trendforce.com/presscenter/news/20260312-12965.html - TSMC Arizona - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSMC_Arizona - Markets & Stocks - TSMC Boosts CoWoS Capacity as NVIDIA Dominates Advanced Packaging Orders through 2027: https://markets.financialcontent.com/wral/article/tokenring-2025-12-26-tsmc-boosts-cowos-capacity-as-nvidia-dominates-advanced-packaging-orders-through-2027 - TSMC Extends Lead In Foundry Business - Semiecosystem: https://marklapedus.substack.com/p/tsmc-extends-lead-in-foundry-business - Commerce Strengthens Export Controls to Restrict: https://www.bis.gov/press-release/commerce-strengthens-export-controls-restrict-chinas-capability-produce-advanced-semiconductors-military - Federal Register :: Revision to License Review Policy for Advanced Computing Commodities: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/15/2026-00789/revision-to-license-review-policy-for-advanced-computing-commodities - License Review Policy for Semiconductors Exported to China: https://www.bis.gov/press-release/department-commerce-revises-license-review-policy-semiconductors-exported-china - TSMC expands CoWoS capacity with Nvidia booking over half for 2026-27: https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20251210PD218/tsmc-cowos-capacity-nvidia-equipment.html Tell us what you think and what topic you want next: https://podsalad.com/feedback/?show=geek&ep=2026-11-09&src=notes The hosts and voices are AI-generated. Every fact in this episode comes from the sources above. Podcast Salad is a Project5pi production: https://project5pi.com/ Sponsored by Project5pi: websites, SEO and AEO, DialDart phone answering, and custom software for small businesses. $15 Visibility Check: https://project5pi.com/visibility-check/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Sponsored by Life Catlin Insurance: final expense, term life, annuities and coverage for people nearing retirement. Call 833-454-6469 or book a free consultation: https://lifecatlininsurance.com/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Life Catlin Insurance is licensed in select states. podcast-salad-geek-2026-11-09Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2536false Star Power: Why Fusion Keeps Being 30 Years Away2 full Podcast Salad: The Geek Mode Edition: Star Power: Why Fusion Keeps Being 30 Years Away Three AI research hosts and our host Nora talk through nuclear fusion: the power of the Sun, why it has been "30 years away" for decades, and the race to make it work. Sources, by expert: Walt (historian): - l3S4: https://jila.colorado.edu/~ajsh/courses/astr1120_03/text/chapter3/l3S4.htm - 0. outline: https://jila.colorado.edu/~ajsh/courses/astr1120_03/text/chapter3/l3outline.htm - Arthur Eddington - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Eddington - Eddington Solar Model: https://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/336L/Fluidhtml/node189.html - Manhattan Project: Science > Bomb Design and Components > Hydrogen Bomb: https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/Science/BombDesign/hydrogen-bomb.html - History of nuclear fusion - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_nuclear_fusion - Operation Ivy, 1952 - GOVPUB-D15-PURL-gpo222810 | Content Details | GovInfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GOVPUB-D15-PURL-gpo222810 - The Story of ITER - Stanford University: http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2022/ph240/joshi1/ - Design of Magnetic Confinement Fusion Reactors - Stanford: http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2018/ph241/li-ji1/ - Fusion: Harnessing the Power of the Sun: http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211.fall2000.web.projects/Troy%20Orr/tokamak.htm - JET: The Joint European Torus | RACE UKAEA: https://race.ukaea.uk/programmes/jet/ - UK centre to shoot for nuclear fusion record - BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-27138087 - Ignition | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: https://www.llnl.gov/news/ignition - History: https://www.iter.org/about/history - 10 years ago: the agreement that established ITER: https://www.iter.org/node/20687/10-years-ago-agreement-established-iter - Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60312633 Tess (scientist and engineer): - Achieving Fusion Ignition | National Ignition Facility & Photon Science: https://lasers.llnl.gov/science/achieving-fusion-ignition - Ignition | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: https://www.llnl.gov/news/ignition - Fusion Ignition and the Path to Inertial Fusion Energy | Extreme Light, Matter, and Fusion: https://lmf.llnl.gov/news/fusion-ignition-and-the-path-to-inertial-fusion-energy - Nuclear fusion - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fusion - The huge challenges in creating nuclear fusion power plant: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gwydynjq1o - ITER: International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor: https://www.iter.org/few-lines - Fusion power - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power - What is a tokamak?: https://www.iter.org/machine/what-tokamak - Tracing the Steps to LLNL’s Fusion Ignition Breakthrough | Extreme Light, Matter, and Fusion: https://lmf.llnl.gov/news/tracing-the-steps-to-llnls-fusion-breakthrough - LLNL’s Breakthrough Ignition Experiment Highlighted in Physical Review Letters | National Ignition Facility & Photon Science: https://lasers.llnl.gov/news/llnls-breakthrough-ignition-experiment-highlighted-in-physical-review-letters - DOE Explains...Stellarators | Department of Energy: https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainsstellarators - Major breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60312633 - Tests show high-temperature superconducting magnets are ready for fusion | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology: https://news.mit.edu/2024/tests-show-high-temperature-superconducting-magnets-fusion-ready-0304 - MIT-designed project achieves major advance toward fusion energy | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology: https://news.mit.edu/2021/MIT-CFS-major-advance-toward-fusion-energy-0908 - Inertial Confinement Fusion | High Energy Density Science Center: https://heds-center.llnl.gov/research/research-areas/inertial-confinement-fusion - A shot for the ages: Fusion ignition breakthrough hailed as ‘one of the most impressive scientific feats of the 21st century’ | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: https://www.llnl.gov/article/49301/shot-ages-fusion-ignition-breakthrough-hailed-one-most-impressive-scientific-feats-21st Ben (economist and futurist): - Access to funding remains a major issue for fusion, says industry report - World Nuclear News: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/access-to-funding-remains-a-major-issue-for-fusion-says-fia - Over $2.5 Billion Invested in Fusion Industry in Past Year - Fusion Industry Association: https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/over-2-5-billion-invested-in-fusion-industry-in-past-year/ - In the News: The Global Fusion Industry in 2025 - Fusion Industry Association: https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/in-the-news-the-global-fusion-industry-in-2025/ - TAE Technologies raises $150 million in latest funding round - TAE Technologies | Fusion Power Clean Energy Company: https://tae.com/tae-technologies-raises-150-million-in-latest-funding-round/ - TAE Technologies Raises $150 Million in Latest Funding Round: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tae-technologies-raises-150-million-in-latest-funding-round-302470656.html - Helion hits $15.5B valuation with $465M in new cash as it aims to commercialize fusion this decade: https://www.geekwire.com/2026/helion-hits-15-5b-valuation-with-465m-in-new-cash-to-commercialize-fusion-this-decade/ - Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power: https://www.helionenergy.com/newsroom/helion-announces-425m-series-f-investment-to-scale-commercialized-fusion-power - Helion Raises $465 Million Series G Funding Round to Meet Surging Global Demand for Power: https://www.helionenergy.com/newsroom/helion-raises-465-million-series-g-funding-round-to-meet-surging-global-demand-for-power - Helion Announces $465-Million Funding Round to Support Fusion Energy: https://www.powermag.com/helion-announces-465-million-funding-round-to-support-fusion-energy/ - Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $863 Million Series B2 Round | Neutron Bytes: https://neutronbytes.com/2025/09/05/commonwealth-fusion-systems-raises-863-million-series-b2-round/ - Commonwealth Fusion Systems valuation, funding & news | Sacra: https://sacra.com/c/commonwealth-fusion-systems/ - Report: Funding growth for private fusion companies -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire: https://www.ans.org/news/2025-12-05/article-7599/report-funding-growth-for-private-fusion-companies/ - Commercial Fusion Energy Funding Status: Mid-Year 2026: https://thefusionreport.substack.com/p/commercial-fusion-energy-funding - Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $863 Million Series B2 Round to Accelerate the Commercialization of Fusion Energy: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/commonwealth-fusion-systems-raises-863-million-series-b2-round-to-accelerate-the-commercialization-of-fusion-energy-302540730.html - Commonwealth Fusion Systems Raises $863 Million Series B2 Round to Accelerate the Commercialization of Fusion Energy | Commonwealth Fusion Systems: https://cfs.energy/news-and-media/commonwealth-fusion-systems-raises-863-million-series-b2-round-to-accelerate-the-commercialization-of-fusion-energy/ - TAE Technologies - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAE_Technologies - TAE Technologies | Fusion Power Clean Energy Company: https://tae.com/ - Commonwealth Fusion Systems Valuation, Funding & Investors | Multiples: https://multiples.vc/private-comps/commonwealth-fusion-systems Tell us what you think and what topic you want next: https://podsalad.com/feedback/?show=geek&ep=2026-11-08&src=notes The hosts and voices are AI-generated. Every fact in this episode comes from the sources above. Podcast Salad is a Project5pi production: https://project5pi.com/ Sponsored by Project5pi: websites, SEO and AEO, DialDart phone answering, and custom software for small businesses. $15 Visibility Check: https://project5pi.com/visibility-check/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Sponsored by Life Catlin Insurance: final expense, term life, annuities and coverage for people nearing retirement. Call 833-454-6469 or book a free consultation: https://lifecatlininsurance.com/?utm_source=podsalad&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=geek Life Catlin Insurance is licensed in select states. podcast-salad-geek-2026-11-08Sun, 08 Nov 2026 10:00:00 +0000 2319false Splitting Atoms, Not Hairs: Nuclear Explained1 full Podcast Salad: The Geek Mode Edition: Splitting Atoms, Not Hairs: Nuclear Explained Three AI research hosts and our host Nora talk through nuclear energy: its history, the events that shaped it, where it stands today and where it is heading. Sources, by expert: Walt (historian): - Discovery of nuclear fission - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_of_nuclear_fission - Nuclear fission - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fission - The first nuclear reactor, explained | University of Chicago News: https://news.uchicago.edu/explainer/first-nuclear-reactor-explained - 10 Intriguing Facts About the World's First Nuclear Chain Reaction | Department of Energy: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/10-intriguing-facts-about-worlds-first-nuclear-chain-reaction - About Enrico Fermi - Enrico Fermi and the Nuclear Chain Reaction - Library Guides at UChicago: https://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/c.php?g=298140&p=1988920 - Chain reflections: https://mag.uchicago.edu/university-news/chain-reflections - How the first chain reaction changed science | University of Chicago News: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/how-first-chain-reaction-changed-science - Outline History of Nuclear Energy - World Nuclear Association: https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/outline-history-of-nuclear-energy - Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace. The Speech that Inspired the Creation of the IAEA | INIS – International Nuclear Information System: https://inis.iaea.org/records/kzzjm-teh72 - Atom Mirny: The First Civilian Nuclear Power Plant - INIS-IAEA: https://inis.iaea.org/records/jz5ej-e3h34 - Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory - Careers Naval Nuclear Laboratory: https://navalnuclearlab.energy.gov/bettis-atomic-power-laboratory/ - What are the effects of nuclear accidents?: https://world-nuclear.org/nuclear-essentials/what-are-the-effects-of-nuclear-accidents - Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) - Nuclear law: https://oecd-nea.org/jcms/c_12886/nuclear-law Tess (scientist and engineer): - How does a nuclear reactor work?: https://world-nuclear.org/nuclear-essentials/how-does-a-nuclear-reactor-work - NUCLEAR 101: How Does a Nuclear Reactor Work? | Department of Energy: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/nuclear-101-how-does-nuclear-reactor-work - Open Knowledge Wiki - Other Designs of Nuclear Power Stations: https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/graphiteknowledgebase/wiki/Guide_to_Graphite/Other%20Designs%20of%20Nuclear%20Power%20Stations.aspx - Nuclear Power Reactors - World Nuclear Association: https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-power-reactors/overview/nuclear-power-reactors - Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) - Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident: https://oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_27411/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-accident - Nuclear Fuel Cycle Simulation System (NFCSS) - INFCIS: https://infcis.iaea.org/nfcss/modeling - Cosmic Radiation | RadTown | US EPA: https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/radtown/cosmic-radiation_.html - Radiation Dose Calculator Background Information | US EPA: https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radiation-dose-calculator-background-information - Advanced Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) | Department of Energy: https://www.energy.gov/ne/advanced-small-modular-reactors-smrs - What is a tokamak?: https://www.iter.org/machine/what-tokamak - Making fusion work: https://www.iter.org/fusion-energy/making-it-work Ben (economist and futurist): - Plant Vogtle Unit 4 begins commercial operation - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA): https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61963 - Vogtle Electric Generating Plant - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogtle_Electric_Generating_Plant - Georgia Power announces revised schedule, cost forecast for Vogtle units 3 & 4: https://www.georgiapower.com/news-hub/press-releases/georgia-power-announces-revised-schedule-cost-forecast-for-vogtle-units-3-and-4.html - SMR Data Centers (2026): Every Nuclear Deal & Project Tracked: https://www.irecruit.co/insights/smr-nuclear-powered-data-center-developments - Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft go nuclear: https://trellis.net/article/amazon-google-meta-and-microsoft-go-nuclear/ - Nuclear power phase-out - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_phase-out - The Myths and Realities of the Vogtle Nuclear Reactor Construction: https://www.investigativeeconomics.org/p/the-myths-and-realities-of-the-vogtle - Plans For New Reactors Worldwide - World Nuclear Association: https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwide - Nuclear power for AI: inside the data center energy deals | Introl Blog: https://introl.com/blog/nuclear-power-ai-data-centers-microsoft-google-amazon-2025 - Beyond the Hype: Assessing Hyperscaler Nuclear Commitments Against U.S. Energy Realities | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2026/06/beyond-the-hype-assessing-hyperscaler-nuclear-commitments-against-us-energy-realities - Spain’s Nuclear Shutdown Set to Test Renewables Success Story: https://www.energyconnects.com/news/renewables/2025/april/spain-s-nuclear-shutdown-set-to-test-renewables-success-story/ - Every Nuclear-Powered Data Center Deal: Google, Amazon, Meta & Microsoft (2026) | smrintel.com: https://smrintel.com/nuclear-data-center-deals/ - Nuclear power for data centers, explained: every deal tracked: https://www.nuclearnewsnetwork.com/news/nuclear-power-data-centers-explained - Which EU countries could reverse their nuclear energy phaseouts? | Euronews: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/02/09/which-eu-countries-could-reverse-their-nuclear-energy-phaseouts - Nuclear Power in the World Today - World Nuclear Association: https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today - Nuclear energy worldwide 2025 | GRS gGmbH: https://www.grs.de/en/news/nuclear-energy-worldwide-2025 - Nuclear energy worldwide 2026 | GRS gGmbH: https://www.grs.de/en/news/nuclear-energy-worldwide-2026 Tell us what you think and what topic you want next: https://podsalad.com/feedback/?show=geek&ep=2026-11-07&src=notes The hosts and voices are AI-generated. 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