Ever wondered how the tiny processors in your phone or laptop are made? It all comes down to an ancient idea—writing on stone—taken to the most extreme level imaginable. Elliot Cheng is a Specialist Engineer in Nanolithography (aka tiny-stone-writing) at the University of Queensland’s Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis. Using electron beams and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lasers, he "prints" some of the smallest patterns in the world. This cutting-edge tech relies on quantum science and underpins the powerful, tiny computers we use every day.Have you ever dreamed of building things atom by atom? Subscribe and share with your friends! Due to audio issues, co-host Jacinta’s voice in this episode is redubbed by Isabella Means.
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29:06
Live - Celebrating quantum Ig Nobility
We present the inaugural, ultimate, and grand final EQUS Ig Nobel Prize!EQUS is coming towards an end, and there's plenty of Type 1 success to celebrate. But that is for another place, because the stories that end up being told and re-told (and re-told) with the most relish are invariably about Type 2 enjoyment. These incidents were not perhaps enjoyable in the moment but have grown to become our favourite anecdotes to share and reminisce about! Would you rather endure wildlife in the lab, a travel cancellation involving "second-hand" accommodation, a smoke-and-mirrors masterclass, biosecurity evasion, or an interstate pronunciation prank?Subscribe to hear more of the best stories about quantum science and the people working on groundbreaking quantum technologies.
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22:03
Roadtripping a quantum skipping rope
This special episode recounts adventures from the 2024 National Quantum and Dark Matter Roadtrip - a science journey of more than 8000km across Australia! The roadtrip has become a significant annual National Science Week event, and this year it drove from Brisbane to Broome across the top of Australia. We visited numerous outback schools to share engaging presentations and hands-on activities, all designed to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. We also hosted pub quizzes and a community market stall! An adventure this big leads to plenty of stories, and we share some of our favourite anecdotes. Can you picture scientists enjoying crocodile-defying swims and alien-infested motel ruins?Has quantum science ever "blown your whole mind", like it did for a student we met in the Northern Territory? Subscribe and share with your friends!
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29:33
Quantum torch
Lasers are everywhere, and David Coutts helps us explore some of the quantum ideas behind these amazing light sources.David is a professor at Macquarie University and has worked with numerous exciting lasers - including some that produce light in Aussie green-and-gold colours. It's fascinating to realise just how widely lasers are used, even if they're often a bit behind the scenes. They can also be quite exciting, with beams able to drill a hole in your eye or even blast rust off metal! David explains how lasers work and various ways they can be built.Have you ever thought about lasers powered by nuclear explosions? Subscribe and share with your friends!
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32:44
Quantum toaster
Karen Livesey talks about the quantum side of hot glowing things, revealing that quantum has been ubiquitous since the dawn of time. Karen is an Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle and has taught many students about how hot things glow in process called "blackbody radiation". Not only is this phenomenon thoroughly quantum, but it was actually one of the things that first led to the development of quantum theories in science. This is the first episode in a season exploring ubiquitous technologies that rely on quantum science, and Karen expertly explains kitchen toasters, sunlight, and even humans ourselves! Do you want to avoid things like the "ultraviolet catastrophe"? Subscribe and share with your friends!
Clear as Quantum is an EQUS podcast about quantum science and the exciting technologies that are getting ready to unleash a quantum revolution. In this “spooky podcast at a distance” we’ll try to dust the cobwebs out of the quantum physics realm that's entangling our lives. Over the course of 10 episodes you’ll hear from some of Australia’s leading quantum scientists, and learn things worth knowing about.
Österreich