Best Xinghui Yin Podcasts (2025)

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Why Syncing Atomic Clocks is Virtually Impossible | Judah Levine on UTC 2:04:26

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9d ago2:04:26

2:04:26

Why is syncing atomic clocks still one of the hardest problems in physics and engineering? In this episode, we speak with Judah Levine—legendary NIST physicist and one of the key architects of modern timekeeping—about the invisible systems that hold the digital world together. Levine explains why synchronizing atomic clocks across the planet is far…

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Can We Predict History Like the Weather? | Peter Turchin on Cliodynamics 1:18:29

1M ago1:18:29

1:18:29

Why do civilizations rise, prosper, and then collapse? Here's what the math tells us. In this episode, we sit down with Peter Turchin, complexity scientist and founder of the field of cliodynamics, which uses data and mathematical models to study the long-term cycles of history. Turchin explains his theory of elite overproduction, how societies gen…

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Why Do Quantum Computers Make So Many Mistakes? | Mikhail Lukin on Quantum Error Correction 1:00:47

2M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

You can’t copy a qubit. So how do quantum computers remember anything? In this episode, we sit down with Mikhail Lukin, Harvard physicist and co-director of the Harvard Quantum Initiative, whose lab is building quantum computers from arrays of individually trapped atoms. Lukin explains the paradox of quantum error correction—how you can safeguard q…

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We Interviewed the Winners of the Ig Nobel Prize | Ig Nobel 2025 1:05:36

2M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

The scientific stories behind this year's research that made people LAUGH, then THINK. Watch the 2025 Ig Nobel Ceremony here: https://youtu.be/z1cP4xKd_L4 In this episode, we bring together three of this year’s Ig Nobel winners whose research spans psychology, food science and human biology. You’ll hear how a team of psychologists devised a counter…

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What Science can Learn from Startups | Adam Marblestone on Focused Research Organizations 1:41:22

2M ago1:41:22

1:41:22

By Misha Shalaginov, Michael Dubrovsky, Xinghui Yin

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What Optical Atomic Clocks Tell Us About Space-Time | Jun Ye 1:52:35

2M ago1:52:35

1:52:35

Times have changed. And cesium clocks can't keep up. In this episode, we sit down with Jun Ye, Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) Fellow and pioneer of optical lattice clocks, whose work has pushed timekeeping far beyond traditional cesium atomic clocks. Ye explains how combining ultra-stable lasers, frequency combs, and ultra-cold …

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Laser Cooling and Quantum Timekeeping | Bill Phillips 2:24:10

3M ago2:24:10

2:24:10

How did cooling atoms with lasers revolutionize our understanding of time? In this episode, we speak with Bill Phillips, Nobel Laureate in Physics, about his groundbreaking work on laser cooling and trapping of atoms: research that not only won him the Nobel Prize but also transformed modern timekeeping and technology. Phillips explains why breakin…

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Inside the Battle for Psychedelic Therapy | Rick Doblin 2:38:02

3M ago2:38:02

2:38:02

What does it take to turn a banned psychedelic into an FDA-approved medicine? Visit MAPS to read about the latest progress is psychedelic research: https://maps.org/ In this episode, we speak with Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), about the decades-long mission to make MDMA-assisted therapy a …

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Biology's Biggest Chicken and Egg Problem | Jacob Fine 1:31:04

4M ago1:31:04

1:31:04

Life’s First Blueprint Wasn’t DNA; it was RNA. Read Jacob Fine’s latest publication here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022283625001901 Today we spoke with Jacob Fine, graduate student researcher in Computational Biology from the University of Toronto. We explore the physics of replication, the role of entropy and information …

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The Final Interview with MIT Physicist Keith Johnson 2:15:37

4M ago2:15:37

2:15:37

One of Keith Johnson’s final interviews: a brilliant mind on dark matter, water, and fusion. Read about Keith’s legacy here: https://news.mit.edu/2025/keith-johnson-materials-scientist-independent-filmmaker-dies-0723 This episode is one of the final recorded conversations with MIT physicist Keith Johnson, who passed away just weeks after our interv…

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How We Build Telescopes to Explore the Early Cosmos | Brian Keating 1:43:30

4M ago1:43:30

1:43:30

Did the Big Bang really happen? Telescopes, dark matter & cosmic origins explored. Join cosmologist Brian Keating as we explore the mysteries of the universe, from building telescopes at the South Pole to measuring the polarization of the cosmic microwave background and chasing signs of gravitational waves. We discuss Galileo’s influence, cosmic in…

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Quantum Complexity: Scott Aaronson on P vs NP and the Future 2:01:49

5M ago2:01:49

2:01:49

In this episode of the 632nm podcast, Scott Aaronson shares his early fascination with calculus at age 11 and how “rediscovering” old mathematics led him toward groundbreaking work in complexity theory. He gives a lucid explanation of P vs NP, revealing how seemingly trivial questions about verifying solutions speak to some of the deepest unsolved …

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Science Memes, Epigenetic Inheritance, and Rethinking Peer Review 1:33:09

5M ago1:33:09

1:33:09

In this episode of the 632nm podcast, we explore cutting-edge ideas in epigenetics and academic publishing. Oded Rechavi reveals how C. elegans worms defy conventional genetics by passing on traits through small RNAs, and discusses how these mechanisms might reshape our understanding of heredity. We also hear about a remarkable experiment hijacking…

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Quantum Diamond Sensing: The Surprising Power of NV Centers 2:21:20

6M ago2:21:20

2:21:20

In this episode of the 632nm podcast, we explore how diamond-based nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers went from being a curiosity in gemstone physics to a transformative tool for precision magnetometry. You’ll hear how these tiny defects enable room-temperature quantum sensing, providing ultra-high spatial resolution and remarkable resilience in extreme…

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Origin of Life, Thermodynamics, and God: Jeremy England 2:19:27

7M ago2:19:27

2:19:27

In this episode, Jeremy England reframes the origin of life debate by applying non-equilibrium physics, challenging the notion that life’s emergence must be purely biological or chemical. He describes how matter can “learn” from its environment, drawing on examples from spin glasses, protein folding, and resonating mechanical systems. England also …

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Flux Grant by 1517 Fund: Backing Garage Science and Sci-Fi Tech 47:01

7M ago47:01

47:01

In this episode of the 632nm podcast, we sit down with 1517 Fund’s Danielle Strachman and Michael Gibson to explore their Flux program, a unique pre-seed fellowship backing wild, unorthodox scientific and technical ideas. They share how they’ve helped founders transform “garage science” projects—like nuclear batteries, quantum computing prototypes,…

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Trapped Ion Quantum Computing: Christopher Monroe of IonQ 2:25:12

7M ago2:25:12

2:25:12

In this episode of the 632nm podcast, our guest traces the evolution from the early days of Bose-Einstein condensation experiments to pioneering trapped ion quantum gateways. He reveals how breakthroughs in laser cooling and atomic clock research unexpectedly paved the way for the first quantum logic gates, beating out the BEC community at a pivota…

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Maintaining Moore's Law: Lithography, Semiconductors, and Chip Fabrication with Mordechai Rothschild 2:07:52

8M ago2:07:52

2:07:52

In this episode of the 632nm podcast, we explore how 193nm lasers unexpectedly overtook x-ray approaches and reshaped semiconductor manufacturing. Physicist Mordechai Rothschild describes the breakthroughs that turned a once “impossible” technology into the mainstay of chip fabrication, including the discovery of specialized lenses, the invention o…

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Quantum Cascade Lasers: Federico Capasso on Curiosity and Bell Labs 1:32:38

8M ago1:32:38

1:32:38

In this episode, physicist Federico Capasso recounts his winding path from struggling undergrad to pioneering inventor of the quantum cascade laser. He reveals how openness, daring ideas, and the bottom-up ethos at Bell Labs led to breakthroughs that redefined semiconductor research. Capasso also discusses the blurred lines between basic and applie…

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How Edison Inspired Eli Yablonovitch to Create Four World-Changing Inventions 3:00:34

9M ago3:00:34

3:00:34

Eli Yablonovitch shares how Thomas Edison's approach of requiring "a thousand failed discoveries for every one that works" shaped his scientific philosophy. From solar cells to semiconductor lasers to photonic crystals to cell phone antennas, Yablonovitch reveals how each invention evolved from identifying fundamental physics concepts that others o…

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From Failed PhD to Nobel Prize | John Mather’s Journey to Revolutionize Astronomy 1:53:34

9M ago1:53:34

1:53:34

Join the 632nm team as we sit down with Nobel laureate Dr. John Mather. From his childhood days of building radios and telescopes to leading NASA's groundbreaking COBE mission, learn how a spectacular failure during his PhD research unexpectedly paved the way for his Nobel Prize-winning work. And hear the story of how NASA took a chance on a 28-yea…

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Hunting for Alien Artifacts | Avi Loeb 3:37:27

10M ago3:37:27

3:37:27

Join the 632nm team as we sit down with Harvard Professor Avi Loeb, in this fascinating exploration of astronomy, alien life, and the intersection of science and politics. From discussing the mysterious interstellar object that changed astronomy to explaining why Mars might not be the best destination for human colonization, Loeb challenges convent…

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Are We Doomed? | Dan Aronovich on Norbert Wiener's 1948 “Cybernetics” 58:34

10M ago58:34

58:34

In this episode, the 632nm team sits down with Dan Aronovich (Data Science Decoded Podcast) to explore predictions about technology and society, starting with MIT pioneer Norbert Wiener's remarkably prescient warnings about AI from 1948. His concerns about artificial systems misinterpreting human instructions mirror modern discussions about AI alig…

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Information, Entropy & Reality | MIT Professor Seth Lloyd on Quantum Computing 2:03:02

10M ago2:03:02

2:03:02

The 632nm team sat down with MIT professor Seth Lloyd for a mind-bending journey through quantum mechanics, information theory, and the early days of quantum computing. Lloyd shares fascinating stories from his pioneering work in quantum information, including how he nearly got expelled from his PhD program for pursuing what was then considered a "…

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From Medieval Glass to Nobel Prize | Moungi Bawendi on Mastering Quantum Dots 1:31:15

10M ago1:31:15

1:31:15

In this episode, the 632 team interviewed Nobel laureate Moungi Bawendi, revealing his serendipitous journey to the discovery and development of quantum dots. From a summer internship at Bell Labs to an expired bottle of chemicals that contained the perfect mixture, Bawendi shares how some of chemistry's biggest breakthroughs came from unexpected p…

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How a Vision Disorder Led to Shocking Brain Science Discoveries | Mark Bear on Neuroplasticity 1:35:36

11M ago1:35:36

1:35:36

In this captivating episode, we explore how Mark Bear's personal experience with congenital nystagmus sparked a revolutionary career in neuroscience. Mark shares his remarkable journey from struggling with a visual impairment to making groundbreaking discoveries about how the brain processes visual information, including the identification of a pre…

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The Current Reality of Quantum Computing | Yudong Cao on Deploying Quantum for Real-Life Problems 1:52:41

11M ago1:52:41

1:52:41

In this eye-opening episode, former Zapata Computing CEO Yudong Chen reveals the sobering truth about quantum computing's potential impact on drug discovery and the industry's inflated market expectations. Chen explains why even with perfect quantum chemistry calculations, the business case for quantum computing in pharmaceuticals falls dramaticall…

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From Failed Project to 40 Million Eye Scans: David Huang on the Birth of OCT 1:29:04

11M ago1:29:04

1:29:04

Dr. David Huang shares the remarkable journey of how a failed laser surgery project during his MD-PhD studies at MIT led to the invention of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), now used in over 40 million eye procedures annually. The story includes a pivotal moment when Professor James Fujimoto volunteered as the first human subject for OCT testing…

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Origins of Life | Anna Wang on Artificial Cells and Nano-Robots 1:15:59

11M ago1:15:59

1:15:59

Origins of life researcher Anna Wang takes us on a fascinating journey through the latest theories about how life began, revealing why Darwin's "warm little ponds" are making a comeback and how ocean spray droplets may have served as nature's first test tubes. She explains why early cell membranes were more like soap bubbles - fragile and leaky - a…

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The Future of Fusion | Dennis Whyte on Nuclear Fusion and MIT Plasma Science 2:51:01

12M ago2:51:01

2:51:01

MIT Professor Dennis Whyte's path to becoming a fusion energy pioneer began with an unlikely source - a Ripley's Believe It or Not comic strip he read as a teenager in rural Saskatchewan. The comic described how a bottle of water could theoretically contain the energy equivalent of 100 barrels of oil through fusion, sparking a lifelong fascination …

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Origins of Life | Jack Szostak on Basement Experiments to Nobel Prize-Winning Discoveries 1:26:07

12M ago1:26:07

1:26:07

Nobel laureate Jack Szostak takes us on a fascinating journey through his remarkable scientific career, from conducting dangerous chemistry experiments in his basement as a curious child to making groundbreaking discoveries about telomeres that would earn him the Nobel Prize. He reveals how a forgotten DNA sample in his freezer led to fundamental i…

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The God Particle | Christoph Paus on Higgs Boson, CERN, and CMS 1:42:29

12M ago1:42:29

1:42:29

Professor Christoph Paus, a key figure in the discovery of the Higgs Boson at CERN's Large Hadron Collider, discusses his journey in high-energy physics, the challenges of leading large international collaborations, and the future of particle physics. As one of the co-conveners of the CMS Higgs physics group during the historic discovery, Paus prov…

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Cold Atoms: Mikhail Lukin on Quantum Optics and Neutral Atom Computing 50:30

1y ago50:30

50:30

In this episode, Harvard Professor Mikhail Lukin discusses his pioneering work in quantum computing using neutral atoms. He shares the journey from his early work in quantum optics and electromagnetically induced transparency to developing programmable quantum processors using arrays of individually trapped atoms. Lukin explains key breakthroughs i…

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Einstein Was Wrong: John Clauser on Bell's Theorem and the Nature of Reality 2:09:52

1y ago2:09:52

2:09:52

In this episode, we sit down with Nobel laureate John Clauser to discuss his experiments from the early 1960’s, testing Bell's inequalities and quantum entanglement. Clauser shares the story of how, as a graduate student, he proposed testing quantum mechanics against Einstein's local realism - an idea that most prominent physicists, including Richa…

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The Science of Drug Discovery: Insights from Artem Evdokimov 2:50:28

1y ago2:50:28

2:50:28

In this episode, drug discovery scientist Artem Evdokimov discusses the science of pharmaceutical development, from historical breakthroughs to the current landscape. He shares insights on antibiotics resistance, the obesity drug Ozempic, and technical details of drug screening methods like DNA-encoded libraries. The conversation covers the economi…

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Optical Metatronics: Nader Engheta on Electromagnetics and Scientific Curiosity 1:54:48

1y ago1:54:48

1:54:48

In this episode of the 632nm podcast, Nader Engheta shares his journey and experiences within the field of electromagnetics, from his early days at the University of Tehran and Caltech, to his current research in optical metatronics and nonlinear dynamics. He discusses the importance of motivation and curiosity in scientific research, the potential…

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Quantum Computing: Peter Zoller and Ignacio Cirac on the Quantum Revolution 1:16:30

1y ago1:16:30

1:16:30

In this episode of the 632-nanometer podcast, we explore the evolution of quantum computing with theoretical physicists and experimentalists Peter Zoller and Ignacio Cirac, two pioneers in the field. They recount their personal journeys and discuss key breakthroughs in the development of trapped ion quantum computing. What are the fundamental chall…

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Gravitational Waves: Rainer Weiss (Nobel Prize 2017) on Laser Interferometer Observation 1:21:56

1y ago1:21:56

1:21:56

In 1916, Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves, however, it took almost a century for researchers to detect them. In this episode of the 632-nanometer podcast, the team has a fireside chat with Rainer Weiss, the man behind the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics for the obse…

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Synthetic Biology: George Church on Genome Sequencing and De-Extinction 1:10:39

1y ago1:10:39

1:10:39

The great George Church takes us through the revolutionary journey of DNA sequencing from his early groundbreaking work to the latest advancements. He discusses the evolution of sequencing methods, including molecular multiplexing, and their implications for understanding and combating aging. We talk about the rise of biotech startups, potential fu…