29 August 2019: Carbon-based computing, and depleting ancient-human genomes
Nature Podcast
podcast@nature.com
4.5 • 893 Ratings
🗓️ 28 August 2019
⏱️ 26 minutes
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Summary
This week, a computer chip based on carbon nanotubes, and the potential pitfalls of sequencing ancient-human remains.
In this episode:
00:45 A nanotube microprocessor
Scientists are looking beyond silicon, by constructing a computer chip using carbon nanotubes.
Research article: Shulaker et al. News and Views: Nanotube computer scaled up
08:38 Research Highlights
Weighing neutrinos, and discovering a hidden Zika epidemic.
Research Highlight: Lightest neutrino is at least 6 million times lighter than an electron; Research Highlight: Cuba’s untold Zika outbreak uncovered
10:29 Using ancient-human remains conscientiously
While genetic sequencing of ancient-human remains is providing more information than ever, these remains must be safeguarded, warn researchers. Comment Article: Use ancient remains more wisely
17:21 News Chat
The discovery of a 3.8-million-year-old hominin skull, and using CRISPR to make ‘smart’ materials.
News: Rare 3.8-million-year-old skull recasts origins of iconic ‘Lucy’ fossil News: CRISPR cuts turn gels into biological watchdogs
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Nature. |
| 0:04.3 | In a experiment, I don't know yet. |
| 0:06.1 | Why is Blight so far? |
| 0:08.0 | Like, it sounds so simple. |
| 0:09.3 | They had no idea. |
| 0:10.7 | But now the data's... |
| 0:12.0 | I find this not only refreshing, but at some level astounding. |
| 0:19.9 | Nature. |
| 0:20.3 | Nature. |
| 0:25.5 | Welcome back to the nature podcast. |
| 0:30.2 | This week we'll be hearing how to make a computer processor from carbon nanotubes and learning about the costs of sequencing ancient genomes. |
| 0:34.4 | I'm Charmany Bandelle. |
| 0:35.5 | And I'm Benjamin Thompson. |
| 0:45.7 | Okay. genomes. I'm Charmany Bundell and I'm Benjamin Thompson. For decades, computers have been built using silicon. But if we want them to continue getting |
| 0:51.9 | smaller and more powerful, soon silicon might not be up to the job. |
| 0:57.1 | So what could replace it? |
| 0:59.1 | Lizzie Gibney's here to check out a material of the future. |
| 1:02.7 | At the heart of a computer is its microprocessor, a chip filled with tiny silicon switches called transistors. |
| 1:10.3 | These create the computers ones and zeros, |
| 1:12.9 | and the smaller and more transistors you have, |
| 1:15.6 | the better the computer's speed and power. |
| 1:18.3 | But if we shrink silicon too far, |
... |
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