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Brains On! Science podcast for kids

How do computers store so much info in such a tiny space?

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Lemonada Media

Kids & Family, Education For Kids

4.514.7K Ratings

🗓️ 25 May 2021

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If you translate “Hello! How are you?” to binary code, it looks like this: 01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00100001 00100000 01001000 01101111 01110111 00100000 01100001 01110010 01100101 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00111111 This episode takes a look at how computers can do so much with such tiny parts. But computers weren't always small -- so we take a look at where computers came from. We visit Ada Lovelace, whose love of math and weaving paved the way for modern-day computers. And we hear about the material that let computers shrink from the size of a room to something that fits in our pockets. There’s also a visit from a yak and a ram, but you’re just going to have to listen to find out why. All that plus a new Mystery Sound and Moment of Um that answers the question: what is the flavor of root beer? This episode is sponsored by Mathnasium (Mathnasium.com) and Sun Basket (sunbasket.com promo code: brains on) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

You're listening to Brainzon, where we're serious about being curious.

0:04.6

Brainzon is supported on part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

0:10.7

Hmm.

0:12.7

Um, Bob, what's going on here?

0:18.4

Well, I was playing my favorite computer game.

0:22.6

You know the one where all the characters are fluffs of cotton candy and everything is

0:28.2

slowed down ten times.

0:31.2

So it's kind of just like watching clouds?

0:34.0

Oh, oh yeah.

0:35.1

It's still up on your screen.

0:37.7

Is it still happening or did your screen freeze?

0:40.8

Honestly, it's kind of hard to tell with that game.

0:43.5

No, my screen is frozen.

0:46.1

I was on the very last level and I can't tell if my progress got saved.

0:52.6

So now you're switching the lights on and off over and over?

0:55.8

Well, I heard computers communicate in signals that are on or off.

1:03.7

Binary, I think it's called.

1:05.8

I'm trying to tell it to save.

1:08.6

Hmm.

1:09.6

Doesn't seem like it worked yet.

1:11.5

How about if we help?

1:12.8

Yes.

...

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