Nanotube computer says hello
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 570 Ratings
🗓️ 31 August 2019
⏱️ 64 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A computer processor made of carbon nanotubes is unveiled to the world. Also, the continuing quest for nuclear fusion energy, and the stats on crocodile attacks since the 1960s.
Satellites have transformed our lives, giving us digital communications, navigation and observations of Earth, and even an artificial place to live above the atmosphere: The International Space Station. But, would more of these satellites and stations help us get back to the Moon, as well as further into the solar system? What else would astronauts need for living beyond Earth? We ask the engineers working on the possibilities – from communications satellites that could transform lunar missions to a brand new moon-orbiting space station: The Lunar Gateway.
These technologies could help humans get back to the Moon, and perhaps one day to Mars, for hopefully reduced costs – but funding missions beyond our planet still isn’t going to be cheap. Why might we need deep space-based infrastructure, and how could it help humanity back here on Earth?
(Photo: The world's first 16 bit microprocessor made of carbon nanotubes. Credit: Max Shulaker)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | In 2019, we began investigating the disappearance of Dr. Ruzha Ignatva. |
| 0:08.0 | I believe we are a very special network. |
| 0:10.0 | A scammer who stole billions from investors around the world. |
| 0:15.0 | She's on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. |
| 0:18.0 | And now, we have some unmissable updates. |
| 0:21.7 | She has money and when you have money you have power. |
| 0:24.6 | Join me, Jamie Bartlett, as the hunt for the missing crypto queen continues. |
| 0:29.5 | Listen first on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:32.5 | Ignition sequence starts. |
| 0:35.1 | Six, five, four, three, two, one, zero. |
| 0:41.9 | All engine running. |
| 0:43.8 | It's liftoff for the science hour from the BBC World Service with me, Capcom, Roland P's. |
| 0:49.9 | And in half an hour, the crowd science team are wondering what's to follow the |
| 0:53.2 | International Space Station, soon to reach its 21st birthday and apparently still doing good. That's a life-size model of the Columbus Laboratory. We can go and have a look inside it. You can come and have it. Come see what it's like inside the space station. So this is a space lab. The point of the International Space Station is to do science. That's why we're |
| 1:11.3 | there. It's this unique environment. Crowd science launches in half an hour. Before that, |
| 1:16.6 | on science and action, we may have seen the launch of the age of nanotechnology. After years of |
| 1:22.2 | promises, a nanocputer chip made with molecular scale components, but which works just like the processor in |
| 1:28.6 | your laptop, and that's not all. |
| 1:30.6 | A key aspect of this computer is that it really was designed and built just like any |
| 1:36.2 | computer chip would be today. |
| 1:38.2 | And you can use the exact same equipment, the exact same manufacturing facilities to build |
| 1:42.5 | these carbon nanotubes shifts |
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