Episodes

  • Are Robot Taxis Safe?
    May 7 2025

    This Waymo document presents safety data comparing the performance of the Waymo Driver autonomous system to human drivers in specific operational areas like Phoenix and San Francisco. It highlights how the Waymo Driver has demonstrated significantly lower crash rates for incidents resulting in airbag deployments, injuries, and police reports when measured in incidents per million miles. The text provides detailed methodology for these comparisons, acknowledging the challenges and limitations in making direct "apples-to-apples" comparisons due to differing data collection methods. Waymo aims for transparency by sharing this data and encouraging further safety research and collaboration within the autonomous driving industry.

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    20 mins
  • Pope Francis is dead. Now what? (Ep. 4)
    Apr 21 2025

    The podcast explains the historical and modern processes of papal elections, commonly known as conclaves. It details the roles of the College of Cardinals, the seclusion of electors, and the voting procedures within the Sistine Chapel. This also covers the announcement of a new pope with Habemus Papam and the smoke symbolizing the election's outcome. Furthermore, it also touches upon the eligibility requirements for becoming pope and the governance of the Church during the sede vacante.

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    20 mins
  • Majorana Fermions: Discovery, Disappearance, and Quantum Computing (Ep. 3)
    Apr 16 2025

    Recent announcements from Microsoft regarding their Majorana 1 quantum processor have generated significant discussion within the scientific community. Based on topological qubits utilizing Majorana Zero Modes, Microsoft published papers and a press release outlining their advancements and a roadmap toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. This news, including the Nature paper's findings and peer review, along with a blueprint on arXiv, details their approach to qubit creation, control, and error correction. However, these claims have been met with skepticism and criticism from many physicists.

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    21 mins
  • Deep Dive: Why Trump's Tariff Policy is Based on Flawed Logic (Ep. 2)
    Apr 15 2025

    Ever wonder how prices of stuff you buy get decided? This episode breaks down why some of Donald Trump's ideas about tariffs (taxes on things from other countries) didn't quite add up. We'll explore the economic arguments and why experts said his approach could hurt the economy.

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    22 mins
  • The American Civil War (Ep. 1)
    Apr 15 2025

    Ever wonder what the Civil War was really about? Join us as we dive into the big battles, cool tech (like the first submarine!), and the brave people who shaped this huge part of American history. Get ready for a Civil War briefing that's easy to understand!

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    17 mins