Is the bird flu the next pandemic?

This winter we’ve seen a severe outbreak of the bird flu, or avian flu. How much should we worry about that? I’ve tried to figure out what’s going on, and, well, let me just say I’ve learned a lot of really scary things that I don’t want to withhold from you. What’s the bird flu? Is it dangerous to humans? And if so, what can we do? That’s what we’ll talk about today.



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D-wave claims quantum advantage, superconductor claim does not reproduce, a skeptical take on e-fuels & more science news from this week

Today we’ll talk about traces of your DNA in the air, a new telescope that will track down gravitational wave sources, a new quantum advantage claim, e-Fuels, a superconductor experiment that failed to replicate, nuclear fusion investments, image reconstruction from surfaces, EU regulations for artificial intelligence, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Why is everyone suddenly neurodivergent?

What exactly is autism? How is it different than Asperger's syndrome? What is internalized ableism and what is neurodiversity? Am I autistic? This is what we'll talk about today.



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Science News May 17

Today we talk about quantum computing, mother trees, diamonds, microscopy with entangled photons, a supernova that we saw 5 times, a telescope made of fluid, better glasses, a new alien search initiative, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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The Origin of Life: How much do we know?

What do we know about the origins of life? From the formation of the solar system to microbes evolving into bipedal mammals with opposable thumbs, today we will look over the four major theories about how life began.



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Science News May 10

Today we talk about Schrödinger’s cat, mind reading with artificial intelligence, a new theory for the origin of life, how many arms the Milky Way has, a design for a new space station, a 3D printed building, 3D ink that conducts electricity, a security system that uses light flashes, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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What's next for AI?

For this video we have looked at what AI applications are currently under development and add some wild speculation about where things will be going in the near future. We want to hear your speculations, too, so let us know in the comments.



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Science News May 3: Wave-like Dark Matter?

Today we talk about wave-like dark matter, wires that learn, the core of planet mars, why quasars ignite, a superconducting highway, fabric that changes shape and colour, chemistry on a quantum computer, the Brazil nut effect, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Is being trans a social fad among teenagers?

Should transgender teens transition? This rather personal question occupies a prominent place in the American culture war. One the one side you have people claiming that it’s a socially contagious fad among the brainwashed woke who want to mutilate your innocent children. On the other side there are those saying that it’s saving the lives of minorities who’ve been forced to stay in the closet for too long. And then there are normal people, like you and I, who think both sides are crazy and could someone please summarise the facts in simple words, which is what I’m here for.



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Science News April 26: This could explain why the sun's corona is so hot

Today we talk about magnetic resonance imaging at record resolution, why the sun’s corona is so hot, nanoscale devices that can be reconfigured, an artificial tree that produces hydrogen from sunlight, a quantum light source on a chip, a sensor for plant health, aliens, quantum standards, and of course the telephone will ring.

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Realistic Expectations for Quantum Computing

Quantum computing has attracted a lot of attention and much of what you read in the headlines is overhyped. But underneath the hype there's real promise. In this video I go through the applications of quantum computing that we can realistically expect -- if they ever get the devices to work...



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Science News April 19: AI Rediscovers Einstein's Time-Dilation, Solar Flares in the Lab, A Strange Star, and More

In this week's science news we talk about artificial intelligence that rediscovered Kepler’s laws, solar flares in the laboratory, nano-surgery with tiny magnets, a candidate for a strange star, what the new JUICE spacecraft will look for, how much air pollution is avoided by nuclear power, a software that creates 3d models from 2d drawings, an estimate for how much rare earth metals the energy transition will need, and of course the telephone will ring.

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We Could Beam Solar Energy Down From Space. But Should We?

Solar power is a nice idea. Except for the issue with the clouds. And the nights. So, how about we instead put solar panels up in space and then beam the energy down? This futuristic idea is known as “Space Based Solar Power”. It’s been around since the 1960s, but in recent years several nations have launched projects to make it reality. I think they’re not kidding. Space-Based Solar Power is about to become a real thing. But how is it supposed to work? Is it a good idea to beam energy down from space? What are the pros and cons? That’s what we’ll talk about today.



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Science News April 12: An Exoplanet with Magnetic Field, A New Isotope of Uranium, Quantum Spectroscopy, And More

Today we’ll talk about magnetic fields on exoplanets, a new isotope of uranium, mysterious chemicals in the atmosphere, spectroscopy with quantum effects, a new way to measure brain activity, a longevity forecast, AI glasses that can read lips, better holograms, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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I think faster than light travel is possible. Here's why.

If you've been following my channel for a really long time, you might remember that some years ago I made a video about whether faster-than-light travel is possible. I was trying to explain why the arguments saying it's impossible are inconclusive and we shouldn't throw out the possibility too quickly, but I'm afraid I didn't make my case very well. This video is a second attempt. Hopefully this time it'll come across more clearly!



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Science News April 5

Today we’ll talk about water on the moon, space skin, quantum light, how crystals grow, mind-controlled robots, blood as fuel, nano-ink, a new projection for population growth, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Addicted to social media -- Is this even possible?

I recently learned there’s a new trend on social media: monk mode. It means cutting out distractions and going into self-isolation to become more productive. It’s supposedly based on science and particularly concerned with avoiding social media, because that’s addictive. But can social media really be addictive? Does the monk mode work? And what’s the science behind it? In this video, we'll sort it out.



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Science News March 29: ATLAS Checks W-Boson Anomaly, New Explanation for 'Oumuamua, Hydrogen Airplane Test Flight & More!

Today we’ll talk a new explanation for the interstellar object Oumuamua, what’s up with the W-boson anomaly, two new institutes founded by NASA, an airplane powered by hydrogen, a gigapixel 3D microscope, vaccinations without the needles, concrete that talks, nano-labels, and of course the telephone will ring.

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Collective Stupidity

When we come together in groups we can be so much more than the sum of the parts. But sometimes groups are just much more stupid. Collective stupidity is the flipside of collective intelligence, and we see it a lot on social media. Why are groups sometimes collectively stupid and sometimes not? What can we do to be more intelligent in groups? In this video I explain the most important points.



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Science News March 22

Today we’ll talk about a new comet, drone deliveries, how the hydrogen economy could actually make global warming worse, a better way to control spin qubits, modular robots that could work on the moon, soft crystals, how to turn a phone into a fluorescent microscope, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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The Race to Nuclear Fustion: Start-up Overview

In this video we survey the biggest and most interesting nuclear fusion startups which want to make nuclear fusion commercially relevant. What are the different approaches, how far along are they, and what are the pros and cons. This video has been in the works for months and it's the longest video we've made so far, almost half an hour, so I hope you have a comfortable seat!



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Science News March 15: What's Up With the New Superconductor Breakthrough?

Today we’ll talk about a potential breakthrough in room temperature superconductivity, new clues about the origin of water on Earth, the best ever model of our geological past, a recent report on academic freedom, an image of the moon taken with a meta-lens, hybrid coral reefs, a new institution dedicated to finding the origin of life in the universe, the first cross-country storage for carbon dioxide, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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I believe chatbots partly understand what they chat about. Let me explain.

I used to think that today's so-called "artificial intelligences" are actually pretty dumb. But I've recently changed my mind. In this video I want to explain why I think that they do understand some of what they do, if not very much. And since I was already freely speculating, I have added some thoughts about how the situation with AIs is going to develop.



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Science News March 8: A new LHC anomaly

Today we’ll talk about a new LHC anomaly, wakefield acceleration, nuclear fusion progress, how to look around corners in augmented reality, the largest magnetic fields we’ve ever seen, engineers who have designed better wood, birds that change their colour, metamaterials that guide robots, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Marijuana: Legalize or not?

In this video we have collected all you need to know about cannabis and marijuana. What are the risks and benefits of marijuana? Is it a good idea to legalize it? We go through the pros and cons.



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Webb finds galaxies too big to exist. Science News March 1

Today we’ll talk about computers made of human brain cells, galaxies that are too big to exist, how the Brits prevented a global chocolate disaster, what the Milky Way’s black hole is having for dinner, how to get radioactive compounds out of water, an impossibly efficient light sensor, better lithium-air batteries, Google’s second milestone on the way to quantum computing, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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An Air Condition for the Planet: How Could It Work?

All power plants create waste heat that contributes to global warming. At the moment, the contribution is fairly small, but if mankind flourishes it is bound to increase and eventually it will become a problem. The only thing we an do about it is to build an air condition for the planet. Scientists have come up with some ideas how to address the problem that I hope you will find entertaining.



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Is Dark Energy Made of Black Holes? Science News Feb 22

Today we’ll talk about whether dark energy is made of black holes, four types of solar systems, exoboots, whether banning short-haul flights makes sense, 3D printing with sound, smart contact lenses, how copper makes fuel, a new method to extract carbon dioxide from seawater, and of course the telephone will ring.

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The Untapped Potential of Geothermal Energy

There is a lot of energy right under our feet, a relic from Earth's hot past as a ball of plasma. But how much can geothermal energy realistically do for us? What technologies are currently being pursued, what are the risks, and is it even carbon neutral? In this video we have collected all the relevant facts and numbers for you.



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Science News Feb 15

Today we’ll talk about a mysterious laser beam over Hawaii, brain scans in court, a link between quantum chips, self-flying airplanes, better sensors for self-driving cars, how to weave a message into your sweater, the durability of solar panels, and of course the telephone will ring.

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What's going wrong in particle physics?

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Science News Feb 8: Germany Wants to Bring Back Direct Current

Today we’ll talk about how to look inside a nuclear reactor with muons, eight new signals that came up in a search for extra-terrestrial intelligence, why Germany wants to bring back direct current, the plausibility of climate goals, what air pollution does to your brain, how to stab a potato with paper, a scalable quantum simulator, a glass sphere that imitates the sun, true stories that are more engaging than false stories, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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How the Greenhouse Effect Really Works

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Science News Feb 1: What's Up With Earth's Core? A Quantum Computer folds a Mini-Protein. NASA's Nuclear Rocket, and More

Today we’ll talk about changes in the Earth’s core, a quantum computer that folds a mini-protein, radioactive water that the Japanese want to dump into the ocean, NASA’s plans for a nuclear rocket and a transonic plane, how to send data without power, recovering signals from noise, light pollution, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Genetic Screening: Risk and Benefits

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Science News Jan 25

Today we’ll talk about advances in room temperature superconductivity, greenwashing and carbon capture, an experiment that sheds light on the mystery of cosmic magnetic fields, a robot arm with a needle, a camera with only one pixel, the supposedly coming age of clean technology, better phone memory, why rats might not have brought the plague after all, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Can the Gulf Stream Collapse?

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The Trouble(s) With Hydrogen

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Science News Jan 18

Today we’ll talk about climate engineering, quantum computers, how to tell a nuclear bomb from TNT, what an atom really looks like, random keys from cosmic rays, who is filing the most patents and on what, climate labels for food, a tractor beam that didn’t quite live up to my expectations. And of course, the telephone will ring.

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Science News Jan 11

In today's episode we will talk about an anomaly in particle physics that disappeared and an anomaly in cosmology that was confirmed. Then we have some amazing footage from the surface of the sun, disks that defeat the second law of thermodynamics, we learn how you can see something without looking at it, talk about a new method of cooling, the demise of science, the technology of 6G, what offshore windfarms do to marine life, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Can Time Really Slow Down?

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