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What’s cooler than being cool?

Unexplainable

28m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

This episode explores how scientists in Helsinki, Finland, and elsewhere are building dilution refrigerators that reach temperatures hundreds of times colder than interstellar space to enable quantum computing and explore fundamental physics. The host and the guest, science journalist Zach Zawicki, explain that while deep space sits at about 2.7 Kelvin due to leftover heat from the Big Bang, these giant, chandelier-like refrigerators can drop down to 0.02 degrees Kelvin. Operating these extreme fridges requires mixing regular helium with helium-3, an extremely rare and expensive isotope primarily sourced from decaying US nuclear warheads or potentially mined from the moon. The episode makes for a fascinating listen by connecting everyday thermodynamics to futuristic quantum mechanics, revealing the unexpected geopolitical and planetary stakes behind the race to achieve absolute zero.

  • Temperature is measured by how fast atoms and molecules move, with absolute zero representing theoretical complete stillness. 5:52
  • Deep space is not absolute zero because it retains about 2.7 Kelvin of leftover heat from the Big Bang. 6:20
  • Dilution refrigerators rely on phase changes between regular helium and the rare isotope helium-3 to reach near absolute zero. 20:24
  • The primary earthly source of helium-3 for scientific research comes from decaying stockpiles of nuclear weapons. 24:03

Chapters

  1. 0:01
    Sonos Sound System Promotion

    The host promotes Sonos, highlighting its ease and sound quality.

  2. 0:37
    TikTok Sponsorship and Curiosity

    The show acknowledges TikTok sponsorship and encourages curiosity-driven exploration.

  3. 1:35
    Coldest Place in the Universe Debate

    Hosts discuss whether space or Helsinki's super refrigerators hold the record for cold.

  4. 3:16
    Introduction to Dilution Refrigerators

    The host explains dilution refrigerators, their design, and their role in achieving ultra‑cold temperatures.

  5. 5:04
    Temperature Fundamentals Explained

    The conversation covers what temperature is, how it relates to molecular motion, and the Kelvin scale.

  6. 7:05
    Quantum Phenomena at Near‑Zero Kelvin

    Scientists explore exotic states like superfluids and superconductivity that emerge at ultra‑cold temperatures.

  7. 9:22
    Quantum Computing Basics

    The hosts break down how quantum computers differ from classical ones, focusing on qubits and superposition.

  8. 21:45
    Helium‑3 Scarcity and Lunar Mining

    The episode examines the rarity of helium‑3, its sourcing from nuclear weapons, and plans to mine it on the Moon.

Highlights

  • 2:00

    Coldest Place on Earthinsight

    The host reveals that depending on the measurement, the coldest place in the universe is located inside super fridges built in Helsinki, Finland, rather than outer space.

  • 4:11

    The Sci-Fi Chandelier Fridgestory

    Science journalist Zach Zawicki describes visiting factories that build dilution refrigerators, which look like giant golden science-fiction chandeliers.

  • 6:17

    Big Bang Residual Heatinsight

    The guest explains that the vacuum of deep space sits at 2.7 Kelvin because of lingering radiation from the birth of the universe.

  • 10:30

    Quantum vs Classical Bitsinsight

    A speaker breaks down how normal computers use switches that are strictly one or zero, whereas quantum computers use qubits governed by shifting probabilities.

  • 22:39

    The Cost of Helium-3data

    The host and guest discuss how a single teaspoon of liquid helium-3 can cost tens of thousands of dollars due to its extreme scarcity on Earth.

  • 24:03

    Nuclear Weapons as Resourcedata

    The episode highlights that scientists obtain most of their helium-3 supply from the Department of Energy by harvesting the byproduct of decaying nuclear warheads.

  • 25:41

    Mining the Moon for Helium-3strategy

    Because earthly reserves are finite and closely guarded military secrets, some private companies are looking into lunar mining expeditions to secure helium-3.

Quotes

  • “The phase change of the sweat going from a liquid to gas, that, that's what cools you down.”
    Unnamed speaker · 19:01
  • “These fridges run on like 150, 200 liters.”
    Unnamed speaker · 23:23
  • Sonos 0:01–0:30
  • TikTok 0:37–1:18
  • Sonos 14:32–16:04
  • TikTok 16:12–17:15
  • AMEX Corporate 17:27–17:53

About this episode

The future of quantum computing depends on getting way colder than ice cold — down to some of the coldest temperatures in the universe. The quest to build these super refrigerators takes us to nuclear bomb stockpiles, the moon, and … Party City? Guest: Zack Savitsky, science journalist, author of Cold Rush To watch this episode on video, find us on Netflix! For show transcripts, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unxtranscripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unexplainable⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And please email us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠We read every email. Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

0:00
28:34

4,631 words · 6 speakers

Topics

  • helium
  • helium 3
  • Moon
  • Finland
  • quantum computer
  • Helsinki
  • Google
  • Science Magazine
  • Department of Energy
  • Microsoft

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated