Episodes

  • E9: Mobile Internet and 5G
    Jun 23 2019

    Adam's just finished his exams and is somewhat drained - so it's just the one topic this time from Dan, talking about the history of mobile internet, how 5G works, and what it could allow us to do. Thankfully, Adam can shed some light on the physics of it!

    If you have any questions, queries or complaints contact us at sparksquarks@gmail.com. Also find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sparksquarks/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/SparksQuarks), and now Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sparksquarks/?hl=en)

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    Dan's sources:

    https://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2013/01/21/a-brief-history-of-mobile-data/

    https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/information/cellular-networks-and-technology

    https://www.lifewire.com/1g-vs-2g-vs-2-5g-vs-3g-vs-4g-578681

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_mobile_phone_standards

    https://5g.co.uk/guides/small-cells-hetnets-5g/

    http://www.emfexplained.info/?ID=25916

     

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    Credits:

    "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    "Samba Stings" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • E8: Quantum Nano-Switches and the SABRE engine
    May 11 2019

    After a horrendously long delay (sorry, Dan had audio issues) - we're back! I have a strange sense of déjà vu.

    This episode, Adam is talking about quantum nano-switches that could be used to miniaturise technology, and Dan is talking about how the SABRE rocket engine works.

    If you have any questions, queries or complaints contact us at sparksquarks@gmail.com. Also find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sparksquarks/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/SparksQuarks), and now Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sparksquarks/?hl=en)

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    Adam's sources

    https://phys.org/news/2019-04-atomic-plasmonic-metallic-contact.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasmonic_nanoparticles

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_junction

    https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.6b05676

     

    Dan's sources:

    https://www.explainthatstuff.com/jetengine.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramjet

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scramjet

    https://web.archive.org/web/20110725042437/http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/downloads/Heat%20exchanger%20development%20at%20REL%20IAC%2008%20C4.5.2.pdf

    https://www.reactionengines.co.uk/sabre

    http://das.uwyo.edu/~geerts/cwx/notes/chap06/condensation.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SABRE_(rocket_engine)

     

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    Credits:

    "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    "Samba Stings" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

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    49 mins
  • E7: CO2 Battery and New Hearing Mechanism
    Feb 3 2019

    Our first episode of 2019! We're sorry we took a while, Dan had health issues and Adam was doing exams. But we're back! This episode, Dan's talking about a new type of battery that uses CO2 to produce energy, whilst Adam is talking about a newly discovered hearing mechanism that could create new hearing-aid technology.

    If you have any questions, queries or complaints contact us at sparksquarks@gmail.com. Also find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sparksquarks/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/SparksQuarks), and now Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sparksquarks/?hl=en)

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    Dan's sources:

    Article: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/fuel-cell-based-system-co2/

    Paper: https://www.accessscience.com/content/superionic-conductivity/801340

    Additional paper info: https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S258900421830186X-mmc1.pdf

    Superionic conductivity: https://www.accessscience.com/content/superionic-conductivity/801340

     

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    Adam's sources

    https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.028101

    https://phys.org/news/2019-01-mechanism-ear-exquisite-sensitivity.html

    https://medicalxpress.com/news/2007-10-mit-mechanism.html#nRlv

     

    UPDATES FROM LAST EPISODE: New double-slit experiment using X-ray scattering:

    https://phys.org/news/2019-01-classic-double-slit.html

    AI to create most accurate black hole merger simulation ever:

    https://phys.org/news/2019-01-physicists-supercomputers-ai-accurate-black.html

     

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    Credits:

    "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    "Samba Stings" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

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    47 mins
  • E6: Quantum Entanglement and Electric Jets
    Dec 22 2018

    Our last episode of the year! Thanks so much for joining us during 2018 - we bring you what we think is our best episode yet. Adam talks about quantum entanglement of photons, and Dan talks about a prototype electric jet, hopefully flying soon!

    If you have any questions, queries or complaints contact us at sparksquarks@gmail.com. Also find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sparksquarks/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/SparksQuarks)

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    Dan's sources:

    https://lilium.com/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilium_Jet

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_aircraft

    https://www.arts.eu/journey-through-the-history-of-electric-aircraft

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_E-Fan

    https://aroundtheworld.solarimpulse.com/adventure

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducted_fan

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    Adam's sources

    Main Notes: https://phys.org/news/2018-12-quantum-entanglement-proteins.html

    Styropyro: https://www.youtube.com/user/styropyro

    Simon Raman Spectroscopy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sv1WHgVTrs&t=324s

    Young’s Double slit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-MNSLsjjdo

    Entanglement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tafGL02EUOA

    DCQE Diagram: https://imgur.com/a/JtVkJI6

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    Credits:

    "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    "Samba Stings" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • E5: Bionic Mushrooms and a Massive Change
    Nov 24 2018

    We're back! We're sorry it's been so long - university and moving abroad have stopped us from recording. However, we're now here, and Dan talks about mushrooms that generate electricity, whilst Adam talk about a massive change in a physical definition (pun intended).

    If you have any questions, queries or complaints contact us at sparksquarks@gmail.com. Also find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sparksquarks/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/SparksQuarks)

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    Dan's sources:

    https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a24852429/bionic-mushrooms-electricity/

    http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/11/07/bionic-mushroom-turns-light-into-electricity/

    https://www.stevens.edu/news/bionic-mushrooms-fuse-nanotech-bacteria-and-fungi

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria

    https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a0f6/26ac1656b606f0cd3aa31318ec68d511c7aa.pdf

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    Adam's sources

    https://phys.org/news/2018-11-kilogram-redefined-physicist.html

    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/its-a-massive-change-scientists-redefine-the-kilogram

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    Credits:

    "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    "Samba Stings" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • E4: Medical Maladies, Revolutionary RAM and Biological Batteries
    Sep 15 2018

    We're back! After a hiatus, we return with Episode 4. This week, we're learning about a new method for creating RAM, as well as energy storage from bacteria. 

    If you have any questions, queries or complaints contact us at sparksquarks@gmail.com. Also find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sparksquarks/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/SparksQuarks)

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    Adams sources:

    https://phys.org/news/2018-08-sub-nm-memory-device-nanofabrication.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanolithography

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin-transfer_torque

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetoresistive_random-access_memory

    https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/different-types-ram-random-access-memory/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_cell_(computing)#Storage

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    Dans sources

    https://www.theengineer.co.uk/biobattery-bacteria-iot-sensors/

    https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/175137-sugar-powered-biobattery-has-10-times-the-energy-storage-of-lithium-your-smartphone-might-soon-run-on-enzymes

    https://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-lithium-ion-batteries-work.html

    https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/blood-battery1.htm

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    Credits:

    "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    "Samba Stings" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • E3: New Artwork, GPS & Nano-optics
    Aug 5 2018

    Episode 3 is here! This week we're talking all about how global positioning systems work, as well as delving into some of the interesting new quantum mechanical advancements in silver nanostructures! 

     

    If you have any questions, queries or complaints (or even artwork submissions) contact us at sparksquarks@gmail.com.

     

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    Please be aware that Dan is away from home and so there were a few audio issues with this one, bare with us, we should be back to top quality next time!

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    Simple explanation of GPS: http://www.physics.org/article-questions.asp?id=55

    Explanation of differential GPS and Sattalite Based Augmentation Systems: https://racelogic.support/01VBOX_Automotive/01General_Information/Knowledge_Base/How_does_DGPS_(Differential_GPS)_work%3F

    Explanation of RTK GPS: https://racelogic.support/01VBOX_Automotive/01General_Information/Knowledge_Base/How_does_RTK_(Real_Time_Kinetic)_Work%3F

    Dan will update this with a link to his dissertation if he's allowed to upload it!

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    Nanocrystal light emission: https://phys.org/news/2018-07-nanocrystals-emit-efficiently-tunneling-electrons.html

     

     

    Credits:

    "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    "Samba Stings" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

     

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • E2: Artificial Intelligence and Chocolate Printers
    Jul 21 2018

    We're back! This week, we're talking about advances in Artificial Intelligence for playing games and the science of chocolate printers. In addition, Dan loves musicals, and Adam is good with his hands.

    As ever, comments and suggestions to SparksQuarks@gmail.com.

    Logo this week from Krys from the To Do Discord channel. ********************************************************************* DeepMind article: https://deepmind.com/blog/capture-the-flag/ Technical report on AI playing games: https://arxiv.org/abs/1807.01281 Video on the same subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dltN4MxV1RI&feature=youtu.be 3Blue1Brown video on Neural Networks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aircAruvnKk&feature=youtu.be ********************************************************************* History of ChocEdge (company founded out of Exeter Uni research): http://chocedge.com/news/27/68/2007-2017-10-years-of-3D-chocolate-printing/d,ChocNews_Main.html Cocoa butter crystalline form infographic: http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/04/19/the-polymorphs-of-chocolate/ Chocolate tempering graph: https://plot.ly/~cbplots/0/temperature-vs-time-melting-and-tempering-chocolate.embed Information on tempering chocolate: http://acselementsofchocolate.typepad.com/elements_of_chocolate/TEMPERINGCHOCOLATE.html

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    Credits:

    "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

    "Samba Stings" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

     

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    54 mins