[Series Premiere] Founder Ian Brooke gives his first public interview to talk about Astro Mechanica, a new startup building electric-adaptive jet engines. And, possibly, the world’s fastest plane. And the cheapest way to orbit. (It’s an ambitious startup idea.)
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(00:00) - Intro (01:27) - What Astro Mechanica is Building (05:50) - Jets vs. Rockets (12:07) - How to Generate Thrust (15:07) - Engineering Challenges for Traditional Turbofans (17:07) - The New Paradigm: Electric Adaptive Jets (24:23) - Specific Impulse and Efficiency (32:07) - Ramjet vs. Scramjet (38:12) - Staging Considerations (42:25) - Fastest Plane Ever Flown: SR-71 Blackbird and its Challenges (44:07) - Transitioning from Ramjet to Rocket (47:27) - Building the Next Boeing (53:07) - Everyone Gets a Private Jet (56:07) - Why Start with Space Launch? (1:06:07) - Where You Go From There (1:10:07) - Why Everyone Loves Toyotas (1:16:12) - The Supersonic Jet Engine Next Door (1:19:57) - Starting the Company (1:23:07) - What’s Next? (1:27:37) - How Do You Do What You’re Doing? (1:31:07) - hiring@astromecha.co
[Series Premiere] Founder Ian Brooke gives his first public interview to talk about Astro Mechanica, a new startup building electric-adaptive jet engines. And, possibly, the world’s fastest plane. And the cheapest way to orbit. (It’s an ambitious startup idea.)
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(00:00) - Intro (01:27) - What Astro Mechanica is Building (05:50) - Jets vs. Rockets (12:07) - How to Generate Thrust (15:07) - Engineering Challenges for Traditional Turbofans (17:07) - The New Paradigm: Electric Adaptive Jets (24:23) - Specific Impulse and Efficiency (32:07) - Ramjet vs. Scramjet (38:12) - Staging Considerations (42:25) - Fastest Plane Ever Flown: SR-71 Blackbird and its Challenges (44:07) - Transitioning from Ramjet to Rocket (47:27) - Building the Next Boeing (53:07) - Everyone Gets a Private Jet (56:07) - Why Start with Space Launch? (1:06:07) - Where You Go From There (1:10:07) - Why Everyone Loves Toyotas (1:16:12) - The Supersonic Jet Engine Next Door (1:19:57) - Starting the Company (1:23:07) - What’s Next? (1:27:37) - How Do You Do What You’re Doing? (1:31:07) - hiring@astromecha.co
Production and marketing by The Deep View ( thedeepview.co ). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsBrain-Controlled Bionic ArmFirst Principles2024-10-04 | Live demo.The Future of Prosthetics is Here | Tyler Hayes, AtomLimbsFirst Principles2024-10-02 | AtomLimbs is building the world's highest-performance myoelectric bionic arm.
Their new V2 arm is amazing: each finger has its own set of tiny actuators, so you can do basically any normal gesture or grip.
And you can train it in seconds. As we demo here.
This is my convo with AtomLimbs CEO Tyler Hayes about the past, present and future of prosthetic tech
Timestamps 00:00 — Demo! 02:45 — Modern prosthetics 06:14 — Making it comfortable 12:30 — The first principles of arm design 16:16 — Design decisions: myoelectric sensors & cuff 26:13 — Design decisions: in-finger actuators 34:36 — How to train the arm 39:00 — Choosing peripheral vs. invasive sensors 46:04 — Machine learning 48:40 — Production and testing progress 51:46 — Regulatory approval 55:00 — Future productsHow to Build Cheap Military DronesFirst Principles2024-09-29 | Buy cheap sensors, use machine learning.How Do Military Drones Fly Without GPS? | Ian Laffey, TheseusFirst Principles2024-09-25 | The Theseus founders met at the El Segundo hackathon, got into Y Combinator two weeks later, and flew their first GPS-denied drone navigation prototype two weeks after that. Today, just 7 months later, they've completed long-distance tests on base with American special forces.
I got to sit down with Ian Laffey, Theseus CTO, to ask a bunch of technical questions about how the product works. (And he only had to tell me "sorry, that's a secret" one time.)
I hope you enjoy the convo!
Timestamps 00:00 — What is Theseus? 00:37 — What role does GPS play in modern conflict? 04:27 — What are the state of the art drones, and where did Theseus start? 07:35 — How did the company get started so quickly? 16:32 — How does GPS-denied drone navigation work? 21:56 — How can you defeat countermeasures & make the product resilient? ("If I say anything, my co-founders will kill me.") 24:11 — Why visual spectrum and not other sensors? 30:20 — Why is hardware so hard? 32:32 — How can you iterate quickly when building hardware? 38:21 — What's it like to build a hardware company as part of Y Combinator? 41:11 — What will Theseus demo before demo day? 42:27 — How do you move fast as a defense company? 47:30 — How well does the current prototype perform? 51:39 — What's next?A Robot for Your Home?First Principles2024-09-11 | Coming soon.The Worlds Safest Humanoid Robots | Eric Jang, 1X TechnologiesFirst Principles2024-09-02 | 1X Technologies is building the world's safest autonomous, humanoid robots. And they want to start selling robots into consumer homes next year.
How do you make a robot safe for humans? The answer is complicated — so I went to 1X HQ in Sunnyvale, CA to find out.The Manhattan Project for DronesFirst Principles2024-09-01 | In TennesseeThe Worlds Quietest DroneFirst Principles2024-08-31 | How it worksThe Worlds Quietest Electric Engine | Ian Villa, Whisper AeroFirst Principles2024-08-29 | Season 2, Episode 2: Ian Villa, Whisper Aero
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Links: Whisper Aero — https://www.whisper.aero/
People: Ian Villa — https://x.com/ian__villa Christian Keil — https://x.com/pronounced_kyleWhen AGI arrives, will you trust it?First Principles2024-08-08 | ...How To Build a 1-Terawatt, 600,000 Amp Pulsed Power Generator | JC Btaiche, Fuse EnergyFirst Principles2024-08-07 | Season 2, Episode 1: JC Btaiche, Fuse Energy
People: JC Btaiche — https://x.com/JCBtaiche10 Christian Keil — https://x.com/pronounced_kyleBryan Johnson: Why dont die is a modern religionFirst Principles2024-06-19 | Today’s episode is brought to you by Strata. Modernize your IAM with Identity Orchestration. Visit strata.io/firstprinciples to learn more!
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Episode 15: Bryan Johnson spends $2m/year to not die. But this is more than just a health craze — it’s the birth of a new, secular religious movement. Here’s what Bryan believes.
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(00:00) - Introduction (01:13) - Zeroth Principles Thinking: Going Beyond First Principles (04:05) - The Journey to "Don't Die": Bryan's Thought Experiments and Realizations (07:28) - Is "Don't Die" a Religion? Examining the Parallels (10:40) - Bryan's Roles in "Don't Die": Philosopher, Embodiment, Message Bearer (13:05) - Sponsor Break (14:08) - Quantifying Death: Introducing "Die Scores" for Behaviors and Choices (17:03) - What is Death and What is Aging? A First Principles Perspective (19:40) - Measuring Biological Age: Organ by Organ Analysis of Bryan's Body (23:48) - The Penis as a Marker of Overall Health and Vitality (26:33) - Epigenetic Clocks and the Pace of Aging Calculated Tests (30:18) - Bryan's Experience with Follistatin Gene Therapy (32:25) - Kernel: Building a Mass Market Brain Interface with Time-Domain FNIRS (36:48) - The Power Law Interventions: Identifying the Most Effective Longevity Levers (39:22) - Assembling a Team of Scientific Misfits to Tackle Aging (41:05) - Dreaming Up Ideas: Bryan's Nocturnal Creativity (42:15) - Telomeres and the Risks of Telomerase Gene Therapy (44:38) - Reflections on the Challenges of Commercializing Deep Tech (46:29) - Conclusion: Banding Together to Build an Amazing Future
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsThe Universe is Quantum Mechanical | César Rodríguez, Commutator StudiosFirst Principles2024-06-13 | Today’s episode is brought to you by Coda.
If you want a platform that empowers your team to collaborate effectively and focus on shared goals, you can get started with Coda today for FREE. Head over to coda.io/fp
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Episode 14: César Rodríguez has dedicated his career to quantum computing. Why? Because it has incredible potential, and harnesses the underlying quantum-mechanical nature of the Universe.
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(00:00) - Introduction: Meeting a Quantum Computing Visionary (02:45) - Quantum Computing 101: Harnessing the Weird World of Quantum Mechanics (06:00) - The No-Cloning Theorem: Why Quantum Information is So Fragile (08:50) - Schrödinger's Universe: Bridging the Quantum-Classical Divide (12:17) - Sponsor Break: Keeping Your Data Secure in a Quantum World (13:18) - Quantum Gates and Algorithms: Building Blocks of a Quantum Revolution (17:36) - The Race for Quantum Supremacy: Milestone or Mirage? (21:25) - Physical vs Logical Qubits: Quality, Quantity, and Qubit Scaling (23:12) - Fighting Decoherence: The Art of Quantum Error Correction (27:00) - Pulse-Level Tactics: Error Mitigation on the Frontlines (30:02) - Computator's Secret Weapon: Outwitting Emergent Algorithmic Errors (36:03) - Quantum Error Management: A Multi-Pronged, Collaborative Approach (38:11) - Beyond Bits: The Pros and Cons of Probabilistic Computing (41:08) - Why Quantum Matters: Cesar's Case for the Next Computing Revolution (43:40) - Riding the Hype Cycle: Navigating Quantum Winters and Summers (46:15) - The Quantum Computing Menagerie: Atoms, Ions, and Superconductors (49:33) - Scaling the Quantum Heights: Engineering Challenges and Triumphs (54:15) - Killer Apps: From Quantum Search and Factoring to Exotic Chemistry (59:02) - Quantum Now: A Global Snapshot of the Current Computing Landscape (1:03:40) - Quantum Leap: Visions of a World Transformed by Quantum Computers (1:09:40) - Quantum Development, Reimagined: New Paradigms, Tools, and Workflows (1:12:40) - Conclusion: Cesar's Call to Join the Quantum Revolution
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsWill Hydrogen Fuel Power the Future? | Simon Pickup, TeraltaFirst Principles2024-06-05 | Today’s episode is brought to you by Strata.
Episode 13: The most abundant element in the universe also has the highest energy content of any common fuel by mass. Teralta helps industrial buyers get hydrogen when and where they need it.
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(00:00) - Introduction (01:08) - What Teralta Does: Making Hydrogen Simple for Industrial Customers (03:10) - Why Simon Became Passionate About Hydrogen's Potential (04:42) - What is Hydrogen and How is it Produced Today? (06:50) - The Difference Between Clean and Dirty Hydrogen Production Methods (09:38) - Hydrogen's Volumetric Density Challenge and Storage Methods (11:57) - The Mental Model for When to Use Hydrogen vs Alternatives (14:36) - Transportation Use Cases: Hydrogen Unlikely to Beat Batteries for Cars (16:40) - Using Hydrogen for Synthetic Fuels to Enable Faster Decarbonization (20:02) - Financing Hydrogen Projects: The Importance of Offtake Agreements (23:37) - The Challenge of Lining Up All the Pieces for Hydrogen Project FID (25:30) - Only 4% of Announced Hydrogen Projects Reach Final Investment Decision (27:50) - Other Major Hydrogen Applications: Chemicals, Heating, Transportation (29:27) - Common Misconceptions About Hydrogen: Hindenburg, Water, Free Energy (32:50) - Example Project: Delivering Pure Hydrogen to a Pulp Mill via Pipeline (35:08) - Technologies to Accelerate Hydrogen Adoption: Storage and Grid Capacity (37:04) - Why Now is a Unique Moment for Hydrogen to Finally Take Off (39:58) - The Hydrogen Rainbow: Moving Beyond Color Labels to Carbon Intensity (42:11) - How Policy Support like the Inflation Reduction Act Changes the Game (44:38) - Hydrogen Use in Ammonia Production and Its Importance for Agriculture (46:24) - The Hydrogen Ladder: Ranking Applications by Substitution Potential (48:35) - Teralta's Focus on Vertically Integrating to Speed Up Project Delivery (51:08) - The Existence of an Actual Hydrogen Council of Industry Players (53:12) - Conclusion: Supply and Demand Factors Finally Aligning for Hydroge
Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Brought to you by NordVPN
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Episode 12: Discovering new materials is how we unlock new branches of the tech tree. But there is no way for the world’s most powerful AI tools to help us do that discovery – until now.
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(00:00) - Intro (01:08) - GenMat's Goal: Building an AI System Smarter Than Humans at Physics (02:17) - Why It's Hard for AI to Understand Physics Like Humans Do (05:39) - How GenMat Models Atomic Level Activity to Optimize Materials (09:35) - The Trial and Error Process of Traditional Materials Discovery (11:28) - Materials Science 101: What Makes a Material and Its Key Properties (15:00) - Perovskites: A Promising and Complex Material Family (17:37) - How GenMat Helps Labs Discover and Optimize New Materials (19:43) - The Challenges of Data, Representations and Feedback in Physics AI (23:18) - Why GenMat Chose a Broad vs Narrow Focus Across Materials Domains (25:32) - Expanding Into Geophysics to Find Critical Materials Using Satellites (28:48) - The Experience of Launching GenMat's First Satellite with SpaceX (30:58) - Overlap Between GenMat's Materials and Geophysics AI Models (32:42) - GenMat's Progress: Team Size, Funding, Patents, Customers, Results (35:46) - The Future 'Yug-Cyberia' Civilization Enabled by Advanced Physics AI (38:54) - How Materials Breakthroughs Can Accelerate Mars and Space Exploration (42:10) - The Difficulty of Communicating Complex Technical Work to Others (44:48) - Breaking Down GenMat's AI Techniques: CDVAEs Explained (48:55) - Why GenMat Uses Classical Deep Learning vs Quantum Computing Today (51:37) - The Origins of GenMat: From Quantum Deep Learning to Classical AI (54:02) - How GenMat Gets People Excited About the Potential of Materials (56:11) - Rapid Fire Questions: Focus vs Breadth, Challenges, Surprises (59:40) - Mapping Out a Future with Intelligent Matter and Interstellar Travel (01:03:50) - The Meaning and Origins of the Term 'Yug-Cyberia' (01:05:15) - Conclusion: Advanced Physics AI Can Get Us to Mars and Beyond
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Links: Christian Keil – twitter.com/pronounced_kyle Deep Prasad - https://x.com/Deepneuron GenMat - https://www.genmat.xyz/
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Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsThese Factories Build 200 Homes Per Year... Each | CubyFirst Principles2024-05-23 | Today’s episode is brought to you by Strata. Elevate your enterprise identity with Strata today. Go to strata.io/firstprinciples to learn more!
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Episode 11: Cuby is creating the Factory that builds the Homes. These factories can generate 200 homes per year.
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(00:00) - Intro (00:28) - Cuby is Building the Factory That Builds Homes (02:11) - Cuby Builds Better Tools for Home Builders (04:39) - How Cuby's Mobile Micro Factories Enable Home Building with Less Skilled Labor (07:06) - The Performance and Cost Advantages of Cuby's Approach (09:54) - Who Normally Builds Homes - Developers, General Contractors, Subcontractors (13:02) - How Cuby Replaces Skilled Labor with Unskilled Labor (16:19) - Cuby's 3-Tiered Master Plan - From White Label Factories to an Iconic Brand (19:56) - The Challenges of Explaining Cuby's Full Stack Approach (21:14) - People - Who Works at Cuby's Job Sites vs. Traditional Construction (25:48) - Process - Enabling Home Customization Within a Standardized System (29:07) - How Software Guides Workers Through Simple, Repeatable Operations (32:15) - Dynamically Generating Instructions and Tasks Based on the Home Design (35:44) - Push vs. Pull and Just-in-Time Manufacturing Across Many Simultaneous Homes (38:39) - The Advantages of Localized Manufacturing and Familiar Materials (40:52) - Designing the Ideal Factory Process and Iterating Based on Real World Learnings (44:28) - Using Data and Metrics to Constantly Improve Efficiency (46:11) - Technology - Building Proprietary Machines and Tooling for Key Processes (49:36) - Making vs. Buying Components Based on Customization, Cost and Warranty Factors (52:17) - Why Cuby Believes 3D Printing is Not Yet the Solution for Home Building (54:59) - Cuby's Technical Readiness Level and Roadmap (57:06) - Expanding from Single Family Homes to Other Building Types (59:13) - Strong Traction and Demand from the Housing Ecosystem (01:02:19) - Scaling Production with a Mass Manufacturing "Papa Factory" (01:04:10) - The Independent Nature of Each Factory Enables Efficient Scaling (01:05:53) - Fundraising to Fuel Expansion and Transition to Debt Financing (01:08:34) - The Climate Tech Angle and Economics as Sustainability Driver (01:09:50) - Key Milestones for the Next Fundraise (01:10:37) - Conclusion - Revolutionizing Home Building from the Ground Up
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsSolutions to Water Scarcity are Non-ViableFirst Principles2024-05-17 | Augustus Doricko, the founder of Rainmaker, describes solving water scarcity with Brackish Groundwater Desalination
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IGNORE TAGS: Augustus Doricko, Rainmaker, startups, startup advice, entrepreneur, entrepreneurs advice, business, business advice, ai, artificial intelligence, ai news, finance, startup, gen z, venture capital, ycombinator
#startup #business #entrepreneurHow This Stove Boils Water in 40 Seconds | Sam D’Amico, ImpulseFirst Principles2024-05-15 | EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ nordvpn.com/firstprinciples Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
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Episode 10: Impulse Labs has a master plan to revolutionize the grid by building the world’s highest-performance home appliances. They started with a stove. Here’s how it works.
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(00:00) - Introduction (00:40) - What Impulse is Building - High Performance Home Appliances (01:40) - The Performance Difference Between Impulse's Stoves and Gas/Normal Induction (03:24) - How Impulse Enables High Power Without Electrical Upgrades Using Batteries (06:17) - Volts, Amps, Watts and How They Relate to Home Electrical Systems (12:23) - Why Impulse Chose the Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Chemistry (16:40) - The Safety Testing and Certification Process for New Appliances (18:28) - The Potential of Sodium Ion Batteries (20:02) - How Batteries in Appliances Can Help Balance Renewable Energy on the Grid (27:18) - The Physics of How Induction Stoves Heat Pans Without Getting Hot Themselves (32:33) - How Gallium Nitride Enables Smaller, More Efficient Electronics (34:18) - Precise Temperature Control Via Induction Current Regulation and Sensors (37:28) - The Potential for Automated Cooking Routines and Regulatory Limitations (39:07) - The Process of Finding and Working With a Consumer Electronics Manufacturer (44:10) - Sending Prototypes Back and Forth and Leveraging the Manufacturer's Expertise (47:22) - The Huge Potential for Battery-Powered Appliances to Transform the Grid (50:12) - Taking a Measured, Market-Driven Approach to Electrification vs Gas Stoves (52:30) - Performance Over Politics in Driving Electrification (54:15) - Tech Architecture Enabling Rapid New Product Development (56:40) - Massive Market Opportunity for Home Batteries (58:50) - Regulatory Standards for Bidirectional Power (01:00:30) - Cultural Shift to Accelerate Electric Appliance Adoption (01:02:45) - Building an Iconic High Performance Brand (01:04:50) - Conclusion and Where to Learn More
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsStart by selling the most expensive thing you canFirst Principles2024-05-15 | Danielle Fong, founder of Lightcell Energy, explains the importance of starting by selling the most expensive thing you can sell before trying to go mass market.
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IGNORE TAGS: Danielle Fong, lightcell, lightcell energy, energy , startups, startup advice, entrepreneur, entrepreneurs advice, business, business advice, ai, artificial intelligence, ai news, finance, startup, gen z, venture capital, ycombinator, #startup, #business, #entrepreneurSolar Demand wont Converge for 15-20 YearsFirst Principles2024-05-14 | Casey Handmer, Founder of Terraform Industries, explains that Solar Demand isn't converging anywhere near as soon as others are saying
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IGNORE TAGS: Casey Handmer, Terraform Industries, startups, startup advice, entrepreneur, entrepreneurs advice, business, business advice, ai, artificial intelligence, ai news, finance, startup, gen z, venture capital, ycombinator, #startup, #business, #entrepreneurWhy we use Gaussian DistributionsFirst Principles2024-05-13 | Guillaume Verdon, the Founder of Extropic AI, explains why we use Gaussian Distributions
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IGNORE TAGS: Guillaume Verdon, extropic, startups, startup advice, entrepreneur, entrepreneurs advice, business, business advice, ai, artificial intelligence, ai news, finance, startup, gen z, venture capital, ycombinator
#startup #business #entrepreneurHes building the next BoeingFirst Principles2024-05-10 | Ian Brooke of Astro Mechanica is building the next Boeing
IGNORE TAGS: startups, startup advice, entrepreneur, entrepreneurs advice, business, business advice, ai, artificial intelligence, ai news, finance, startup, gen z, venture capital, ycombinator
#startup #business #entrepreneurBatteries are Bigger in Texas | Justin Lopas, Base PowerFirst Principles2024-05-07 | If you want a platform that empowers your team to collaborate effectively and focus on shared goals, you can get started with Coda today for FREE. Head over to Coda.io/fp
Episode 9: Justin worked at SpaceX and Anduril before starting Base Power, which is aiming to build a modern power company — and an energy trading business on top of it.
Timestamps (00:00) - Intro (00:41) - What Base Power is Building (03:26) - How Texas' Energy Grid and Market Works (08:42) - Sponsor Break (09:28) - Why Batteries are Needed to Support the Grid (14:09) - Base Power's Unique Battery Deployment Model (19:35) - Optimizing the Battery System Design (24:14) - Streamlining the Deployment Process (29:03) - Build vs Buy Decisions Across the Value Chain (32:18) - Software Strategy Across Device, Cloud, and Customer (36:00) - Balancing Customer Needs with Grid Services (39:06) - Potential for DC Power Distribution in Homes (40:31) - The Vision for Long-Duration Storage (43:51) - Scaling Base Power and Driving Costs Down (48:18) - Defining the Interfaces and Controlling the Value Chain (52:04) - Advice for Startup Founders and Closing Thoughts (56:11) - Conclusion
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Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsSelling Sunlight to Solar Farms After Dark | Ben Nowack, Reflect OrbitalFirst Principles2024-05-02 | Episode 8: Ben Nowack built a fusion reactor in high school. Now, he’s building huge mirrors in space that reflect sunlight onto solar farms at night.
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(00:00) - Intro (00:39) - What Reflect Orbital is Building (02:30) - How the Satellite Mirrors Work (06:16) - Deploying the Mirrors in Space (10:14) - Mirror Size Considerations (13:51) - Dealing with Space Debris and Micrometeorites (17:07) - Early Demonstrations with High Altitude Balloons (23:11) - Advantages over Other Space Solar Concepts (28:56) - Target Customers and Business Model (35:57) - Constellation Size and Orbit Design (40:42) - Using Solar Sailing for Propulsion (49:38) - Benefits of Solar Sailing for Space Exploration (54:06) - Tiny Force of Solar Sailing and Payload Limitations (55:58) - Maintaining Altitude vs Pointing at Solar Farms (59:14) - Attitude Control with Control Moment Gyros (01:02:44) - Desaturating Control Moment Gyros (01:05:21) - Monte Carlo Simulations for Constellation Design (01:11:00) - Monte Carlo Simulation 101 (01:13:38) - Exciting Developments in Solar and Energy (01:22:17) - Sunlight as a Service Business Model (01:24:04) - Wrap Up and How to Learn More
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsHypersonic Space Launch... Without Rockets | Nato Saichek, Longshot SpaceFirst Principles2024-04-17 | Episode 7: Nato decided against building a laser-powered rocket in favor of Longshot Space: a gun powered by pressurized air that can shoot payloads into orbit.
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(00:00) - Intro (00:42) - Nato's Early Idea for a Laser Rocket at Astranis (02:30) - Nato Initially Being Skeptical of Longshot's Gun Idea (04:02) - Writing a Simulation that Showed a 4km Gun Could Reach Orbit (05:43) - Deciding to Join Longshot Full-Time after an SBIR Grant (07:22) - What Longshot is Building - A Massive Gun to Launch Payloads to Orbit (09:40) - Comparing Longshot to Hyperloop and SpinLaunch (10:52) - The Projectile's Trajectory after Exiting the Gun (13:35) - Reasons for Choosing a Gas Gun over Railgun or Traditional Gun (16:11) - The Critical First Moments after the Projectile Exits the Gun (18:02) - Longshot's Plan to Start with Hypersonic Testing (20:24) - Target Launch Costs of $10-$500 per kg, Orders of Magnitude Cheaper (23:28) - Using Space Tugs to Enable Different Orbits from an Equatorial Gun (26:08) - Drastically Lower Costs Enabling Things like Tractors on the Moon (28:30) - The Path from Garage Prototype to Orbital Launch System (31:44) - Traditional Rockets vs Gun Launch Physics and Engineering (35:35) - Iterating on Burst Disk Design to Get Microsecond Timing (44:04) - Going from Failed Mach 2 Shots to Mach 4 by Improving Projectiles (46:54) - Doing Hypersonic Testing in a Converted Auto Shop (49:14) - Iterating on Ways to Safely Catch Hypersonic Projectiles (51:53) - Using High Speed Cameras to Analyze Projectile Behavior (54:04) - Light Gates to Trigger Precise Timing of Barrel Accelerators (56:40) - Parts of the System with High vs Low Confidence (59:54) - Nato's Philosophy as a Generalist Engineer (01:03:15) - The Elegance of Passive Analog Guidance like the Sunbeam Toaster (01:07:17) - Being Okay with Initially Being Bad at Things to Become a Generalist (01:09:30) - Preference for Working on Civilization-Changing Mega Projects (01:10:26) - Conclusion
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsShe Built A Light-Powered Engine | Danielle Fong, LightcellFirst Principles2024-04-03 | Sponsor: Remove your personal information from the web at https://JoinDeleteMe.com/FP20 and use code FP20 for 20% off
Episode 6: When heated, sodium emits energy via visible light at 2.1eV (or 589 nm wavelength). So, if you make an engine that heats up sodium, you can tune a solar cell to exactly that frequency and capture light efficiently — giving you the portability of a battery with the energy density of hydrocarbons.
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(00:00) - Intro (00:32) - Danielle’s Background (04:40) - Early Interest in Energy and Fusion Research (08:14) - Leaving Academia to Become an Entrepreneur (11:40) - Starting LightSail and Innovating in Compressed Air Energy Storage (15:35) - Reflecting on LightSail and Compressed Air Energy Storage (19:48) - Limitations of Batteries, Engines, and Fuel Cells (22:30) - The Vision for Portable, Energy-Dense Power Generation (27:16) - Rethinking Combustion and Light Generation for Compact Power (31:56) - How the New Power Generation Process Works (37:58) - Managing High Temperatures and System Components (42:26) - Recirculating Heat for Higher Efficiency (48:38) - Theoretical Limits and Practical Challenges (52:50) - Engineering Solutions to Minimize Losses (58:32) - The Experimental Approach to Rapid Learning (01:02:54) - Balancing Exploratory Work with Systematic Testing (01:07:40) - Developing the Craftsmanship of Research (01:11:15) - Managing Company Priorities while Preserving Creativity (01:15:18) - Advice for Learning and Advancing Technology (01:18:36) - Building Real Projects and Sharing Knowledge (01:22:10) - Conclusion
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsUnderground Hyperlogistics Delivery Drones | Garrett McCurrach, PipedreamFirst Principles2024-03-27 | Episode 5: Garrett wants to deliver any good in under ten minutes, for under a quarter, using drones that burrow underground.
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(00:00) - Intro (00:50) - What Pipedream is Building (02:17) - Garrett's Background and Learning to Build Businesses (04:02) - How Pipedream Moves Things Efficiently in Cities (07:07) - Why Pneumatic Tubes are Not the Solution (10:08) - How Pipedream's System Works with Robots, Rails, and Totes (13:20) - Designing the Track to Handle Curves and Turns (17:27) - Pipedream's Initial Focus on Instant Pickup and Curbside Delivery (20:12) - The Vision for Edge Warehouses and Hyperlogistics (23:05) - The Key Challenges in Scaling Autonomous Logistics (28:37) - Why Last Mile Delivery Speed is More About Deployment Than Robot Speed (31:10) - The Hardest Problems Pipedream is Solving (37:14) - How Pipedream Decided on Underground Delivery Infrastructure (41:37) - Leveraging Existing Utility Installation and Regulation Practices (44:49) - Believing in the Vision Despite Skepticism (47:53) - The Huge Potential of Last Mile Logistics Innovation (50:51) - Garrett's Journey to Find a Meaningful 10-Year Opportunity (54:49) - Realizing Underground Infrastructure was More Feasible Than Expected (57:22) - Taking the Unconventional Path Despite Discouragement (01:00:00) - The Engineering Appeal and Potential Impact of Last Mile Logistics (01:04:02) - Borrowing from Proven Utility Distribution Models like Water and Sewage (01:07:07) - The Perfect Timing and Conditions for Logistics Disruption (01:11:35) - Cities' Incentives to Support Underground Utility Infrastructure (01:14:27) - Conclusion
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsCan Drones Modify the Weather? | Augustus Doricko, RainmakerFirst Principles2024-03-20 | Sponsor: Remove your personal information from the web at JoinDeleteMe.com/FP20 and use code FP20 for 20% off
Episode 4: Augustus Doricko isn’t trying to play God with his weather-modification company, Rainmaker, but he does admit that quelling hurricanes or creating atmospheric rivers would be pretty based. By using cheap drones to disperse ice nucleation agents, Augustus will literally make it rain — and save the American West in the process.
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(00:00) - Intro (00:41) - What Rainmaker Technology is Building (01:27) - Augustus' Background (03:58) - Why Cloud Seeding and Water Scarcity are Important Problems (07:07) - The Dialectic on How to Solve Water Scarcity (10:08) - How Weather Modification and Cloud Seeding Work (13:20) - How Rainmaker Identifies Suitable Clouds for Seeding (17:27) - How Rainmaker Delivers Seeding Agents to Clouds (20:12) - Rainmaker's Nucleation Agent Dispersion Mechanism (23:05) - Rainmaker's Search for Alternative Nucleation Agents (26:37) - Attribution of Precipitation to Cloud Seeding (31:10) - Rainmaker's Initial Target Market and Value Proposition (37:14) - Extending Rainfall Benefits with Cloud Seeding (41:37) - Rainmaker's Pricing Model (44:49) - Government Interest and Spending on Weather Modification (47:53) - China's Leadership in Weather Modification (50:51) - The Need for Pro-Human, Pro-Environment Climate Engineering (52:52) - Technical and Business Challenges for Rainmaker (54:49) - Advice for Aspiring Engineers in Weather Modification (57:22) - Positive Sum Aspects of Cloud Seeding (01:01:27) - Government Contracting Potential for Rainmaker (01:04:02) - Identifying Easy vs. Challenging Components of Rainmaker's System (01:07:07) - Conclusion and Advice for Aspiring Weather Modification Engineers
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsHow Do JET AIRLINERS Work?First Principles2024-03-17 | Check out the First Principles podcast episode with Ian Brooke here: youtube.com/watch?v=Detvd2EqWWU -- Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/pronounced_kyle Subscribe on Substack: pronouncedkyle.substack.comTravel 3x Faster for the Same CostFirst Principles2024-03-13 | ...Thermodynamic Computing: Better than Quantum? | Guillaume Verdon and Trevor McCourt, ExtropicFirst Principles2024-03-12 | Episode 3: Extropic is building a new kind of computer – not classical bits, nor quantum qubits, but a secret, more complex third thing. They call it a Thermodynamic Computer, and it might be many orders of magnitude more powerful than even the most powerful supercomputers today.
(00:00) - Intro (00:41) - Guillaume's Background (02:40) - Trevor's Background (04:02) - What is Extropic Building? High-Level Explanation (07:07) - Frustrations with Quantum Computing and Noise (10:08) - Scaling Digital Computers and Thermal Noise Challenges (13:20) - How Digital Computers Run Sampling Algorithms Inefficiently (17:27) - Limitations of Gaussian Distributions in ML (20:12) - Why GPUs are Good at Deep Learning but Not Sampling (23:05) - Extropic's Approach: Harnessing Noise with Thermodynamic Computers (28:37) - Bounding the Noise: Not Too Noisy, Not Too Pristine (31:10) - How Thermodynamic Computers Work: Inputs, Parameters, Outputs (37:14) - No Quantum Coherence in Thermodynamic Computers (41:37) - Gaining Confidence in the Idea Over Time (44:49) - Using Superconductors and Scaling to Silicon (47:53) - Thermodynamic Computing vs Neuromorphic Computing (50:51) - Disrupting Computing and AI from First Principles (52:52) - Early Applications in Low Data, Probabilistic Domains (54:49) - Vast Potential for New Devices and Algorithms in AI's Early Days (57:22) - Building the Next S-Curve to Extend Moore's Law for AI (59:34) - The Meaning and Purpose Behind Extropic's Mission (01:04:54) - Call for Talented Builders to Join Extropic (01:09:34) - Putting Ideas Out There and Creating Value for the Universe (01:11:35) - Conclusion and Wrap-Up
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsGigascale Hydrocarbon Synthesis | Casey Handmer, Terraform IndustriesFirst Principles2024-03-06 | Sponsor: Remove your personal information from the web at https://JoinDeleteMe.com/FP20 and use code FP20 for 20% off
Episode 2: Casey Handmer, the polymath founder and CEO of Terraform Industries, explains the first principles behind his idea to synthesize hydrocarbons (starting with natural gas, or methane) from the atmosphere.
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(00:00) - Intro (00:56) - What Terraform Industries is Building (02:00) - Casey's Background as an Engineer (04:15) - Why Synthetic Hydrocarbons are an Urgent Need (06:30) - The Importance of Hydrocarbons (10:40) - Terraform's Process for Synthetic Methane (13:57) - Cheap Solar Energy is the Key Enabler (18:05) - How the World Captures and Uses Electricity (21:00) - Why Use Solar Energy to Make Hydrocarbons (24:51) - How Is This Possible? (28:23) - Learning Curve Effects on Solar Cost Declines (31:00) - Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (34:50) - Why Is Lower Solar Efficiency Okay? (37:35) - How the Direct Air Capture Process Works (46:54) - The Sabatier Reaction (51:07) - Path to Commercialization and End-to-End Demo (52:52) - Deploying Alongside Existing Natural Gas Infrastructure (54:49) - Expansion into Synthetic Fuels and Beyond (56:20) - Final Thoughts
Production and marketing by The Deep View (https://thedeepview.co). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fm
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For more quality videos, subscribe here → http://tinyurl.com/4fh497n9 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated with new uploadsRamjet to a Rocket with Ian BrookeFirst Principles2024-03-06 | ...Engineering a Rocket is like that of a Soda CanFirst Principles2024-03-01 | ...Are Electric Motors the Future of the Aerospace Industry?First Principles2024-03-01 | ...Ian Brookes Beginners Guide to Rocket ScienceFirst Principles2024-02-29 | Ian Brooke, founder of Astro Mechanica, discusses how rockets workWhat is First Principles?First Principles2024-02-27 | Episode 0: On First Principles, Christian Keil ( twitter.com/pronounced_kyle ), Host and Chief of Staff at Astranis, dives into the complex world of deep tech startups — and hopes to make them approachable, and PhD-optional.
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Production and marketing by The Deep View ( thedeepview.co ). For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email team@firstprinciples.fmWhat is DEEP TECH, Anyways?First Principles2024-02-15 | Short answer: zero market risk; lots of technical risk.
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Chapters: 00:00 -- What Counts as Deep Tech? 00:29 -- My Definition (It's Not "DOGE") 01:49 -- Deep Tech vs. Software 02:35 -- Why It's Worth It
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Christian Keil is the Chief of Staff at Astranis, a $1.6 billion startup building low-cost, high-orbit internet satellites. He leads the marketing and regulatory teams at Astranis, making him the company's go to representative in front of Twitter trolls and international regulators alike. Christian is a multiple-time startup founder living in San Francisco, California, where he is raising a human and a rabbit with his wife, Maryli.
Chapters: 00:00 -- The Age of SaaS Is Over 00:16 -- The Software Glory Days 00:51 -- When The Vibes Shifted 01:51 -- Solving Hard Problems 02:31 -- Deep Tech Startups
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Christian Keil is the Chief of Staff at Astranis, a $1.6 billion startup building low-cost, high-orbit internet satellites. He leads the marketing and regulatory teams at Astranis, making him the company's go to representative in front of Twitter trolls and international regulators alike. Christian is a multiple-time startup founder living in San Francisco, California, where he is raising a human and a rabbit with his wife, Maryli.
Chapters: 00:00 -- Beff Jezos & Guillaume Verdon 01:19 -- INTEGRATION: A young physics nerd in Canada 04:17 -- PERMISSIONLESS INNOVATION: Founding Everettian, and beefing with an astronaut 06:55 -- URGENCY: Guillaume's six months on Mars 08:45 -- BRAVERY: Navigating Google, and pursuing the unknown 10:26 -- RELENTLESS OPTIMISM: Founding e/acc, and hyperstition
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Christian Keil is the Chief of Staff at Astranis, a $1.6 billion startup building low-cost, high-orbit internet satellites. He leads the marketing and regulatory teams at Astranis, making him the company's go to representative in front of Twitter trolls and international regulators alike. Christian is a multiple-time startup founder living in San Francisco, California, where he is raising a human and a rabbit with his wife, Maryli.
Check out Garry's great YouTube channel here: @GarryTan
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Chapters: 00:00 -- Garry Tan 01:21 -- Origin Story 02:13 -- Near Miss #1 02:55 -- Garry's $200 Million Mistake 03:52 -- Palantir 04:56 -- Investing in Coinbase 05:36 -- Thiel's Influence 06:15 -- Befriending Brian Armstrong 07:05 -- Portfolio Theory 07:25 -- Becoming President of Y Combinator 08:45 -- TrueWind.ai
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Christian Keil is the Chief of Staff at Astranis, a $1.6 billion startup building low-cost, high-orbit internet satellites. He leads the marketing and regulatory teams at Astranis, making him the company's go to representative in front of Twitter trolls and international regulators alike. Christian is a multiple-time startup founder living in San Francisco, California, where he is raising a human and a rabbit with his wife, Maryli.
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Follow Christian on Twitter: twitter.com/pronounced_kyle Subscribe to Christian's Newsletter on Substack: pronouncedkyle.substack.comThe Hottest Temperatures on Earth | Part One: FireFirst Principles2023-12-02 | The history of technology is little more than the history of humanity's ability to harness energy. And an easy way to understand energy is FIRE.
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Chapters: 00:00 -- Tech & Energy & Heat 01:22 -- Stone Age (Open Fire) 02:45 -- Bronze Age (Kilns & Furnaces) 04:10 -- Iron Age (Bloomeries) 04:50 -- Modern Age (Blast Furnaces) 05:30 -- Moving Beyond Fire
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Christian Keil is the Chief of Staff at Astranis, a $1.6 billion startup building low-cost, high-orbit internet satellites. He leads the marketing and regulatory teams at Astranis, making him the company's go to representative in front of Twitter trolls and international regulators alike. Christian is a multiple-time startup founder living in San Francisco, California, where he is raising a human and a rabbit with his wife, Maryli.
Follow Christian on Twitter: twitter.com/pronounced_kyle Subscribe to Christian's Newsletter on Substack: pronouncedkyle.substack.comThe Rise and Fall of Gopher, the Webs PredecessorFirst Principles2023-11-05 | The Gopher protocol was invented at the University of Minnesota and was (oh so briefly) the hottest way to navigate the internet. It was on top of the world in 1993 — and then all but dead in 1994. How did that happen?
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Chapters: 00:00 -- Intro 00:13 -- Gopher Montage 00:32 -- The Rise and Fall of Gopher 01:27 -- A Game of Financial Chicken (Money) 02:32 -- The Freedom to Build 02:57 -- The Impact of Marc Andreessen 03:47 -- The Future of the Web
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Christian Keil is the Chief of Staff at Astranis, a $1.6 billion startup building low-cost, high-orbit internet satellites. He leads the marketing and regulatory teams at Astranis, making him the company's go to representative in front of Twitter trolls and international regulators alike. Christian is a multiple-time startup founder living in San Francisco, California, where he is raising a human and a rabbit with his wife, Maryli.
Follow Christian on Twitter: twitter.com/pronounced_kyle Subscribe to Christian's Newsletter on Substack: pronouncedkyle.substack.comCan You Solve Game Theorys Toughest Problem?First Principles2023-10-30 | What do you choose: one box, or both boxes? This is Newcomb's Problem, the most divisive problem in game theory.
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/pronounced_kyle Subscribe on Substack: pronouncedkyle.substack.comWhy Are 5G Airwaves So Expensive?First Principles2023-10-07 | The frequencies that cell providers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile operate with have cost them a small fortune -- on the order of tens of billions of dollars each. Here's why.Did ANCIENT GREECE Discover Quantum Mechanics?First Principles2023-09-30 | There's a curious parallel between Zeno's Arrow Paradox and Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. In both, we hit a limit: the better understand something's position, the more information we lose about its speed/momentum.Quantum Thinking is a Mental Superpower (For Nerds)First Principles2023-09-23 | If you understand the quantum mechanical concept of "superposition" — and apply it to your life — you can be more persuasive, make better decisions, and keep your identity small. This is Quantum Thinking.