FFP Story — Breakthrough Analog AI Computer Is 100× More Efficient Than GPUs (EP. 7)
Hosted by Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary, this story dives into Microsoft’s analog optical AI computer — a breakthrough published in Nature that runs on light instead of transistors. The system cracks two fundamental AI bottlenecks, achieving 100× energy efficiency compared to GPUs. Beyond cutting costs and power demand for data centers, the same architecture could reduce MRI scans from an hour to just five minutes, showing how fundamental physics can transform both tech and healthcare.Summary• Microsoft unveils an analog optical AI computer, published in Nature• Why Moore’s Law slowdown and the von Neumann bottleneck strain AI computing• AI’s energy demand projected to hit 20% of global electricity by 2030• Analog design uses LEDs, filters, and CCDs instead of GPUs• Solves matrix multiplication and nonlinearities directly in hardware• Delivers 100× energy efficiency over GPUs• Works for inference, not training — but that’s most AI usage• Bonus: excels at combinatorial optimization like MRI reconstruction• Medical impact: MRI scans reduced from 30–60 minutes to ~5 minutesShow NotesNature — Analog AI ResearchMicrosoft Research Blog
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FFP Story — New Breakthrough Enables Next-Generation Plastic Recycling (EP. 7)
Hosted by Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary, this story explores a breakthrough from Northwestern University: a nickel-based catalyst that could transform plastic recycling. Instead of requiring costly sorting or producing low-value waste, this method selectively breaks down polypropylene while leaving polyethylene intact — even turning common contaminants like PVC into a benefit. The result is a scalable approach that could finally make large-scale plastic recycling practical.Summary• Plastic is cheap and convenient — but environmentally devastating• Current recycling methods (mechanical, pyrolysis) are inefficient or polluting• Breakthrough: nickel-based catalyst for hydrogenolysis• Selectively targets polypropylene while ignoring polyethylene• Works even in the presence of PVC, improving outcomes• Achieved 99.5% polypropylene conversion in 20 minutes• Industrial promise: chemical sorting replaces costly manual sortingShow Notes• Nature Chemistry — No-Sort Plastic Catalyst
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FFP Story — Why Human Life Expectancy May Never Pass 100 (EP. 7)
Hosted by Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary, this story examines a major international study published in PNAS suggesting human life expectancy may have plateaued for cohorts born after 1939. We trace the “longevity revolution” driven by vaccines, antibiotics, and sanitation, then unpack why new data indicates we may be hitting biological and societal limits.Summary• Headline: generations born after 1939 unlikely to reach 100• Collaboration: Max Planck Institute, INED (France), UW–Madison• How we measure life expectancy: period vs. cohort• Six independent models + historical validation show a plateau• Low-hanging fruit solved; remaining hurdles: cancer, neurodegeneration• Policy ripple effects: pensions, retirement age, social security• Equity concerns: impacts fall hardest on lower-income workersShow Notes• PNAS — Longevity Plateau Study• The Independent — Coverage
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FFP Story — Interstellar Visitor 3I/Atlas: What Four Telescopes Found (EP. 7)
Hosted by Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary, this story unpacks the discovery of 3I/Atlas — the third confirmed interstellar object to pass through our solar system. Captured by Hubble, JWST, TESS, and ESA orbiters, Atlas is moving at 61 km/s and may be older than our Sun. We explore why its bizarre composition excites astronomers, how Mars orbiters and future missions will gather data, and what it means for understanding the diversity of planetary systems beyond our own.Summary• 3I Atlas confirmed as only the third interstellar object observed• Discovered by the ATLAS program in Chile on July 1, 2025• Speed: 61 km/s, ensuring it won’t remain in the solar system• Unique CO₂-to-water ratio (8:1) unlike solar system comets• What this reveals about its birth environment and possible age (~7B years)• Why orbiters at Mars and ESA probes will be critical for further study• Broader significance: sampling galactic diversity one visitor at a timeShow Notes• Space.com — 3I Atlas Coverage
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FFP EP. 7 | Interstellar Visitor 3I/Atlas, Human Longevity Plateau, New No-Sort Plastic & Analog AI
Hosted by Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary, Episode 7 of From First Principles covers four stories at the frontier of science and technology. This week, we dive into new telescope data on the interstellar visitor 3i Atlas, explore a major longevity study that suggests life expectancy may have plateaued, unpack a breakthrough nickel catalyst that could enable no-sort plastic recycling, and look at Microsoft’s analog AI computer — a potential game-changer for energy efficiency and medical applications.Summary• Interstellar comet 3i Atlas imaged by Hubble, JWST, TESS, and ESA orbiters• Longevity study shows human life expectancy may have plateaued post-1939 births• Northwestern researchers develop a nickel catalyst for no-sort plastic recycling• Microsoft unveils an analog optical AI computer with 100x GPU efficiencyShow NotesSpace.com — 3I/Atlas CoveragePNAS — Longevity Plateau StudyNature Chemistry — No-Sort Plastic CatalystNature — Analog AI
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