The Quantum Kid

3 Big Wows! Quantum Computing, New Drugs, and a 3D-Printed Human Ear!

Do leave comments, like and subscribe! Would you like to print a new ear? How about a new heart? In this episode of The Quantum Kid, 9-year-old Kai goes somewhere very few kids ever get to go: a real bioprinting lab at ETH Zurich. With the help of a researcher, Kai 3D-prints a mini human ear 🦻 made from living cells — and learns how scientists use printed tissue to study the body and test new medicines. Back in the studio, Kai has a fascinating discussion about another big “wow” in science: the use of quantum computing for drug discovery. He chats with two quantum experts: * Pedram Roushan — Quantum Physicist at Google Quantum AI * Sabrina Maniscalco — Professor of Quantum Information Science and Co-Founder and CEO of Algorithmiq They explain how quantum computers are different from regular computers, and why they could help scientists discover new drugs by understanding molecules in much more detail. To help Kai and the viewers understand quantum, we use analogies like LEGO bricks with mini brains 🧱🧠 — tiny building blocks that can explore lots of possibilities at once, which is exactly what chemistry and biology need. Real labs. Real scientists. Big ideas — explained so viewers and listeners of any age can follow along. 🧪 Welcome to The Quantum Kid! Check out the rest of the episodes, where we talk about quantum and space, quantum and robots, quantum and time travel - and so much more! Like, subscribe and leave comments for Kai!!!

Can Quantum Computing Make Robots Smarter?

Christmas episode!!In this Christmas episode, Kai - The Quantum Kid - explores what happens when quantum computing meets robotics. With:- John Preskill, Caltech theoretical physicist, who coined the term 'quantum supremacy', and - Ken Goldberg, US Berkley robotics expertwe discuss how quantum computers could help robots make smarter decisions and solve problems faster, and what this could mean for the future of intelligent machines. We also talk about uncertainty - both in the context of quantum and in the context of robotics. Oh, and Kai also teleports to a super cool robotics lab in Zurich, ANYbotics, and meets ANYmal - a robot dog that can walk and climb stairs, and can be go where it's dangerous for humans to go. And, as Kai puts it, 'it's veeeeeryyyy cute!' Quantum computers don’t just calculate faster. They think differently. Could that give robots new abilities? 👇 Now your turn:- How do you think robots might use quantum computers?- What should robots be able to do that they can’t do today?- Would you trust a quantum-powered robot?💬 Leave a comment — Kai reads them and may answer yours in the next episode!👍 If you enjoyed this video, like it so more people can find it🔔 Subscribe to The Quantum Kid for more episodes on quantum computing, coding, AI, and the future of technology👀 New videos coming soon!

Scott Aaronson's Chat with Kai: Time Travel, Wormholes, Paradoxes, and the Future of Physics

In this episode of The Quantum Kid, Katia Moskvitch and nine-year-old co-host Kai explore one of the most fascinating frontiers in modern physics: time travel, and what quantum mechanics and relativity really say about it. Our guest is Scott Aaronson — one of the world’s leading experts in quantum computing, the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, and director of UT’s Quantum Information Center.Together, we dig into the science behind the movies — from Back to the Future to Interstellar — and unpack what physics actually allows. Scott explains:- Why traveling forward in time is real physics, not science fiction- What a closed timelike curve is, and why it matters for time travel- How relativity links wormholes and time travel to the past- Why stable wormholes would require negative energy, something never observed- How time-travel paradoxes like the Grandfather Paradox and Shakespeare Paradox challenge our understanding of reality- How quantum superposition and David Deutsch’s 1991 model introduce the idea of branching timelines- Why quantum computers interacting with their past selves would be unimaginably powerful — far beyond anything we expect real quantum computers to doAlong the way, Kai asks what every curious kid wants to know:Can you bring your homework back from the future? Could Marty McFly really fade out of existence? How much of Interstellar is true? And will we ever time-travel for real?To bring the cosmic perspective to life, this episode also features original footage from the ALMA Observatory in the Atacama Desert — one of Earth’s most advanced instruments for exploring the structure of space-time.Whether you're a kid discovering physics for the first time or a researcher wondering how quantum mechanics might resolve time-travel paradoxes, this conversation offers a clear and insightful journey through some of the biggest open questions in science — from wormholes to quantum gravity.Join us, subscribe, and follow along as we continue exploring the universe, one quantum idea at a time.

Steven Chu & Peter Shor: How Can Quantum Tech Help Fight Climate Change?

In this episode of The Quantum Kid, Kai and Katia explore one of the biggest questions of our time: Can quantum computing help the environment and make our world just that tiny bit more sustainable?They’re joined by two legendary scientists: Dr. Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate in Physics and former U.S. Secretary of Energy, and Professor Peter Shor, inventor of Shor’s algorithm, the discovery that sparked the modern era of quantum computing.Together, they discuss how quantum technologies could transform energy systems, climate solutions, and sustainable innovation—and how curiosity and creativity can drive real-world progress.It’s a rare, intergenerational dialogue that connects qubits and climate, mathematics and meaning, and the future of science and the planet—through the eyes of a child and the minds of two of the world’s most visionary physicists.Enjoy the show, spread the word about us, like and subscribe not to miss the future episodes!

Can Quantum Computers Help US Explore Space?

In this episode of The Quantum Kid, 9-year-old Kai and his science writer mum, Katia Moskvitch, travel to the Atacama Desert in Chile, the driest place on Earth. They visit the Paranal Observatory, home to the Very Large Telescope, which combines four 8.2-meter telescopes into a single virtual mirror, giving it the highest optical resolution in the world. The Atacama is so free of light pollution that astronomical observations are stunning, with the Milky Way stretching overhead like a magical, colorful blanket.With the podcast guests: - Avi Loeb, astrophysicist at Harvard University, and - Karen Hallberg, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and theoretical physicist,they take a look at how quantum technologies and AI could transform space exploration, astronomy, the search for signals of extraterrestrial life - and even our understanding of reality itself. From simulating black holes and the Big Bang to using quantum sensing and quantum communication, Kai asks: can quantum and AI help us answer the biggest question of all — are we alone in the cosmos?In a very down-to-Earth and engaging way, Avi and Karen explain how quantum computing and AI could help scientists process massive amounts of telescope data, explore galaxies, and probe the deepest mysteries of space like dark matter and dark energy. The episode also tackles a big question: could these technologies one day replace human scientists, or are they tools that amplify human curiosity and discovery?Quantum sensors could detect faint gravitational waves or measure tiny changes in space environments with unprecedented precision. Quantum communication may one day link spacecraft across vast distances with ultra-fast, secure signals, while quantum-designed materials may protect astronauts from cosmic radiation on long journeys to Mars and beyond.Watch now on The Quantum Kid YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWrnl0jiZn4Explore other episodes for more fun, educational videos on quantum computing, AI, and their role in the cosmos.#QuantumComputing #AI #QuantumTech #SpaceExploration #Astronomy #Entanglement #QuantumSensors #TheQuantumKid #KaiTheQuantumKid #QuantumPhysics #Innovation #STEM #Learning #LifeLongLearning #Universe #Space