International Year of Quantum Science and Technology

11 April, 2025

In honour of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, we've pulled together a few of our Sci Fi / Sci Fact podcast episodes that relate to quantum science and technology.

In our Sci Fi / Sci Fact podcast partnership with RNZ, MacDiarmid Institute experts talk to Bryan Crump about an idea from science fiction, if it holds up to scientific scrutiny & if it'd work in reality.

In Zero Point Energy our Emeritus Investigator Professor Cather Simpson tells Bryan Crump that Zero Point Energy is a REAL thing, but that the writers of The Incredibles might have stretched the truth of it somewhat. (35 mins)

Our alumnus Dr James Rice (who works at our affiliated spinout company OpenStar Technologies) talks about The Arc Reactor which featured in Tony Stark's first Ironman suit. It was a fusion-type power source featuring a palladium core.

Associate Investigator Dr Nate Davis takes a look at Jumbonium from Futurama; a very rare, valuable and fictional element with atoms large enough to be seen with the naked eye. The Jumbonium atom was used for the Miss Universe competition, where it hovered above the prized tiara.

And Professor Nicola Gaston, MacDiarmid Institute Director and Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland explores the science behind the multiverse.