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Cooling with Sound Waves
This chapter explores the concept of using sound waves for refrigeration and cooling. It discusses the use of dilution refrigeration and the thermal conductivity of LEGO bricks. It also introduces the idea of using sound waves instead of electric pumps for cooling in refrigerators.
In this not-so-chill episode, everybody gets a little unsettled by the concepts around refrigeration. Quantum computers, thermoacoustics, molecular chemistry, elephants, the phantom letter "d" that gets added to the shortening of refrigeration...it's all just. So much.
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[This or That: Fridge or Not Fridge]
Ballpoint-pen-sized device with twisted nickel-titanium and water
Credit-card-sized device plugged into your phone with lithium bromide
Two large metal balls with ammonia and water
[Trivia Question]
Frigidaire had an elephant stand on their refrigerator as a strength test
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75945/15-icy-cool-facts-about-refrigeration
[Fact Off]
Dilution refrigeration and ultra-cold LEGOs
https://twist.phys.virginia.edu/work/Formal_Paper.pdf
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/the-coolest-lego-in-the-universe
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55616-7#Fig1
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a30337510/lego-bricks-heat-tolerance-quantum-computer/
Thermoacoustic refrigeration and the James Webb Space Telescope
[Ask the Science Couch]
Freezer smells and dehydration/oxidation affecting food taste
https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/science-freezing-foods
https://extension.psu.edu/understanding-the-process-of-freezing
https://theconversation.com/heres-why-your-freezer-smells-so-bad-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-203058
[Butt One More Thing]
USB drive found in volunteer-collected frozen leopard seal poop
https://niwa.co.nz/news/they-were-defrosting-leopard-seal-pooyou-wont-believe-what-happened-next
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Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode