Quantum Cooling for Quantum Computers, Prediction Markets, and a PhD’s Podcasting Journey | Science Magazine Podcast (April 16, 2026)

In this Science Magazine podcast, host Sarah Crespi speaks with freelance journalist Zach Savitsky about cooling quantum computers and the looming helium-3 shortage, then shifts to the societal implications of prediction markets and a personal Working Life essay about starting a science podcast during a PhD. The conversation spans dilution refrigerators, on‑chip cooling concepts, and magnetocaloric cooling as alternatives to helium‑3, followed by an exploration of how prediction markets may affect democracy and health policy, and finally a reflection on how podcasting reshaped a doctoral journey.

• Helium-3 shortage and dilution refrigerators with potential alternatives
• On‑chip cooling methods and LED-based cooling concepts
• Magnetocaloric cooling as a non‑helium 3 approach
• Prediction markets and governance, including regulatory considerations
• A PhD student’s career shift through podcasting and science communication

Overview

The podcast episode, dated April 16, 2026, centers on three intertwined themes: advances in cooling technology for quantum computing, the geopolitical and regulatory terrain around prediction markets, and a personal Working Life essay about venturing into podcasting as a scientist. Host Sarah Crespi talks with Zach Savitsky, a freelance science journalist, about why quantum computers must stay extremely cold, what helium‑3 has to do with it, and how researchers are pursuing alternatives to traditional dilution refrigerators. The episode then shifts to a policy discussion with Nitsan Packin on the potential harms of commercialized prediction markets, followed by a segment featuring a scientist’s experience with podcasting as a career and science communication tool. The breadth shows Science Magazine’s effort to intertwine frontier technology with its social and personal implications.

Ultra-cooling for quantum computers: helium‑3 and the cooling race

The conversation opens with the practical reason quantum technologies demand ultra‑low temperatures: background noise must be minimized so that quantum effects stay coherent. The guest explains that while a quantum computer’s chip is small, the cooling apparatus surrounding it is massive, and the helium‑3 helium‑3/helium‑4 dilution fridge is central to achieving the needed temperatures. The dialogue highlights the bottleneck created by helium‑3 shortages as qubit counts expand toward practical usefulness, with estimates suggesting millions of qubits could be desired in the long term and the cooling infrastructure would scale accordingly. The host and guest delve into geopolitical realities: much of the helium‑3 supply is linked to by‑products of tritium from nuclear weapons programs, leaving national stockpiles and future availability subject to political dynamics. The discussion underscores a critical question: even if devices scale, will helium‑3 be available to power the next generation of quantum machines?

Quote 1

"The colder the environment is, the quieter the background noise is" - Zach Savitsky, freelance science journalist

Alternatives to helium 3 and on‑chip cooling concepts

The episode surveys several routes to bypass helium‑3 while continuing to push quantum technology forward. On‑chip cooling is discussed as a pathway to reduce reliance on external fridges by engineering the chip itself to manage heat. One approach involves trapping heat carriers so that hot electrons are filtered and heat is diverted away with reduced vibrational noise. This line of inquiry is described as being in a proof‑of‑concept stage, primarily in academic settings, with researchers aiming to integrate multi‑stage cooling capable of spanning the temperature range where helium‑3 is required. The segment also touches LEDs as a potential cooling mechanism, noting the unusual idea that a carefully engineered LED could, under certain conditions, extract heat energy from the environment while emitting light. While intriguing, the photonic cooling concept remains experimental and not yet ready for commercial deployment.

In addition to chip‑level cooling, magnetocaloric cooling is presented as a mature alternative that predates dilution refrigeration. Materials endowed with magnetocaloric properties heat up in a magnetic field and release heat when the field is removed, enabling cooling. The episode explains how a continuous cooling scheme could be achieved by cycling two such cooling elements in and out of use, allowing sustained operation without helium 3. This technology is currently more developed for characterization and testing labs than for running full quantum computers, but it represents a practical path forward for the near term.

Quote 2

"I would say this on chip cooling is sort of at a proof of concept phase" - Zach Savitsky

Helium 3 supply, demand, and the moonshot problem

The discussion returns to supply chain concerns and the practicalities of powering large quantum‑computing facilities. The host and guest discuss possible new helium 3 sources, including byproducts from nuclear plants and even lunar extraction theories. The combined challenge is not merely scientific but logistical and geopolitical: governments control the gas, stockpiles are uncertain, and the economics of scaling up cooling infrastructure are tightly linked to political realities. The conversation emphasizes that even if many companies pursue quantum computing, the availability of cooling gas could become a limiting factor that shapes research timelines and industrial strategy.

Quote 3

"I did come across a document from 2021... that put the US stockpile around 90,000 liters" - Zach Savitsky

Prediction markets: governance, risk, and public health

The episode then shifts to a separate article and interview focused on the risks of commercialized prediction markets. The guest, Nitsan Packin, defines prediction markets as platforms where people bet on the likelihood of events, from sports outcomes to geopolitical events. The discussion covers how liquidity, insider information, and cross‑border money flows create potential democratic and market integrity concerns. The platforms, while not securities and thus not directly governed by the SEC, fall under the CFTC in the United States, prompting ongoing regulatory debates and congressional activity about achievable guardrails and rules. The analysis identifies three primary threats: democratic manipulation via thin markets, insider information risks, and potential gambling‑like mechanisms that drive addictive behavior. The interview also explores how anonymity and crypto integration complicate regulation and enforcement.

The host and Packin draw connections to broader public health questions, including how widespread betting could influence political decisions and market perceptions, especially if liquidity is concentrated or regulated inconsistently. The discussion also addresses the metaphorical shift from betting to forecasting, which can obscure recognition of gambling‑like risk. The interview closes with a call for more research into interface design, guardrails, and regulatory structures that balance the benefits of crowd wisdom with protections against harm.

Quote 4

"Not under SEC, but under the CFTC's supervision" - Nitsan Packin, professor of law

Working Life: podcasting as a scientific career and communication tool

The final segment shifts to a Working Life essay by a science podcaster, Filippo Della Molina, who discusses how starting a podcast emerged from a PhD phase of stagnation and a desire to share science more broadly. The guest describes how engaging with researchers on air helped him gain confidence in discussing others' work, refine questions in lab settings, and develop a storytelling approach to scientific communication. The podcasting experience is framed as a catalyst that restored a sense of purpose and community, illustrating how outreach can enrich not only public understanding but also a scientist’s own research process and career trajectory. The piece underscores the value of side projects that keep curiosity alive and the potential for science outreach to reinvigorate research and collaborations.

Quote 5

"This moment shifted my perspective and shaped how I approached both my research and science communication in general" - Filippo Della Molina, science podcaster