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First Principles

First Principles

By: First-Principles Podcast
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About this listen

 First Principles is the podcast that deconstructs the complex, invisible systems shaping our modern world. Ever wonder how a social media algorithm works, how AI really thinks, or how GPS knows your exact location? Each episode, we break down one concept from its fundamental truths, giving you clarity without the technical jargon. If you're curious about the tech you use every day and want to finally understand it, this is your starting point.First-Principles Podcast Nature & Ecology Science
Episodes
  • EP47 - The Messenger Code: How mRNA Vaccines Rewrote the Rules of Medicine

    EP47 - The Messenger Code: How mRNA Vaccines Rewrote the Rules of Medicine
    Jan 30 2026
    We all know the relief of the vaccine rollout, but few of us understand the molecular miracle that happened inside our arms. This episode moves beyond the headlines to decode how scientists turned the human body into a temporary vaccine factory, using a fragile strip of genetic code and a microscopic bubble of fat to change history.
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    Not Yet Known
  • EP46 - The Silent Engine: Deconstructing Solar Power and the Silicon Trap

    EP46 - The Silent Engine: Deconstructing Solar Power and the Silicon Trap
    Jan 23 2026
    We are accustomed to electricity coming from massive, roaring turbines, but a solar panel sits in total silence, motionless, converting sunlight into power. In this episode, we strip away the dark glass exterior to reveal the atomic machinery inside, exploring how a specific arrangement of rock and crystal can trap a photon and force it to do work.
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    24 mins
  • EP45 - Wiring the Ghost: How Brain-Computer Interfaces Translate Thought into Action

    EP45 - Wiring the Ghost: How Brain-Computer Interfaces Translate Thought into Action
    Jan 16 2026
    We often fantasize about telepathy, moving objects with our minds like a Jedi, but for some, this sci-fi dream is becoming a medical reality. In this episode, we deconstruct the "magic" of Brain-Computer Interfaces to reveal how wet biology talks to dry silicon, and how a storm of salty ions can act as a universal remote for the world.
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    23 mins
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