Ep 317: Quantum Diamonds, Citizen Science, and Cobol to AI

Hackaday Podcast · 18 Apr 2025 · 1h 11m · Episode 317

What this episode covers

Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Al Williams discuss a variety of hardware hacks, including a quantum magnetic sensor using synthetic diamonds, a broadcast positioning system to augment GPS, and a dismantled SpaceMouse. They also cover a tiny winged robot, a replica of Bell's photophone, and several citizen science projects like a schlieren imaging setup and a handheld game system. The episode concludes with a deep dive into legacy programming, comparing COBOL's domain-specific advantages to modern 'vibe coding' with AI, debating whether delegating code generation degrades human cognitive skills.

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