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

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2025-04-18
- Length: 1h 11m
- Episode: 317
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-04-18-ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-04-18-ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai#t=4) Introduction and Pet Hacks Contest
- [5:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-04-18-ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai#t=309) Quantum Magnetic Sensor with Synthetic Diamonds
- [12:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-04-18-ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai#t=740) Broadcast Positioning System (BPS) as GPS Augmentation
- [17:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-04-18-ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai#t=1026) Dismantling the SpaceMouse and Tiny Pogo Robot
- [28:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-04-18-ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai#t=1731) Bell's Photophone Replica and DIY Spectrometers
- [35:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-04-18-ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai#t=2159) Citizen Science Hacks: Schlieren Imaging and Absolute Zero
- [41:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-04-18-ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai#t=2477) Porting COBOL and the Value of Domain-Specific Languages
- [52:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-04-18-ep-317-quantum-diamonds-citizen-science-and-cobol-to-ai#t=3123) Vibe Coding, AI, and Cognitive Degradation

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- ESP32 (chip)
- SpaceMouse (product)
- Magellan (company)
- COBOL (other)
- Fortran (other)
- RPG2 (other)
- GNU COBOL (other)
- Stack Overflow (other)
- Google Gemini (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Queen of Quantum | Space Docs and The Right Stuff | The Best Interviews](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-12-23-the-queen-of-quantum-space-docs-and-the-right-stuff-the-best-interviews) (EE Times Current)
- [223: Gregorian Chants and Things](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-11-16-223-gregorian-chants-and-things) (Embedded.fm)
- [507: Turn Our Data Into Predators](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-08-07-507-turn-our-data-into-predators) (Embedded.fm)
- [It Works With Option Number 5](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-06-19-it-works-with-option-number-5) (The Amp Hour)
- [446: World's Best PB&J](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-03-30-446-worlds-best-pb-j) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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