# Debunking with Shahriar

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2021-08-10
- Length: 1h 12m
- Episode: 553
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/553-debunking-with-shahriar/

## Summary

Shahriar Shahramian, who leads the ASIC research team at Bell Labs and runs The Signal Path, joins Dave Jones to discuss the psychology of misinformation and the engineering challenges of debunking it. They analyze specific examples of dodgy technology, including wireless power transfer scams like Xiaomi's device and energy saver capacitors, explaining why they are impractical despite working in niche cases. The conversation covers the technical realities of 5G, 6G sensing, and semiconductor manufacturing, including silicon germanium and gallium nitride, while emphasizing the need for critical thinking education to combat harmful myths.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=0) Introduction: Shahriar Shahramian and The Signal Path
- [2:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=176) The Psychology of Misinformation and 5G Debunking
- [6:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=377) Debunking Wireless Power and Xiaomi's Charger
- [10:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=603) 5G Protection Devices and the Cost of Truth
- [16:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=1009) 6G Sensing, Radar, and High-Frequency Circuits
- [21:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=1295) Semiconductor Manufacturing: FinFET, SiGe, and GaN
- [31:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=1902) Ethical Limits of Debunking and Starlink
- [46:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=2784) Vaccine Development and the Value of Scientific Process
- [54:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=3296) Energy Savers, Router Cages, and Political Influence
- [1:03:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-08-10-debunking-with-shahriar#t=3780) Teaching Critical Thinking and Concise Communication

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Bell Labs (company)
- The Signal Path (other)
- Xiaomi (company)
- Apple (company)
- Nokia (company)
- Samsung (company)
- Ericsson (company)
- Intel (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Gallium Nitride (material)
- Silicon Germanium (material)
- Starlink (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Spark Gap - Episode 43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-11-11-the-spark-gap-episode-43) (The Spark Gap)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything-b56cece1) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 268: RF Burns, Wireless Charging Sucks, and Barnacles Grow on Flaperons](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-04-26-ep-268-rf-burns-wireless-charging-sucks-and-barnacles-grow-on-flaperons) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 223: Smoking Smart Meter, 489 Megapixels, and Unshredding Documents](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-06-16-ep-223-smoking-smart-meter-489-megapixels-and-unshredding-documents) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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