# 220. How Popcorn Popped an Idea for Sustainable Manufacturing

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2025-05-20
- Length: 15m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-05-20-220-how-popcorn-popped-an-idea-for-sustainable-manufacturing
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/220-how-popcorn-popped-an-idea-for-sustainable-manufacturing-cH8BHVE5

## Summary

Hosts Bo and Maxine discuss a Carnegie Mellon University research breakthrough that uses microwave energy to synthesize MXene ceramics in 90 minutes, reducing energy consumption by 75% compared to the traditional 40-hour furnace process. They explain how these ultra-thin, radiation-blocking materials are critical for protecting GPUs in space satellites, which currently fail within weeks due to radiation exposure. The episode highlights the potential for this sustainable manufacturing technique to scale beyond aerospace to broader electronic and defense applications.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-05-20-220-how-popcorn-popped-an-idea-for-sustainable-manufacturing#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor Read
- [2:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-05-20-220-how-popcorn-popped-an-idea-for-sustainable-manufacturing#t=158) The Microwave vs. Furnace Analogy
- [6:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-05-20-220-how-popcorn-popped-an-idea-for-sustainable-manufacturing#t=370) MXenes and the Space Radiation Problem
- [10:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-05-20-220-how-popcorn-popped-an-idea-for-sustainable-manufacturing#t=622) Microwave Synthesis Mechanism and Efficiency
- [12:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-05-20-220-how-popcorn-popped-an-idea-for-sustainable-manufacturing#t=767) Scaling and Future Applications

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mouser Electronics (company)
- Carnegie Mellon (company)
- MXenes (material)
- PTC thermistors (product)

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- [Ep 267: Metal Casting, Plasma Cutting, and a Spicy 555](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-04-19-ep-267-metal-casting-plasma-cutting-and-a-spicy-555) (Hackaday Podcast)
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- [What It’s Really Going to Take to Save the Planet: Lessons from 2024](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-01-02-what-its-really-going-to-take-to-save-the-planet-lessons-from-2024) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [The Future of Energy - Part 3: Fusion Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2022-08-30-the-future-of-energy-part-3-fusion-energy) (Additive Snack)

## Citing this page

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