# 239. The Saucies: 2025 Recap & TNB Turns Five!

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2026-01-06
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five-EJXzHWqe

## Summary

The hosts of The Next Byte Podcast celebrate the show's 5th anniversary and recap their 2025 favorites, highlighting nine key episodes ranging from sustainable recycling to AI-driven manufacturing. They discuss Georgia Tech's research on reinforcing recycled plastics, MIT's 'vibe manufacturing' system that uses AI to generate CAD models and robot toolpaths from voice commands, and enhanced geothermal systems for on-demand renewable energy. The hosts also analyze the potential of AI in reducing traffic emissions and creating universal snake venom antidotes, while reflecting on the growing application of AI in physical engineering domains.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=0) Introduction and Podcast Milestones
- [5:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=353) Biggest Potential: Reinventing Recycling
- [7:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=460) The Teaser: Microwave Manufacturing of Ceramics
- [10:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=605) Intersection: Zebrafish Neural Mapping for Robots
- [12:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=748) The Pleaser: Enhanced Geothermal Systems
- [16:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=962) Novel: Edible Robots and Batteries
- [18:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=1133) The Rocker: Origami-Inspired Concrete
- [22:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=1334) Favorite: AI for Intersection Emissions
- [27:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=1649) Showstopper: MIT's Vibe Manufacturing
- [31:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=1871) Honorable Mention: AI Snake Venom Antidotes
- [32:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-06-239-the-saucies-2025-recap-tnb-turns-five#t=1976) Future Predictions and Closing

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Georgia Tech (company)
- MIT (company)
- ETH Zurich (company)
- Utah Department of Transportation (company)
- Tesla (company)
- SAE International (company)
- World Health Organization (company)
- Super Whisper (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep 324: Ribbon Microphone From A Gumstick, Texture From a Virtual Log, and a Robot Arm From PVC](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-06-07-ep-324-ribbon-microphone-from-a-gumstick-texture-from-a-virtual-log-and-a-robot) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 207: Modular Furniture, Plastic Prosthetics, and Your Data on YouTube](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-02-24-ep-207-modular-furniture-plastic-prosthetics-and-your-data-on-youtube) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [OpenAI Goes Open Source and just dropped GPT 5 + Google's Interactive 3D World Generator](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-08-07-openai-goes-open-source-and-just-dropped-gpt-5-googles-interactive-3d-world-gene) (Built 2 Scale)
- [Ep 153:A 555 Teardown to Die For, Tetrabyte is Not a Typo, DIY Injection Molding, and Using All the Parts of the Trash Printer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-01-28-ep-153-a-555-teardown-to-die-for-tetrabyte-is-not-a-typo-diy-injection-molding-a) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Automate 2025 Recap](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-05-17-automate-2025-recap) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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