EP 677 : Google, Virgin Galactic, and Smell‑Tech: Space AI, New Spacecraft & Scent Internet

Ever wondered how AI is taking flight—literally? In this episode we dive into three groundbreaking stories that could reshape how we work, travel, and even smell the internet. First, Google’s daring Suncatcher experiment put a Tensor Processing Unit into orbit, running the Gemma model for just 20‑minute bursts and testing radiation‑hard AI hardware. We break down what this means for future space‑based data centers and the timeline for a satellite compute network. Next, Virgin Galactic lifts the curtain on Apeiron, its sleek six‑seat Delta‑class spacecraft designed for sub‑orbital tourism and slated for commercial flights by early 2027. We explore the modular design, flight cadence goals, and how this could finally make space travel feel like a weekend getaway. Finally, Ohio State’s Scentronic turns the internet into a nose‑friendly medium, capturing five everyday aromas and transmitting them to a wearable that recreates the smell. While still a prototype, the tech hints at a future where virtual meetings might include the scent of fresh coffee.We also skim other hot topics: Warhound’s bio‑enhanced super‑dogs, Prime Medicine’s first in‑body “search‑and‑replace” gene edit for Wilson disease, and a quick roundup of today’s top AI productivity tools. Want to boost your workflow? Try Beam.win for cross‑device AI agents, Claude Duet for proactive assistance, Composio Instant for self‑funding agents, UseIt Studio for design files, zCAD AI for 3‑D parts, and BAND for Developers to keep coding teams in sync.Listen now, share with fellow tech enthusiasts, and hit subscribe so you never miss a breakthrough. Tools mentioned: Beam.win, Claude Duet, Composio Instant, UseIt Studio, zCAD AI, BAND for Developers.