Why This Universe?

<p>The biggest ideas in physics, broken down. Join theoretical physicist Dan Hooper and co-host Shalma Wegsman as they answer your questions about dark matter, black holes, quantum mechanics, and more. Part of The University of Chicago Podcast Network.</p>

94 - Inside the Hubble Tension With Adam Riess

Our universe is expanding. But when physicists measure how fast this expansion rate is, they get two different answers. Hear what this crisis means from Nobel Prize winner Adam Riess. For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

09-29
31:55

93 - The Moment Dark Energy Appeared (Ft. Adam Riess)

Adam Riess recounts the moments of his Nobel prize-winning discovery that our universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, powered by a mysterious energy source called dark energy. For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

09-15
40:23

78 - The Life of a Science Journalist (Ft. Katrina Miller)

What's it like bringing science to the most general public audiences? How do you distill complex results into short news-worthy articles without getting lost in clickbait? Today we hear the perspective of New York Times science journalist Katrina Miller. For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

03-04
38:39

77 - All About Quantum Computing (Ft. Henry Lamm)

Quantum computing makes big promises, but how does it work? What is the real state of quantum computing today? Special guest Henry Lamm answers our questions. Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

02-05
40:40

76 - Do We Live in a Simulation?

Is the world around us real, or are we living in someone's computer program? Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

01-22
38:08

75 - Physics in Extreme Locations (Ft. Daniel Baxter & Alexandra Rahlin)

We hear two physicists describe their lives collecting data in remote locations, from deep underground in an active mine and from the South Pole. Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

01-08
42:10

8 - Is Space Flat or Curved?

Learn how the geometry of space defies our intuition, and why it gave Einstein so much anxiety. Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

12-18
24:32

74 - The Copernican Revolution (Ft. Aviva Rothman)

Today we visit a turning point in the history of science: the discovery that the Earth is not at the center of the cosmos. Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

12-04
58:39

73 - Life Beyond Earth (Ft. Avi Loeb and Garrett Graff at the Chicago Humanities Festival)

Dan moderates a lively discussion on extraterrestrial life at the Chicago Humanities Festival. Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

11-20
01:08:50

72 - The Physics Of Music (Ft. Tim Cohen)

Where does the musical octave come from? What makes a C note a C? Why do different instruments sound different? Special guest Tim Cohen comes on to answer these questions and more. For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

11-06
43:40

71 - How the Universe Got Its Structure

We tell the story of how the Universe developed large scale structure, starting from the Big Bang to today. It could have all turned out very differently, if not for some key players. For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

10-23
20:29

70 - WTU Live: Will Intelligent Life Persist in the Universe? (ft. Daniel Holz and Diana Powell)

Why This Universe hosts it's first ever live episode taping featuring guests Daniel Holz and Diana Powell. We discuss the possibility of intelligent life out in the Universe, the existential risks faced by humans on Earth, and the chance the intelligent life can persist in the Universe. This conversation took place during the University of Chicago Podcast Network festival. For access to ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.co...

10-10
58:04

69 - An Update on Modified Gravity (MOND)

While physicists overwhelmingly agree about the existence of dark matter, a select group of people aren't convinced. Instead, they believe we must be wrong about gravity, and claim we need a theory of modified gravity (MOND) instead. Recent press releases have claimed "smoking gun" evidence for this underdog theory, should we take them seriously? Did you know this episode was inspired by a Patreon question? For access to ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a mo...

08-28
47:29

68 - The Age of the Universe

Today we are debunking the recent paper that claims our universe is much older than previously thought. For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse For fun dinosaur facts and research, check out I Know Dino: The Big Dinosaur Podcast, on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-know-dino-the-big-dinosaur-podcast/id960976813?ign-mpt=uo%3D4&mt=2 Support the show

08-14
29:26

67 - When Science Meets Spirituality (Ft. Alan Lightman)

Special guest Alan Lightman takes us through a fascinating discussion of consciousness, and tells us how he reconciles spirituality with his materialist views. Todays episode is sponsored by the International Space Station. Join the ISS National Laboratory this August in Seattle at the 12th annual ISS Research and Development Conference. Visit ISSconference.org to register now. Support the show

07-17
42:57

66 - When Space Was Filled With Music

Shortly after the Big Bang, space was densely packed with enough stuff for sound to travel through it. What was producing sound in this era, and how can we hear it today? Todays episode is sponsored by the International Space Station. Join the ISS National Laboratory this August in Seattle at the 12th annual ISS Research and Development Conference. Visit ISSconference.org to register now. Support the show

07-03
25:42

65 - Should We Build a Muon Collider? (Ft. Cari Cesarotti)

Special guest Cari Cesarotti tells us why so many particle physicists are itching to build a whole new type of particle collider. Support the show

05-22
42:27

64 - The Journey to the Big Bang

The Big Bang is well accepted today as the leading theory of how our universe evolved over time - but in today's episode, we talk through all the very wrong theories that came before it. To get ad-free episodes and other exclusives, join us for $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

05-08
30:19

63 - The Question of Consciousness (Ft. David Chalmers)

Can consciousness be explained by physics, or does it appeal to something beyond materialism? Philosopher guest star David Chalmers talks to us about how we can think about consciousness from a philosophical and scientific perspective. To support our show and get ad-free episodes and other exclusives, join us for $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

04-17
50:35

61 - Could the Large Hadron Collider Destroy the World?

Before the LHC turned on in 2008, many feared that it would create a dangerous black hole that would destroy the world. Were any of those fears well-founded, and how seriously did scientists take these claims? Support the show

02-27
23:46

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01-15 Reply

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Majid Moradi

I really enjoyed it. Good job.

04-14 Reply

Pardis Saremi

awesome👌🏻

05-23 Reply

Anderson Galvao

For all respects, but I think that it's a nonsense not saying the name James Webb because of him being against LGBTQ community long ago. If I was gay or something I would be mature enough to give a shit for this and I would be quiet grateful for the science that James Webb Space Telescope will bring us.

12-22 Reply

04-15

04-15

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