Dive into the wonders of scientific inquiry! Explore how extremophiles adapt in harsh environments, revealing the unique biodiversity of caves. Engage with a lively debate on black holes and the fate of information. Reflect on the connection between mathematics and the natural world through personal stories. Discover how science and communication intertwine beautifully, inspired by Einstein's legacy. Prepare for thought-provoking conversations about the cosmos, evolution, and the language of computers that promise to spark curiosity!
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Blue Skies Research
Much science consumed focuses on self-improvement and immediate benefits.
Exploring broader scientific ideas offers valuable perspective and wonder.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Importance of Research
Steven Strogatz recounts a conversation with Shai Shaham about choosing research problems.
Shaham avoids deciding a problem's importance, citing science's unpredictable nature.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Approximations in Science
Strogatz recalls a discussion with Nigel Goldenfeld about scientific modeling.
Goldenfeld humorously highlighted the layered approximations inherent in modeling complex systems.
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In 'How the Universe Got Its Spots', Janna Levin synthesizes geometry, topology, chaos, and string theories to explore the size and shape of the cosmos. The book delves into the patterns of hot and cold spots left over from the Big Bang, offering insights into whether the universe is infinite or just very large. Levin's writing style makes complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging for a broad audience.
Black Hole Wars
My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make Sense of the Universe
Leonard Susskind
Leonard Susskind's "Black Hole Wars" recounts the scientific debates surrounding black holes and their information paradox. The book details the clash of ideas between Susskind and Stephen Hawking, highlighting the intellectual rigor and passionate pursuit of knowledge within the physics community. Susskind's engaging narrative style makes complex theoretical physics accessible, offering insights into the evolution of scientific understanding. The book explores the profound implications of black hole physics for our understanding of quantum mechanics and the nature of reality. It's a compelling read for anyone interested in the history of science and the ongoing quest to unravel the universe's deepest mysteries.
How did complex life evolve? Where did space-time come from? Will computers ever understand language like we do? How did geometry create modern physics? These are just a few of the big and bold questions that we’ll be exploring in the latest season of Quanta’s interview podcast, “The Joy of Why,” starting March 20, and released every other Thursday.
As ever, we will be talking to researchers and exploring the latest thinking on great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. But this season sees a new format, with the two of us — mathematician Steven Strogatzand physicist Janna Levin— together in conversation for the first time to offer our own thoughts and questions about each topic.
As a preview, we discuss why we are particularly excited about the new season, and we reveal our favorite standout moments from the previous season.
The Joy of Why 
