The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss

On this week’s episode of The Origins Podcast, I ended up in a place I genuinely never expected to go: the humble “like” button. When the idea first landed in my inbox, my reaction was basically, why on Earth would anyone write a whole book about that? Then I spoke with Martin Reeves, and I discovered that the history of this tiny icon is a surprisingly rich window into innovation, entrepreneurship, human psychology, and the modern attention economy.Martin is a senior figure at BCG’s Henderson Institute, but what made the conversation especially fun for me is that he is not a consultant who wandered into science. He has a background in science, and then wandered into the world of strategy, technology, and ideas, and he approaches the “like” button the way I wish more people approached our digital world: with curiosity, skepticism, and a willingness to follow evidence across disciplines.The central irony, of course, is that the “like” button began as an almost laughably small, practical solution. In the story Martin and his coauthor reconstructs, it is often less about a single inventor than about a messy ecosystem of micro innovations, technical constraints, and cultural accidents. Yet those small choices compound. The result is that something as simple as a handful of code became a universal signal that helped shape social media, transformed advertising, and created feedback loops that are now baked into the infrastructure of daily life.We also dig into why it works so well on us. The mechanisms are not mysterious in the abstract, they are biological and social, but the scale is unprecedented. Approval and recognition are ancient. Industrialized approval is new. And once you start thinking that way, you notice how these same feedback dynamics are spreading into new domains, including the tools we now use to interact with AI.This conversation surprised me, and I suspect it will surprise you too. Indeed, if you are like me, and wondered why the like-button is worth discussing, you will be surprised to learn how much of the modern world is quietly organized around it. You can listen on any podcast platform, watch on YouTube, or view ad free on Substack. And if you are tempted at the end, well, you may even find yourself clicking the very thing we spend the episode dissecting.You can listen on any podcast platform, watch on YouTube, or view ad free on Substack. And if you are tempted at the end, well, you may even find yourself clicking the very thing we spend the episode dissecting.As always, an ad-free video version of this podcast is also available to paid Critical Mass subscribers. Your subscriptions support the non-profit Origins Project Foundation, which produces the podcast. The audio version is available free on the Critical Mass site and on all podcast sites, and the video version will also be available on the Origins Project YouTube. Get full access to Critical Mass at lawrencekrauss.substack.com/subscribe

Diana McLain Smith, a conflict mediator and author, shares her insights on bridging political divides. She explores how evolution influences in-group loyalty and the societal forces that harden these divides. Highlighting the power of local community action, she discusses examples from Billings and Lewiston to illustrate positive change. Diana emphasizes the importance of open dialogue, reframing perspectives, and examining beliefs through a civic lens, urging citizens to take meaningful steps toward collaboration and understanding.

Dive into a fascinating exploration of the universe with a practical guide to physics. The discussion spans from the vastness of cosmic scales to the microscopic realms of atoms. Krauss employs the 'powers of ten' to illustrate how our everyday experiences relate to the universe's grand design. Key topics include Earth's place among galaxies, the mysterious nature of dark matter, and the intricate behaviors of particles. This journey not only reveals our cosmic insignificance but celebrates the profound insights science offers about our origins.

In this engaging conversation, Noam Chomsky, a renowned linguist and political commentator, reflects on anti-intellectualism in America and the delayed reaction of intellectuals during the Vietnam War. He critiques U.S. foreign policy, discussing topics like North Korea and the humanitarian impact of sanctions on Venezuela. Chomsky analyzes Trump’s media manipulation and highlights existential threats such as climate change and nuclear escalation. He also addresses the complexities of free speech and the role of religion in politics, providing insights that remain highly relevant today.

As we move into the end of the year, I’m excited to return to our recurring series “What’s New in Science” with my co-host Sabine Hossenfelder. In this month’s episode, we started by tackling a favorite subject: scientific hype. Sabine kicked things off by dissecting a recent, highly suspect press release claiming a million-qubit quantum computer is on the horizon. I then brought up a National Geographic article claiming that “warp drive is speeding closer to reality” , and we discussed the reasons why it actually isn’t, including the need for “negative energy,” that keep it firmly in the realm of science fiction.From there, Sabine steered us into the world of academic accolades, discussing the controversy around last year’s Nobel Prize in Physics for work on neural networks and the collaborative nature of science. I then introduced this year’s prize, which was awarded for the beautiful and precise experimental work on seemingly macroscopic manifestations of quantum mechanics—specifically, showing a superconducting quantum state can “tunnel” through a barrier.Finally, we turned to cosmic mysteries. Sabine presented a report on search for “Dark Stars,” a theory that the first stars might have been powered by dark matter annihilation , which require some wishful thinking and what I think are not particularly well motivated physics. For full disclosure this is an issue I thought about in a slightly different context almost 40 years ago and have some a priori skepticism about. I closed with a much more plausible bit of exotic physics that may have been observed: new observations of long-lived gamma-ray bursts. A new model suggests these are caused by a black hole that has merged with a star and is consuming it from the inside out. From wild hype to implausible and plausible models to Nobel-winning physics, I hope you enjoy the conversation.As always, an ad-free video version of this podcast is also available to paid Critical Mass subscribers. Your subscriptions support the non-profit Origins Project Foundation, which produces the podcast. The audio version is available free on the Critical Mass site and on all podcast sites, and the video version will also be available on the Origins Project YouTube. Get full access to Critical Mass at lawrencekrauss.substack.com/subscribe

In a Halloween-themed exploration, the host debunks myths about ghosts using fundamental physics. If ghosts were visible, they'd interact with light, contradicting their ability to pass through walls. The discussion critiques the misuse of quantum mechanics in pop culture, especially the misconception that consciousness can alter reality. By analyzing examples like miracles and werewolves, the host highlights that the real universe, with its quantum wonders and cosmic mysteries, is far more intriguing than any supernatural fantasy.

This conversation dives into the ideological challenges facing science and academia today. It highlights the erosion of free speech and the rise of activism over scholarship. The complexities of cancel culture and its impact on academic integrity are explored, alongside discussions on the distortion of biology for political ends. Gad Saad candidly addresses the absurdities of modern campus culture, emphasizing the need for open dialogue and diverse voices in academia. The discussion calls for a return to principles that uphold free inquiry and intellectual rigor.

Karleen Gribble, a dedicated researcher in breastfeeding and infant feeding during emergencies, delves into the ideological challenges facing science today. She shares her transformative journey from agriculture to nursing and highlights the necessity of clear language around sex and gender in maternal health. Gribble argues for using evidence in public health while navigating the complexities of inclusive language. She calls for courage in scientific leadership and community engagement, emphasizing the importance of integrity in the face of societal pressures.

Dorian Abbot, a Professor of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago, dives into the ideological challenges facing modern academia. He discusses the alarming state of free speech and the repercussions for faculty with divergent views. The conversation highlights the clash between scientific inquiry and ideology, as well as the impact of cancel culture on academic freedom. Abbot advocates for fostering an environment of intellectual diversity, emphasizing the necessity of open dialogue for the advancement of science.

Judith Suissa, a philosopher of education, and Alice Sullivan, a sociology professor, dive into the ideological battles affecting academia. They discuss the implications of diversity and inclusion initiatives on free inquiry and how these shifts can stifle open debate. The duo highlights the challenges of addressing sensitive topics like gender and the fear junior researchers face in expressing dissenting views. They advocate for academic freedom, calling for an environment where critical discussions can thrive without the fear of backlash.