The Quanta Podcast
Quanta Magazine
Exploring the distant universe, the insides of cells, the abstractions of math, the complexity of information itself, and much more, The Quanta Podcast is a tour of the frontier between the known and the unknown. In each episode, Quanta Magazine Editor-in-Chief Samir Patel speaks with the minds behind the award-winning publication to navigate through some of the most important and mind-expanding questions in science and math. Quanta specifically covers fundamental research — driven by curiosity, discovery and the overwhelming desire to know why and how. Join us every Tuesday for a stimulating conversation about the biggest ideas and the tiniest details.(If you've been a fan of the Quanta Science Podcast, it will continue here. You'll see those episodes marked as audio edition episodes every two weeks.)
Episodes
Mentioned books
7 snips
Nov 18, 2025 • 27min
Why Are Waves So Hard to Grasp?
Joseph Howlett, a math staff writer at Quanta Magazine, dives into the enigmatic world of ocean waves and their complex mathematical descriptions. He explains why even simple waves pose a challenging puzzle for mathematicians, discussing the difficulties in fluid dynamics and the Euler equations. The conversation reveals how tiny disturbances can lead to chaotic results in waves and explores cutting-edge simulations that uncover instability patterns. With a blend of history and modern research, Howlett connects these mathematical findings to real-world observations.
21 snips
Nov 11, 2025 • 27min
Sleep Is Not All or Nothing
Yasemin Saplakoglu, a science staff writer for Quanta Magazine, dives into the fascinating world of sleep and wakefulness transitions. She explains that sleep is a spectrum, highlighting the groggy mixed states of the brain. Discover how hypnagogic states can spark creativity, with techniques used by famous figures like Salvador Dalí and Thomas Edison. Yasemin also discusses sleep disorders and local sleep, revealing intriguing insights into how parts of our brain can nap while we're awake. This exploration opens the door to potential sleep therapies.
13 snips
Nov 6, 2025 • 13min
Audio Edition: A New Proof Smooths Out the Math of Melting
Discover the intriguing world of mean curvature flow and how it smooths melting surfaces. Learn about the breakthrough proof from Bamler and Kleiner that confirms singularities remain simple. Explore the historical roots of this mathematical concept, from metallurgy to modern applications. Discuss the fascinating challenges posed by pinch-point singularities and the notorious 'evil catanoid.' This enlightening dive into geometry and topology unveils the potential for significant advancements in the field.
10 snips
Nov 4, 2025 • 25min
The Mystery of Early Universe’s Little Red Dots
In this episode, Charlie Wood, a physics staff writer at Quanta Magazine, discusses groundbreaking discoveries about early-universe astrophysics. He explains how the James Webb Space Telescope is reshaping our understanding of the cosmos, revealing mysterious 'little red dots' and an unusual naked black hole without a hosting galaxy. Charlie explores possible origins for these phenomena, including primordial collapse and runaway mergers, and argues that these findings challenge existing models of black hole formation, suggesting a more complex cosmic history.
4 snips
Oct 28, 2025 • 27min
A Biography of Earth Across the Age of Animals
Peter Brannen, a science writer and Quanta contributor, dives into Earth's climate history and the pivotal role of CO2. He discusses the extremes of past climates and contrasts today's stability with perilous historical periods. Brannen explains how scientists reconstruct these climates through an impressive range of fossil data and models. He emphasizes the urgent need to understand anthropogenic climate changes, warning that our current cold climate is an anomaly. His insights reveal not just Earth's past, but also humanity's precarious future.
13 snips
Oct 23, 2025 • 14min
Audio Edition: ‘Paraparticles’ Would Be a Third Kingdom of Quantum Particle
Discover a groundbreaking proposal that introduces paraparticles, a new category of quantum particle, distinct from fermions and bosons. Explore Ji-Wan Wong's mathematical breakthrough during the pandemic that led to this exciting theory. Learn about how these particles could enable new states of matter and might be created in exotic materials. The conversation delves into stricter rules of indistinguishability and the potential for experimental realization using quantum simulators. Theoretical yet tantalizing, paraparticles could reshape our understanding of quantum physics!
42 snips
Oct 21, 2025 • 25min
What We Learn From Running ‘Life’ in Reverse
George Musser, a science journalist and contributing writer for Quanta Magazine, dives into the intriguing world of cellular automata and complexity engineering. He discusses how simple rules can create intricate patterns, drawing parallels to biological systems. Musser shares his personal history with Conway's Game of Life and explores the challenges of inverting automata. The conversation highlights innovations in training neural cellular automata, with potential applications in biology, regeneration, and technology. A fascinating peek into the future of complex systems!
38 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 28min
The Math of Catastrophe
In this insightful conversation, science and technology journalist Gregory Barber delves into the concept of climate tipping points. He discusses how historical climate shifts, like the Sahara's transformation from grassland to desert, inform our understanding of abrupt changes. Barber explains the complexities of mathematical models, including bifurcation theory and catastrophe theory. He also emphasizes the dual nature of tipping-point narratives—both as motivators for action and sources of despair. Amid uncertainty, he advocates for responsible communication of climate data.
22 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 12min
Audio Edition: Quantum Speedup Found for Huge Class of Hard Problems
Researchers have unveiled an exciting quantum algorithm that could significantly outperform classical methods in optimization tasks. The discussion highlights the complexities of quantum versus classical computing, including how new algorithms often lead to classical countermeasures. Experts share their enthusiasm for the breakthrough while acknowledging challenges posed by current hardware limitations. The episode delves into the intricate relationship between quantum waves and polynomial fitting, suggesting wide-ranging implications for error correction and cryptography.
46 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 24min
What Can a Cell Remember?
Claire L. Evans, a science writer for Quanta Magazine and musician in YACHT, dives into the fascinating world of cellular memory. She challenges traditional views by discussing how memory can exist beyond the brain in organisms like slime molds and bacteria. Claire shares groundbreaking research on unicellular memory, highlighting experiences of learning in single cells. The conversation also explores the evolutionary implications of this memory and the unknown mechanisms driving it. Claire advocates for embracing ambiguity in scientific definitions and encourages interdisciplinary dialogue.
