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
Nov 19, 2015 • 37min
How Humans Evolved Supersize Brains
Scientists have begun to identify the symphony of biological triggers that powered the extraordinary expansion of the human brain. The post How Humans Evolved Supersize Brains first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Nov 12, 2015 • 30min
Mongrel Microbe Tests Story of Complex Life
A newly discovered class of microbe could help to resolve one of the biggest and most controversial mysteries in evolution — how simple microbes transformed into the complex cells that produced animals, plants and fungi. The post Mongrel Microbe Tests Story of Complex Life first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Oct 22, 2015 • 32min
A Twisted Path to Equation-Free Prediction
Complex natural systems defy analysis using a standard mathematical toolkit, so one ecologist is throwing out the equations. The post A Twisted Path to Equation-Free Prediction first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Oct 15, 2015 • 27min
The Mutant Genes Behind the Black Death
Only a few genetic changes were enough to change an ordinary stomach bug into the bacteria responsible for the plague. The post The Mutant Genes Behind the Black Death first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Oct 8, 2015 • 27min
A New Map Traces the Limits of Computation
A major advance in computational complexity reveals deep connections between the classes of problems that computers can — and can’t — possibly do. The post A New Map Traces the Limits of Computation first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Oct 1, 2015 • 33min
Visions of Future Physics
Nima Arkani-Hamed is championing a campaign to build the world’s largest particle collider, even as he pursues a new vision of the laws of nature. The post Visions of Future Physics first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Sep 25, 2015 • 31min
How the Body’s Trillions of Clocks Keep Time
Explore the fascinating role of cellular clocks in human health and development, and discover how the PASD1 protein impacts these rhythms, potentially influencing cancer and stem cell function. Dive into innovative research that merges physics with ecology to enhance biodiversity understanding, especially in complex ecosystems like the Amazon. Learn about the challenges of studying species distribution in regions like the Western Ghats and how new, simplified ecological modeling methods could revolutionize conservation strategies.
Sep 16, 2015 • 24min
Einstein’s Parable of Quantum Insanity
Einstein refused to believe in the inherent unpredictability of the world. Is the subatomic world insane, or just subtle? The post Einstein’s Parable of Quantum Insanity first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Sep 10, 2015 • 25min
A New Design for Cryptography’s Black Box
A recent cryptographic breakthrough has proven difficult to put into practice. But new advances show how near-perfect computer security might be surprisingly close at hand. The post A New Design for Cryptography’s Black Box first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Sep 3, 2015 • 28min
How Mutant Viral Swarms Spread Disease
Researchers are using a new understanding of viral swarms to predict the evolution and spread of viruses. The podcast explores the rapid evolution of RNA viruses, the concept of viral swarms and their impact on disease spread, and the advancements in DNA sequencing methods to study underground microbial life. It also discusses microbial communities in prairie and Arctic soils and the potential of soil microbes in pollution reduction and carbon sequestration.
