The Joy of x

The molecular biologist Bonnie Bassler is deciphering the chemical languages that bacteria use to coordinate their assaults on a host. The post Bonnie Bassler on Talkative Bacteria and Eavesdropping Viruses first appeared on Quanta Magazine

The paleontologist Neil Shubin talks with host Steven Strogatz about hunting for a 375 million-year-old fossil and finding novel traits that evolved many times. The post Neil Shubin on Tiktaalik, Ballistic Tongues and Evolution first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Hosted by Steven Strogatz, The Joy of x podcast is back with new episodes that explore the inner worlds of top-tier scientists and mathematicians like Frank Wilczek, Bonnie Bassler and Amie Wilkinson. The post Podcast Preview: The Joy of x, Season Two first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Can geometry save democracy from gerrymandering? Mathematician Moon Duchin discusses the possibilities with host Steven Strogatz. The post Moon Duchin on Fair Voting and Random Walks first appeared on Quanta Magazine

The astrophysicist Brian Keating talks to host Steven Strogatz about chasing the universe’s greatest mysteries — and what it’s like to have a major discovery slip through his fingers. The post Brian Keating’s Quest for the Origin of the Universe first appeared on Quanta Magazine

The mathematician Rebecca Goldin and the psychology researcher Brian Nosek speak with host Steven Strogatz about what it’s like to be the bearers of unpopular truths. The post Rebecca Goldin and Brian Nosek on Hard Truths in Math and Psychology first appeared on Quanta Magazine

The neurogenetics pioneer Cori Bargmann speaks with host Steven Strogatz about why a transparent worm became her favorite animal and how a genetic discovery she made inspired a revolutionary cancer treatment. The post Cori Bargmann on the Genetics of Transparent Worms, Supertasters and Cancer first appeared on Quanta Magazine

The mathematician Tadashi Tokieda and host Steven Strogatz explore what we can learn about the world from simple “toys” with remarkable physical or mathematical properties. The post Tadashi Tokieda’s Special Kind of Magic first appeared on Quanta Magazine

The astrophysicist Janna Levin describes the fierce scientific beauty she finds in black holes and reveals why she took a major risk early in her career. The post Janna Levin on Seeing and Hearing Black Holes first appeared on Quanta Magazine

John Urschel, who retired from playing professional football with the Baltimore Ravens to become a mathematician, talks to host Steven Strogatz about the fascinations of graph theory that lured him away from the NFL. The post John Urschel: From NFL Player to Mathematician first appeared on Quanta Magazine