Why This Universe?
Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman
The biggest ideas in physics, broken down. Join theoretical physicist Dan Hooper and co-host Shalma Wegsman as they answer your questions about dark matter, black holes, quantum mechanics, and more. Part of The University of Chicago Podcast Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 8, 2023 • 30min
64 - The Journey to the Big Bang
Exploring the wrong theories that came before the Big Bang, the impact of general relativity on our understanding of the universe, Paul Dirac's theory on gravity, the evolution of the Big Bang theory, and the significance of studying inflation and its alternative theories in the history of science.
30 snips
Apr 17, 2023 • 50min
63 - The Question of Consciousness (Ft. David Chalmers)
Can consciousness be explained by physics, or does it appeal to something beyond materialism? Philosopher guest star David Chalmers talks to us about how we can think about consciousness from a philosophical and scientific perspective.To support our show and get ad-free episodes and other exclusives, join us for $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseSupport the show
Mar 27, 2023 • 28min
47 - Boltzmann Brains: Could Reality Be An Illusion? (Rebroadcast)
A whirlwind of questions brings us to an odd conclusion: could reality be an illusion created by a quantum fluctuation of a brain? This is a rebroadcast of a past favorite.For ad-free episodes and other exclusives, join us for $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseSupport the show
Mar 13, 2023 • 24min
62 - JWST and the Earliest Galaxies in the Universe (ft. Mike Boylan-Kolchin)
Astronomers' newest telescope, JWST, just discovered galaxies that formed earlier than previously thought possible. What does this discovery mean for our understanding of the early universe?To support our show and get ad-free episodes and other exclusives, join us for $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseSupport the show
Feb 27, 2023 • 24min
61 - Could the Large Hadron Collider Destroy the World?
Before the LHC turned on in 2008, many feared that it would create a dangerous black hole that would destroy the world. Were any of those fears well-founded, and how seriously did scientists take these claims?Support the show
Feb 13, 2023 • 24min
60 - The Search for Extra Dimensions
Learn how extra dimensions of space might appear to us, and what physicists have done to try to find them.To support our show and get ad-free episodes and other exclusives, join us for $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseSupport the show
Jan 9, 2023 • 41min
59 - The End of Everything (Ft. Katie Mack)
Special guest Katie Mack talks to us about how the universe might end.To support our show and get ad-free episodes and other exclusives, join us for $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseSupport the show
Dec 12, 2022 • 14min
58 - The Risks of Science Populism
In today's different type of episode, we talk about the risks of a subtle kind of scientific misinformation.Support the show
Nov 21, 2022 • 24min
57 - String Theory Part 3: Duality
This episode will hurt your brain, or your money back.To support our show and get ad-free episodes and other exclusives, join us for $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseSupport the show
Nov 7, 2022 • 29min
56 - An Icy Neutrino Interruption
We interrupt our regular episodes to cover the exciting new discovery that the IceCube Neutrino Observatory announced on November 3rd, 2022.To support our show and get ad-free episodes and other exclusives, join us for $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseSupport the show
