

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

Nov 30, 2020 • 38min
18 - Could a Hyper-Advanced Civilization Resist Dark Energy?
If life in the universe survives into the far future, it will eventually come face to face with the accelerating expansion of the universe caused by dark energy. Could a hyper-advanced civilization find a way to fight it?Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

Nov 23, 2020 • 1h 43min
The State of The Universe #81 - Dr. Daniel Whiteson - The Standard Model and Its Many Quirks!
Today our feed is getting taken over by Brendan Drachler to bring you an episode of his show, The State of the Universe!Science moves at an impossibly fast pace. It will leave you wondering, what is the state of the universe? Wonder no more! Learn from researchers working at the cutting edge of scientific advancement about everything from the robot takeover to the big bang only on The State of The Universe podcast.Listen to the State of the Universe everywhere where podcasts are available. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-state-of-the-universe/id1429808898Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

Nov 16, 2020 • 26min
17 - Why Haven't We Met Aliens?
Are there other intelligent civilizations out there, or are we alone here on Earth? And what have we done to try to find them?Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

Nov 2, 2020 • 27min
16 - Where Is Life in the Universe?
What does it takes for a planet to support life? How different could extraterrestrial life be from what we see on Earth?Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

Oct 19, 2020 • 26min
15 - What are Grand Unified Theories?
These theories aim to explain all of the fundamental forces (except gravity) in one neat package. How does it work?Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

Oct 12, 2020 • 27min
14 - Why Does Time Move in One Direction?
What in the laws of physics differentiates between past and future? Is there a physical reason that time always moves forward? Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

Oct 5, 2020 • 31min
13 - Does Quantum Mechanics Imply a Multiverse?
Today we explore different interpretations of quantum mechanics, from Copenhagen to the many-worlds hypothesis, in an attempt to uncover what quantum reality really is.Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

Sep 28, 2020 • 31min
12 - Please Stop Emailing Dan About MOND
Some physicists have considered the possibility that dark matter might not exist - and that instead, it's our theories of gravity which are wrong. Today we take a deep dive into these theories of modified gravity.Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

Sep 21, 2020 • 28min
11 - Discovery Alert! Let's Talk About Gravitational Waves
You may have heard of the new gravitational wave discovery of September 2020. Here's everything you need to know to understand what this detection means for physics!Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show

Sep 14, 2020 • 29min
10 - What is Dark Energy?
Get introduced to one of the most mysterious characters in physics.Crew CollectiveA podcast about the wild, weird, and deeply human side of cosmic storytelling.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Support the show


