Theoretical physicist and bestselling author Lawrence Krauss (A Universe from Nothing, The Known Unknowns) explores the biggest questions we can ask:
How did the universe begin? Why is there something rather than nothing? What is consciousness? And what will remain when every star has burned out?
Krauss moves seamlessly from the hard science of the Big Bang and dark energy to existential philosophy, arguing that our cosmic insignificance is precisely what makes life meaningful.
Along the way he shares personal stories—mentorship from Nobel laureates, serendipitous discoveries, his friendship with Christopher Hitchens—and explains how curiosity and rigorous science drive human progress.
🪐 What We Cover
- 0:00 Intro & Lawrence Krauss’s background
- 1:40 Why cosmic insignificance makes life precious
- 5:45 Serendipity, creativity & the joy of discovery
- 13:00 Australia stories & reflections on public science
- 16:20 Science as culture & the power of the scientific method
- 24:30 Evidence for the Big Bang and the age of the universe (~13.8B years)
- 29:15 How astronomers measure cosmic acceleration & dark energy
- 36:00 The universe’s fate: heat death, black holes & ultimate nothingness
- 40:45 Consciousness and the mystery of self-aware stardust
- 44:40 Memories of Christopher Hitchens and Hitch’s final quip
💡 Key Ideas & Quotes
- “We make our own meaning. The universe doesn’t care—and that’s liberating.”
- “Science is not just results; it’s the process of questioning and testing.”
- “Rare things happen all the time in a big, old universe.”
- Christopher Hitchens on existence: “Why is there something rather than nothing? Just wait... it won’t be for long.”
📚 A Selection Of Books by Lawrence Krauss
- A Universe from Nothing
- The Known Unknowns
- The Physics of Star Trek
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.