Why This Universe?

Why This Universe?

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

July 2, 2024 40 mins
We explore the diverse world of stars in the universe, from those similar to our Sun to those totally unrecognizable. For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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Today's episode is all about the star in our front yard - the sun. Learn how it came to be, how it has changed, and how will it change in the future. For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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Hear how the search for exoplanets has developed, and what surprises it has brought so far. For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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Today we hear from someone who bore witness to the so-called “November Revolution” of particle physics in 1974. For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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April 29, 2024 35 mins
Pseudoscience can sometimes be hard to distinguish from the real thing. Today we discuss how philosophers of science have thought about this problem. For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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April 15, 2024 43 mins
The first episode in a new mini-series on philosophical problems in cosmology - Today we start with the origins of Western science and learn what the ancient Greeks thought about the cosmos. For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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Hear how a recent discovery of the motions of galaxies is changing how cosmologists are thinking about our universe. For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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Last year, an experiment called NanoGRAV made a surprising discovery of gravitational waves using pulsars around the universe. Special guest Chiara Mingarelli explains. For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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What's it like bringing science to the most general public audiences? How do you distill complex results into short news-worthy articles without getting lost in clickbait? Today we hear the perspective of New York Times science journalist Katrina Miller.

For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-...

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Quantum computing makes big promises, but how does it work? What is the real state of quantum computing today? Special guest Henry Lamm answers our questions.

Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe

For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

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January 22, 2024 37 mins

Is the world around us real, or are we living in someone's computer program?

Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe

For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

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We hear two physicists describe their lives collecting data in remote locations, from deep underground in an active mine and from the South Pole.

Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe

For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

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December 18, 2023 24 mins

Learn how the geometry of space defies our intuition, and why it gave Einstein so much anxiety.

Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe

For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

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Today we visit a turning point in the history of science: the discovery that the Earth is not at the center of the cosmos.

Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe

For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

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Dan moderates a lively discussion on extraterrestrial life at the Chicago Humanities Festival.

Our new merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe

For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

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November 6, 2023 43 mins

Where does the musical octave come from? What makes a C note a C? Why do different instruments sound different? Special guest Tim Cohen comes on to answer these questions and more.
For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

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October 23, 2023 20 mins

We tell the story of how the Universe developed large scale structure, starting from the Big Bang to today. It could have all turned out very differently, if not for some key players.

For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

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Why This Universe hosts it's first ever live episode taping featuring guests Daniel Holz and Diana Powell. We discuss the possibility of intelligent life out in the Universe, the existential risks faced by humans on Earth, and the chance the intelligent life can persist in the Universe.

This conversation took place during the University of Chicago Podcast Network festival.

For access to ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, ...

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CORRECTION: We misspeak about the time of the event in the episode, we are really on at 3-4 pm CST! Apologies!

Why This Universe is going live on October 3rd in Chicago, IL!

RSVP for *free* here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ucpn-podcast-festival-tickets-717455076447?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Join us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/whythisuniverse

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While physicists overwhelmingly agree about the existence of dark matter, a select group of people aren't convinced. Instead, they believe we must be wrong about gravity, and claim we need a theory of modified gravity (MOND) instead. Recent press releases have claimed "smoking gun" evidence for this underdog theory, should we take them seriously?

Did you know this episode was inspired by a Patreon question? For access to ask-us-anyt...

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