Tuesday, November 3, 2020

List of Episodes

What if the Earth Stopped Spinning

October 28, 2020 • 55 min

What makes planets spin, and what would happen if they stopped?


The Quantum Physics of Solar Panels

October 26, 2020 • 46 min

Daniel and Jorge break down the physics and engineering behind solar panels


A discounted dark matter discovery

October 21, 2020 • 46 min

Why do particle physicists discount the beautiful signal of dark matter from the DAMA experiment?


Is all of space magnetized?

October 19, 2020 • 51 min

Is it possible that there are magnetic fields.... everywhere?


Is Energy Actually Conserved?

October 14, 2020 • 49 min

Daniel and Jorge explore whether energy is actually a fundamental conserved quantity.


The SF Universes of Vandana Singh

October 12, 2020 • 67 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about the creative science in the short stories of Vandana Singh's collection "Ambiguity Machines"


Where do comets come from?

October 7, 2020 • 48 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about the vast and amazing Oort cloud, and whether it is throwing snowballs at us.


Will the ITER experiment make fusion feasible?…

October 5, 2020 • 51 min

Will humans figure out how to make fusion work on Earth, to provide plentiful clean power?


New discoveries in our cosmic neighborhood…

September 30, 2020 • 48 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about a new massive blob of galaxies discovered right around the corner.


How can we bring rocks back from Mars?

September 28, 2020 • 58 min

How many robots does it take to dig up rocks from Mars and deliver them back to Earth?


Can a black hole power a spaceship?

September 23, 2020 • 45 min

Daniel and Jorge tackle the physics, engineering and safety questions of using a black hole to visit nearby stars.


Is there life on Venus?

September 21, 2020 • 48 min

The internet went crazy talking about phosphine on Venus! What does it mean?


The most common listener questions!

September 16, 2020 • 48 min

Is there dark matter in black holes? Are gravitons and gravitational waves the same thing? Daniel and Jorge answer the most common listener questions!


The SF Multi-verse of Adrian Tchaikovsky

September 14, 2020 • 59 min

Daniel and Jorge discuss the science of "The Doors of Eden", a multi-zooniverse novel by Adrian Tchaikovsky


What would happen if dark matter and dark energy…

September 9, 2020 • 52 min

Dark matter and dark energy are 95% of the energy in the Universe. But do we need them?


Elinor Wonders About the Universe

September 7, 2020 • 46 min

Daniel and Jorge answer questions about the Universe from Jorge's daughter Elinor, and talk about their new PBS Kids TV show: "Elinor Wonders Why". Link: pbskids.org/elinor


What is Bose Einstein Condensate

September 2, 2020 • 52 min

Have you heard of "Bose Einstein Condensate" but never really understood it? D&J break it down for you.


What is Mirror Matter?

August 31, 2020 • 53 min

It's not anti-matter, or supersymmetric matter, but yet another way our familiar particles might be reflected, and could explain a deep mystery of the Universe.


The SF Universe of Dr. Karen Lords

August 26, 2020 • 56 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about the science of the novel "The Best of All Possible Worlds" by Dr. Karen Lords.https://karenlord.wordpress.com/the-best-of-all-possible-worlds/


Listener Questions 12: Higgs Bosons, Black holes and…

August 24, 2020 • 48 min

Does dark matter feel the Higgs? Can particles be black holes? What would happen if the Earth froze?


How did we discover black holes?

August 19, 2020 • 52 min

What convinced people that black holes are real?


What happened to the Superconducting Supercollider?

August 17, 2020 • 49 min

Americans had the biggest colliders in the world, until they tried to build one that was too big. Hear the super story of the superlative supercollider.


Do protons live forever?

August 12, 2020 • 50 min

Electrons can hang out until the end of time. Physicists think that protons should eventually fall apart. But will they?


Special 200th episode!

August 10, 2020 • 53 min

What happened in the first 200 microseconds of the Universe? What can you see within 200 light years from Earth?


Did the XENON experiment just discover a weird axion?

August 5, 2020 • 49 min

Recent results from the XENON experiment could be the first hint of something groundbreaking... or it could be nothing.


How did supermassive black holes get so big?

August 3, 2020 • 51 min

The gargantuan black holes at the centers of galaxies seem impossibly large. How did they grow so large in the short history of our Universe?


The Marvelous Mystery of the Muon Magnetic Moment

July 29, 2020 • 47 min

Can physicists discover new particles by watching how muons wiggle in magnetic fields?


Is dark matter hot?

July 27, 2020 • 46 min

Scientists don't know what dark matter is, but they know if it's hot (or not!)


How was the Higgs boson discovered?

July 22, 2020 • 55 min

Hear the story of the multi-decade trans-Atlantic rivalry that led to the Higgs boson discovery.


What are quasi-particles

July 20, 2020 • 46 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about phonons, magnons, excitons, anyons and explainons.


Can neutrinos explain why we have matter?

July 15, 2020 • 52 min

Daniel and Jorge explore how the new DUNE experiment could unravel secrets of neutrins... and the Universe!


Listener Questions 11: Deep questions about gravity and…

July 13, 2020 • 48 min

Can gravity waves kill you? Why do we have particles? Can fission power a star?


Does the Universe need dark matter?

July 8, 2020 • 54 min

Is it possible that dark matter doesn't exist? Could it just be a misunderstanding of gravity?


Did NASA discover a parallel Universe?

July 6, 2020 • 50 min

The amazing ANITA experiment and the bizarre neutrinos they discovered


Do black holes destroy information?

July 1, 2020 • 57 min

Daniel and Jorge tackle the paradox of black holes: do they destroy information or store it forever?


What is the axion?

June 29, 2020 • 54 min

Why do scientists think there might be a wispy mysterious particle? And why did they give it such a silly name?


The SF Universe of Alastair Reynolds "Revenger"

June 24, 2020 • 65 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about solar sails, artificial planets and black holes!


What are primordial black holes?

June 22, 2020 • 55 min

Could mysterious black holes have been formed in the first second of the Universe?


Is the impossible drive possible?

June 17, 2020 • 51 min

Daniel and Jorge dissect the "EMDrive", explain how it's supposed to work and whether it ever might.


The long race for the top quark

June 15, 2020 • 57 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about the twenty-year race to find the top quark, that came down to the wire.


Where in the solar system might we find life? (ft. Katie Goldin…

June 10, 2020 • 61 min

Katie Goldin, host of the Creature Features pod, visits to talk about what's needed for life and where in the solar system it might be hiding.


How do you navigate in deep space?

June 8, 2020 • 52 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about a potential new GPS: the Galactic Positioning System.


Can stars eat other stars?

June 3, 2020 • 47 min

Can a Thorne-Zytkow object, a neutron star inside another star, actually exist? Did we find one?


Why are neutrinos so light?

June 1, 2020 • 48 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about how the weirdest particle gets its mass


Can we see the surface of exoplanets?

May 27, 2020 • 47 min

Could we build a telescope that let us see what planets around other stars look like?


What is the real charge of the electron?

May 25, 2020 • 45 min

Daniel and Jorge explain how the theory of "Renormalization" tells us that we measure is different from what is real.


Could Jupiter turn into a star?

May 20, 2020 • 43 min

What is the fate of the largest planet in our solar system?


What are the basic constants of the Universe?

May 18, 2020 • 48 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about the numbers that control everything, and the number of those numbers!


Listener Question 10: Particles, stars and universe-sized…

May 13, 2020 • 49 min

Daniel and Jorge answer listener questions about the smallest, biggest and cataclysmic-ist things in the Universe!


Can Dark Matter feel itself

May 11, 2020 • 49 min

What happens when DM bumps into DM in the dark?


How do LEDs work?

May 6, 2020 • 50 min

The Nobel-prize winning physics of.... reading lights.


Should we believe any alien abduction stories?

May 4, 2020 • 58 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about how to be skeptical and open minded.


Does Stephen Wolfram's Theory of Everything Work?

April 29, 2020 • 50 min

How does Stephen Wolfram's Physics Project work and what have we learned?


The SF Universe of Sue Burke's "Semiosis"

April 27, 2020 • 53 min

Daniel and Jorge talk about what happens when plants can think. Is eating a banana now murder?


Can planets lose their atmospheres?

April 22, 2020 • 43 min

How do planets get atmospheres, and how long do they last? Will Earth one day run out of air?


What is the Cosmological Constant?

April 20, 2020 • 47 min

Was it Einstein's greatest blunder, or smartest prediction?


How quarks were discovered?

April 15, 2020 • 48 min

One day in November 1974 that changed particle physics forever.


What is the tallest mountain in the solar system?

April 13, 2020 • 42 min

Where is the biggest, tallest or widest mountain in the Solar System? Hint: it's not on any planet.


The SF Universe of Mary Robinette Kowal's "The Calculating…

April 8, 2020 • 64 min

Daniel and Jorge discuss the book "The Calculating Stars" and interview the author. Mary Robinette Kowal's science fiction debut, 2019 Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Award for best novel, The Calculating Stars, explores the premise behind her award-winning "Lady Astronaut of Mars."You can find the book here.


Could dark matter be made of quarks?

April 6, 2020 • 49 min

Learn about hexaquarks with Daniel and Jorge


The SF Universe of Becky Chamber's "The Long Way to a…

April 1, 2020 • 61 min

Daniel interviews Becky Chambers about her book "The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. " Volume 1 of the Wayfarers series which won the Hugo award for best series. You can purchase a copy of the book here.


Listener Questions 9

March 30, 2020 • 44 min

Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners, like you!


What are virtual particles?

March 26, 2020 • 44 min

Discover virtual particles with Daniel and Jorge


The SF Universe of Blake Crouch's "Recursion"

March 23, 2020 • 46 min

Daniel and Jorge discuss the science fiction book "Recursion" by Blake Crouch. Blake comes on for an interview to discuss his thoughts and method. Pickup your own copy of Recursion. It's a thrilling novel!First live stream from Daniel and Jorge airing Friday, March 27th at 10am pst or 1pm est.Streaming at https://www.youtube.com/user/phdcomics


How small is an electron?

March 18, 2020 • 51 min

Shrink down the the quantum realm with Daniel and Jorge and discover the size of the electron


Why is strange matter so strange?

March 16, 2020 • 45 min

Find out why strange matter is so strange with daniel and jorge


The science fiction universe of "Ancillary Justice"

March 11, 2020 • 46 min

In this very special new series of episodes Daniel and Jorge interview famous authors. Today we discuss "Ancillary Justice" the debut novel of the talented Anne Leckie. It's the only novel to ever win the Hugo, Nebula and Arthur C. Clarke awards. You can find it here.


What is the biggest explosion in the universe

March 9, 2020 • 47 min

What is the biggest explosion in the universe that mankind has ever witnessed? Find out with Daniel and Jorge.


Is it possible to move the sun?

March 4, 2020 • 48 min

If we needed to move the sun, could we do it?


Is the Universe infinite?

March 2, 2020 • 51 min

Is the universe finite or infinite?Article


What have we learned from the Spitzer Space Telescope?

February 26, 2020 • 47 min

The Spitzer Space Telescope is retiring. What have we learned from it?


Choose your own physics adventure!

February 24, 2020 • 46 min

Which of these four physics adventures would you prefer?Visit the Quantum RealmSee inside a Black HoleTravel faster than lightMeet intelligent aliensLink if you'd like to contribute to the poll.


Can quantum gravity save physics?

February 19, 2020 • 54 min

Daniel and Jorge discuss loop quantum gravity with a special appearance from Bianca Dittrich, a PhD in gravitational physics and an expert in loop quantum gravity and spin foam.


Listener Questions 8: Can AI understand humor?

February 17, 2020 • 50 min

Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners like you!


What causes the biggest explosions in the universe?

February 12, 2020 • 48 min

We're taking a deep dive into the subject of supernovas. What causes them? What do we know about them and can they harm us here on earth.?


Are there planets without a star?

February 10, 2020 • 46 min

Do rogue planets exist? Could they support life?


Can you slow down light?

February 5, 2020 • 47 min

The speed of light is constant but is it possible to slow it down?


What is the great attractor?

February 3, 2020 • 47 min

What is the mysterious force that is attracting our galaxy to it?


Can particles travel faster than light?

January 29, 2020 • 45 min

Is there any way particles can travel faster than light or is it against the laws of physics?


4 ways physics could end the world

January 27, 2020 • 55 min

What would happen if....Gravity turned off for 3 secondsThe earth started rotating the other wayAll electrons within 1 light year suddenly disappearedOur sun shut off for 2 weeks


Is Betelgeuse about to explode?

January 22, 2020 • 51 min

Betelgeuse appears to be dimming. Is it about to explode?


Why can quarks never be alone?

January 20, 2020 • 52 min

Can quarks ever be free?


Is space filled with junk?

January 15, 2020 • 48 min

Is space mostly empty or full of junk?


Why is the universe inflating?

January 13, 2020 • 56 min

Learn about cosmic inflation with Daniel and Jorge


What will the new space telescope reveal?

January 8, 2020 • 49 min

Daniel and Jorge discuss the James Webb Space Telescope


Why do some particles die?

January 6, 2020 • 50 min

Find out why particles die with Daniel and Jorge


Is the universe left-handed?

January 1, 2020 • 49 min

Why does the universe seem to be left-handed?


Can you destroy a black hole?

December 30, 2019 • 54 min

Is it possible to destroy a black hole?


How does relativity affect our perception of time?

December 25, 2019 • 49 min

Find out how relativity affects our perception of time with Daniel and Jorge


How was antimatter discovered?

December 23, 2019 • 50 min

Learn about antimatter with Daniel and Jorge


What are cosmic strings?

December 18, 2019 • 50 min

Learn about cosmic strings with Daniel and Jorge.


What is quantum spacetime foam?

December 16, 2019 • 45 min

Learn about quantum spacetime foam with Daniel and Jorge


What are magnetic monopoles?

December 11, 2019 • 46 min

Learn about magnetic monopoles with Daniel and Jorge


How fast is the universe blowing up?

December 9, 2019 • 51 min

What is the hubble constant? Find out with Daniel and Jorge


Is there a fifth force of the universe?

December 4, 2019 • 47 min

Scientists recently discovered a supposed fifth force of the universe. Is it real and what does it mean for physics?


Listener Questions 7

December 2, 2019 • 51 min

Could you build a real death star? How do black holes begin? Where the heck is Jorge? Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners like you!


The mystery of the missing neutrinos

November 27, 2019 • 50 min

How did physicists lose trillions of neutrinos? 


Where is the coldest place in the Universe?

November 25, 2019 • 44 min

EXTREME UNIVERSE: Where is the coldest place in the Universe?


Is our solar system weird?

November 20, 2019 • 47 min

Is our solar system similar to others or is it unique?


Who ordered the muon?

November 18, 2019 • 46 min

This mysterious particle is part of our Universe, but not part of the atom


Can science predict what you will do?

November 13, 2019 • 53 min

Does free will really exist?


Is it possible to send messages faster than light using…

November 11, 2019 • 47 min

With vast distances between habitable planets how will we eventually communicate with aliens?


Is there weather in space?

November 6, 2019 • 42 min

Is space weather something that exists? Can it affect us here on earth. Find out the answer to this and many other questions with Daniel and Jorge.


News from the Solar System

November 4, 2019 • 46 min

Listen for up to date news about suprising developments in our solar system.Contest for naming Saturn's newly discovered moon.


Journey to the Beginning of Time (featuring Dan Hooper)

October 30, 2019 • 57 min

A conversation with astrophysicist Dan Hooper about his new book, At the Edge of Time


What's in the asteroid belt?

October 28, 2019 • 35 min

What do we know about the asteroid belt and what can we learn from it?


Does Quantum Mechanics make sense?

October 23, 2019 • 46 min

Learn about the concept of quantum mechanics and what our understanding of it is.


Can we build a warp drive?

October 21, 2019 • 41 min

The distance between stars is massive. Can we build a warp drive to allow us to travel between the stars faster?


How do we know the photon is real?

October 16, 2019 • 35 min

What is a photon and how do we know it exists? Particle Physicist Professor Daniel Whiteson explains the photon.


Can you imagine a color you've never seen?

October 14, 2019 • 43 min

What is color and how do we perceive it? How many colors are there? UCI particle physicist Professor Daniel Whiteson explains the science of colors and answers some listener questions as well.


What is the cosmic microwave background?

October 9, 2019 • 56 min

Daniel is joined by guest Dr. Crystal Dilworth to discuss the cosmic microwave background.


Listener Questions 6

October 7, 2019 • 36 min

Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners, like you!


What are fermi bubbles?

October 2, 2019 • 40 min

What do we know about fermi bubbles?


How many stars can you see in the night sky with the naked…

September 30, 2019 • 33 min

How many stars can we see in the sky? Thousands? Billions?


What are fast radio bursts and what causes them?

September 25, 2019 • 42 min

Learn about the mystery behind fast radio bursts with Daniel and Jorge


The shocking mystery of lightning explained

September 23, 2019 • 42 min

Learn about lightning with Daniel and Jorge


Will the Higgs-Boson destroy the universe?

September 18, 2019 • 41 min

Learn how the Higgs-Boson could unravel the universe with Daniel and Jorge


How to see pictures of dinosaurs (featuring XKCD creator…

September 16, 2019 • 47 min

Daniel and Jorge are looking into the past with XKCD comic creator Randall Munroe.  You can find his new book "How to: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real World Problems" here


What is the physics behind skipping stones?

September 11, 2019 • 39 min

Find out how skipping stones works today with Daniel and Jorge


How do microwaves work?

September 10, 2019 • 41 min

Find out how microwaves work with Daniel and Jorge


What are Tardigrades?

September 4, 2019 • 40 min

How did tardigrades end up on the moon? Today we're joined by special guest Prof. Brian Keating


What was the first particle ever discovered? And how was it…

September 2, 2019 • 41 min

What does it mean to be first? Join Daniel and Jorge to learn about the first ever particle discovered.


Why is half of the moon always hidden?

August 28, 2019 • 39 min

Visit the far side of the moon with Daniel and Jorge


What is a graviton?

August 26, 2019 • 40 min

Join Daniel and Jorge to find out the secrets of the universe.


What would happen on earth if the moon disappeared?

August 22, 2019 • 39 min

The moon has just been deleted from the simulation. What will happen here on earth?


Listener Questions 5

August 19, 2019 • 51 min

Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners, like you!


What would happen if the sun became a black hole?

August 15, 2019 • 36 min

Listen to Daniel and Jorge answer a hypothetical question in today's episode


What are white holes?

August 13, 2019 • 43 min

You've heard of black holes but what are white holes?


Take a cruise of the exoplanets

August 8, 2019 • 45 min

Put on your stretchy pants and join Daniel and Jorge while they take you a guided cruise of the exoplanets.


How old is the earth?

August 6, 2019 • 46 min

How do we know the age of the earth?


Do aliens exist?

August 1, 2019 • 57 min

Today Daniel and Jorge answer questions from Karah and Oz, the hosts of the podcast Sleepwalkers. Listen to Sleepwalkers here


Can you see an electron or other tiny particles?

July 30, 2019 • 48 min

If you were Ant-Man and shrunk to the quantum realm. What would that actually look like?


What is the strongest magnet in the universe?

July 25, 2019 • 55 min

EXTREME UNIVERSE: What is the strongest magnet in the universe?


Why haven't aliens visited us?

July 23, 2019 • 52 min

What is the best way to explore the galaxy?


What is the Weak Force?

July 18, 2019 • 48 min

Find out about the Weak Force on today's podcast with Daniel and Jorge.


What is Cold Fusion?

July 15, 2019 • 48 min

Will we ever be able to create unlimited energy with cold fusion?


How do you make gold?

July 11, 2019 • 43 min

Where does gold come from? Can scientists make it?


How do MRIs work?

July 9, 2019 • 38 min

What is an MRI and how does it work?


What is the hexagon on saturn?

July 4, 2019 • 34 min

Is it natural or artificial? 


What is Quantum Tunneling?

July 2, 2019 • 42 min

Hint: It's not tunnels in switzerland.


Can you sail on light?

June 27, 2019 • 41 min

How can we travel through the universe without running out of fuel? Find out today with Daniel and Jorge.


What is the densest thing in the universe?

June 25, 2019 • 49 min

EXTREME UNIVERSE! What has the most stuff stuffed into it?


What do Quarks taste like?

June 20, 2019 • 44 min

Quarks have flavor and color but what do they taste and look like? 


Listener Questions 4

June 18, 2019 • 44 min

Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners, like you!


What is the brightest thing in the universe?

June 13, 2019 • 43 min

EXTREME UNIVERSE! (Hint: It's not the sun)


Is the Earth round?

June 11, 2019 • 47 min

How do we know the earth is actually round and not just "global conspiracy?"


How can we see Dark Matter?

June 6, 2019 • 49 min

We know it exists but what is it and how can we see it?


Listener Questions 3

June 4, 2019 • 47 min

Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners, like you!


What Is Radiation?

May 30, 2019 • 48 min

Is it bad or good or spicy or mild?


What Is the Hottest Thing In The Universe?

May 28, 2019 • 51 min

How hot can it get? Is there an upper limit to temperature? 


What Is A Dyson Sphere?

May 23, 2019 • 50 min

We're not talking about your vacuum cleaner!


Bad Science Questions

May 21, 2019 • 52 min

Daniel and Jorge welcome Ethan, host of the Podcast Bad Science, and answer his questions about the universe.


What Is Quantum Spin?

May 16, 2019 • 46 min

Everybody talks about it, but what IS it?


What Is The Emptiest Place In The Universe?

May 14, 2019 • 47 min

What constitutes a vacuum? Can space ever really be empty?


What's In Jupiter's Great Red Spot?

May 9, 2019 • 44 min

What is the Eye of Jupiter?


Will A Gamma Ray Burst Kill You?

May 7, 2019 • 49 min

What are gamma ray bursts, and are they dangerous?


What's Inside The Earth?

May 2, 2019 • 51 min

What would happen if you jumped into a hole that went through the center of the Earth and out the other side?


How Does A Bicycle Balance?

April 30, 2019 • 42 min

We don't understand bicycles!


Why Does Time Go Forwards?

April 25, 2019 • 48 min

Why can't we change the direction of time? What are the past, present and future really? 


What Is A Tachyon?

April 23, 2019 • 44 min

Are Tachyons real or just the stuff of science fiction? Thanks to Prof. Flip Tanedo (UC Riverside) for scientific review. 


What is Supersymmetry?

April 18, 2019 • 51 min

What's so super about this symmetry?


Questions From The Zeitgeist (ft The Daily Zeitgeist hosts)

April 16, 2019 • 45 min

Jack and Miles, hosts of The Daily Zeitgeist, ask Daniel and Jorge their most pressing questions about the universe; Why is the sky blue? Whats a quantum machine gun? How do planets form?


What Is A Space Elevator?

April 11, 2019 • 50 min

Can this actually work?


Can You See A Black Hole?

April 9, 2019 • 49 min

What would a picture of a black hole look like?


What Are The Weirdest Stars?

April 4, 2019 • 51 min

What are neutron stars, pulsars and magnetars?


What's Under The Ice On Europa?

April 2, 2019 • 44 min

This moon of Jupiter has an ENORMOUS ocean. Does anything live in it?


What's The Biggest "Thing" in The Universe?

March 28, 2019 • 46 min

Planets, stars, galaxies, clusters, then what? What defines a "thing" and how big can they get?


Listener Questions 2.0

March 26, 2019 • 41 min

Join Daniel and Jorge as they respond to 4 questions from listeners, just like you!


What Is A Superconductor?

March 21, 2019 • 43 min

How does a super conductor work?


What Was Oumuamua?

March 19, 2019 • 43 min

 What was that strange rock that passed through our solar system in 2017?


What Are Quantum Fields?

March 14, 2019 • 39 min

Quantum Field Theory, explained!


What Is Time Dilation?

March 12, 2019 • 41 min

Why does time slow down when you go fast?


Why Do We Have Stars?

March 7, 2019 • 38 min

Why are there stars and planets and not just smooth matter everywhere?


How Does A Laser Work?

March 5, 2019 • 42 min

What makes a laser a laser? Pew Pew Pew!? Zap Zap Zap!?


How Old Is The Universe?

February 28, 2019 • 43 min

How long has the Universe been cooking, and how do we know?


What's At The Center Of The Galaxy?

February 26, 2019 • 45 min

What's at the center of the Milky Way? How do we know? Can we explain it?


Is Anti-Gravity Technology Possible?

February 21, 2019 • 43 min

Is it possible to negate gravity without using energy?


Where Does The Earth's Magnetic Field Come From?

February 19, 2019 • 46 min

What causes our planet to generate a magnetic field? What is a magnetic field?!?


Are Wormholes Real?

February 14, 2019 • 41 min

Are wormholes a real thing out in space somewhere?


What Is Terraforming?

February 12, 2019 • 49 min

Can we make another planet habitable?


What Does Artificial Intelligence Mean?

February 7, 2019 • 49 min

How do we define Artificial Intelligence? Should we be worried that AI may one day take over Humanity?


What Nobel Prizes Have Been Proven Wrong?

February 5, 2019 • 44 min

Can the top prize in science get it wrong?


Is A New Particle Collider Worth $20B?

January 31, 2019 • 44 min

CERN just released a new report describing the next planned collider and its price! Is it worth it?


How Did The Moon Form?

January 29, 2019 • 35 min

How did the Earth get such a weird, big fluffy moon?


What Are Cosmic Rays?

January 24, 2019 • 40 min

Who or what is shooting crazy high energy particles at us?


Is The Multiverse Real?

January 22, 2019 • 38 min

What is the multiverse and is it real?


How Can We Tell The Distance To Stars?

January 17, 2019 • 37 min

How can we measure the distance to stars?


What Is The Most Important Invention In Human History? (ft.…

January 15, 2019 • 41 min

We discuss the most fundamentally important inventions in human history. Featuring Ryan North.


Listener Questions

January 10, 2019 • 39 min

We answer questions from listeners! The speed of light, the center of the universe and lasers!


What Is A Quantum Computer?

January 8, 2019 • 42 min

What is a quantum computer and how does it work?


What Happens When Galaxies Collide?

January 3, 2019 • 40 min

Will our lives be affected when the Milky Way collides with Andromeda?


Why Is Gravity So Weird?

January 1, 2019 • 42 min

Why is gravity so much weaker than the other forces?


Is the Universe pixelated?

December 27, 2018 • 41 min

Is there a shortest possible distance? Or can you cut space in half forever?


Are there other Earths out there?

December 25, 2018 • 40 min

How many liveable planets are out there, and can we reach them?


Was/Is There Life On Mars?

December 20, 2018 • 42 min

What do we know about life on Mars?


What Is String Theory?

December 18, 2018 • 40 min

We've all heard of it, but nobody really knows...


Will Physics Ever Explain Everything?

December 13, 2018 • 39 min

What is a "Theory of Everything" and how close are we to discovering it?


What Is A Dimension And How Many Are There?

December 11, 2018 • 38 min

What's the real meaning of a dimension? Are there more than 3?


What is a Neutrino?

December 6, 2018 • 36 min

Explaining the weirdest little particle ever found


How Does a Nuclear Bomb Work?

December 4, 2018 • 41 min

What would you need to build your own nuke?


Is Teleportation Possible?

November 29, 2018 • 38 min

Can we really change locations without traveling through space?


Is the Universe Random?

November 27, 2018 • 42 min

If you repeat the same experiment, do you get the same outcome?


Where Did Earth's Water Come From?

November 22, 2018 • 35 min

Young Earth was hot and dry. Where did the oceans come from?


The Baby Universe (ft. Katie Mack)

November 20, 2018 • 41 min

What did the Universe look like as a baby? How do we know? Join Daniel and Jorge as they talk with Katie Mack about the early universe, and what they all looked like as babies.


Can We Travel Faster Than Light?

November 15, 2018 • 40 min

Why can't we travel faster than light? Can we ever reach the stars?


Is Light a Particle or a Wave?

November 13, 2018 • 41 min

What is light made of? A particle, a wave, both, neither? Little puppies?


Are there Aliens?

November 8, 2018 • 36 min

Are we the only life in the Universe? What are scientists doing to find out?


Is Anti-Matter a Real thing?

November 6, 2018 • 38 min

Is anti-matter real or science fiction? Is it dangerous, or delicious?


How will the Universe die?

November 1, 2018 • 35 min

How long will the Universe last, and what are the possible fates?


What is making the Universe explode?

October 30, 2018 • 38 min

How we learned that something is tearing the Universe apart, and what it might mean.


Will an Asteroid Kill You?

October 25, 2018 • 41 min

Could humans go the way of the dinosaurs: extinction by space rock?


What's Inside a Black Hole?

October 23, 2018 • 30 min

What is a black hole, and what would it be like to fall into one?


How Big is the Universe?

October 18, 2018 • 27 min

Does the Universe go on forever, or have an end? What shape is it?


What is Dark Matter?

October 16, 2018 • 29 min

How dark matter was discovered, and what it might be


What is everything made of?

October 11, 2018 • 36 min

What's the smallest piece of matter? Is there one? 


What are Gravitational Waves?

October 9, 2018 • 37 min

What does it mean for gravity to make waves? How do we see them?


When will the Sun explode?

October 4, 2018 • 27 min

How long can we enjoy the sunshine before we need a new star?


Is Time Travel Possible?

October 2, 2018 • 33 min

Do any science fiction movies get time-travel right? Will it ever be possible?


What came before the Big Bang?

September 27, 2018 • 31 min

What could have caused the Big Bang, and what came before it?


Is the Higgs Boson useful?

September 25, 2018 • 37 min

What is the Higgs Boson and why do we care?


Are we Living in a Simulation?

September 25, 2018 • 37 min

How can we tell if what we see is real or simulated? Does it matter?


Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe: Trailer

September 18, 2018 • 1 min

Daniel & Jorge discuss some of the simple but profound questions about existence, explaining the science in a fun, shorts-wearing and jargon-free way.


List of Episodes

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