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.

  • 41 minutes 34 seconds
    90 - Quintessence: Is Dark Energy Changing? (Ft. Sean Carroll)
    Is it possible that dark energy is not a constant, but rather is changing over time? Sean Carroll talks to us about how our understanding of dark energy evolved in recent history, and what is still left unknown. For exclusive ask-us-anything episodes, 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
    4 November 2024, 3:11 pm
  • 37 minutes 5 seconds
    89 - A Dark Matter Vibe Check
    Dan and Shalma have a candid conversation about the state of dark matter research, and the ways the field has changed over the last few years. For exclusive ask-us-anything episodes, 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
    14 October 2024, 4:27 pm
  • 27 minutes 52 seconds
    88 - Why Does Our Universe Exist At All? (Ft. Sean Carroll)
    Why does something exist, rather than nothing? Special guest Sean Carroll helps us explore this deep philosophical question. 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
    23 September 2024, 4:45 pm
  • 39 minutes 30 seconds
    87 - The Good and the Bad of Peer Review
    There has been some criticism of the process scientists use to check each other's work. Today we take a deep dive into peer review to determine how broken it really is. 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
    2 September 2024, 3:26 pm
  • 24 minutes 12 seconds
    28 - How Noether's Theorem Changed Physics (Rerun)
    Learn how Noether's profound mathematical theorem relating symmetries to conservation laws is deeply woven into the physics of the universe. Enjoy this rerun of an earlier episode as we take our summer break. 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
    5 August 2024, 2:16 pm
  • 40 minutes 43 seconds
    86 - The Life and Death of Stars
    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
    2 July 2024, 1:39 am
  • 37 minutes 14 seconds
    85 - Our Sun: Present, Past and Future
    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
    17 June 2024, 7:04 pm
  • 45 minutes 5 seconds
    84 - The Search For New Worlds (ft. Josh Winn)
    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
    3 June 2024, 3:45 pm
  • 31 minutes 35 seconds
    83 - Witnessing a Revolution in Particle Physics (Ft. Chris Quigg)
    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
    13 May 2024, 1:39 pm
  • 35 minutes 31 seconds
    82 - Science Vs. Pseudoscience
    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
    29 April 2024, 4:09 pm
  • 43 minutes 16 seconds
    81 - Ancient Greek Astronomy
    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
    15 April 2024, 3:54 pm
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