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Artwork for Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

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Quantum Mechanics
Physics
Black Holes
Gravity
Parasites
Mars
Evolution
Dark Matter
Nuclear Power
Biology
Moon
Aliens
Particle Physics
Big Bang
Dark Energy
Evolutionary Biology
Sleep
General Relativity
Mathematics
Public Health

Scientists Daniel and Kelly cannot stop talking about our amazing, wonderful, weird Universe! Each episode is a fun, easy-to-understand, and in-depth explanation of topics in science, from particles to black holes to moon colonies to ecosystems to parasites and everything else in the Universe!

PublishesDailyEpisodes851Founded8 years ago
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Natural SciencesPhysicsScience

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Artwork for Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

Latest Episodes

Daniel and Kelly talk about the recent observation of a dark matter candidate

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Daniel and Kelly answer listener questions about scent dialects, drilling through the ice above the oceans of Enceladus, and why some animals have penises.

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Daniel and Kelly interview Dr. Marcelo Wood about what addiction does to our brains, why some of us become addicted to drugs while others don't, what drugs do to our brains in the long term, and more.

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Daniel and Kelly talk about whether physicists are trying to understand the expansion of the Universe, or pull the cosmic wool over everyone's eyes. Also, horse milk comes up.

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Marcelo Wood
Professor and chair of the Neurobiology and Behavior Department at UC Irvine
University of California Irvine
Episode: Addiction (featuring Dr. Marcelo Wood)
Dr. Manuel Lerdau
Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia; research director of the Morvin Sustainability Lab
University of Virginia
Episode: Listener Questions #47 - Plant Questions (featuring Dr. Manuel Lerdau)
Matt Keselman
Audio engineer and producer
Ocelot Audio
Episode: Sound (featuring audio wizard Mat Keselman)
Dr. Chelsea Wood
Associate Professor in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington
University of Washington
Episode: Rat lungworm (featuring Dr. Chelsea Wood)
John Hutchinson
Professor of evolutionary biomechanics
Royal Society fellow
Episode: Listener Questions #44 - How fast can animals go, and how fast can animals grow? (featuring Dr. John Hutchinson)
Delair Mustafa
Listener who submitted questions about the early universe and GUT
New South Wales, Australia
Episode: What broke the grand unified force in the early universe?
Zach Weinersmith
Guest, co-host of related projects and creator
Weinersmith family/Weinoc
Episode: Listener Questions #42
Scott Egan
Evolutionary biologist
Rice University
Episode: What is a species? (featuring Dr. Scott Egan)
Andrew Thaler
Deep-sea ecologist and conservation technologist; runs Southern Fried Science; McArthur Fellow
Southern Fried Science / Op-Ed Project
Episode: The Deep Seabed (featuring Dr. Andrew Thaler)

Hosts

Daniel Weiner-Smith
Host with a background in physics and cosmology; co-host of the show.
Kelly Wienersmith
Host with parasitology and space research interests; co-host of the show.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 5.6k ratings
  • EXTRAORDINARY PODCAST!!!

    Wow!!! Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe is an absolute blast. They somehow make mind‑bending science, cosmic mysteries, parasites, goats, aliens, and everything in between feel totally understandable and ridiculously fun. Beyond being brilliant storytellers, they’re warm, hilarious humans who make every episode feel like a cozy hangout. Highly, highly recommended!!!

    Audible
    5
    Geert Kerkhofs
    United Statesa month ago
  • Huge fan

    I feel like you are my really smart friends who make me laugh while teaching me really cool science. I love your chemistry, the amazing guests you bring on, and your banter. Thank you for the joy you bring to learning. I look forward to every new episode and replay many old ones on repeat. You are so appreciated!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mel3241
    United States2 months ago
  • Great Amazing Inspiring Show !

    I rarely (never in fact !) take the time to write reviews to congratulate shows, but DKEU is so awesome that it reached well above my high minimum energy activation level !

    Thank you and please keep on going !!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vincent PTR
    United States2 months ago
  • Addictive

    Brilliant podcast. Daniel.. sorry Prof. Daniel you are not just a great physicist and a humble human being but also an excellent teacher … learned a lot from you. Kelly I am not into biology but listened to all your segments with great joy. Bot of you guys make this planet a better place … Awesome

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kentuckyroad
    Australia2 months ago
  • Speed up

    Get to the point. Too much time speaking about what you’re going to speak about.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    johnfivethousand
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests consistently praise the hosts' chemistry and ability to explain hard science clearly.
The show is valued for accessible but technically solid content.
Listeners enjoy a light, entertaining tone without sacrificing accuracy.
Quality guest expertise is often highlighted as a strength.
Audience notes the show can be addictive and highly informative.
Some critique the hosts' delivery as overly enthusiastic or noisy at times.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Addiction (featuring Dr. Marcelo Wood)
Q: Where are we today in using medications to treat addiction, and what might the future hold?
Current treatments include opioid meds like naloxone for acute rescue and buprenorphine or methadone for maintenance; for other drugs, immunotherapies and noninvasive neuromodulation are being explored, with gene-editing and closed-loop devices discussed as long-term possibilities.
Addiction (featuring Dr. Marcelo Wood)
Q: What is the general definition of addiction, and is it considered a brain disorder?
The guest explains that addiction involves a persistent alteration of brain reward and memory circuits due to repeated drug exposure, leading to compulsive seeking and use; while it is debated whether it is a brain disorder, there is strong evidence of persistent neural changes that underlie vulnerability and relapse.
Listener Questions #49
Q: Jude asks why Earth has a single large landmass with oceans around most other space; what's the geological history behind this?
Continental drift and plate tectonics explain the cycle of supercontinents forming and breaking apart, driven by convection in the mantle, which periodically reshapes Earth's surface and creates oceans as new tectonic boundaries form.
Origins of life (featuring Dr. Katrine Whiteson)
Q: What evidence supports hydrothermal vents as a cradle for life?
Hydrothermal vent environments offer natural chemical gradients, mineral surfaces that can catalyze reactions, and compartment-like pores in rocks, which together could support early metabolic networks and the emergence of protocells before true cellular life.
Origins of life (featuring Dr. Katrine Whiteson)
Q: Why is the RNA world hypothesis considered a strong contender for early life?
RNA can both store genetic information and catalyze reactions, acting as a bridge before proteins and DNA. Ribozymes demonstrate how RNA alone could drive early biochemistry and replication, making RNA a plausible first step before more complex biology evolved.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A duo of science communicators explore a wide range of topics across the natural world and the cosmos, blending approachable explanations with playful humor. Episodes often mix physics and astronomy with biology, ecology, and parasitology, and they frequently invite expert guests or field listener questions to illustrate complex ideas in accessible ways. A notable strength is translating high-level science into practical takeaways and vivid, memorable demonstrations, while maintaining a warm, conversational vibe that keeps even dense subjects engaging for curious listeners. The show appears to welcome diverse specialists and emphasizes clear distinctions between theory and evidence, making it a solid fit for listeners who enjoy deep dives t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Why This Universe?
2. The Supermassive Podcast
3. Ask a Spaceman!
4. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary
5. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 851 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Marcelo Wood
2. Dr. Manuel Lerdau
3. Matt Keselman
4. Dr. Chelsea Wood
5. John Hutchinson
6. Delair Mustafa
7. Zach Weinersmith
8. Scott Egan

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