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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
Dark Matter
Parasites
Mars
Evolution
Biology
Aliens
Big Bang
Dark Energy
General Relativity
Evolutionary Biology
Sleep
Mathematics
Particle Physics
Artificial Intelligence
Nuclear Power
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!

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes863Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesPhysicsScience

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Artwork for Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

Latest Episodes

Daniel and Kelly answer listener questions about algal blooms in the Reflecting Pool, the difference between memory and consciousness, and banana slugs.

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Daniel and Kelly are joined by Phil Plait to explore conspiracy theories about the end of the world, demons at CERN, and the face on Mars.

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Daniel and Kelly interview Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris about her new book, Sleuth-Hound: The Case of the Real Sherlock Holmes.

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Daniel and Kelly talk about how particles are detected, the heavy proton discovery, and de Sitter space.

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Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Phil Plait
Astronomer, author, and science communicator who writes the Bad Astronomy newsletter.
Bad Astronomy
Episode: Science conspiracy theories (featuring Dr. Phil Plait)
Lindsey Fitzharris
Medical historian and author of The Butchering Art, The Facemaker, and Sleuth-Hound
Episode: Sleuth-Hound (featuring Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris)
David Naylor
Questioner on mycology and forest networks
Episode: Listener Questions #52
Moiya McTier
Author and astrophysicist focusing on creativity and science communication
Author of Mothers of Invention
Episode: What is creativity? (featuring Dr. Moiya McTier)
Dr. Andy Sih
Distinguished professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy
University of California Davis
Episode: Do Animals Make Mistakes? (featuring Dr. Andy Sih)
Marcelo Wood
Professor and chair of the Neurobiology and Behavior Department at UC Irvine
University of California Irvine
Episode: Addiction (featuring Dr. Marcelo Wood)
Katrina Whiteson
Director of the Whiteson Institute Center for Fermented Beverages of Dubious Safety
Whiteson Institute
Episode: Origins of life (featuring Dr. Katrine Whiteson)
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)

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
  • Kelly is a woke Nutcase but Daniel is very good at describing hard to grasp science concepts

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Siren
    8 days ago
  • Humorous and informative, for the curious and the know-it-alls both.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    XenoPheX
    10 days ago
  • I love Daniel's & Kelly's approach to science — more detail and accuracy without taking themselves too seriously. I never miss an episode!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dragula
    10 days ago
  • Informative and Fun

    Great chemistry between the two hosts. Interesting topics and a genuine thirst to educate.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cmot48
    United Statesa month ago
  • Fantastic, high information, low waffle science podcast without any tolerance for pseudo-science presented by two of the most engaging, funny, unpretentious hosts.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    typhlosaurus
    a month 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.

Listener questions #53
Q: How do CERN and other projects collect so much data about these infinitesimal little particles that come out of the collisions? How do we determine the mass and the velocity and the direction of all these particles?
Detectors surround the collision point in layers. Silicon trackers register charged particles and their paths, magnetic fields reveal charge and momentum from track curvature, and calorimeters measure deposited energy. Combining these signals helps identify particles and reconstruct collision events.
Listener questions #53
Q: I'd like you to comment about the importance of this discovery. And also, if it only lasts for a billion trillionth of a second, does it really have any value?
Whiteson says the heavy proton is a composite particle rather than a new fundamental particle, so it is not an earth-shattering discovery. It is valuable because it helps physicists test calculations and understand how the strong force combines quarks and determines particle stability.
Sleuth-Hound (featuring Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris)
Q: What did they do before they used forensic science? Was it all just random guessing?
Fitzharris describes unreliable practices such as trial by bier, in which a suspect was judged by whether a corpse began bleeding near them. Professional police forces and forensic methods later developed through trial and error, with experts such as Henry Duncan Littlejohn bringing medical evidence into court.
Sleuth-Hound (featuring Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris)
Q: So if Bell is the inspiration for Holmes, is Conan Doyle himself the inspiration for Watson? Is Watson basically the stand in for Doyle?
Fitzharris describes a dispute over who inspired Sherlock Holmes and notes that Conan Doyle explicitly identified Joseph Bell as the inspiration for the detective. The episode does not establish Watson as a stand-in for Doyle.
Science conspiracy theories (featuring Dr. Phil Plait)
Q: So other than it obviously being like bad PR for the general public to think there's occult stuff happening at CERN, has there been any like implications in terms of impacts on funding or anybody like getting violent trying to get into CERN to get video to prove that there's demons there?
Daniel says the main impact is eroding public trust and support for CERN and large scientific projects. He distinguishes the rumors from the legitimate safety question of whether collider experiments could create dangerous black holes, explaining that higher-energy cosmic-ray collisions already occur naturally without harming Earth.

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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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. The Quanta Podcast

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this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 863 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. Phil Plait
2. Lindsey Fitzharris
3. David Naylor
4. Moiya McTier
5. Dr. Andy Sih
6. Marcelo Wood
7. Katrina Whiteson
8. Dr. Manuel Lerdau

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