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Artwork for Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

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

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!

PublishesDailyEpisodes816Founded8 years ago
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ScienceNatural SciencesPhysics

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Artwork for Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

Latest Episodes

Over 50% of Earth's surface is the deep seabed. Dr. Andrew Thaler joins Daniel and Kelly to talk about the amazing diversity of life on the deep seabed, the resources found here, and the rules that govern this region.

See omnystudio.com/listener for... more

Daniel and Kelly explain how signals get jammed, how to avoid being jammed, and whose music makes the best jam.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel and Kelly answer questions about aliens watching Earth, about lone species, and about the size limits of intelligence.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parasites can have amazingly complicated life cycles - moving through a series of host species, and looking quite different while residing within each type of host. Frankly, this stumped scientists for a long time. In today's episode, Daniel and Kell... more

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Recent Guests

Steve Brusatte
Paleontologist and evolutionary biologist at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
Episode: Story of Birds (featuring Dr. Steve Brusatte)
Katrina Whiteson
Professor, co-director of the Whiteson Research Institute, known for kombucha research
Whiteson Research Institute
Episode: Biofilms (featuring Dr. Katrine Whiteson)
Benjamin de Bivort
Harvard geneticist, professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
Harvard University
Episode: Listener Questions #35: Genetics (featuring Dr. Benjamin de Bivort)
Matt Giorgianni
Evolutionary biologist and research scientist at the University of Maryland; adjunct at Whiteson Research Institute; known for work on venom and unconventional kitchen experiments
University of Maryland
Episode: Snakes vs Octopi (featuring Dr. Matt Giorgianni)
Nathan Lentz
Professor of biology at John Jay College, City University of New York
John Jay College, City University of New York
Episode: Listener Questions #31
John Martin
Professor of Meteorology
University of Wisconsin
Episode: How do we predict the weather?
Jane Baldwin
Professor at UC Irvine
University of California, Irvine
Episode: How do we predict the weather?
Robert Shackleford
High school teacher and listener who submitted a question
Episode: How do we control mosquito populations?
Daniel Whiteson
Physicist and author at UC Irvine, co-host of the podcast Daniel and Kelly's Extraordinary Universe.
UC Irvine
Episode: Introducing : Inner Cosmos with Host David Eagleman and Guest Daniel Whiteson

Hosts

Kelly Weinersmith
Co-host with a focus on studying parasites and space, educational advocate, and enthusiast in scientific communication.
Daniel Whiteson
Co-host and particle physicist, passionate about making complex scientific concepts accessible to all audiences.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 5.4k ratings
  • Stretching My Brain Without Actually Hurting It

    An extraordinary podcast delving into the mysteries of the universe with the unique combination of both a physicist and a biologist perspective. Topics are well grounded in current scientific knowledge and not just hand wavy musings. And with their inclusion of answering listener questions to complement their own topics, Daniel and Kelly cover a wide range of topics that will stretch your head for sure! And in a good way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brain over banter
    Canadaa month ago
  • Extremely informative; my understanding of the universe has changed to be more accurate. There is a major side effect - I get annoyed now more often than before because a lot of popular knowledge is actually wrong! And so I know people are wrong a lot more frequently now.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    murnshaw
    a month ago
  • Science and Fun!

    Daniel and Kelly offset each other well. Kelly’s laugh is awesome. Her tone and energy makes it a podcast to keep in the list. Daniel is too smart for me. Learn something every time!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Caettx
    Canada2 months ago
  • Delightful

    I was hopelessly searching for something to feed my brain while I do mindless work when I found this podcast. I first listened to the cholera episode and was delighted to find there was a part one. I’ve listened to eight more hours since Tuesday. Enjoyable, funny, and easily digestible. Thank you for making my work days a little more thought provoking and stoking my curiosity.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rudi Too
    United States2 months ago
  • Best. Podcast. EVER.

    Daniel and Kelly are simply the best science communicators I’ve ever found, and this podcast is easily my favourite science podcast - no, my favourite podcast, period. Funny, super informative, warm and welcoming, whatever your knowledge level. Just the BEST.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jon Smith Norfolk
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the mix of humor and intellectual content, finding the episodes engaging and informative.
Some feedback mentions displeasure regarding changes in co-hosts and ad content, suggesting slight discontent among certain audience segments.
Many positive reviews highlight the hosts' chemistry and ability to make complex scientific concepts approachable.
The seamless integration of listener questions adds a relatable aspect, enhancing the interactive nature of the show.

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 #38
Q: Why is there so much focus on alien size and intelligence, and what physics governs the possible scales of life?
Size is bounded by building blocks and the need for metabolism and information processing; intelligence requires enough computing units and a brain structure that can coordinate across the body without being overwhelmed by thermal noise. These physical constraints suggest humans occupy a reasonable middle ground for complexity and communication speed.
Listener Questions #38
Q: What are the limits of detecting life or signs of life from far away, and could we ever read 'biomarkers' from a distant pixel?
Biomarkers such as oxygen and methane in disequilibrium could indicate biological or geological activity; however, they are not definitive proof of life. By studying absorption features as starlight passes through a planet's atmosphere, we can identify molecules and infer possible habitability or life-supporting conditions.
Listener Questions #38
Q: If it were pointed at Earth from the distance of the nearest Earth-like exoplanet, what could JWST detect about our planet and life signs?
JWST would likely see Earth as a single pixel with limited spatial detail, but by analyzing different wavelengths and how the light dims during transits, scientists could infer atmospheric components like water vapor, oxygen, methane, and cloud coverage, which together offer strong but not definitive hints of life.
Listener Questions #37
Q: Hello, Kelly, could you explain how DNA results in two different cell behaviors during development?
Different cells receive varying levels of transcription factors and environmental cues, which turn on different gene programs; this, along with signaling between cells, leads to diverse cell fates like muscle versus bone cells.
Biofilms (featuring Dr. Katrine Whiteson)
Q: Why is Legionella in water flosser a biofilm-related risk?
Legionella forms biofilms in standing water; in water systems like flossers, high densities can aerosolize and be inhaled, causing pneumonia, which is why fresh water and flushing protocols are advised.

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 lighthearted yet informative exploration of various scientific disciplines characterizes content that brings complex topics into accessible conversations. The episodes frequently cover an array of themes within natural sciences, including physics, biology, and cosmology, discussing phenomena from the intricacies of worm behavior to the vastness of black holes. The dynamic between the hosts shines through, providing a blend of humor and curiosity that encourages audience engagement and makes profound scientific concepts approachable for listeners of varying backgrounds.

Unique characteristics include a strong interactive component, often integrating listener questions into episodes, which fosters a community feel. This makes the material r... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Supermassive Podcast
2. Ask a Spaceman!
3. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary
4. Universe Today Podcast
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 816 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. Steve Brusatte
2. Katrina Whiteson
3. Benjamin de Bivort
4. Matt Giorgianni
5. Nathan Lentz
6. John Martin
7. Jane Baldwin
8. Robert Shackleford

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