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Artwork for Particles of Thought

Particles of Thought

GBH
Black Holes
Genetics
De-Extinction
Dark Matter
Evolution
Vocal Learning
Microbes
Dark Energy
Consciousness
Mars
General Relativity
Dire Wolves
Primordial Black Holes
Natural Selection
Flow State
Artificial Intelligence
Dinosaurs
Deepfakes
Animal Communication
Genetic Engineering

Ready to break your brain? Particles of Thought, the hit video podcast from the producers of NOVA is back with new mind-expanding conversations with scientists on the edge. Host Hakeem Oluseyi dives into how to hack your own anxiety, the surprising connection between dark matter and black holes, the secrets of animal communication, the hidden geometry shaping our world, and even what it means to b... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes53Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Particles of Thought

Latest Episodes

Steve Brusatte has the dirt on dinosaurs and joins Hakeem to trace the full 100-million-year history of the tyrannosaur dynasty, the asteroid that ended it, and the remarkable truth that dinosaurs never actually disappeared. One small lineage survive... more

Steve Brusatte, a real paleontologist, contributed to the Jurassic World franchise, but what really happens when science meets cinema? In this episode, Steve joins Hakeem to discuss what that paleontology consultant role actually looks like, how he n... more

Steve Brusatte knows every bird today is a living dinosaur, and as a paleontologist, he can tell you how that happened. Steve joins Hakeem to walk through the catastrophic asteroid impact 66 million years ago that ended the age of T. rex, and to expl... more

Steve Brusatte says T. rex wasn’t always the king, and as a paleontologist, he has spent his career uncovering how it got to the top of the food chain. Steve joins Hakeem to trace the full 100-million-year history of the tyrannosaur family, from its ... more

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Steve Brusatte
Paleontologist, author of The Story of Birds
University of Edinburgh
Episode: How Birds Survived the Asteroid
Dave Kaiser
Physicist and cosmologist discussing dark matter and primordial black holes
Episode: Full Interview: Dark Matter = Black Holes?
David Kaiser
Physicist and science historian
MIT (inferred from context)
Episode: Why Dark Matter Matters
Kirk Johnson
Paleontologist and museum director (as introduced by episode title)
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Episode: How Many Leaves Are on a Tree? | Kirk Johnson
Heather Berlin
A neuroscientist and expert on the psychology of fame.
Episode: How Fame Affects the Brain | Heather Berlin
Sean B. Carroll
Evolutionary biologist and author
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Episode: The Evolution of Venom & Antivenom | Sean B. Carroll
Janna Levin
Astrophysicist and author known for her work in theoretical physics and the nature of black holes.
Episode: A Black Hole Is a Place, Not a Thing | Janna Levin
Peter Girguis
Astrobiologist and researcher on life in extreme environments
Harvard University
Episode: How To Recognize Alien Life | Peter Girguis
Beth Shapiro
Directly involved in ancient DNA research and de-extinction methodologies
Colossal
Episode: De-Extinction: A How-To Guide | Beth Shapiro

Host

Hakeem Oluseyi
Host of Particles of Thought

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 165 ratings
  • My favorite podcast

    From the first episode, this became my favorite podcast in roughly 25 years of listening to podcasts. It’s engaging, enlightening, entertaining, informative, and fun all at once.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeevdhhsbbesbhehs
    United States4 months ago
  • On point science communication 10/10

    This podcast definitely lives up to the standard I would expect from Nova. Hakeem is a wonderful host and brings his curiosity to each conversation. Also the guest line up is incredible. I’m always excited to see when a new episode drops!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nickname8375
    United States5 months ago
  • Excellent listen!

    Love this podcast. It’s mind-bending, paradigm-shifting, and awesome. So grateful to the host and his guests for communicating complex concepts in terms someone like me (ie. not a scientist) can understand.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kellllley k
    United States6 months ago
  • what a treat!!

    Love this podcast…it never disappoints with it’s constantly engaging and brilliant guests. Thank you, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, you’re such an awesome interviewer and your thirst for knowledge is wonderfully infectious

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Madyjules
    United States6 months ago
  • Awesome awesome awesome

    I just listened to Sean Carroll on Evolution , so well relayed for anyone to understand. PBS bringing all the great scientists that serve us earthlings, i am so grateful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shakti shiny
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, feedback highlights deep, thoughtful science conversations with excellent guests.
One review notes a desire for tighter focus on science and less jokey humor.
The show is described as engaging, accessible, and mind-expanding.
Listeners praise the host's curiosity and the quality of guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#148
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#228
Mexico/Science
Apple Podcasts
#238
South Korea/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are Black Holes Dark Matter?
Q: What is the basic idea behind primordial black holes as dark matter candidates?
Primordial black holes could have formed in the very early universe due to quantum fluctuations and high-density regions, collapsing directly into black holes without the need for stars, and their mass could range from asteroid-sized to much larger, potentially constituting the dark matter.
Full Interview: Dark Matter = Black Holes?
Q: All right, so you think that dark matter might be black holes.
The guest explains that yes, it's possible that ordinary matter locked in tiny primordial black holes formed shortly after the Big Bang could make up dark matter, particularly in the asteroid-mass range, and discusses how this fits with various observational constraints.
Discovering Dark Energy and the Hubble Tension with Adam Riess
Q: What is the Hubble Tension?
The Hubble Tension refers to the growing mismatch between the expansion rate predictions from the cosmic microwave background and local measurements.
Discovering Dark Energy and the Hubble Tension with Adam Riess
Q: What are the possibilities for describing what dark energy is?
Einstein's cosmological constant remains the simplest interpretation, though we have models that suggest it could also be temporary energy or alternate theories about gravity.
Discovering Dark Energy and the Hubble Tension with Adam Riess
Q: What is dark energy?
Dark energy could be stuff in space-time, acting with repulsive gravity to expand space-time more rapidly.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Particles of Thought

What is Particles of Thought about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-focused interview show hosted by a passionate physicist who guides conversations with leading researchers and science communicators. Episodes cover a wide range of topics—from evolution and brain science to cosmology and climate phenomena—delivering deep dives that are both rigorous and accessible to non-specialists. Noteworthy is the host's curious, friendly style and the lineup of guests who frequently push the boundaries of public understanding, making complex ideas feel relatable. The format often blends thoughtful questions with vivid explanations, appealing to curious listeners who want to expand their mental models without needing a technical background.

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How many listeners does Particles of Thought get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Particles of Thought?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Particles of Thought:

1. NOVA Presents
2. Science Friday
3. Radiolab
4. Short Wave
5. Throughline

How many episodes of Particles of Thought are there?

Particles of Thought launched a year ago and published 53 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 Particles of Thought?

Recent guests on Particles of Thought include:

1. Steve Brusatte
2. Dave Kaiser
3. David Kaiser
4. Kirk Johnson
5. Heather Berlin
6. Sean B. Carroll
7. Janna Levin
8. Peter Girguis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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