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The Quanta Podcast

Quanta Magazine
Mathematics
Neuroscience
Quantum Mechanics
Artificial Intelligence
Quantum Computing
Mitochondria
Climate Change
Bird Migration
Memory
Evolution
Cryptography
James Webb Space Telescope
Computer Science
Quantum Cryptography
Galium Anomaly
Aphantasia
Unicellular Organisms
Long-Distance Migration
General Relativity
Dark Matter

Exploring the distant universe, the insides of cells, the abstractions of math, the complexity of information itself, and much more, The Quanta Podcast is a tour of the frontier between the known and the unknown. In each episode, Quanta Magazine Editor-in-Chief Samir Patel speaks with the minds behind the award-winning publication to navigate through some of the most important and mind-expanding q... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes343Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhysicsScienceLife Sciences

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Artwork for The Quanta Podcast

Latest Episodes

Thunderstorms have captivated humanity for millennia, and yet their inner workings remain deeply mysterious. On this episode of The Quanta Podcast, guest host and Quanta senior editor Hannah Waters speaks with staff writer Charlie Wood about the new ... more

According to Einstein’s theory of gravity, black holes have only a small handful of distinguishing characteristics. Quantum theory implies they may have more. Now an experimental search finds that any of this extra ‘hair’ has to be pretty short.

The... more

In 2026, shock at AI’s growing mathematical abilities turned into something more like wonder — and concern. On this episode of The Quanta Podcast, host Samir Patel speaks with writer Konstantin Kakaes about how AI is changing not only how mathematici... more

Over the past decade, computer simulations have predicted tens of thousands of possible forms of ice. Though uncommon on our planet, exotic ice may exist in off-Earth environments, from cold and amorphous comet tails to the hot and crushing cores of ... more

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Recent Guests

Konstantin Kakaes
Contributing writer, former Quanta math editor
Quanta Magazine
Episode: The AI Revolution in Math Has Arrived
Shalma Wegsman
Math writer for Quanta Magazine
Quanta Magazine
Episode: Ice Is Way More Complex Than It Seems
Enrique Boyix-Adserra
Researcher who studies distillation
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School)
Episode: Audio Edition: How Distillation Makes AI Models Smaller and Cheaper
Oriol Vignoles
Principal Scientist at Google DeepMind
Google DeepMind
Episode: Audio Edition: How Distillation Makes AI Models Smaller and Cheaper
Geoffrey Hinton
Pioneer in AI, referenced as co-author on early distillation work
University of Toronto / researchers cited
Episode: Audio Edition: How Distillation Makes AI Models Smaller and Cheaper
Da Cheng Li
Berkeley doctoral student, co-student lead of NovaSky lab
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: Audio Edition: How Distillation Makes AI Models Smaller and Cheaper
Viviane Callier
Science journalist
Quanta Magazine
Episode: Our Immune Systems Are Full of Ancient Weapons
Natalia Mernjavads
Graduate student in evolutionary biology and metabolism
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
Episode: Audio Edition: The Cells That Breathe Two Ways
Eric Boyd
Microbiologist
Montana State University
Episode: Audio Edition: The Cells That Breathe Two Ways

Hosts

Samir Patel
Editor-in-Chief of the primary science publication, host of the main podcast series.
Susan Vallott
Host and presenter of the bi-weekly audio edition program, contributing journalist and interviewer.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Quanta Podcast

    Makes the world richer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lynowla
    United States25 days ago
  • RoddyM

    Jordana Cepelewicz - please try to make an effort to communicate. Sloppy, lazy, drawling into a microphone isn’t cool or laid back. It’s unprofessional.

    Samir please instruct these people. Otherwise great podcast. Keep up the good work. Best wishes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roddyrook
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • As good as it gets for science podcasts!

    Quanta digs deeply, soberly and comprehensively into the major aspects of maths, physics and wider science. It’s always a must-listen if you’re at all interested in these subjects.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aidan Hancock
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Super Awesome Program

    An absolute gem of a program. I get to learn a phenomenal amount of high quality material. I hope this program will last forever.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RupeHuzz
    United States2 months ago
  • My getaway car

    Quanta Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Samir Patel has a great voice for podcasts and is a daub hand at distilling complex ideas. There’s always something engaging and transportive in his interviews. 5*

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jed Lukewater
    Canada2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently top-tier experts delivering new insights.
High-quality explanations and rigorous interviews are a standout.
Format is very readable and informative, though some listeners want more dynamic pacing.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The AI Revolution in Math Has Arrived
Q: So, Konstantin, what's the big idea?
Math is at a real inflection point because of AI, with progress accelerated in the last year and a shift in how mathematicians think about what AI can do in both Olympiad-style problems and deeper research questions.
Ice Is Way More Complex Than It Seems
Q: How do researchers actually observe these structures at such extreme conditions?
Researchers use a diamond anvil cell to compress water to extremely high pressures while carefully controlling temperature, and then employ powerful X-ray or neutron techniques at large facilities to image the arrangement of molecules, which allows them to identify new phases like ice 21 and ice 22.
Ice Is Way More Complex Than It Seems
Q: What's the big idea behind studying all these different ice forms?
The core idea is that ice is far more structurally diverse than the everyday ice in our drinks, and exploring these forms reveals fundamental physics of crystal formation, the influence of pressure and temperature, and practical implications for planetary science and drug crystallization.
Our Immune Systems Are Full of Ancient Weapons
Q: How did the field react to the idea that bacteria and humans share the same immune toolkit over billions of years?
Scientists were surprised and had to be convinced that the mechanism was conserved, not just a case of superficial similarity. The structural similarity across distant organisms forced a reevaluation of how immune systems evolved and propagated across the tree of life.
Our Immune Systems Are Full of Ancient Weapons
Q: So Viviane, what's the big idea behind this conserved immune mechanism across such different life forms?
The key insight is that immune sensing and signaling can be preserved across bacteria and humans through shared structural motifs, even when the amino acid sequences diverge. This reveals deep evolutionary connections and suggests that studying bacterial immunity can illuminate how immunity evolved in animals and plants.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Quanta Podcast

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

The show presents thoughtful conversations at the intersection of science, mathematics, and technology, often featuring researchers, journalists, and theorists who explain complex ideas with careful storytelling. Recent episodes survey AI's impact on math practice, the physics of ice, distillation in AI efficiency, immune system evolution, and the social and philosophical dimensions of formalizing proofs, among other frontier topics. A standout pattern is rigorous exploration of cutting-edge research, with guests ranging from university scholars to science communicators who translate dense ideas into accessible narratives. Listeners can expect deep dives into theory and experiment alike, anchored by clear explanations, historical context, a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Quanta Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Quanta Podcast:

1. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
2. Physics World Weekly Podcast
3. Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe
4. The Supermassive Podcast
5. Ask a Spaceman!

How many episodes of The Quanta Podcast are there?

The Quanta Podcast launched 11 years ago and published 343 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 The Quanta Podcast?

Recent guests on The Quanta Podcast include:

1. Konstantin Kakaes
2. Shalma Wegsman
3. Enrique Boyix-Adserra
4. Oriol Vignoles
5. Geoffrey Hinton
6. Da Cheng Li
7. Viviane Callier
8. Natalia Mernjavads

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