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The Quanta Podcast

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

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 weeklyEpisodes334Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceLife SciencesPhysics

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Artwork for The Quanta Podcast

Latest Episodes

Is string theory the one true “theory of everything?” Some physicists swear it’s a fundamental ingredient of nature. Others wish it would just go away. On this episode of The Quanta Podcast, host Samir Patel speaks with columnist Natalie Wolchover ab... more

For decades, mathematicians have struggled to understand matrices that reflect both order and randomness, like those that model semiconductors. A new method could change that.

The story New Physics-Inspired Proof Probes the Borders of Disorder first... more

At the center of little holes in cell nuclei is a mystery. Here, clumps of proteins wiggle disordered tails around like seaweed. They drive a molecular machine that moves countless molecules in and out of the nucleus efficiently, with little room for... more

We tend to think of math as all about logic and rigor. But what “rigor” actually means has been shaken up quite a few times over the past few centuries. The newest attempt to formalize math comes in the form of the computer program Lean. Mathematicia... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Natalie Wolchover
Regular Quanta columnist who covers physics
Quanta Magazine
Episode: Is String Theory Still Our Best Hope?
Yasemin Saplakoglu
Biology staff writer at Quanta Magazine, discussed the nuclear pore complex
Quanta Magazine
Episode: One of Nature’s Most Complex Molecular Machines
Leila Sloman
Author of the feature on formalizing math, contributor to Quanta
Quanta Magazine
Episode: The Fundamental Tension at the Heart of Math
Ephraim Steinberg
Quantum optics expert, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Episode: Audio Edition: AI Comes Up With Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work.
Kyle Cranmer
Physicist focused on machine learning for physics
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Episode: Audio Edition: AI Comes Up With Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work.
Rose Yu
Computer scientist researching symmetries with ML
University of California, San Diego
Episode: Audio Edition: AI Comes Up With Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work.
Xiaosong Ma
Physicist leading experimental entanglement work in China
Nanjing University
Episode: Audio Edition: AI Comes Up With Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work.
Anil Ananthaswamy
Journalist and author of the feature article
Quanta Magazine
Episode: Audio Edition: AI Comes Up With Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work.
Michael Canyon-Golo
Contributor to this episode
Quanta Magazine
Episode: Audio Edition: AI Comes Up With Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work.

Hosts

Samir Patel
Editor-in-Chief of Quanta Magazine; frequent host and interviewer on scientific topics.
Susan Vallott
Host of the Quanta Audio Edition; long-time science journalist and communicator.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • 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
    Canada20 days ago
  • Quanta podcast

    I have been listening to this podcast for many years. Some episodes I heard again and again. I love the contents. I especially loved those about physics, cosmology …..

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    liushihhua
    United Statesa month ago
  • Outstanding explanations of both the latest scientific trends as well as the oldest and deepest scientific controversies. The hosts keep the narratives clear, concise, and comprehendible even to a casual observer like myself. And the guests bring luminosity to the subjects that only first hand experience and immersion make possible.

    Thanks very much for a truly enlightening podcast!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    JakeWrites
    2 months ago
  • The format could be better

    The content is amazing but the format, where the presenters often just read a text aloud, to me is very boring. The delivery could be so much more exciting.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Wouter19791979
    Netherlands3 months ago
  • A fun and productive way to utilize my commutes

    Informative yet accessible - Keep up the good job

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yair Grinberg
    Israel3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall sentiment skews positive, noting the show as a reliable source for interesting, well-researched science content.
Listeners praise the show for accessible yet rigorous science explanations and the high quality of guests and writing.
Many reviews highlight the depth, clarity, and engaging interviews, with some noting audio quality as a point of improvement.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is String Theory Still Our Best Hope?
Q: Tell me a little bit about what's been happening last few years here.
Recent years have seen a bootstrap revival that uses general physical assumptions to constrain possible outcomes, strengthening the mathematical case for string theory while keeping it far from direct experimental testability, and reinforcing debates about its role in fundamental physics.
Is String Theory Still Our Best Hope?
Q: So can you start us at where string theory was first initiated?
String theory began as an attempt to describe hadrons in the 1950s-60s, with Veneziano's amplitude providing a description that pointed to strings, which later expanded to describe fundamental particles and gravity when open and closed strings were considered.
Is String Theory Still Our Best Hope?
Q: Okay. So Natalie, what's the big idea?
The big idea is that public discourse often misrepresents string theory; within physics there remains a robust conversation about why the theory persists, supported by mathematical elegance and a history of key revolutions that keep it alive as a candidate for a theory of everything.
Why Do Humanoid Robots Still Struggle With the Small Stuff?
Q: So John, what's the big idea?
Robots are still bad, but the bones are good, and it's still hard; the field has progressed due to a conjunction of reinforcement learning, electric actuators, and language models, which together enable more capable, general-purpose manipulation, even if challenges remain in force control and dexterity.
Uniting a Century of Digital and Analog Astronomy
Q: So Liz, what's the big idea?
Liz explains how a century of observational methods—from glass plates to digital imaging—frames today's Rubin Observatory, emphasizing the continuity of scientific questions about a changing universe and how ancient data enriches modern surveys.

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 The Quanta Podcast

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

The show centers on big ideas in science, mathematics, and the nature of information, bridging rigorous research with accessible storytelling. Conversations span quantum physics, fluid dynamics, neuroscience, number theory, computation, and cosmology, often featuring live discussions with leading researchers and science writers. Listeners are likely drawn to clear explanations of complex topics, thoughtful interviews with specialists, and a pace that favors thorough exploration over quick takes. A notable strength is the collaboration with a renowned science publication, which tends to bring high-caliber guests and well-sourced discussions without sensationalism. Potential sponsors or guests can expect an audience that values depth, accurac... more

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How many episodes of The Quanta Podcast are there?

The Quanta Podcast launched 11 years ago and published 334 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. Natalie Wolchover
2. Yasemin Saplakoglu
3. Leila Sloman
4. Ephraim Steinberg
5. Kyle Cranmer
6. Rose Yu
7. Xiaosong Ma
8. Anil Ananthaswamy

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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