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The Quanta Podcast

Quanta Magazine
Mathematics
Neuroscience
Artificial Intelligence
Quantum Mechanics
Quantum Computing
Mitochondria
Climate Change
Bird Migration
Memory
Black Holes
Dark Matter
Evolution
Computer Science
Large Language Models
James Webb Space Telescope
Infinity
General Relativity
Cryptography
Dark Energy
Quantum Cryptography

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 weeklyEpisodes377Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Life SciencesPhysicsScience

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Artwork for The Quanta Podcast

Latest Episodes

After over a century of studying introspection in humans and animals, researchers are beginning to explore the phenomenon in unlikely new subjects: large language models. These systems, which are based on mathematical structures called neural network... more

Before he won a Fields Medal for his pioneering work balancing randomness and order, Yu Deng had to achieve equilibrium in his own life.

The article Amid Life’s Chaos, a Meticulous Mathematician Finds Stability first appeared on Quanta Magazine.

The French mathematician Nicolas de Condorcet was a passionate believer in democracy, but he also discovered a frustrating paradox within it: A majority can sometimes vote itself into a logical loop. Mathematicians have now found that this “logical l... more

To invade red blood cells, malaria parasites create a temporary molecular portal that lets them slip into the cell — and then the door disappears behind it, gone in 60 seconds. Researchers have finally detailed the proteins that let it break in witho... more

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Recent Guests

Ben Brubaker
Computer science staff writer at Quanta Magazine
Quanta Magazine
Episode: Do AI Models Know What They're Thinking About?
Yu Deng
Fields Medal-winning mathematician at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: Audio Edition: Amid Life’s Chaos, a Meticulous Mathematician Finds Stability
Alex Stone
Science writer covering the connection between voting paradoxes and topology
Quanta Magazine
Episode: The Math of Democracy Never Quite Works Out
Joanna Thompson
Science writer for Quanta Magazine
Quanta Magazine
Episode: Malaria Parasite Caught in the Act of Breaking and Entering
Robin George Andrews
Science writer covering astronomy and planetary science
Quanta Magazine
Episode: 'Ghostly' Galaxies and the Mystery of Dark Matter
Shalma Wegsman
Math staff writer at Quanta Magazine
Quanta Magazine
Episode: How Math Brings Together Classical Chaos, Quantum Mechanics, and Fractals
Jacob Tsimerman
Fields Medalist and mathematician
Princeton University / Institute for Advanced Study
Episode: Audio Edition: Sometimes Being First Means Seeing the End Before Anyone Else
Stephen Ornes
Science writer who contributed coverage on turbulence research
The Quanta Podcast interview subject
Episode: Sea Monkeys, Jupiter, and the Mystery of Turbulence
Jake Buehler
Writer for Quanta's biology section
Quanta Magazine
Episode: ‘Jumping Genes’ Are More Than Parasitic DNA

Hosts

Susan Vallott
Host of the episode, guiding discussion and presenting science stories.
Samir Patel
Host of The Quanta Podcast; lead interviewer bringing editorial perspective.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • More!

    I really like how interesting and accessible this is. It would be great if they were longer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dadai5m
    Australia2 months ago
  • Thank you for a fantastic podcast

    It helps me break out of my own and small world of science, as fascinating as it is to me, to see the much broader horizons of all the different fields.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    polarizationman
    United States2 months ago
  • Content great, background music very distracting

    I was so happy to have found this great podcast. The topics are exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, every time a guest starts to explain a complex topic there is very distracting background played. It makes it impossible to listen to what is said.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    zhdjk
    Ireland2 months ago
  • Dissapointimg

    I ordinarily love this podcast and have previously written great reviews. I particularly enjoy the format of discussions with the various editors who are well informed and engaging. Hence my extreme disappointment with this latest episode which was apparently an AI generated reading of the article that I’d already read in the online magazine version of Quanta. I respectfully ask that you not mix these AI generated readings with the interview formatted episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kyoung21b
    United States3 months ago
  • Thought provoking and accessible

    I love the format and the way that the host and guest erect the scaffolding of the topic in a way surfaces the key points

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MartaJane
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Signal-rich discussions around math and physics consistently praised for depth.
Thoughtful, rigorous science storytelling that makes complex topics accessible.
Listeners appreciate the mix of math, physics, and biology with strong editorial voice.
High-quality guests and expert explanations, though some listeners wish for more dynamic delivery.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Do AI Models Know What They're Thinking About?
Q: How can we tell if it's not something that is outwardly visible the way nervousness is in a person?
Researchers can inject a concept into a model's neural network and compare its responses with those from an otherwise identical control group, asking whether it detects an injected thought before producing output that might reveal the concept. The method has confounders, and follow-up work has questioned some interpretations.
Do AI Models Know What They're Thinking About?
Q: Are AI language models like GPT aware in any sense of their own thoughts?
Experiments suggest that some models can detect an injected internal change, but the ability is unreliable and it remains debatable whether this qualifies as introspection. Identifying the specific injected concept may be an artifact of the concept influencing the model's output.
The Math of Democracy Never Quite Works Out
Q: What does voting math have to do with topology?
Researchers represent rankings as triangles and join matching edges to form a surface; the incompatible cycles associated with the voting paradox correspond to a Klein bottle.
The Math of Democracy Never Quite Works Out
Q: What makes voting such a complicated topic for mathematicians?
With three or more candidates, the group's preferences can cycle, and there is no voting system that satisfies every appealing fairness condition.
Malaria Parasite Caught in the Act of Breaking and Entering
Q: What makes it so hard to treat with drugs?
Many antimalarial drugs target the parasite after it enters the bloodstream. Over time, resistant parasites survive and reproduce, making those drugs less effective.

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 leans into deep-dive conversations at the intersection of physics, mathematics, and biology, hosted by a consistently expert lineup from a prestigious science publication. Across episodes, listeners encounter rigorous explorations of foundational ideas — from geometric regularity and high-dimensional topology to AI reasoning, quantum gravity, and the biology of memory and agency — all framed with clear explanations and guest-led perspectives. The format often features guest editors, mathematicians, physicists, and science journalists who bring both historical context and cutting-edge research, making it a strong fit for audiences that crave thorough, concept-heavy storytelling and expert synthesis of complex topics. A standout qual... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Quanta Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Quanta Podcast:

1. The Joy of Why
2. Why This Universe?
3. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
4. Physics World Weekly Podcast
5. Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

How many episodes of The Quanta Podcast are there?

The Quanta Podcast launched 11 years ago and published 377 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. Ben Brubaker
2. Yu Deng
3. Alex Stone
4. Joanna Thompson
5. Robin George Andrews
6. Shalma Wegsman
7. Jacob Tsimerman
8. Stephen Ornes

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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