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Artwork for Why This Universe?

Why This Universe?

Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman
Quantum Computing
Heliocentrism
Quantum Mechanics
Copernican Revolution
Prime Factorization
Classical Computing
Superposition
Cryptography
Galileo Galilei
Aristotelian Natural Philosophy
History Of Astronomy
Fermilab
Dark Matter
Artificial Intelligence
Physics
Astrophysics
Physics Of Sound
Johannes Kepler
Church and Science Conflict
Tycho Brahe

The biggest ideas in physics, broken down. Join theoretical physicist Dan Hooper and co-host Shalma Wegsman as they answer your questions about dark matter, black holes, quantum mechanics, and more. Part of The University of Chicago Podcast Network.

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes109Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhysicsAstronomyScience

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Artwork for Why This Universe?

Latest Episodes

Our universe is expanding. But when physicists measure how fast this expansion rate is, they get two different answers. Hear what this crisis means from Nobel Prize winner Adam Riess.

For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for ju... more

Adam Riess recounts the moments of his Nobel prize-winning discovery that our universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, powered by a mysterious energy source called dark energy. 

For ask-us-anything segments and other exclusives, join us for ju... more

We answer your questions. To listen to our backlog of ask-us-anything episodes for free, head to our Patreon, or join for $3/month to submit your questions: www.patreon.com/whythisuniverse

Support the show

To listen to our backlog of past ask-us-anything episodes for free, head to our Patreon, or join for $3/month to ask us questions: www.patreon.com/whythisuniverse Support the show

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Recent Guests

Adam Riess
Astrophysicist known for his work on supernovae and the expansion of the universe
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: 93 - The Moment Dark Energy Appeared (Ft. Adam Riess)
Dan Scolnic
Professor at Duke University, known for his work on measuring the universe's expansion rates.
Duke University
Episode: 92 - What Cosmology Has in Store for 2025 (Ft. Dan Scolnic)
Sean Carroll
A cosmologist and philosopher of science
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: 90 - Quintessence: Is Dark Energy Changing? (Ft. Sean Carroll)
Josh Winn
Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton and author of The Little Book of Exoplanets
Princeton University
Episode: 84 - The Search For New Worlds (ft. Josh Winn)
Chris Quigg
Theoretical physicist and distinguished scientist emeritus at Fermilab
Fermilab
Episode: 83 - Witnessing a Revolution in Particle Physics (Ft. Chris Quigg)
Chiara Mingarelli
An assistant professor at Yale and an expert on gravitational waves, member of the NanoGRAV consortium
Yale University
Episode: 79 - NanoGRAV's Big Gravitational Wave Discovery (Ft. Chiara Mingarelli)
Katrina Miller
Recent PhD graduate in experimental particle physics and reporting fellow at The New York Times.
The New York Times
Episode: 78 - The Life of a Science Journalist (Ft. Katrina Miller)
Hank Lamm
Theoretical physicist at Fermilab's Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center
Fermilab
Episode: 77 - All About Quantum Computing (Ft. Henry Lamm)
Sasha Rahlin
Research Assistant Professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago.
University of Chicago
Episode: 75 - Physics in Extreme Locations (Ft. Daniel Baxter & Alexandra Rahlin)

Hosts

Dan Hooper
Co-host and professor of physics known for engaging discussions about cosmological concepts, dark matter, and contributions to contemporary physics.
Shalma Wegsman
Co-host and editor of the podcast, recognized for her ability to communicate complex scientific ideas and her role in facilitating engaging discussions.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • One of My Favourites

    I absolutely love this show and look forward to a new episode whenever one is available. I hope they continue this podcast for a long time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yyc-listener
    Canada7 months ago
  • Click follow

    You won’t be sorry

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MaxWoodstock
    United States7 months ago
  • Love this podcast

    One of my favourite podcasts and always interesting! These guys are great science communicators. The content isn’t oversimplified but still concise and accessible to a layperson like myself.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    komorebi house
    Australia7 months ago
  • Where are you

    Are you ever coming back?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MinnesotaFrank
    United States8 months ago
  • Excellent blend of science, history of ideas, and philosophy of science. One of my absolute favorites.

    Audible
    5
    Carol
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticism has been noted for the depth of discussion not being sufficient for all non-experts, suggesting improvement in accessibility for a lay audience.
Feedback includes admiration for the hosts' ability to explain tough topics without trivializing them.
The conversational and accessible style is highly favored, allowing complex concepts to be digestible for a wider audience.
Listeners appreciate the intelligent and engaging presentation of complex scientific ideas.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#3
United States/Science/Physics
Apple Podcasts
#100
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#2
United Kingdom/Science/Physics
Apple Podcasts
#2
Canada/Science/Physics
Apple Podcasts
#56
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#77
Canada/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

94 - Inside the Hubble Tension With Adam Riess
Q: What would it take for more scientists to agree on the need for new physics?
Typically, historical examples show that scientists remain skeptical until there is substantial evidence or a theoretical framework to explain anomalies, even if measurements confirm unexpected results.
94 - Inside the Hubble Tension With Adam Riess
Q: What is the disagreement about the Hubble tension between your group and Wendy Freeman's group?
Wendy Freeman's group has a lower measurement of 70.4, which is still higher than that inferred from the cosmic microwave background, leading to inconclusive results about the tension.
94 - Inside the Hubble Tension With Adam Riess
Q: How do measurements of the cosmic background differ from other methods?
They use physics and models to deduce the Hubble constant from the cosmic microwave background, leading to a value of 67 plus or minus 0.5, which does not align with direct measurements.
94 - Inside the Hubble Tension With Adam Riess
Q: What is the current statistical tension? How many standard deviations?
It's probably more like six sigma at this point, meaning there is a high level of confidence that something unusual is going on in the measurements.
94 - Inside the Hubble Tension With Adam Riess
Q: What are the steps you take to measure the local rate at which the universe is expanding today?
We measure the Hubble constant by looking at distant objects and determining their redshift and distance, which involves using a chain of measurements known as a distance ladder.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Why This Universe?

What is Why This Universe? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on unpacking some of the most profound concepts in physics, the discussions typically revolve around topics such as dark matter, black holes, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. The hosts engage with listener questions and feature notable guests, diving into complex scientific ideas while maintaining accessibility for a broader audience. The unique blend of theoretical exploration and practical understanding, along with a conversational approach, aims to enlighten listeners about the universe's mysteries and challenges the audience to think critically about these subjects.

Guests from academia contribute insights into upcoming discoveries and ongoing debates within the field, making it a valuable resource not just for science enthusi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Why This Universe??

These podcasts share a similar audience with Why This Universe?:

1. The Supermassive Podcast
2. SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy
3. Ask a Spaceman!
4. Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe
5. The Quanta Podcast

How many episodes of Why This Universe? are there?

Why This Universe? launched 5 years ago and published 109 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 Why This Universe??

Recent guests on Why This Universe? include:

1. Adam Riess
2. Dan Scolnic
3. Sean Carroll
4. Josh Winn
5. Chris Quigg
6. Chiara Mingarelli
7. Katrina Miller
8. Hank Lamm

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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