Why This Universe?

Theoretical physicist explains dark matter, black holes, quantum mechanics AI summary

Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman Visit website › Science · EN · 117 episodes · latest 2026-10-12

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What it is about

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.

Publisher’s own description, taken unchanged from the podcast feed.
© 2026 Why This Universe?

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Latest episodes

101 — How Will AI Change Physics? (Ft. Yoni Kahn)

2026-10-12 · 56 min · Season 2, episode 10

In 2023, Dan made a bet with physicist Yoni Kahn about whether AI would be able to pass a graduate-level quantum field theory course by 2026. Today on the show, they revisit their bet and discuss what AI is capable of…
100 - What is Light? A Journey from Ancient Philosophy to Quantum Physics

2026-08-24 · 37 min · Season 2, episode 9

Modern physics tells us a lot about light; that it's both a wave and a particle, and that it sets the speed limit of the universe, for example. But how did we come to understand light in this way? In Dan's first solo…
99 - The 7 Most Exciting Developments in Physics Today + a WTU Update

2026-08-03 · 36 min · Season 2, episode 8

It's been a while! To make up for lost time, today's episode is a rundown of all the physics news you should know. Hear what is keeping physicists at the edge of their seat, and what physics news you should keep your…
98 - An Improbable Quantum Ghost Story (Ft. David Kaplan)

2026-01-19 · 41 min · Season 2, episode 7

An unlikely change in the theory of quantum mechanics would lead to bizarre new conclusions. Our guest talks us through non-linear quantum mechanics, and how physicists like him are testing it. For ad-free episodes and…
97 - The Schrödinger Equation: The Heart of Quantum Mechanics

2025-12-22 · 30 min · Season 2, episode 6

Quantum mechanics is full of surprises. But somehow, the theory is captured almost entirely in a single equation. Today we explore the Schrödinger equation: how it works, what it says about nature, and why it…
96 - The Making of Particle Fever (Ft. David Kaplan)

2025-11-24 · 53 min · Season 2, episode 5

In the years leading up to the Large Hadron Collider turning on, the physics community was buzzing with curiosity and excitement about what they were about to discover. These moments were captured in the documentary…
95 - Would Aliens Have the Same Physics? (Ft. Daniel Whiteson)

2025-11-03 · 43 min · Season 2, episode 4

If we met aliens, could we communicate through physics? Daniel Whiteson explores this question on today's episode. For more, check out his new book, Do Aliens Speak Physics? For ad-free episodes and exclusive…
38 - The Nobel Prize's Greatest Misses (2025 Update)

2025-10-13 · 34 min · Season 2, episode 3

In honor of Nobel prize season, we remember some people whose important work in the past has been overlooked by the Nobel committee. For ad-free episodes and exclusive ask-us-anything segments, join us for just $3 a…
94 - Inside the Hubble Tension (Ft. Adam Riess)

2025-09-29 · 32 min · Season 2, episode 2

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…
93 - The Moment Dark Energy Appeared (Ft. Adam Riess)

2025-09-15 · 40 min · Season 2, episode 1

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…

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Publisher details

Oldest episode in feed: 07/2020 · over 6 years
Typical length: 32 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone

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