Why This Universe?

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24 Aug 2026 · 37 min

100 - What is Light? A Journey from Ancient Philosophy to Quantum Physics

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 episode, he takes us through theories of light through the ages, starting from the earliest accounts of ancient ideas and bringing us all the way to modern times. Let us know what you think about this new format! Support the show

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

1. 

   S2 · E8 · 3 Aug 2026 · 36 min

   99 - The 7 Most Exciting Developments in Physics Today + a WTU Update

   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 eyes out for in the coming years. Also, this episode comes with an update from us at WTU: This will be Shalma's last episode as co-host and editor (though she'll continue to help out with production behind the scenes). Support the show

2. 

   S2 · E7 · 19 Jan 2026 · 41 min

   98 - An Improbable Quantum Ghost Story (Ft. David Kaplan)

   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 exclusive ask-us-anything segments, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

3. 

   S2 · E6 · 22 Dec 2025 · 30 min

   97 - The Schrödinger Equation: The Heart of Quantum Mechanics

   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 revolutionized physics. For ad-free episodes and exclusive ask-us-anything segments, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

4. 

   S2 · E5 · 24 Nov 2025 · 53 min

   96 - The Making of Particle Fever (Ft. David Kaplan)

   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 Particle Fever, created by the particle physicist David Kaplan. On today's episode, he recounts these historic years from the perspective of both physicist and filmmaker. For ad-free episodes and exclusive ask-us-anything segments, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://p...

5. 

   S2 · E4 · 4 Nov 2025 · 43 min

   95 - Would Aliens Have the Same Physics? (Ft. Daniel Whiteson)

   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 ask-us-anything segments, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

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