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Why This Universe?

Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

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.

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  • 21 episodes
  • monthly
  • Avg 38 min
  • English

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Episodes 21

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  • S2 · E9
    August 24 · 36 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

  • S2 · E8
    August 3 · 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

  • S2 · E7
    January 19 · 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

  • S2 · E6
    Dec 22, 2025 · 29 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

  • S2 · E5
    Nov 24, 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://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

  • S2 · E4
    Nov 4, 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

  • S2 · E3
    Oct 13, 2025 · 34 min

    38 - The Nobel Prize's Greatest Misses (2025 Update)

    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 month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

  • S2 · E2
    Sep 29, 2025 · 31 min

    94 - Inside the Hubble Tension (Ft. Adam Riess)

    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 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

  • S2 · E1
    Sep 15, 2025 · 40 min

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

    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 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

  • #93
    Jan 13, 2025 · 46 min

    92 - What Cosmology Has in Store for 2025 (Ft. Dan Scolnic)

    Learn what exciting cosmology results and potential discoveries await us in 2025!For exclusive ask-us-anything episodes, 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

  • #92
    Dec 23, 2024 · 30 min

    91 - What Neutrinos Reveal About the Milky Way

    A discovery last year reveals our galaxy in a whole new light - except it's not light, it's neutrinos! Learn what this discovery can teach us about the Milky Way and beyond.For exclusive ask-us-anything episodes, 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

  • #90
    Nov 4, 2024 · 41 min

    90 - Quintessence: Is Dark Energy Changing? (Ft. Sean Carroll)

    Is it possible that dark energy is not a constant, but rather is changing over time? Sean Carroll talks to us about how our understanding of dark energy evolved in recent history, and what is still left unknown.For exclusive ask-us-anything episodes, 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

  • #91
    Oct 14, 2024 · 37 min

    89 - A Dark Matter Vibe Check

    Dan and Shalma have a candid conversation about the state of dark matter research, and the ways the field has changed over the last few years.For exclusive ask-us-anything episodes, 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

  • #90
    Sep 23, 2024 · 28 min

    88 - Why Does Our Universe Exist At All? (Ft. Sean Carroll)

    Why does something exist, rather than nothing? Special guest Sean Carroll helps us explore this deep philosophical question.For ad free episodes and other exclusives, 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

  • #89
    Sep 2, 2024 · 39 min

    87 - The Good and the Bad of Peer Review

    There has been some criticism of the process scientists use to check each other's work. Today we take a deep dive into peer review to determine how broken it really is.For ad free episodes and other exclusives, 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

  • #88
    Aug 5, 2024 · 24 min

    28 - How Noether's Theorem Changed Physics (Rerun)

    Learn how Noether's profound mathematical theorem relating symmetries to conservation laws is deeply woven into the physics of the universe. Enjoy this rerun of an earlier episode as we take our summer break.For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseOur merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

  • #86
    Jul 2, 2024 · 40 min

    86 - The Life and Death of Stars

    We explore the diverse world of stars in the universe, from those similar to our Sun to those totally unrecognizable.For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseOur merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

  • #87
    Jun 17, 2024 · 37 min

    85 - Our Sun: Present, Past and Future

    Today's episode is all about the star in our front yard - the sun. Learn how it came to be, how it has changed, and how will it change in the future.For ad free episodes and other exclusives, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverseOur merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe Support the show

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes