Episodes

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

    88 - Why Does Our Universe Exist At All? (Ft. Sean Carroll)
    Sep 23 2024
    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
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    28 mins
  • 87 - The Good and the Bad of Peer Review

    87 - The Good and the Bad of Peer Review
    Sep 2 2024
    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
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    40 mins
  • 28 - How Noether's Theorem Changed Physics (Rerun)

    28 - How Noether's Theorem Changed Physics (Rerun)
    Aug 5 2024
    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/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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    24 mins
  • 86 - The Life and Death of Stars

    86 - The Life and Death of Stars
    Jul 2 2024
    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/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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    41 mins
  • 85 - Our Sun: Present, Past and Future

    85 - Our Sun: Present, Past and Future
    Jun 17 2024
    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/whythisuniverse Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe
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    37 mins
  • 84 - The Search For New Worlds (ft. Josh Winn)

    84 - The Search For New Worlds (ft. Josh Winn)
    Jun 3 2024
    Hear how the search for exoplanets has developed, and what surprises it has brought so far. 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
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    45 mins
  • 83 - Witnessing a Revolution in Particle Physics (Ft. Chris Quigg)

    83 - Witnessing a Revolution in Particle Physics (Ft. Chris Quigg)
    May 13 2024
    Today we hear from someone who bore witness to the so-called “November Revolution” of particle physics in 1974. 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
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    32 mins
  • 82 - Science Vs. Pseudoscience

    82 - Science Vs. Pseudoscience
    Apr 29 2024
    Pseudoscience can sometimes be hard to distinguish from the real thing. Today we discuss how philosophers of science have thought about this problem. 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
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    36 mins