Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe
Episodes
Will starlink spoil astronomy?
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about how megaconstellations of satellites might spoil our view of the Universe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://ww...
Can something be both a conductor and insulator?
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the recent revolution in solid state physics that has led to weird new materials. Learn more about your ad-choices at htt...
Did our Universe evolve?
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge discuss the theory of Cosmological Natural Selection Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omn...
How should we search for extra terrestrial intelligence?
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel talks to Jill Tarter, longtime head of the SETI program, about how to look for alien intelligence Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
Things that glow in the dark
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the biology, chemistry and physics of glowing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSe...
Kids questions about the Universe!
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer questions from kids about black holes, diamond planets and faster-than-light travel! Learn more about your ad-choices at http...
The Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel talks to Sean Carroll about the quantum multiverse, and whether it is real Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...
Could a solar flare wipe out humanity?
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain the physics of our chaotic Sun and why its so hard to predict whether or not it might kill us! Learn more about your ad-choi...
How to be a supervillain with physics.
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer questions from aspiring supervillains, helping with their schemes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...
How do we measure the speed of light?
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the history of how we measured this fastest of all velocities! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...
Why do we think dark matter is made of particles?
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explore the "WIMP Miracle", which convinced a lot of physicists that dark matter was a particle. Learn more about your ad-choices at...
How did exotic particles change the Universe?
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about why all those weird heavy particles might actually be critical to the Universe Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...
What is Relational Quantum Mechanics?
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel talks to Carlo Rovelli about a fascinating alternative way of thinking about the nature of reality. And aliens. Learn more about your ad-choic...
Frequently Asked Listener Questions About the Universe!
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge's new book "Frequently Asked Questions about the Universe" is out today! Order your copy at universefaq.com Learn more about your ad...
Why does gravity slow down time?
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explore why time slows down when space is curved Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystu...
How do you spot a wormhole?
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge ask if it's possible to tell if there's a wormhole nearby Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSe...
Are black holes really black holes?
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explore the question of whether black holes are actually "dark stars" Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...
Are neutrinos hiding the dark matter?
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about how dark matter might be hiding under the "neutrino floor" Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...
Black Hole Questions!
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer listener questions about black holes Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.c...
What is a quantum eraser?
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge step through the details of a mind-boggling version of the double slit experiment. Check out their new book: universefaq.com Learn m...
How many generations of stars will there be?
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge break down the life cycle of stars and estimate how many more stars will be born in our Universe. Learn more about your ad-choices a...
Is time pixelated?
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about how finely sliced time can get. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.co...
What hidden symmetry is controlling the Universe?
30 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge dive deep into quantum theory and explain gauge symmetry, the foundation of all modern physics. Learn more about your ad-choices at ...
Do fission reactors occur naturally?
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about whether fission reactors are found in Nature Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee ...
Does the Universe need cause and effect?
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about whether things have to happen in a definite order, or not! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...
Does the weak force attract or repel?
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge break down this question that stumped Daniel at his public office hours! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...
Is the Universe a hologram?
16 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Could the 3D entire Universe be a projection from a 2D surface somewhere? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee...
Listener Questions 17: hamsters, black holes and higgs fields!
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge dip the french fries of knowledge into the mysterious condiments of the Universe and answer questions from listeners like you! Learn...
Can you be motionless in space?
09 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Everything is moving and spinning -- is it possible to be totally still in the Universe? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcas...
Why don't we have electric airplanes?
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Katie talk about how to get a battery-powered plane into the sky. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com...
What will the Giant Magellan Telescope show us?
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Kelly talk about the exciting science that will be done by this new super telescope. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihear...
What is a space hurricane?
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge swirl their minds together into a stormy mix of puns and physics and tackle this spacey topic. Learn more about your ad-choices at h...
What's a proton made of?
26 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge crack open the basic building block of matter and find.. anti-matter! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...
What if our particles were different?
24 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge consider how the Universe would be different if our particles had different properties Learn more about your ad-choices at https://w...
What is a light cone?
19 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain how the speed of light limits how events play out in the Universe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpod...
How many particles has the Large Hadron Collider discovered?
17 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge reveal that the Large Hadron Collider has found much more than just the Higgs boson! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www...
Why is the three-body problem so hard?
12 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about why something so simple is one of the oldest and hardest problems in physics. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:/...
How many stars can a solar system have?
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about binary star systems, trinary star systems and totally bonkers star systems with even more stars! Learn more about your ad...
Listener Questions 16: pictures from space, antimatter stars and Jupiter-eating aliens!
05 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners like you! Have questions? Send them to [email protected] Learn more about your ad-choices...
Can we use the galaxy as a gravitational wave detector?
03 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel explains how pulsars can be used as a galaxy-sized physics experiment. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.co...
How does a plasma thruster work?
29 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Will a plasma-based spaceship engine let humanity zoom between planets? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee o...
Can you outrun a flash of light?
27 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about whether its possible to outrun the fastest thing in the Universe Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpo...
How were pulsars discovered?
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel recounts the story of how pulsars were discovered and what they tell us about the death of stars. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
The SF Universe of Cadwell Turnbull's "The Lesson"
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the connections between science and art and discuss the science and politics of Cadwell Turnbull's "The Lesson" Learn mor...
What's the cosmic gravitational background?
15 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain how we might be able to listen to a new kind of gravitational hiss and what secrets it could reveal. Learn more about your a...
What do the Navy UFO videos really mean?
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel talks to Mick West, expert UFO-video analyzer, to understand what we are seeing in the Navy UFO videos. Learn more about your ad-choices at ht...
Is infinity real or just mathematical?
08 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and guest host Katie Goldin search for examples of infinity in the Universe. Does it only exist in our minds? Learn more about your ad-choices...
How many moons does the Earth have?
06 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and guest host Kelly Weinersmith count the number of moons orbiting the Earth! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastne...
Listener Questions: photon information, simulated Universes and Daniel's fantasy science budget
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel answers questions from real listeners like you. Submit your questions to [email protected] Learn more about your ad-choices at http...
The SF Universe of Essa Hansen's novel "Nophek Gloss"
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge break down the science in the science fiction novel "Nophek Gloss" by debut author Essa Hansen. Learn more about your ad-choices at ...
Is it possible to have a two-dimensional object?
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge slice the Universe infinitely thin and talk about the theory and practice of 2D materials Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...
Are there stars made of dark matter?
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about what it takes to make a star and whether dark matter could pull it off Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ih...
Where are all the medium-sized black holes?
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge search for the missing black holes that are not too small or too big, but right in the middle! Learn more about your ad-choices at h...
How was the cosmic microwave background discovered?
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge go through the crazy story of missed opportunties, accidental observations that led to one of the greatest science discoveries of all...
How many Higgs bosons are there?
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain why our Universe might have more than just one Higgs boson, and what they should be called. Learn more about your ad-choices...
Where did the Earth's atmosphere come from?
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain where the air you breathe came from, and whether there's hope for deep breaths on exoplanets. Learn more about your ad-choic...
What did we learn from the Arecibo Radio Telescope?
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge tell the story of the construction, the scientific insights and the collapse of the Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico Learn mor...
Why does measuring a quantum object change it?
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel chats with Adam Becker about the "measurement problem" in quantum mechanics: does the wavefunction collapse, and what causes it? Learn more ab...
Can there be life INSIDE a black hole?
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and guest host Katie Goldin talk about astro-blackhole-biology and whether it's possible to have life evolve inside a black hole. Learn more a...
Listener Questions: the expanding observable Universe, what it's like to be a photon and the age of the Universe
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel answers questions from listeners like you! Got questions? Come to Daniel's public office hours: https://sites.uci.edu/daniel/public-office-hour...
What is Frame Dragging?
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain how space can get twisted up around spinning objects. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...
Is space-based solar power realistic?
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and guest host Kelly Weinersmith talk about getting solar power FROM SPACE! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo...
Does Mars Have a Liquid Center?
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge crack open the red planet and talk about whether it is totally solid, or whether it still has liquid flowing inside! Learn more abou...
What's the most promising theory of EVERYTHING?
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about string theory, loop quantum gravity, M-theory, p-branes, geometric unity and ice cream! Learn more about your ad-choices ...
What's the most powerful volcano in the Solar System?
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge break down how volcanos work and blow up your idea of what makes a powerful volcano blow. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...
Can the Universe exist without space?
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge break down the Universe to its most basic level and ask if space is necessary Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...
The Science Fiction Universe of SB Divya
29 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel interviews SB Divya about her new novel "Machinehood" which explores whether machines can be self-aware. Learn more about your ad-choices at h...
Can brains spontaneously form in space?
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the chance that you could be a brain floating in space. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetw...
Listener Questions: Black Holes, Dark Entropy and a Radio Free Zone!
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners like you! Got questions? Come to Daniel's public office hours: https://sites.uci.edu/daniel/public-of...
Did CERN just discover a new particle, using penguins?
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain the exciting new results from the LHCb experiment! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comS...
Did Fermilab just discover a new particle?
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the result of the g-2 experiment at Fermilab and what it means! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpod...
Have we solved the black hole information paradox?
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge break down recent advances in quantum gravity! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudi...
What's a Tesseract?
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about 4-dimensional cubes, life in the 4th dimension and the Infinity Stones! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...
Did Jupiter once have a different orbit?
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and guest host Kelly Weinersmith explore the dramatic story of Jupiter's wandering orbits Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
What's the heaviest stable element?
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge take a trip to the theoretical Island of Stability and talk about super heavy elements Learn more about your ad-choices at https://w...
What's the Huge Large Quasar Group?
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about quasars, large groups of quasars and HUGE LARGE groups of quasars! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...
What is the Space Roar?
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the mysterious, unexplained "space roar" and whether its a clue about something new in the Universe. Learn more about you...
What was the pioneer anomaly?
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge dig into the mystery of why the Pioneer spacecraft's path surprised scientists. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
The Science Finction Universe of Lindsay Ellis
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the Universe of Lindsay Ellis' novel "Axiom's End" Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about black holes, antimatter stars and why the Universe exists!
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel answers questions from listeners like you! Got questions? Come to Daniel's public office hours: https://sites.uci.edu/daniel/public-office-hour...
Why does our Universe have a Cold Spot?
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain why scientists are puzzling over a massive cold spot in the sky. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...
What are boson stars?
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about whether its possible to have stars made out of bosons! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about the smell of space, the electroweak force and spotting distant aliens.
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel answers questions from listeners like you! Got questions? Come to Daniel's public office hours: https://sites.uci.edu/daniel/public-office-hour...
What are globular clusters?
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and guest host Katie Goldin explore the mysteries of these weird, ancient blobs of stars. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
What is a Quantum Dot?
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge break down the quantum world into tiny dots that have amazing properties. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about diamond rain on Jupiter, travel near the speed of light and the tilt of Uranus.
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel answers questions from listeners like you! Got questions? Come to Daniel's public office hours: https://sites.uci.edu/daniel/public-office-hour...
Can we see evidence of a previous Universe?
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain Roger Penrose's Conformal Cyclic Cosmology and what it means about the origins of the Universe. Learn more about your ad-cho...
Can we build an invisibility cloak?
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and guest host Kelly Weinersmith break down the science and science-fiction of invisibility. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about hawking radiation, 5G networks and wireless phone chargers!
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel answers questions from listeners like you! Got questions? Come to Daniel's public office hours: https://sites.uci.edu/daniel/public-office-hour...
What's a Time Crystal?
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and guest host Katie Goldin talk about the crazy and real science of time crystals Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...
What's the biggest star in the Universe?
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about mind-blowingly huge balls of burning gas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omn...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about closed time-like curves, force fields, and the lifetime of the Earth's magnetic field
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel answers questions from listeners like you! Got questions? Come to Daniel's public office hours: https://sites.uci.edu/daniel/public-office-hour...
How do we know the mass of stars?
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel talks about how astronomers can measure or deduce the mass of a star, and why it controls its fate. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:...
Listener Questions 14: Black holes, aliens and zombies!
26 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about what kind of elements are inside a black hole, how to respond to aliens and whether physicists are useful or useless in a ...
Can a planet be bigger than its star?
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What counts as a planet and is it possible for it to outweigh or outsize its parent star? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about how to read science headlines, gravitational slingshots, lorentz symmetry and the speed of light!
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel answers questions from listeners like you! Got questions? Come to Daniel's public office hours: https://sites.uci.edu/daniel/public-office-hour...
Can we see planets in other galaxies?
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about how astronomers are trying to detect planets in far away galaxies! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about a donut Universe, mirrors and black holes!
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel answers questions from listeners like you! Got questions? Come to Daniel's public office hours: https://sites.uci.edu/daniel/public-office-hour...
Why can’t we see quantum effects in everyday objects?
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about quantum decoherence and why big things don't act like quantum particles. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www....
Is space filled with infinite energy?
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge tackle the confusing conundrum of the Casimir Effect and quantum zero-point energy Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...