Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe
Episodes
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...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about energy conservation, inflation and space dust!
31 Dec 2020
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 was radiation discovered?
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
X-rays, U-rays, and cosmic rays! Hear the story for how we came to understand that our world is filled with invisible dangers. Learn more about your ...
Are there centaurs in outer space?
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Centaurs are real, but not on Earth. Daniel and Jorge talk about the weird objects astronomers call a "space centaur" Learn more about your ad-choice...
Is there matter that is not made of particles?
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible that matter could be made of something that's not particles? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comS...
What will the DragonFly mission find on Titan?
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
NASA is building an awesome drone to fly around the surface of Saturn's moon. What will it find? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
What's the fastest spinning thing in the Universe?
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Part of their "Extreme Universe" series, Daniel and Jorge make your head spin with all of the crazy spinning objects in the Universe. Learn more abou...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about the size of the Universe, what's in intergalactic space and why gravity dominates the Universe.
10 Dec 2020
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-hours...
Daniel answers Listener Questions about dark matter, black holes and particle colliders
08 Dec 2020
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 happened in the dark ages of the Universe?
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Before the stars and galaxies formed, the Universe was dark and foggy for hundreds of millions of years! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
Can you undress a black hole?
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about whether it's possible to observe a "naked singularity" Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo...
The Sticky Story of the Gluon's Discovery
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the gluon and how was it discovered? Daniel and Jorge take us through the dramatic events. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ih...
What's it like to fall into a black hole?
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Take a cosmic field trip with Daniel and Jorge, as they guide you on a thought experiment into the heart of the most mysterious objects in the Univers...
Listener Questions 13: Space water, wormhole colliders and boxes of dark matter
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners, like you! Submit yours, to [email protected] Learn more about your ad-choices at https:/...
The SF Universe of Max Barry
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In Max Barry's new novel "Providence", humanity runs into aliens. It doesn't go well. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastne...
What's the Oldest Thing in the Universe?
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the age of stars, galaxies, black holes and more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.co...
The surprising shape of the Milky Way
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do we know the shape of our galaxy, since we're stuck in the middle of it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...
How to land a robot on an asteroid
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
NASA sent Osiris-Rex to scoop a cup of dirt from an asteroid ... using a pogo stick! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnet...
The mysterious sources of the Van Allen radiation belts
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the strange belts of particles surrounding the Earth, and the South Atlantic Anomaly Learn more about your ad-choices at ...
What if the Earth Stopped Spinning
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What makes planets spin, and what would happen if they stopped? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudi...
The Quantum Physics of Solar Panels
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge break down the physics and engineering behind solar panels Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comS...
A discounted dark matter discovery
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why do particle physicists discount the beautiful signal of dark matter from the DAMA experiment? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihe...
Is all of space magnetized?
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible that there are magnetic fields.... everywhere? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio....
Is Energy Actually Conserved?
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explore whether energy is actually a fundamental conserved quantity. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastne...
The SF Universes of Vandana Singh
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the creative science in the short stories of Vandana Singh's collection "Ambiguity Machines" Learn more about your ad-cho...
Where do comets come from?
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the vast and amazing Oort cloud, and whether it is throwing snowballs at us. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://...
Will the ITER experiment make fusion feasible?
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Will humans figure out how to make fusion work on Earth, to provide plentiful clean power? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc...
New discoveries in our cosmic neighborhood
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about a new massive blob of galaxies discovered right around the corner. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...
How can we bring rocks back from Mars?
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How many robots does it take to dig up rocks from Mars and deliver them back to Earth? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...
Can a black hole power a spaceship?
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge tackle the physics, engineering and safety questions of using a black hole to visit nearby stars. Learn more about your ad-choices a...
Is there life on Venus?
22 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The internet went crazy talking about phosphine on Venus! What does it mean? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com...
The most common listener questions!
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is there dark matter in black holes? Are gravitons and gravitational waves the same thing? Daniel and Jorge answer the most common listener questions!...
The SF Multi-verse of Adrian Tchaikovsky
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge discuss the science of "The Doors of Eden", a multi-zooniverse novel by Adrian Tchaikovsky Learn more about your ad-choices at https...
What would happen if dark matter and dark energy disappeared?
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dark matter and dark energy are 95% of the energy in the Universe. But do we need them? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcast...
Elinor Wonders About the Universe
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer questions about the Universe from Jorge's daughter Elinor, and talk about their new PBS Kids TV show: "Elinor Wonders Why". L...
What is Bose Einstein Condensate
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have you heard of "Bose Einstein Condensate" but never really understood it? D&J break it down for you. Learn more about your ad-choices at https...
What is Mirror Matter?
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's not anti-matter, or supersymmetric matter, but yet another way our familiar particles might be reflected, and could explain a deep mystery of the...
The SF Universe of Dr. Karen Lords
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the science of the novel "The Best of All Possible Worlds" by Dr. Karen Lords.https://karenlord.wordpress.com/the-best-of-...
Listener Questions 12: Higgs Bosons, Black holes and earthquakes!
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Does dark matter feel the Higgs? Can particles be black holes? What would happen if the Earth froze? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www....
How did we discover black holes?
20 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What convinced people that black holes are real? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener ...
What happened to the Superconducting Supercollider?
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Americans had the biggest colliders in the world, until they tried to build one that was too big. Hear the super story of the superlative supercollide...
Do protons live forever?
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Electrons can hang out until the end of time. Physicists think that protons should eventually fall apart. But will they? Learn more about your ad-cho...
Special 200th episode!
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What happened in the first 200 microseconds of the Universe? What can you see within 200 light years from Earth? Learn more about your ad-choices at ...
Did the XENON experiment just discover a weird axion?
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Recent results from the XENON experiment could be the first hint of something groundbreaking... or it could be nothing. Learn more about your ad-choi...
How did supermassive black holes get so big?
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The gargantuan black holes at the centers of galaxies seem impossibly large. How did they grow so large in the short history of our Universe? Learn m...
The Marvelous Mystery of the Muon Magnetic Moment
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can physicists discover new particles by watching how muons wiggle in magnetic fields? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastn...
Is dark matter hot?
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists don't know what dark matter is, but they know if it's hot (or not!) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...
How was the Higgs boson discovered?
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hear the story of the multi-decade trans-Atlantic rivalry that led to the Higgs boson discovery. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
What are quasi-particles
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about phonons, magnons, excitons, anyons and explainons. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...
Can neutrinos explain why we have matter?
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explore how the new DUNE experiment could unravel secrets of neutrins... and the Universe! Learn more about your ad-choices at https...
Listener Questions 11: Deep questions about gravity and particles.
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can gravity waves kill you? Why do we have particles? Can fission power a star? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork....
Does the Universe need dark matter?
09 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible that dark matter doesn't exist? Could it just be a misunderstanding of gravity? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...
Did NASA discover a parallel Universe?
07 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The amazing ANITA experiment and the bizarre neutrinos they discovered Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee om...
Do black holes destroy information?
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge tackle the paradox of black holes: do they destroy information or store it forever? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www....
What is the axion?
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why do scientists think there might be a wispy mysterious particle? And why did they give it such a silly name? Learn more about your ad-choices at h...
The SF Universe of Alastair Reynolds "Revenger"
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about solar sails, artificial planets and black holes! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com...
What are primordial black holes?
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Could mysterious black holes have been formed in the first second of the Universe? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo...
Is the impossible drive possible?
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge dissect the "EMDrive", explain how it's supposed to work and whether it ever might. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www....
The long race for the top quark
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the twenty-year race to find the top quark, that came down to the wire. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...
Where in the solar system might we find life? (ft. Katie Goldin of Creature Features)
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Katie Goldin, host of the Creature Features pod, visits to talk about what's needed for life and where in the solar system it might be hiding. Learn ...
How do you navigate in deep space?
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about a potential new GPS: the Galactic Positioning System. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...
Can stars eat other stars?
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can a Thorne-Zytkow object, a neutron star inside another star, actually exist? Did we find one? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
Why are neutrinos so light?
02 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about how the weirdest particle gets its mass Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnys...
Can we see the surface of exoplanets?
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Could we build a telescope that let us see what planets around other stars look like? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastne...
What is the real charge of the electron?
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge explain how the theory of "Renormalization" tells us that we measure is different from what is real. Learn more about your ad-choice...
Could Jupiter turn into a star?
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the fate of the largest planet in our solar system? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.co...
What are the basic constants of the Universe?
19 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about the numbers that control everything, and the number of those numbers! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihe...
Listener Question 10: Particles, stars and universe-sized black holes!
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer listener questions about the smallest, biggest and cataclysmic-ist things in the Universe! Learn more about your ad-choices a...
Can Dark Matter feel itself
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when DM bumps into DM in the dark? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener f...
How do LEDs work?
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Nobel-prize winning physics of.... reading lights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/lis...
Should we believe any alien abduction stories?
05 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about how to be skeptical and open minded. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystud...
Does Stephen Wolfram's Theory of Everything Work?
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How does Stephen Wolfram's Physics Project work and what have we learned? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee...
The SF Universe of Sue Burke's "Semiosis"
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge talk about what happens when plants can think. Is eating a banana now murder? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheart...
Can planets lose their atmospheres?
23 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do planets get atmospheres, and how long do they last? Will Earth one day run out of air? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartp...
What is the Cosmological Constant?
21 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Was it Einstein's greatest blunder, or smartest prediction? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.co...
How quarks were discovered?
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One day in November 1974 that changed particle physics forever. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudi...
What is the tallest mountain in the solar system?
14 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Where is the biggest, tallest or widest mountain in the Solar System? Hint: it's not on any planet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.i...
The SF Universe of Mary Robinette Kowal's "The Calculating Stars"
09 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge discuss the book "The Calculating Stars" and interview the author. Mary Robinette Kowal's science fiction debut, 2019 Winner of the H...
Could dark matter be made of quarks?
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about hexaquarks with Daniel and Jorge Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for ...
The SF Universe of Becky Chamber's "The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet"
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel interviews Becky Chambers about her book "The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. " Volume 1 of the Wayfarers series which won the Hugo award for...
Listener Questions 9
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners, like you! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.co...
What are virtual particles?
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Discover virtual particles with Daniel and Jorge Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener ...
The SF Universe of Blake Crouch's "Recursion"
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge discuss the science fiction book "Recursion" by Blake Crouch. Blake comes on for an interview to discuss his thoughts and method. Pic...
How small is an electron?
19 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Shrink down the the quantum realm with Daniel and Jorge and discover the size of the electron Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartp...
Why is strange matter so strange?
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Find out why strange matter is so strange with daniel and jorge Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudi...
The science fiction universe of "Ancillary Justice"
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this very special new series of episodes Daniel and Jorge interview famous authors. Today we discuss "Ancillary Justice" the debut novel of the tal...
What is the biggest explosion in the universe
10 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the biggest explosion in the universe that mankind has ever witnessed? Find out with Daniel and Jorge. Learn more about your ad-choices at ht...
Is it possible to move the sun?
05 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If we needed to move the sun, could we do it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for...
Is the Universe infinite?
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is the universe finite or infinite?Article Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for pr...
What have we learned from the Spitzer Space Telescope?
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Spitzer Space Telescope is retiring. What have we learned from it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee om...
Choose your own physics adventure!
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Which of these four physics adventures would you prefer? Visit the Quantum Realm See inside a Black Hole Travel faster than light Meet intelligent ali...
Can quantum gravity save physics?
20 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge discuss loop quantum gravity with a special appearance from Bianca Dittrich, a PhD in gravitational physics and an expert in loop qua...
Listener Questions 8: Can AI understand humor?
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel and Jorge answer questions from listeners like you! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com...
What causes the biggest explosions in the universe?
13 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're taking a deep dive into the subject of supernovas. What causes them? What do we know about them and can they harm us here on earth.? Learn more...
Are there planets without a star?
11 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do rogue planets exist? Could they support life? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener ...
Can you slow down light?
06 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The speed of light is constant but is it possible to slow it down? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnyst...
What is the great attractor?
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the mysterious force that is attracting our galaxy to it? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystu...
Can particles travel faster than light?
30 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is there any way particles can travel faster than light or is it against the laws of physics? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartp...
4 ways physics could end the world
28 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What would happen if.... Gravity turned off for 3 seconds The earth started rotating the other way All electrons within 1 light year suddenly disappea...
Is Betelgeuse about to explode?
23 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Betelgeuse appears to be dimming. Is it about to explode? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/...