FQxI Podcast

The Year in Physics Review 2025

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Poltergeist and Primordial Black Holes: Cosmologist Bernard Carr on Physics and the Paranormal

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

FQxI's Essay Competition Asks How Quantum is Life? Plus Plant Intelligence, Physicists Surveyed on Controversial Opinions & Should Journals Pay Peer Reviewers?

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dark Energy Bombshell? Cosmic Results from DESI and ACT & Rethinking Gatekeeping in Science Publishing

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Origin of Life, Assembly Theory & the Problems with Peer Review

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Year in Physics Review 2024

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Universal Constructor: A Conversation with David Deutsch

17 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Year in Physics Review 2023 Part 3

31 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Year in Physics Review 2023 Part 2

29 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Year in Physics Review 2023: Part 1

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is there a Theory of Everything? Great Mysteries of Physics Part 6

24 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is Life? What is Consciousness? Great Mysteries of Physics Part 5

07 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does Objective Reality Exist? Great Mysteries of Physics Part 4

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is There a Multiverse? Great Mysteries of Physics Part 3

25 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is Our Universe Fine-Tuned For Life? Great Mysteries of Physics Part 2

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is Science Becoming Less Disruptive?

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is Time an Illusion? Great Mysteries in Physics Part 1

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Year in Physics Review Part 3: Concluding our countdown of the biggest stories in physics, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham.

31 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Year in Physics Review Part 2: Continuing our countdown of the biggest stories in physics, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham.

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Year in Physics Review Part 1: Beginning our countdown of the biggest stories in physics, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham. We start with a discussion about whether a wormhole really was created in a quantum computer, in the lab?

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Testing Time: Quantum physicists Fabrizio Piacentini and Laura Knoll discuss their recent experiment testing the predictions of Constructor Theory, a new meta-framework of physics that may encompass all other theories. The new framework could solve the...

20 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Higgs-versary! Particle physicist Kevin Black tells Zeeya Merali about the LHC's new quest. Also, time-travel at the LHC, an update on the W Boson tests with Frank Wilczek; Catalina Curceanu on testing the origin of consciousness; & Queensland...

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The End of Everything: Astrophysicist Katie Mack on her book describing ways to destroy the universe, & on hints of new physics at the LHC; a quantum engine that heats & cools simultaneously; how the thermodynamic gradient may have driven the evolution of...

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

'Quantum dots' can teach us about thermodynamics in the nanorealm.

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Time's Arrow: A conversation with Paul Davies about time's irreversible flow, black holes, memories of Stephen Hawking and the information paradox, Maxwell's demon and living systems -- and how to improve universities. With Logan Chipkin.

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Quantum Steampunk: Physicist Nicole Yunger Halpern talks about her new book on quantum thermodynamics, temperatures below absolute zero, and the physics of yesterday's tomorrow.

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Constructor Theory and Irreversibility: A conversation with Chiara Marletto and Vlatko Vedral on a novel unification between information theory and thermodynamics and their recent experiment that tested, and corroborated, the constructor theoretic notion...

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Eerie quantum Aharanov-Bohm effect demonstrated for gravity; mysteries about the nature of time; how choices can curve spacetime; and the Science of Can and Can't.

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Information as Fuel. Quantum physicist Natalia Ares describes her quest to test thermodynamics in the quantum realm with carbon nanotubes. Philosopher Owen Maroney and theoretical physicist Janet Anders explain what such experiments can teach us about the...

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

2021: The Year in Physics Review Part 3. FQXi's annual countdown of the physics highlights concludes, with quantum physicist Ian Durham.

31 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

2021: Year in Physics Review Part 2. Our rundown of the physics highlights of the year continues, with quantum physicist Ian Durham.

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

2021: Year in Physics Review Part 1. Beginning our countdown of the biggest and best stories in physics, with quantum physicist Ian Durham.

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Schrödinger's Tardigrade: Has a multicellular organism really been entangled with a superconducting qubit? Physicist Vlatko Vedral defends his team's controversial claims; Mitch Waldrop discusses the long-running Hubble tension saga and the launch of the...

24 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Breakthrough Prize winner Jun Ye talks optical lattice clocks; the thermodynamic cost of timekeeping with Marcus Huber; & microbead minimotors help John Bechhoefer investigate information processing in nanomachines and biological systems.

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Disordered Cosmos: Physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein discusses the hunt for axions, her new book on dark matter, racism and misogyny in science, and the controversy surrounding the Thirty Meter Telescope.

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

2020: Year in Physics Review Part 2: Concluding our countdown of the biggest stories of the year in physics, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham.

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

2020: Year in Physics Review Part 1: Beginning our countdown of the biggest stories in foundational physics and beyond, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham.

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#ShutDownSTEM and the #Strike4BlackLives; Retrocausality Reviewed; Measuring Consciousness in Fruit Flies; Superior -- The Return of Race Science; & the Mystery of the Monster Galaxy.

14 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

2019: Year in Physics Review Part 2: Concluding our countdown of the biggest stories of the year in physics, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham.

31 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

2019: Year in Physics Review Part 1 Beginning our countdown of the biggest stories of the year in physics, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham.

29 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

An amped up version of the Schrodinger Cat Paradox spells trouble for all quantum interpretations -- according to its architect Renato Renner. He tells Zeeya and Brendan how the controversial thought experiment works, and why he thinks it is bad news for...

24 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Quantum Supremacy Milestone? Rumours abound that Google's quantum processor Sycamore has performed a task that would flummox the best classical computer — a first in quantum computing. Physicist Ian Durham assesses the claims, gives us a quantum...

06 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Quantum Mind Reading. Could we create a quantum experiment to predict what a person will do, without having to simulate their consciousness? Physicist Adam Brown argues a classic quantum "bomb tester" proposed in the 1990s could be modified to do just...

08 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Downward Causation. Cosmologist George Ellis investigates agency and argues that causation is a two-way process between the mind and lower level biological and physical functions. From the 6th FQXi meeting in Tuscany, in July.

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Designing the Mind. Cognitive scientist Susan Schneider talks transhumanism and asks at what point does human enhancement go too far? Are we in danger of accidentally destroying ourselves through technological augmentation and creating new beings in our...

15 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Measuring Free Will. To what degree are our choices really free, rather than determined? And how much control do we have over them? Quantum physicist Ian Durham presents a new mathematical model for free will. From the 6th FQXi Meeting, in Tuscany.

13 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do we make decisions? Physicist Carlo Rovelli discusses the science behind choice -- arguing that agency is intimately tied to time's arrow. From the 6th FQXi meeting in Tuscany.

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Building an AI Physicist. Cosmologist Max Tegmark describes the challenges with creating trustworthy artificial intelligence, and his own project writing a code that used neural networks to re-discover 100 equations from the Feynman lectures.

09 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Limits of Computation. Astrophysicist Fred Adams argues the world will run out of resources for computation in 32 years without a paradigm shift. And he discusses how alien civilizations could mine stars to create solar-system-sized "black cloud...

01 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Causality, Memory and the Arrow of Time. Cosmologist Sean Carroll is searching for a mathematical description of why causes precede effects and asking what makes our memories of the past special. Audio of a talk from the FQXi meeting in Tuscany.

30 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

2018 Year in Physics Review Part 2: We conclude our countdown of the top physics stories of the year, as chosen by Ian Durham.

31 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

2018 Year in Physics Review Part 1: We begin our countdown of the top physics stories of the year, as chosen by Ian Durham.

30 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Superhuman: In this special edition, evolutionary biologist Rowan Hooper discusses his new book, which examines the extremes of mental and physical ability. He discusses encounters with some of the world's cleverest people, investigates the role of...

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

High-energy neutrino traced back to a distant galaxy, with Azadeh Keivani; possible discovery of sterile neutrinos, with Richard Van de Water; black holes replaced by fuzzballs, with Samir Mathur; finding an almost-quantum theory, with Miguel Navascues;...

26 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Losing the Nobel Prize: In this special edition, physicist Brian Keating discusses his new book, which recounts the ill-fated BICEP2 announcement--and retraction--of the claimed discovery of primordial gravitational waves in 2014.

23 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Remembering Stephen Hawking; light from the first stars in the universe, with Rennan Barkana; our place in the multiverse, with Eugene Lim; & setting up a science hostel in Maui, with Garrett Lisi.

20 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

2017 Physics Countdown Part 3: What was the biggest physics breakthrough of the year? FQXi's review, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham, concludes.

31 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

2017 Physics Countdown Part 2: FQXi's review of the biggest breakthroughs of the year, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham, continues.

29 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

2017 Physics Countdown Part 1: FQXi's review of the biggest breakthroughs of the year, as chosen by quantum physicist Ian Durham.

26 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Real numbers are not (ontologically) real, says Nicolas Gisin; living in a Sudoku Universe, with Emily Adlam; FQXi launches a new essay contest and large grant round, with Anthony Aguirre and Jan Wallaczek; & fine-tuning quantum theory, with Matt Leifer.

24 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Gravitational waves from a neutron star collision; creating Majorana particles in the lab with Kang L. Wang; quantum Darwinism with Gerardo Adesso; & making a quantum replicant with Jayne Thompson.

30 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

China takes the first steps to building a quantum Internet; testing quantum gravity in the lab; making a baby universe in a particle accelerator; and singing about physics.

20 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Concluding our list of the top physics breakthroughs of 2016, as chosen by Ian Durham.

31 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Counting down the biggest physics breakthroughs of 2016, with Ian Durham.

30 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Retrocausal reality with Ken Wharton; tips for FQXi's new essay contest; the Breakthrough prizes in physics; the science of terrorism, with Peter Byrne; & Carlo Rovelli gives a brief lesson on writing a physics bestseller.

12 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Science & Creativity: Conversation with bestselling science fiction author Neal Stephenson, artist Jayne Tollaksen, and musical physicists Ian Durham, Stephon Alexander & Brendan Foster. With Zeeya Merali.

12 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Max Tegmark on measuring consciousness in the lab -- and finding a hidden dimension in natural language. From the 5th FQXi Meeting.

03 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Sean Carroll asks What Happens Inside the Wavefunction? From the 5th FQXi International Meeting.

21 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Quantum physicist Matt Leifer reveals the dirty secrets of quantum foundations: the Copenhagen Interpretation does not exist and Copenhagen-like interpretations are as crazy as invoking parallel universes. From the 5th International FQXi meeting.

20 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Physicist Paul Davies reveals the "dirty secrets of life." From the 5th FQXi conference.

19 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Happy 10th Birthday to us! FQXi's director Anthony Aguirre celebrates a decade of the Foundational Questions Institute, and chats about the Kepler's planet haul and Breakthrough Starshot; Catalina Curceanu on testing a quantum rival under a mountain; &...

31 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A MICROSCOPE on Galileo; how gravitational waves open a new window on the universe; searching for defects in spacetime; & a quantum-horror short story.

02 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

FQXi's countdown of the top physics breakthroughs of 2015 concludes, with Ian Durham.

31 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Our countdown of the biggest physics breakthroughs of 2015 continues, with Ian Durham.

29 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Our review of the year in physics, with quantum physicist Ian Durham, begins.

28 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Physics of Information special featuring black hole firewalls, ruling out reality & the search to define what information actually is. Plus highlights of other FQXi-funded research projects.

29 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

FQXi launches a new large grant round & Neutrino physicists win the Nobel and Breakthrough Prizes; a cosmic test for time; safeguarding the future of humanity; & Brains from Thunderbirds explains quantum physics.

09 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Hawking claims to solve black hole paradox & quantum spookiness passes toughest loophole-free test yet; relativity could cause quantum collapse; 5 steps for saving the world; quantum thermodynamics; & the physics filmmaker.

31 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Pluto, pentaquarks & Earth 2.0; Frank Drake talks about the new 100 million dollar hunt for alien life; conjuring a neutron star from a nanowire; & "Edge of the Sky" talks physics without the jargon.

28 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How do we communicate foundational physics to the public? Panel discussion with physicists and communicators Sabine Hossenfelder, Matt Leifer, Dagomir Kaszlikowski & Brendan Foster, from the New Directions meeting in Washington, DC.

17 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Physics poetry; curving spacetime in the lab; & searching for undecidable problems.

25 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Bohmian Rhapsody: Physicists Shelly Goldstein and Jean Bricmont discuss features of the deterministic alternative to standard quantum mechanics proposed by David Bohm. From the Quantum Foundations meeting in Erice, Italy, supported by COST.

18 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Physicists Angelo Bassi and GianCarlo Ghirardi discuss collapse models. From the COST quantum foundations meeting in Erice, Italy.

27 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A quantum reality check; observing black hole firewalls; & a quantum theory of network explains time's arrow.

15 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

2014 in Review: physicist Ian Durham reveals the top two physics stories of the year; & we give you tips for entering FQXi's new essay contest: "Trick or Truth? The Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathematics".

30 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

2014 in review: Ian Durham's countdown of the top 5 physics stories of the year continues; & we launch FQXi's RFP "The Physics of What Happens."

27 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

2014 in review: Ian Durham picks his top 5 physics stories of the year; & we congratulate the winners of the first FQXi video contest.

24 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

How parallel worlds interact with ours; redefining "life" in terms of predicting the future; questioning the founding assumptions of quantum theory; & the Philae lander sends back songs from a comet.

29 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Primordial gravitational waves turn to dust and why this is good news for inflation theory; Julian Barbour's model in which the big bang created twin mirror universes, solves the arrow of time problem; & Paul Davies on his physics-based...

02 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Watching Schrodinger's cat die; black holes bounce into white holes; sharpening Occam's razor; catching quantum pigeons; & generating quantum Cheshire cats.

31 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Time travel is simulated in the lab; Alan Guth on the doubts clouding the BICEP2 result; how the Higgs should have destroyed the universe already; & could entropy explain why nature obeys quantum rules?

30 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Andrei Linde and Joao Magueijo on the BICEP2 discovery of primordial gravitational waves; using thermodynamics to explain the origin of gravity; & is quantum entanglement the fundamental glue that binds reality together?

07 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Max Tegmark proposes that consciousness may be another state of matter in his talk at the 4th FQXi International Conference.

21 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Sean Carroll questions conventional wisdom on quantum fluctuations, whether we might be disembodied "Boltzmann Brains" floating through space & eternal inflation leading to a multiverse, in his talk at the 4th FQXi conference.

09 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

"What is quantum information *really* good for?" Physicists William Wootters, Caslav Brukner, Andrew Briggs, Raymond Laflamme, Sorin Paraoanu & Gerardo Adesso discuss this question at FQXi's 4th International Conference in Vieques.

07 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The final part of our Year in Physics review, with Ian Durham; & could ancient aliens have thrived in the universe 15 million years after the big bang?

31 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

The FQXi Year in Physics Review with Ian Durham continues; & Tejinder Virdee talks about the Higgs discovery, the Nobel Prize, & inspiring the next generation of particle physicists in Africa.

29 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Physicist Ian Durham begins his physics review of 2013; & astronomer Sara Seager talks about exoplanets, alien hunting and her MacArthur genius grant.

28 Dec 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Was our universe birthed by a 5-D black hole?; Dark Energy Survey launches; Voyager 1 leaves the solar system; Quantum space experiments; & a Superposition of physics & art

07 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Nobel Laureate Frank Wilczek talks tests of the cosmological multiverse & lab experiments for quantum parallel universes; neutrinos shift personality; a proof for Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle; & plants do math.

20 Aug 2013

Contributed by Lukas