Showing titles in Physics

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.

In this fascinating collection of articles and speeches, Albert Einstein reflects not only on the scientific method at work in his own theoretical discoveries, but eloquently expresses a great appreciation for his scientific contemporaries and forefathers, including Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, James Clerk Maxwell, Max Planck, and Niels Bohr. While Einstein is renowned as one of the foremost innovators of modern science, his discoveries uniquely his own, through his own words it becomes clear that Einstein viewed himself as only the most recent in a long line of scientists driven to create new ways of understanding the world and to prove their scientific theories.

This podcast series discusses Theosophy, which is often defined as the synthesis of science, religion and philosophy. Founded by Helena P. Blavatsky, who notably authored The Secret Doctrine and Isis Unveiled, Theosophy's scope is almost as astounding as the study's profound insights and wisdom. One small subject at a time, readings of Blavatsky and William Q. Judge are heard. One's own contemplation of the individual subjects presented, is bound to inform more than simply the moment.

Astrobiology is an exciting new subject, and one, arguably, more interdisciplinary than any other. Astrobiologists seek to understand the origin and evolution of life on Earth in order to illuminate and guide the search for life on other planets. In this Very Short Introduction, David C. Catling introduces the subject through our understanding of the factors that allowed life to arise and persist on our own planet, and for the signs we are looking for in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Among the estimated 100 billion solar systems in the known universe, evolving life is surely abundant. That evolution is a process of "becoming" in each case. Since Newton, we have turned to physics to assess reality. But physics alone cannot tell us where we came from, how we arrived, and why our world has evolved past the point of unicellular organisms to an extremely complex biosphere.

We’ve been tantalised by the idea of eternal youth since time immemorial. We’re always asking how we can live longer and better. Or, to put it another way, why can’t we all be like Madame Calment, who cycled till she was 100, smoked till she was 117 and died at the wonderfully old age of 122? Join veteran reporter Bill Gifford for a rip-roaring ride along the trail to the fountain of youth.

Hard Truths is a podcast where we discover the truth of our reality by looking at science or investigative journalism that is suppressed or kept hidden from us.Join Ashton Forbes on this journey of discovery.

"Relativity: The Special and the General Theory" is a seminal work by Albert Einstein, first published in 1916, designed to explain the groundbreaking theories that reshaped our understanding of the universe. In this accessible text, Einstein introduces listeners to the Special Theory of Relativity, which addresses the relationship between space and time, and the General Theory of Relativity, which expands these concepts to include gravity as the curvature of space-time caused by mass and energy.

The Atomic Bomb podcast describes the history leading to the discovery of the atomic bomb, as well as its role in World War 2. We also examine the science behind the understanding of the atomic nucleus, how it enables the release of atomic energy, as well as the design and function of nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. We follow the stories of some of the scientists involved – their discoveries, tragedies, and adventures. Lastly, we consider the geopolitical impact that nuclear weapons have made on the world.Credits and Licensing Information:Written, presented, and edited by Lane ...

This internationally known physicist has developed a theory of quantum physics which addresses the totality of existence, including matter and consciousness, as an unbroken whole. The late Bohm's concept of "implicate order" provides a basis for bridging science to the realm of spirit. For two decades he explored this possibility with J. Krishnamurti, the famed religious teacher.

Once a month, Purdue University's Professor Paul Duffell discusses astronomy and astrophysics with experts from around the world. Duffell and guests discuss supernovae, galaxies, planets, black holes, and the nature of space and time.Supported by the National Science Foundation under grant AAG-2206299.Music by Brittain Ashford.Produced in beautiful Lafayette, Indiana by Paul Duffell.Follow us on BlueSky!

In "Elemental Matters", Professor Deborah Sauder leads a comprehensive overview of chemistry, a subject that influences every aspect of daily life. Kicking off the lecture series with a revealing look at one of the planet’s most vital chemicals—water—Sauder then delves into the basics of molecular structure and chemical reactions. The course concludes with an eye-opening glimpse of 21st-century applications, such as nanotechnology and energy alternatives."

Rupert Sheldrake and Matthew Fox will transform how you think about the most popular of all spiritual beings. Study of the Christian mystics led Fox and Sheldrake to the most startling part of their research, which was the discovery that "Aquinas' discussion on angels practically parallels today's discussion upon physics". They explore the idea that the universe is a living organism, and they raise the possibility that angels play a role in the governing of the universe itself.

The brain is made up of 85 billion neurons, which are connected by over 100 trillion synapses. For over a century, a diverse array of researchers have been trying to find a language that can be used to capture the essence of what these neurons do and how they communicate - and how those communications create thoughts, perceptions, and actions. The language they were looking for was mathematics, and we would not be able to understand the brain as we do today without it.

Fight Like a Physicist provides an in-depth, sometimes whimsical look into the physics behind martial arts for sport and self-defense. Whether you are an experienced martial artist or a curious enthusiast, this book can give you an "unfair advantage" by unraveling the complex science of effective fighting techniques and examining the core principles that make them work.

In the late 1940s, a handful of visionaries were working to steer Europe towards a more peaceful future through science, and CERN, the European particle physics laboratory, was duly born. James Gillies tells the gripping story of particle physics, from the original atomists of ancient Greece, through the people who made the crucial breakthroughs, to CERN itself, one of the most ambitious scientific undertakings of our time, and its eventual confirmation of the Higgs boson.

In an era of rapidly developing technology and renewed ambition, the 21st century has ushered in an exciting new age of space flight. But what has brought us to this point in our exploration of the universe? And what does the future of space travel hold? From the amazing technology that has enabled us to look beyond the clouds to the possibilities of space tourism, 10 Short Lessons in Space Travel takes a timely look at the essential lessons learned from our voyages into outer space.

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and author of the classic The First Three Minutes, Weinberg shares his views on some of the most fundamental and fascinating aspects of physics and the universe. But he does not seclude science behind disciplinary walls or shy away from politics, taking on what he sees as the folly of manned spaceflight, the harms of inequality, and the importance of public goods. His point of view is rationalist, realist, reductionist, and devoutly secularist.

By 100 years ago, it seemed clear that the speed of light was the fastest possible speed. Causality was safe. And then quantum mechanics happened, introducing spooky connections that seemed to circumvent the law of cause and effect. From Aristotle's Physics to quantum teleportation, learn about the scientific pursuit of instantaneous connections in this insightful examination of our world.

Ernest Rutherford, who grew up in colonial New Zealand and came to Cambridge on a scholarship, made numerous revolutionary discoveries, among them the orbital structure of the atom and the concept of the “half-life” of radioactive materials, which led to a massive re-evaluation of the age of the Earth―previously judged just 100 million years old. Above all, perhaps, Rutherford and the young men working under him were the first to split the atom, unlocking tremendous forces―forces, as Rutherford himself predicted, that would bring us the atomic bomb.