Why This Universe?

Author: Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

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.
Be a guest on this podcast

Language: en-us

Genres: Astronomy, Physics, Science

Contact email: Get it

Feed URL: Get it

iTunes ID: Get it

Trailer:

Get all podcast data

Listen Now...

100 - What is Light? A Journey from Ancient Philosophy to Quantum Physics
Episode 9
Monday, 24 August, 2026

Modern physics tells us a lot about light; that it's both a wave and a particle, and that it sets the speed limit of the universe, for example. But how did we come to understand light in this way?In Dan's first solo episode, he takes us through theories of light through the ages, starting from the earliest accounts of ancient ideas and bringing us all the way to modern times. Let us know what you think about this new format!Support the show

We also recommend:

sozial.audio - Der Podcast von einem Sozialarbeiter, über Soziale Arbeit mit Matthias Palm
Sozialwissenschaftler und Sozialarbeiter, Kolleginnen und Kollegen aus Theorie und Praxis, geben Einblicke in die Soziale Arbeit, aktuelle Sozialpolitische Themen und aktuelle Themen aus Forschung und Wissenschaft.