logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
2m 10s

Why Locusts Swarm, Humans Do Good and Ti...

Steven Strogatz, Janna Levin, and Quanta Magazine
About this episode

“The Joy of Why” is a Quanta Magazine podcast about curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge. The mathematician and author Steven Strogatz and the astrophysicist and author Janna Levin take turns interviewing leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. New episodes are released every other Thursday.

Up next
Jun 26
How Does Graph Theory Shape Our World?
Born in the 18th century when Leonhard Euler solved the puzzle of the seven bridges of Königsberg, graph theory has become a foundational tool in mathematics. It studies relationships through nodes (vertices) and the links (edges) that connect them, transforming the complexity of ... Show More
34m 14s
Jun 12
Does Form Really Shape Function?
What links a Möbius strip, brain folds and termite mounds? The answer is Harvard University’s L. Mahadevan, whose career has been devoted to using mathematics and physics to explore the form and function of common phenomena. Mahadevan, or Maha to his friends and colleagues, has l ... Show More
47m 25s
May 29
Will We Ever Prove String Theory?
For decades, string theory has been hailed as the leading candidate for the theory of everything in our universe. Yet despite its mathematical elegance, the theory still lacks empirical evidence. One of its most intriguing, yet vexing, implications is that if all matter and force ... Show More
48m 40s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Deciphering Gravitational Waves, with Janna Levin
What is a gravitational wave? Janna Levin and comedian Matt Kirshen sit down with physicist Rainer Weiss to discuss LIGO, black holes, and the physics of gravitational waves. (Originally Aired October 4, 2016)NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-fr ... Show More
47m 57s
Dec 2024
Health, Astronomy, And Climate Experts On 2024’s Coolest Science
It’s been an exciting and hectic year in science discovery and innovation. We’ve reported on stories from across many fields of science—from city climate plans and panda conservation to AI energy consumption and the spread of bird flu.Earlier this month, Ira sat down in front of ... Show More
48m 47s
Jun 2023
#355: Find Out About the Universe: Space Science Questions Answered
Thanks to Curiosity Stream and NordVPN for sponsoring today’s podcast. Go to https://curiositystream.com/SPACENUTS and use code SPACENUTS to save 25% today. Visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts for our special security deal designed for you and save big time. In this episode of the Sp ... Show More
55m 37s
Sep 2024
Our Mathematical Universe with Grant Sanderson (3Blue1Brown)
Is math discovered or invented? Neil deGrasse Tyson & Chuck Nice explore information theory, talking to aliens with prime numbers, Mandelbrot sets, and why math is often called the "language of the universe" with Grant Sanderson, the math educator behind YouTube channel 3Blue1Bro ... Show More
56m 56s
Jan 2025
Einstein’s Genius with Ron Howard
How did Einstein uncover so many fundamental theories of the universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson, comic co-host Harrison Greenbaum, and astrophysicist Janna Levin celebrate the life and legacy of Albert Einstein, accompanied by Neil’s interview with director Ron Howard.(Originally Aire ... Show More
47m 56s
Oct 2024
The Life Scientific: Conny Aerts
Many of us have heard of seismology, the study of earthquakes; but what about asteroseismology, focusing on vibrations in stars?Conny Aerts is a professor of Astrophysics at the University of Leuven in Belgium - and a champion of this information-rich field of celestial research. ... Show More
26m 28s
Feb 2016
AaS! 26: Wolf-Rayet Stars: Sci-Fi or What?
What’s so special about Wolf-Rayet stars? Do we even know how they work? And what does this all have to do with Paris? I answer these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! Follow all the show updates at askaspaceman.com, and help support the show at patreon.com/pmsutter! ... Show More
31m 8s
Sep 2024
EVSN - Supernovae and Galaxies Being Used to Solve Astrophysics’ Biggest Questions
From May 18, 2021. Two new studies are attempting to solve a couple of big puzzles in astrophysics: Is the Hubble constant actually constant? And why do galaxies have flat rotation curves? Plus, a young star’s circumstellar disk, the search for stellar-mass black holes, magnesium ... Show More
23m 9s
Jan 2025
Titans of Science: Marc Abrahams
Dr Chris Smith and the Naked Scientist team present the latest science news, analysis and breakthroughs.Including the news that the US has recorded their first human death from bird flu, and should we be concerned? Plus a new drug to treat drug resistant prostate cancer, and new ... Show More
51m 30s