Why This Universe? Podcast By Dan Hooper Shalma Wegsman cover art

Why This Universe?

Why This Universe?

By: Dan Hooper Shalma Wegsman
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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.

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Episodes
  • 98 - An Improbable Quantum Ghost Story (Ft. David Kaplan)

    98 - An Improbable Quantum Ghost Story (Ft. David Kaplan)
    Jan 19 2026

    An unlikely change in the theory of quantum mechanics would lead to bizarre new conclusions. Our guest talks us through non-linear quantum mechanics, and how physicists like him are testing it.

    For ad-free episodes and exclusive ask-us-anything segments, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

    Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe

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    41 mins
  • 97 - The Schrödinger Equation: The Heart of Quantum Mechanics

    97 - The Schrödinger Equation: The Heart of Quantum Mechanics
    Dec 22 2025

    Quantum mechanics is full of surprises. But somehow, the theory is captured almost entirely in a single equation. Today we explore the Schrödinger equation: how it works, what it says about nature, and why it revolutionized physics.

    For ad-free episodes and exclusive ask-us-anything segments, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

    Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe

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    30 mins
  • 96 - The Making of Particle Fever (Ft. David Kaplan)

    96 - The Making of Particle Fever (Ft. David Kaplan)
    Nov 24 2025

    In the years leading up to the Large Hadron Collider turning on, the physics community was buzzing with curiosity and excitement about what they were about to discover. These moments were captured in the documentary Particle Fever, created by the particle physicist David Kaplan. On today's episode, he recounts these historic years from the perspective of both physicist and filmmaker.

    For ad-free episodes and exclusive ask-us-anything segments, join us for just $3 a month on Patreon: https://patreon.com/whythisuniverse

    Our merch is available here: https://www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe

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    53 mins
All stars
Most relevant
I listened to this episode and I started thinking about the hard problem. it is obvious a lot of philosophers think that the hard problem is a worthy project, but I'm trying to understand the concept of the hard problem as a legitimate thing to figure out. We see the same mystery played out with the emergent phenomenon of society. Politicians, law enforcement, bankers all have societal positions and relevance that are completely separate from the way water condenses into clouds, but if water did not condense into clouds then those emergent structures wouldn't exist. However, intention can still be found in these emerging structures. The gap between objective and subjective might just be a fundamental rule, much like the way we will never have a complete version of mathematics as Godol found out. so we will never have a complete version of mathematics, so what? How does that in any way make that fact profound? Light acts as both a particle and a wave, we can appreciate the epiphany of that realization without attaching any divine significance to it. I know it's hard being human, but whatever made the universe was not. That being said, the universe that we live in seems to be made on exploitation of emergent structures. This fascination with the hard problem seems like Matt Ridley's Lucretian swerve.

does the hard problem really exist?

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Excellent blend of science, history of ideas, and philosophy of science. One of my absolute favorites.

Best physics podcast

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