The Quanta Podcast
Quanta Magazine
Exploring the distant universe, the insides of cells, the abstractions of math, the complexity of information itself, and much more, The Quanta Podcast is a tour of the frontier between the known and the unknown. In each episode, Quanta Magazine Editor-in-Chief Samir Patel speaks with the minds behind the award-winning publication to navigate through some of the most important and mind-expanding questions in science and math. Quanta specifically covers fundamental research — driven by curiosity, discovery and the overwhelming desire to know why and how. Join us every Tuesday for a stimulating conversation about the biggest ideas and the tiniest details.(If you've been a fan of the Quanta Science Podcast, it will continue here. You'll see those episodes marked as audio edition episodes every two weeks.)
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 22, 2015 • 32min
A Twisted Path to Equation-Free Prediction
Complex natural systems defy analysis using a standard mathematical toolkit, so one ecologist is throwing out the equations. The post A Twisted Path to Equation-Free Prediction first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Oct 15, 2015 • 27min
The Mutant Genes Behind the Black Death
Only a few genetic changes were enough to change an ordinary stomach bug into the bacteria responsible for the plague. The post The Mutant Genes Behind the Black Death first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Oct 8, 2015 • 27min
A New Map Traces the Limits of Computation
A major advance in computational complexity reveals deep connections between the classes of problems that computers can — and can’t — possibly do. The post A New Map Traces the Limits of Computation first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Oct 1, 2015 • 33min
Visions of Future Physics
Nima Arkani-Hamed is championing a campaign to build the world’s largest particle collider, even as he pursues a new vision of the laws of nature. The post Visions of Future Physics first appeared on Quanta Magazine
13 snips
Sep 25, 2015 • 31min
How the Body’s Trillions of Clocks Keep Time
Explore the fascinating role of cellular clocks in human health and development, and discover how the PASD1 protein impacts these rhythms, potentially influencing cancer and stem cell function. Dive into innovative research that merges physics with ecology to enhance biodiversity understanding, especially in complex ecosystems like the Amazon. Learn about the challenges of studying species distribution in regions like the Western Ghats and how new, simplified ecological modeling methods could revolutionize conservation strategies.
9 snips
Sep 16, 2015 • 24min
Einstein’s Parable of Quantum Insanity
A brisk dive into why the NSA is racing toward quantum-resistant encryption and how quantum computers threaten RSA and Diffie-Hellman. A clear look at lattice-based cryptography, efficiency trade-offs, and the Soliloquy disclosure. A thoughtful discussion on Einstein’s unease with quantum randomness, Bell’s theorem, and whether the wave function makes unpredictability ordinary.
Sep 10, 2015 • 25min
A New Design for Cryptography’s Black Box
A recent cryptographic breakthrough has proven difficult to put into practice. But new advances show how near-perfect computer security might be surprisingly close at hand. The post A New Design for Cryptography’s Black Box first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Sep 3, 2015 • 28min
How Mutant Viral Swarms Spread Disease
Researchers are using a new understanding of viral swarms to predict the evolution and spread of viruses. The podcast explores the rapid evolution of RNA viruses, the concept of viral swarms and their impact on disease spread, and the advancements in DNA sequencing methods to study underground microbial life. It also discusses microbial communities in prairie and Arctic soils and the potential of soil microbes in pollution reduction and carbon sequestration.
Aug 27, 2015 • 34min
A Surprise Source of Life’s Code
Emerging data suggests the seemingly impossible — that mysterious new genes arise from “junk” DNA. The post A Surprise Source of Life’s Code first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Aug 20, 2015 • 34min
How Life and Luck Changed Earth’s Minerals
Did the minerals on our planet arise in a predictable fashion, or did they result from chance events? The answers could eventually help scientists identify planets likely to harbor life. The post How Life and Luck Changed Earth’s Minerals first appeared on Quanta Magazine
