Podcast Episodes

David Tong on Open Questions in Quantum Field Theory

Episode 321

Quantum field theory is the basis for our most successful theories of fundamental physics. And yet, there are things we don't understand about it. Some of these puzzles are relatively well-known, whi…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

AMA | July 2025

Welcome to the July 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patre…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

Solo: Complexity and the Universe

Episode 320

Our universe started out looking very simple: hot, dense, smooth, rapidly expanding. According to our best current model, it will end up looking simple once again: cold, dark, empty. It's in between …

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Bryan Van Norden on Philosophy From the Rest of the World

Episode 319

It is common to refer to philosophy as "a series of footnotes to Plato." But in the original quote, Alfred North Whitehead was more careful: he limited his characterization to "the European philosoph…

Published on 2 months, 4 weeks ago

Edward Miguel on the Developing Practice of Development Economics

Episode 318

Economics is seeing an upsurge in the importance of controlled, reproducible empirical studies. One area where this has had a great impact is on development economics, which studies the economies of …

Published on 3 months ago

Nicole Rust on Why Neuroscience Hasn't Solved Brain Disorders

Episode 317

The human brain is extremely complicated, but decades of careful neuroscientific research have revealed quite a bit about how it works, including how certain genes affect particular brain behaviors. …

Published on 3 months, 1 week ago

AMA | June 2025

Welcome to the June 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patre…

Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Niayesh Afshordi and Phil Halper

Episode 316

Einstein's general theory of relativity, plus some reasonable assumptions about the universe and what it's made of, has a remarkable implication: that as we trace cosmic evolution into the far past, …

Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Branden Fitelson on the Logic and Use of Probability

Episode 315

Every time you see an apple spontaneously break away from a tree, it falls downward. You therefore claim that there is a law of physics: apples fall downward from trees. But how can you really know? …

Published on 4 months ago

Karen Lloyd on the Deep Underground Biosphere

Episode 314

There are living creatures dwelling deep below the surface of the Earth, as deep as we are able to drill. These hearty microorganisms are related to more familiar life forms on land and under water, …

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago