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Host Miriam Frankel delves into some of the great mysteries still puzzling the world's top physicists in this new series from The Conversation. This podcast will take you on a mind-blowing journey from the smallest to the largest conundrums, exploring curled-up dimensions, consciousness and parallel universes on the way.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Fundamental physics mysteries • theory of everything, unification clashes • quantum reality and interpretation • time’s nature/illusion • emergence of life and consciousness • multiverse, parallel universes, testability • fine-tuning, constants, cosmologyThis podcast examines open questions at the frontiers of modern physics, using them to explore how scientists think about reality at its most fundamental level. Hosted by Miriam Frankel, it brings together physicists (and, where relevant, philosophers of physics) to discuss why today’s best-tested theories can still leave major gaps in understanding, and what kinds of new ideas might be needed to bridge them.
A recurring theme is the search for deeper unification in physics: how current frameworks describe forces and particles with great precision yet remain difficult to reconcile with one another, and whether a single overarching theory is necessary or even achievable. The series also tackles foundational issues in quantum mechanics, including what the theory implies about observation, measurement, and whether an objective, observer-independent reality can be maintained.
Moving from the microscopic to the cosmic, the podcast explores proposals that extend beyond the observable universe, such as multiverse scenarios and the challenge of testing them scientifically. Closely related is discussion of “fine-tuning”: why certain fundamental constants appear to fall within ranges that allow long-lived stars, complex chemistry, and eventually life—and what different physical assumptions might imply for the kinds of universes that could exist.
The show also ventures into questions that sit at the boundary between physics, biology, and philosophy, such as whether life and consciousness might someday be described by a fundamental theory rather than treated as emergent phenomena. Another central topic is time: whether the flow of time experienced in everyday life reflects something fundamental in nature, and how modern physics treats concepts like the direction of time and the relationship between past and future.
Across these themes, the podcast emphasizes the interplay between established evidence, conceptual puzzles, and speculative but structured attempts to extend physics beyond its current limits.
| Episodes: |
Theory of everything: do we really need one?2023-Apr-12 57 minutes |
Will we ever have a fundamental theory of life and consciousness?2023-Apr-05 47 minutes |
Quantum mechanics: does objective reality exist?2023-Mar-29 52 minutes |
Is there a multiverse?2023-Mar-22 41 minutes |
Fundamental constants: is the universe fine tuned for life to exist?2023-Mar-15 41 minutes |
Is time an illusion?2023-Mar-08 43 minutes |
Great Mysteries of Physics - trailer2023-Feb-13 2 minutes |