Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Dr. Ben Tippett and his team of physicists believe that anyone can understand physics. Black Holes! Lightning! Coronal Mass Ejections! Quantum Mechanics! Fortnightly, they explain a topic from advanced physics, using explanations, experiments and fun metaphors to a non-physicist guest. Visit the website to see a list of topics sorted by physics field.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ accessible physics explainers with non‑physicist guests • quantum mechanics: entanglement, decoherence, interpretations, quantum computing • astrophysics/cosmology: black holes, stars, galaxies, Big Bang, CMB, universe’s end • particle physics: neutrinos, muons, strong force, dark matter • space missions/tech: gravitational waves, interferometry, detectors, lasers, superconductors, spectroscopy, materials (glass)This podcast is a science-communication show in which physicists explain advanced topics to a non-physicist guest using analogies, demonstrations, and conversational Q&A. Across the episodes, the content ranges widely through modern physics and astronomy, with a strong emphasis on explaining not just what scientists think is happening in the universe, but how they know it through measurement and experiment.
A major recurring theme is astrophysics and cosmology: how stars form, evolve, and die; how galaxies change over time; and how extreme objects such as black holes and neutron stars shape their surroundings. Listeners encounter concepts tied to the large-scale universe, including the Big Bang, the cosmic microwave background, and the long-term fate of the cosmos. Another prominent thread is gravitational-wave astronomy, covering how inspiraling compact objects produce detectable signals and how current and next-generation observatories (from ground-based interferometers to space missions and pulsar timing arrays) are designed to observe them. The show also explores our solar system and planetary science, touching on the physics of distant planets, planetary interiors, and geological activity such as moonquakes, as well as questions about detecting life beyond Earth.
On the particle and quantum side, the podcast frequently addresses the foundations and implications of quantum mechanics, including entanglement, interpretations of quantum theory, and the practical issue of decoherence. It also delves into particle physics topics such as neutrinos and neutrino-beam experiments, the strong force and quark structure, and candidate particles for dark matter. Several episodes focus on the tools and techniques that enable discovery—radio interferometry, high-sensitivity detectors and cameras, and methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spin resonance—connecting physical principles to real-world instrumentation.
Interspersed are listener-question segments that tackle common conceptual sticking points (for example, expansion of the universe or the Higgs boson), reinforcing the show’s focus on making technically challenging physics accessible without assuming a specialist background.
