Show for Jan. 15, 2012. The Theory that Changed the Universe: Anthony Aguirre on General Relativity. Pt 2 of 2.
Cosmologist Anthony Aguirre and I continue our jaunt through General Relativity. Last week we presented some of the basics. This week, we talk about the evidence, the impacts and implications, including the cosmological constant, the expanding universe, gravity waves, time dilation, black holes, and spacetime singularities.
- What would it mean for relativity if those recently-reported faster-than-light neutrino observations were confirmed?
- If mass changes spacetime, and the Higgs field gives rise to mass, what is the relation between the Higgs and spacetime?
- A gedankenexperiment: What would happen if you fell through the earth?
- In black holes, space takes on a time-like directionality. Huh?
Show for Jan. 8, 2012. The Theory that Changed the Universe: Anthony Aguirre on General Relativity. Pt 1 of 2.
It was Einstein’s greatest idea, and one of the boldest leaps of scientific imagination ever. Much of what physicists know (or think they know) about space, time and the cosmos depends on it. But General Relativity is usually brushed over in pop sci accounts, because GR is considered too GD difficult for ordinary brains. Even on this scientifically-minded program, we’ve given it pretty cursory treatment. But not this time. I’m devoting two whole shows to the subject with physicist Anthony Aguirre. He’s taught relativity and applies it in his own cosmological research, and does a yeomanly job here of making some very alien concepts approachable.
Included in Pt 1: From Special to General Relativity, gravity reconsidered, the geometry of spacetime, practical implications of GR, and evidence for the theory.
I’m not sure what those equations are behind Anthony Aguirre, but here’s one version of Einstein’s field equation, which we discussed in the program:
Click the Play arrow above to listen to the show, or you can download the MP3 here (if using a Mac, control-click the link and choose “Save Link As…” If using a PC, right-click and choose Save Target As…”)
Show for Nov. 27, 2011. Brian Greene on Black Holes.
First broadcast in Jan. 2009: physicist and master explainer Brian Greene on the space-, time-, and mind-bending properties of black holes. This originally aired as part 1 of a black hole double-header. You can hear the second installment, with the physicist Leonard Susskind, here.
You can download the MP3 here (if using a Mac, control-click the link and choose “Save Link As…” If using a PC, right-click and choose Save Target As…”)
Show for Oct. 9, 2011. Evolutionary Biologist Marlene Zuk on Bugs and Us
We love biologists who can entertain as well as they explain, and Marlene Zuk is great at both. Last time we had her on the show, the subject was parasites (you can listen or download the mp3 here). This time, it’s insects, and what they do or don’t have in common with human beings. Our conversation took some fun and interesting turns into areas such as anthropomorphism and sexual politics in entomology.
Click the “play” arrow above to listen to the show, or download the MP3 here (if using a Mac, control-click the link and choose “Save Link As…” If using a PC, right-click and choose Save Target As…”)
Marlene Zuk’s latest book, Sex on Six Legs.
Show for July 17, 2011. The Machinery of Life.
Harry Noller has been doing molecular biology since before it was even called that, and he’s been doing it very well. His work has helped illumine some of the fundamental processes on which all life (at least all earthly life) depends. He speaks about his fascinating career and research on today’s show. We’ll hear about his meetings with remarkable scientists, his own brush with Nobel laureate-hood and the dizzying intricacies of his pet research subject, the microscopic machines known as ribosomes.
Click the “play” arrow above to listen to the show, or download the MP3 here (if using a Mac, control-click the link and choose “Save Link As…” If using a PC, right-click and choose Save Target As…”)
Harry’s lab has put together some ribosome animations, which you can view here. Have patience: some of these take a while to download. Here’s another ribosome movie (very simplified), with music you can dance to:
Show for June 26, 2011. Jennifer Ouellette and The Calculus Diaries.
How one mathophobe conquered her fears, and others can, too. For years, science journalist Jennifer Ouellette made a living writing about subjects like physics, while avoiding the mathematics. Finally, she resolved to shed the dread and confront calculus, as she relates in her recent book The Calculus Diaries: How Math Can Help You Lose Weight, Win in Vegas, and Survive a Zombie Apocalypse. We talked about her reconciliation with math, the history and uses of calculus (e.g., predicting rates of zombification), the sources of math anxiety and techniques for getting over it.
We also played an excerpt from this song, by Matthew Kaney:
Click the “play” arrow above to listen to the show, or download the MP3 here (if using a Mac, control-click the link and choose “Save Link As…” If using a PC, right-click and choose Save Target As…”)
Incidentally, Jennifer’s hubby is the physicist Sean Carroll, who we interviewed here on the subject of time.
Show for June 12, 2011. Carl Zimmer and Planet of Viruses
The last time we had science writer Carl Zimmer on the show, it was to discuss E Coli, the subject of his book Microcosm. The book is an eye-opener for anyone who would dismiss bacteria as rudimentary bugs. As Carl explained, E Coli have a social life, sex of a sort, seem to learn and may even be said to lie and cheat. Now he’s moved a notch down the biological yardstick, revealing the richness of life on the smallest scales. We talked about his latest book, A Planet of Viruses, and the huge role viruses play in human history, in the evolution of life on earth, the ecology and even the world’s climate.
Click the “play” arrow above to listen to the show, or download the MP3 here.
Pledge Drive Continues: Still Time to Give
Many thanks to those of you who made contributions during our pledge drive show yesterday. Same to all who’ve pitched in during this drive. And to those of you who haven’t (yet), there’s plenty of time. Just call 888-777-1507 or go to KUSP.org. It’s soooo easy. And tell them what your favorite shows are.
On yesterday’s 7th Ave Project, we aired some choice bits from the past year’s shows. An accidental (and pledge drive-relevant) throughline emerged. If you want to hear the full stories from which the segments were taken, here are the links:
- Knowing you’re right, before the majority does: interview with Frank Kameny, gay rights pioneer
- Knowing you’re right, even when you aren’t: Political Scientist Brendan Nyhan on people’s resistance to facts
- Dying for love: conversations from Juvenile Hall
- A change of heart: an ex-con looks back on his 38 years in prison (voices from the Poetic Justice Project)
- War without end: evolutionary biologist Barry Sinervo on genetically-driven competition among lizards
- Breaking the vicious cycle: neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky and the baboon commune
- War, peace and music: David Harrington of the Kronos Quartet on Alexandra Vrebalov’s …hold me, neighbor, in this storm…
Show for Dec. 12, 2010: Sean Carroll—the Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time
Cal Tech theoretical physicist and Cosmic Variance blogger Sean Carroll considers various ideas of time, including Newton’s, Einstein’s and Sean’s own pet theory (think bubbles and baby universes). We also talk a lot about entropy—the basis of time’s arrow, Sean explains—and perforce about eggs.
You can download the MP3 here.
Show for Sunday, Nov 14: Particle Physics Primer, Pt. 2
Our adventures in subatomic wonderland with particle physicist Bruce Schumm continue. We’ll pick up where we left off last week, searching for underlying order—maybe even simplicity—amidst all the quantum complexity. We’ll learn about the Feynman rules, symmetry and gauge theory. We’ll hear about the gaps in the Standard Model of particle physics, the search for missing pieces (like the Higgs field) and the possibility of grand unification (a “theory of everything”).
Click the “play” arrow above to listen to the show, or download the MP3 here.
While sailing into some deep waters, we’ll be sure to pass out life jackets. Even physicists need flotation devices, like Feynman diagrams (discussed on today’s show):
This is a simple electromagnetic interaction: two electrons meet, exchange a photon and go their separate ways. Below are some more diagrams, including examples of two other forces—the weak nuclear force and strong nuclear force:
Want to draw your own Feynman diagrams? Here are the rules.
Show for Nov 7, 2010. The Universe Writ Small: A Primer on Particle Physics, Pt. 1
We get a tour of the subatomic realm and an introduction to particle physics from Bruce Schumm. He’s a professor of physics at UC Santa Cruz, a particle man himself and the author of Deep Down Things: The 
Breathtaking Beauty of Particle Physics. And while media coverage tends to favor the speculative fringes of physics theory (extra dimensions, man-made black holes, disembodied brains in space), we’re going back to basics. We’ll focus on the Standard Model of particle physics, which encompasses most of what scientists know about the universe at small scales. And don’t let its drab-sounding name fool you. The Standard Model is a catalog of marvels that strain the limits of human understanding (mine, at least).
In this first of a two-part series, we’ll learn about some of the basic ingredients of the model, including particles, fields and forces. Coming up in part two, the deeper organizing principles (gauge theory and symmetry), holes in the Standard Model and next steps.
Click the “play” arrow above to listen, or download the MP3 here.
Show for Oct. 24, 2010: Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin on Musicality and Evolution
The best-selling author of This is Your Brain on Music returns to our show. Neuroscientist, musician and record producer Dan Levitin discusses his most recent book, The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature. Levitin contends that music played a key role in human evolution. (Interview originally boradcast in 2008.)
Click the “play” arrow above to listen, or download the MP3 here.
Show for Sept. 26, 2010. Felix Warneken and Robert Sapolsky on the Nicer Side of Primates
Science has done a lot to expose the darker side of human behavior, and that of our primate relatives, so we thought it was time to highlight some more encouraging studies. In part one of the show, developmental psychologist Felix Warneken looks for and finds evidence of instinctive altruism in young humans and chimps. In part two, neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky discovers that even baboons—long believed to be incorrigibly bellicose—can change their ways and make nice.
Felix Warneken Robert Sapolsky and colleague
To hear the whole show, click the play arrow above, or download the MP3 here.
Check out Robert Sapolsky’s wonderful book, A Primate’s Memoir, about his years studying baboons in Kenya. The book covers the period leading up to the discoveries Robert described on our show.
