Physics World Stories Podcast
Physics is full of captivating stories, from ongoing endeavours to explain the cosmos to ingenious innovations that shape the world around us. In the Physics World Stories podcast, Andrew Glester talks to the people behind some of the most intriguing and inspiring scientific stories. Listen to the podcast to hear from a diverse mix of scientists, engineers, artists and other commentators. Find out more about the stories in this podcast by visiting the Physics World website. If you enjoy what you hear, then also check out the Physics World Weekly podcast, a science-news podcast presented by our award-winning science journalists.
With e-MERLIN facing the axe, what next for Jodrell Bank and UK astronomy?
Exploring the fallout from STFC funding cuts that have left one of the UK’s most iconic scientific facilities facing an uncertain future
From pit stop to plant food: how Grand Prix crowd's urine becomes fertilizer
Discover how a circular, science-backed solution is turning human waste into a sustainable resource – one loo at a time
Beyond the data: art meets climate at the edge of the world
Arctic odysseys, video games and other creative ways to confront the climate emergency
Back to the Moon: inside the Artemis II mission
Exploring the first crewed Artemis mission, the future of lunar exploration and how spaceflight could help inspire greener technologies on Earth
Oppenheimer unfiltered: rare recordings released to the public
Newly released audio interviews reveal a personal, reflective side of Robert Oppenheimer
Exploring the astrophysics behind <em>Project Hail Mary</em>
Author Andy Weir and astrophysicist Becky Smethurst unpack the physics in the new Hollywood space epic
Chernobyl at 40: physics, politics and the nuclear debate today
Jim Smith reflects on the 1986 disaster and how it still shapes public perception of nuclear power
Cosmic time capsules: the search for pristine comets
Ancient icy wanderers like comet 3I/ATLAS, spotted in July 2025, can reveal secrets of our cosmic origins
Forging a more inclusive new generation of physicists
Learn about CUWiP+, a special event to build connection and confidence among women and non-binary students
Quantum 2.0: Paul Davies on the next revolution in physics
Peering into a near future where quantum science blends with AI. What are the implications for science, society and the arts?
Quantum steampunk: we explore the art and science
Earlier this year I met the Massachusetts-based steampunk artist Bruce Rosenbaum at the Global Physics Summit of the American Physical Society. He was exhibiting a beautiful sculpture of a “quantum engine” that was created in collaboration with physicists including NIST’s Nicole Yunger Halpern – who pioneered the scientific field of quantum steampunk.
I was so taken by the art and science of quantum steampunk that I promised Rosenbaum that I would chat with him and Yunger Halpern on the podcast – and here is that conversation. We begin by exploring the art of steampunk and how it is influenced...
Queer Quest: a quantum-inspired journey of self-discovery
Exploring how quantum ideas can inspire liberation, identity and community
Training for the stars: Rosemary Coogan on becoming an astronaut
Inside the training, science and imagination that inspire ESA’s new generation of astronauts
Overlooked pioneers from quantum history
This episode of Physics World Stories explores a new book that restores women to the early history of quantum mechanics
Entangled expressions: where quantum science and art come together
A journey into the artist-in-residence programme at the Yale Quantum Institute
Painting the unseen: visualizing the quantum world
From swirling oil paints to the grin of a Cheshire cat, this Physics World Stories episode brings quantum science to life
The Physics Chanteuse: when science hits a high note
Songs, science and satire collide in this month’s Physics World Stories podcast with Lynda Williams
Alternate quantum realities: what if Heisenberg stayed at home?
Kevlin Henney discusses his new quantum-themed flash fiction and the power of short stories
AI and the future of physics
How artificial intelligence is accelerating discoveries – and raising profound questions – about the future of physics
Threads of fire: uncovering volcanic secrets with Pele’s hair and tears
Hear from volcanologists about these stunning geological phenomena and the thrill of working in volcanic landscapes
Helgoland: leading physicists to gather on the tiny island where quantum mechanics was born
100 years since Heisenberg made his mythical trip, a select group of quantum researchers will retrace his footsteps
From physics to filmmaking: Mark Levinson on his new documentary, <em>The Universe in a Grain of Sand</em>
Towards a unified vision of nature, humans and machines
Trailblazer: astronaut Eileen Collins reflects on space, adventure, and the power of lifelong learning
Astronaut Eileen Collins and filmmaker Hannah Berryman discuss the new documentary SPACEWOMAN and the thrill of pushing human frontiers
Flocking together: the physics of sheep herding and pedestrian flows
Learn how the science of crowd movements can help shepherds and urban designers
Working in quantum tech: where are the opportunities for success?
Quantum professionals describe the emerging industry, and the skills required to thrive
CERN at 70: how the Higgs hunt elevated particle physics to Hollywood status
Peering behind the comms curtain at the world's most famous particle physics lab
Could humans run on water?
Scientists have investigated whether we could mimic basilisk lizards, on Earth or elsewhere
Physics and sport: flying balls, perfecting technique, and wellbeing in academia
Hear from two physicists whose passion for sport has shaped their careers and lives
Swift Quakes and new podcast music inspired by the fine-structure constant
Discover the geophysics of Taylor Swift concerts and the hidden physics within our new podcast jingle
3 Body Problem: a deep dive into the Netflix show
Exploring the multi-layered story about humanity's first contact with an alien civilization
An orchestral trip through the moons of our Solar System
Amanda Lee Falkenberg describes the process of turning mysterious worlds into music
Dark matter vs modified gravity: which team are you on?
Two researchers who have switched sides in this heated cosmic debate
Radio pioneers: the enduring role of ‘amateurs’ in radio astronomy
With its wartime origins and iconic facilities, radio astronomy has always inspired curious tinkerers
Radiant chills: the revolutionary science of laser cooling
Chad Orzel discusses the pivotal breakthroughs in the history of laser cooling
The biographer who inspired Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film Oppenheimer
A conversation with Kai Bird, co-author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Robert Oppenheimer
Physics for fairness: tackling global sustainability challenges through science
Hear from two physical scientists applying their knowledge to create a more equitable world
Green and novel: the future of energy generation
Harnessing energy directly in space and from the ocean flow
Our universe is humming with gravitational waves
What the new discovery of gravitational wave imprints in pulsar signals can reveal about the cosmos
Moore’s law in peril and the future of computing
Demand for computer power continues to soar, but can the hardware keep up?
Will AI chatbots replace physicists?
Large language models are changing the way physics is taught and practised
