The Joy of Why

By quanta@simonsfoundation.org (Quanta Magazine)

"The Joy of Why" is a Quanta Magazine podcast about curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge. The mathematician and author Steven Strogatz and the astrophysicist and author Janna Levin take turns interviewing leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. New episodes are released every other Thursday.

3 episodes

Visit Podcast Homepage →

All Episodes

Birds: Dinosaurs Who Evolved Beauty Via Sexual Selection

Aug 21, 2025

Birds aren't just descendants of dinosaurs; they *are* dinosaurs. Discover how beauty, not just utility, drives evolution and challenges our understanding of avian traits and their ancient origins.

View Episode Notes →

Math's Silent Guardians: Protecting Digital Data From Noise

Aug 07, 2025

Unlock the secrets of error-correcting codes, the unsung digital guardians that silently protect your data from noise, ensuring every bit arrives intact, from CDs to quantum computing.

View Episode Notes →

Physics Evolved: The Universe's Laws Were Born, Not Given

Jul 24, 2025

Physics laws evolved with the universe, not fixed before the Big Bang. Hawking and Hertog rejected the multiverse for a grounded, observer-integrated view of cosmic origins.

View Episode Notes →