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.
Radio pioneers: the enduring role of ‘amateurs’ in radio astronomy
With its wartime origins and iconic facilities, radio astronomy has always inspired curious tinkerers
1/23/2024 • 34 minutes, 58 seconds
Radiant chills: the revolutionary science of laser cooling
Chad Orzel discusses the pivotal breakthroughs in the history of laser cooling
12/19/2023 • 45 minutes, 16 seconds
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
11/21/2023 • 40 minutes, 30 seconds
Physics for fairness: tackling global sustainability challenges through science
Hear from two physical scientists applying their knowledge to create a more equitable world
10/13/2023 • 40 minutes, 18 seconds
Green and novel: the future of energy generation
Harnessing energy directly in space and from the ocean flow
9/4/2023 • 57 minutes, 38 seconds
Our universe is humming with gravitational waves
What the new discovery of gravitational wave imprints in pulsar signals can reveal about the cosmos
8/7/2023 • 30 minutes, 14 seconds
Moore’s law in peril and the future of computing
Demand for computer power continues to soar, but can the hardware keep up?
7/4/2023 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 9 seconds
Will AI chatbots replace physicists?
Large language models are changing the way physics is taught and practised
6/9/2023 • 54 minutes, 1 second
Cosmic generosity: a selfless investment in the future of physics
Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell won a $3m prize and is giving it all to physics PhD students from under-represented groups
5/12/2023 • 38 minutes, 24 seconds
How can we make lithium-ion batteries more sustainable?
Circular economies and alternative lithium sources could reduce the environmental impacts
5/3/2023 • 39 minutes, 6 seconds
Quantum melodies: the intersection of music and quantum physics
Music generated by quantum computers is intriguing from musical and scientific perspectives
3/28/2023 • 59 minutes, 58 seconds
Finding solace in the stars
Astrophysicist’s story shows the power science and human connection
2/24/2023 • 33 minutes, 11 seconds
Making spaceflight accessible to people with physical disabilities
ESA launches parastronaut feasibility study to make spaceflight more inclusive
1/31/2023 • 44 minutes, 35 seconds
Robin Ince and the joy of popular-science books
Our traditional end-of-year episode will give you some holiday reading ideas
12/21/2022 • 26 minutes, 32 seconds
Quantum technology gathers pace
The 2022 Nobel Prize for Physics celebrated research that is underpinning a tech transformation
11/28/2022 • 43 minutes, 38 seconds
Is the 2022 FIFA World Cup really carbon neutral?
Investigating how sporting events can become more sustainable without losing their magic
10/28/2022 • 58 minutes, 34 seconds
Trouble on the Horizon for UK-based researchers
Political wrangling over the UK’s status in the Horizon Europe research programme leaves scientists in limbo
9/16/2022 • 56 minutes, 32 seconds
The science-fiction legacy of Satyajit Ray
Ray’s eclectic work is a treasure trove for scientists
8/16/2022 • 58 minutes, 37 seconds
The Higgs boson discovery revisited
Reflecting on that historic day, 10 years later
7/4/2022 • 56 minutes, 54 seconds
Fixing our bodies with glass
Bioglass can heal our bones while fending off harmful microbes
6/1/2022 • 39 minutes, 34 seconds
Cutting the carbon footprint of supercomputing in scientific research
More efficient coding and quantifying climate impacts are among the solutions
5/4/2022 • 36 minutes, 49 seconds
JET’s record result and the quest for fusion energy
Physics World Stories examines the recent breakthrough at the Joint European Torus experiment
4/4/2022 • 37 minutes, 56 seconds
Music from our material world
From spiderweb harmonies to a viral hit inspired by the COVID-19 spike protein
3/8/2022 • 51 minutes, 6 seconds
The James Webb Space Telescope launches astronomy into a new era
Now the mission has reached its destination, what lies ahead for the science programme?
1/25/2022 • 46 minutes, 20 seconds
Physics books that captured the imagination in 2021
Some of the year’s best popular-science books and a Stephen Hawking quiz
12/22/2021 • 48 minutes, 20 seconds
Sharing is caring: open hardware has global impact
High-spec microscope is helping malaria diagnosis in Tanzania
11/24/2021 • 42 minutes, 26 seconds
Searching for signs of alien technologies
Astronomers are looking for the technosignatures of advanced civilizations
10/20/2021 • 43 minutes, 12 seconds
Free and open-source software is driving physics forwards
Pioneers of free and open-source software discuss opportunities and challenges for science
9/22/2021 • 44 minutes, 28 seconds
We’re all going on a geeky holiday
Science-themed vacations are gaining in popularity: hear from people who have caught the geek travel bug
8/24/2021 • 43 minutes, 3 seconds
Deflecting asteroids and exploring a metal world
Profiling NASA’s two upcoming asteroid missions, DART and Psyche
7/9/2021 • 50 minutes, 35 seconds
Helgoland and the captivating origins of quantum theory
Carlo Rovelli discusses his new book and the role of philosophical thought in physics
6/15/2021 • 45 minutes, 23 seconds
The bots are not as fair-minded as they seem
Physics World Stories investigates ethical issues at the heart of artificial intelligence
5/28/2021 • 45 minutes, 48 seconds
Muon mania: are we finally on the brink of new physics?
A detailed look at the two recent results from CERN and Fermilab
4/29/2021 • 48 minutes, 45 seconds
Arecibo Observatory: a scientific giant that fell to Earth
Exploring the legacy and the future of the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico
3/17/2021 • 39 minutes, 53 seconds
Searching for signs of past life on Mars with NASA’s Perseverance rover
Exploring the scientific goals of one of the three missions to arrive at Mars this month
2/10/2021 • 44 minutes, 5 seconds
Life at CERN during the pandemic
How the particle-physics community is adapting to COVID lockdowns
1/22/2021 • 48 minutes, 18 seconds
The best of physics in books, TV and film in 2020
Looking back at some of the year’s most memorable books and media
12/23/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 1 second
Physics and LEGO: an enduring love affair
In addition to the fun, LEGO can be an effective teaching tool
11/23/2020 • 49 minutes, 1 second
How capable are today’s quantum computers?
Exploring what the first quantum computers might achieve, plus a preview of Quantum 2020
10/14/2020 • 29 minutes, 23 seconds
Could there really be life in the clouds of Venus?
Exploring the story behind the detection of phosphene in the Venusian atmosphere
9/23/2020 • 49 minutes, 16 seconds
Autonomous cars: potential lifesavers but with new risks
Exploring the consequences of removing humans from the driving seat
8/26/2020 • 43 minutes, 24 seconds
Planet Nine: is it a planet, a primordial black hole, or something else entirely?
Fleets of tiny probes might discover what’s lurking at the edge of our solar system
7/17/2020 • 42 minutes, 24 seconds
Working in medical physics: not your average career
Exploring the variety of careers at the Christie Hospital
6/30/2020 • 41 minutes, 10 seconds
The mystery of missing marine plastic
Oceanographers are not sure where all the plastics are ending up in the world’s oceans
5/27/2020 • 33 minutes, 53 seconds
Doing physics in the time of COVID-19
How the pandemic is affecting the present and how it might permanently change the way physics is done
4/28/2020 • 43 minutes, 16 seconds
Tips for a rewarding career in physics
Taking a closer look at the reality of life as a researcher
3/31/2020 • 55 minutes, 46 seconds
The acoustics of music and theatre venues
Find out why Bristol’s Old Vic and Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall sound so great
3/6/2020 • 50 minutes, 28 seconds
Book of the year 2019
Physics World’s book of the year revealed and the runners up discussed – listen to the December episode of the Physics World Stories podcast
12/18/2019 • 53 minutes, 18 seconds
Physics and film, a match made in Hollywood
Looking behind the scenes of Interstellar, Contact and The Martian
11/28/2019 • 36 minutes, 20 seconds
Doing physics in microgravity environments
The opportunities of doing physics experiments on the ISS and other microgravity facilities
10/28/2019 • 39 minutes, 50 seconds
Driving in the present
Exploring the technology and economics of electric cars
9/30/2019 • 41 minutes, 10 seconds
Physics and the climate crisis
How can scientists reduce the climate impact of their labs without compromising on the quality of their research? Andrew Glester investigates
8/16/2019 • 48 minutes, 48 seconds
50th anniversary of Apollo 11 – returning to the Moon and going beyond
The Physics World Stories podcast explore what’s next for manned and robotic space travel
7/24/2019 • 29 minutes, 56 seconds
50th anniversary of Apollo 11 – hidden stories
The Physics World Stories podcast investigates some of the lesser known stories from the Apollo era
6/26/2019 • 53 minutes, 6 seconds
The story behind the first ever black hole image
Physics World Stories explores this feat of science and engineering and the EHT’s prospects for further breakthroughs
5/22/2019 • 36 minutes, 24 seconds
The future of the Internet
Emerging technologies shaping our connected world
4/23/2019 • 38 minutes, 35 seconds
Physics World 30th anniversary podcast series – 30 years of the World Wide Web
Fifth episode in mini-series revisits the birth of the Web and the challenges it now faces
3/12/2019 • 1 hour, 15 seconds
Physics World 30th anniversary podcast series – high-temperature superconductivity
Fourth episode in mini-series tracks the hype, frustration and renewed hope for this field
2/27/2019 • 30 minutes, 40 seconds
Physics World 30th anniversary podcast series – fusion energy
Third episode in mini-series explores the prospects for fusion as a viable energy source
1/22/2019 • 48 minutes, 34 seconds
Physics World Book of the Year 2018
Tune in to the December Physics World Stories podcast to hear from the winner of our 2018 Book of the Year award, as well as catch up with previous winners
12/17/2018 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 25 seconds
Physics World 30th anniversary podcast series – gravitational waves
Second episode in mini-series explores the future of astronomy
11/28/2018 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 2 seconds
Physics World 30th anniversary podcast series – particle physics
First episode in mini-series explores the future of particle physics
10/23/2018 • 43 minutes, 11 seconds
Communicating science at music festivals
Talks, plays, poetry and many more innovative approaches
9/18/2018 • 49 minutes, 38 seconds
Driving in the future
How we might wean ourselves off high-carbon transport
8/17/2018 • 29 minutes, 19 seconds
A quantum leap for industry
Exploring the emerging technologies based on quantum physics
7/24/2018 • 44 minutes, 56 seconds
Doing business in space
Asteroid mining, Brexit impacts and the UK’s first spaceport
6/18/2018 • 34 minutes, 35 seconds
Learning from the ozone solution
Nobel laureate Mario Molina and Lorraine Whitmarsh discuss climate politics
5/21/2018 • 0
Plant-inspired innovations
From tackling oil spills with lotus leaves to mangrove-inspired coastal defences
4/18/2018 • 15 minutes, 54 seconds
Artificial intelligence: is there anything to fear?
Polymath Nathan Myhrvold on why he disagreed with his friend Stephen Hawking
3/21/2018 • 29 minutes, 33 seconds
Falcon Heavy and Humanity Star: trailblazers or space junk?
Recent private space launches have provoked public awe but also a few dissenting voices
3/15/2018 • 32 minutes, 30 seconds
Physics in 2018
Physics World journalists discuss what excites them about the year ahead
1/23/2018 • 28 minutes, 58 seconds
Book of the Year 2017
Physics World book experts Matin Durrani and Tushna Commissariat discuss the themes and trends that surround some of the best popular-physics books of 2017, before announcing the winner of our annual book award
12/13/2017 • 36 minutes, 20 seconds
Exploring the cosmos with gravitational waves
Recent discoveries usher in a new era of multimessenger astronomy
11/9/2017 • 38 minutes, 29 seconds
Illuminating a radio icon
How the historic Lovell telescope was transformed into a multimedia art installation
10/10/2017 • 30 minutes, 50 seconds
How science gets women wrong
Exploring the gender issues raised in Angela Saini’s book Inferior
9/21/2017 • 44 minutes, 38 seconds
Science-themed comedy: are you having a laugh?
Performers describe the opportunities and challenges of making science funny
8/30/2017 • 35 minutes, 26 seconds
Music and science: a harmonious or discordant duo?
The fascinating things, and the limits, of what science can tell us about music
7/17/2017 • 28 minutes, 2 seconds
How politicians misuse and mangle science
Exploring the issues behind Dave Levitan’s timely new book Not a Scientist
6/15/2017 • 31 minutes, 13 seconds
Bees and their magnetic superpower
How bees use internal compasses to find their way
5/11/2017 • 27 minutes, 10 seconds
Exploring the worlds of TRAPPIST-1
What we know so far about the recently discovered Earth-like planets
4/6/2017 • 29 minutes, 55 seconds
Tracking neutrinos in virtual reality
VR app lets you explore the inner workings of the MicroBooNE neutrino detector
3/7/2017 • 24 minutes, 39 seconds
Nuclear diamonds: the ultimate long-life battery?
Potential power supply for deep-space missions
2/9/2017 • 29 minutes, 59 seconds
Book of the Year 2016
Physics World book experts Tushna Commissariat and Margaret Harris discuss a few of the best popular-physics books of 2016 and announce the winner of the magazine’s annual book award
12/14/2016 • 24 minutes, 30 seconds
Doing physics by ear
Hear what it's like to do particle physics without sight
11/24/2016 • 21 minutes, 24 seconds
Recipe for success with topological materials
Hamish Johnston visits Beijing on a hunt for the elusive Weyl fermions
10/25/2016 • 7 minutes, 35 seconds
Still not even wrong
Ten years after his infamous anti-string-theory book, Peter Woit thinks the subject is more tangled than ever
9/23/2016 • 19 minutes, 9 seconds
The monk and the multiverse
A journey into the remarkable mind of the 13th-century monk, scholar and proto-cosmologist Robert Grosseteste
8/23/2016 • 13 minutes, 22 seconds
Bringing Native American voices back to life
Recordings of songs and speech restored using technology from particle physics
7/22/2016 • 22 minutes, 21 seconds
Out of this world cuisine
g-ASTRONOMY merges cosmology with fine dining
6/28/2016 • 15 minutes, 30 seconds
Art McDonald explains why neutrinos continue to amaze physicists
First detected 60 years ago, neutrinos provide a window to physics beyond the Standard Model
5/25/2016 • 10 minutes, 53 seconds
Physics for all – building a more inclusive discipline
Feedback and reaction to the March 2016 issue of the magazine on diversity in physics
4/20/2016 • 28 minutes, 17 seconds
How to succeed at networking in science
Make the most of your next conference with these tips from networking experts
3/30/2016 • 11 minutes, 14 seconds
Mary, Queen of Scottish banknotes
The life and legacy of Mary Somerville, who will appear on the new RBS £10
2/23/2016 • 19 minutes, 37 seconds
Rocking the status quo in science
The working lives of scientists and musicians are more similar than you might think
1/27/2016 • 18 minutes, 40 seconds
Book of the Year 2015
Physics World editor Matin Durrani and reviews editor Margaret Harris discuss some of the year's best popular-physics books and select a winner from a strong shortlist
12/15/2015 • 27 minutes, 37 seconds
Is there life on Mars?
Lewis Dartnell discusses the search for life on Mars and what forms it might take
11/17/2015 • 15 minutes, 55 seconds
The rise of neutron scattering
Michael Banks visits the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source to find out how the lab is looking to attract more users from industry
10/21/2015 • 14 minutes, 20 seconds
Why information grows
César Hidalgo explains why information can help us to understand economics
9/22/2015 • 11 minutes, 22 seconds
Inside the particle pyramid
Using muons to hunt for hidden burial chambers inside Mexico's Pyramid of the Sun
8/25/2015 • 16 minutes, 42 seconds
Searching for life on other planets
Sara Seager is keen to use the next generation of telescopes to look for evidence of extraterrestrial life
7/22/2015 • 11 minutes, 45 seconds
Going beyond 'shut up and calculate'
Science journalist Amanda Gefter talks about her quest to understand what modern physics has to say about the ultimate nature of reality
6/24/2015 • 12 minutes, 51 seconds
How to fund physics using the wisdom of crowds
Mark Jackson explains why small private donations should pay for research projects
5/19/2015 • 9 minutes, 18 seconds
The masters of antimatter
A look inside CERN's Antimatter Factory and a day in the life of an antimatter tamer
4/21/2015 • 21 minutes, 3 seconds
A quantum sense of smell
Why does an orange smell like an orange? The answer may have a quantum connection
