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Are We Thinking Correctly About AI Intelligence?

August 20, 2026

Computer scientist Melanie Mitchell discusses why artificial intelligence doesn’t “think” or “reason” like humans, and how we can create better methods for measuring machine cognition.

How Fast Is the Universe Really Expanding?

July 23, 2026

One of the most contested issues in astrophysics is our understanding of the Universe’s expansion. Adam Riess discusses why there is disagreement and what might resolve it.

Will We Ever Find Alien Civilizations?

July 9, 2026

Astronomer David Kipping discusses why claims of extraterrestrial life keep dissolving under scrutiny, why we need a more statistically grounded approach to searching for life beyond Earth, and why it’s rational to believe that we may be alone.

What Is the Positive Grassmannian and Why Does It Show Up Everywhere?

June 25, 2026

Lauren Williams tells 'The Joy of Why' how studying a fundamental object in algebraic combinatorics led to a career full of surprises.

scissors cutting a dna strand

What’s the Future of Gene Editing?

In the first episode of the new season of ‘The Joy of Why,’ Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna discusses how she discovered CRISPR’s genome-editing power, the breakthroughs and hurdles during its explosive growth, and what lies ahead for this groundbreaking technology.

More Conversations, Complex Questions, and Bold Ideas in Season Five of ‘The Joy of Why’

June 4, 2026

The podcast returns with 12 all-new episodes that explore the biggest questions in basic science and mathematics.

How We See the Beautiful, Violent Sun

May 28, 2026

Over hundreds of years, increasingly sophisticated instruments have revealed — and continue to reveal — the secrets of our star.

A Treasure Trove of Cambrian Fossils Rewrites the Story of Early Life

May 1, 2026

Remarkably preserved fossils found in southern China offer a fascinating window into what life looked like at the end of the Cambrian explosion, with half of the species uncovered being new to science.

A Through-The-Lens Look at the World’s Particle Physics Labs

April 1, 2026

The winning entries in the 2025 Global Physics Photowalk contest showcase the beauty of toil and discovery.