Physics World Stories Podcast
Physics World
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.
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.
Hawking, warts and all: a new biography of a scientific icon
Epizodes
Graham Farmelo's biography examines the brilliance and the imperfections of one of the world’s most famous scientists
Robotics and machine learning are opening new possibilities for protecting wildlife around the world
Exploring the fallout from STFC funding cuts that have left one of the UK’s most iconic scientific facilities facing an uncertain future
Discover how a circular, science-backed solution is turning human waste into a sustainable resource – one loo at a time
Arctic odysseys, video games and other creative ways to confront the climate emergency
Exploring the first crewed Artemis mission, the future of lunar exploration and how spaceflight could help inspire greener technologies on Earth
Newly released audio interviews reveal a personal, reflective side of Robert Oppenheimer
Author Andy Weir and astrophysicist Becky Smethurst unpack the physics in the new Hollywood space epic
Jim Smith reflects on the 1986 disaster and how it still shapes public perception of nuclear power
Ancient icy wanderers like comet 3I/ATLAS, spotted in July 2025, can reveal secrets of our cosmic origins
Learn about CUWiP+, a special event to build connection and confidence among women and non-binary students
Peering into a near future where quantum science blends with AI. What are the implications for science, society and the arts?
Exploring how quantum ideas can inspire liberation, identity and community
Inside the training, science and imagination that inspire ESA’s new generation of astronauts
This episode of Physics World Stories explores a new book that restores women to the early history of quantum mechanics
A journey into the artist-in-residence programme at the Yale Quantum Institute
From swirling oil paints to the grin of a Cheshire cat, this Physics World Stories episode brings quantum science to life
Songs, science and satire collide in this month’s Physics World Stories podcast with Lynda Williams
Kevlin Henney discusses his new quantum-themed flash fiction and the power of short stories
How artificial intelligence is accelerating discoveries – and raising profound questions – about the future of physics
Hear from volcanologists about these stunning geological phenomena and the thrill of working in volcanic landscapes
100 years since Heisenberg made his mythical trip, a select group of quantum researchers will retrace his footsteps
Towards a unified vision of nature, humans and machines
Astronaut Eileen Collins and filmmaker Hannah Berryman discuss the new documentary SPACEWOMAN and the thrill of pushing human frontiers
Learn how the science of crowd movements can help shepherds and urban designers
Quantum professionals describe the emerging industry, and the skills required to thrive
Peering behind the comms curtain at the world's most famous particle physics lab
Scientists have investigated whether we could mimic basilisk lizards, on Earth or elsewhere
Hear from two physicists whose passion for sport has shaped their careers and lives
Discover the geophysics of Taylor Swift concerts and the hidden physics within our new podcast jingle
Exploring the multi-layered story about humanity's first contact with an alien civilization
Amanda Lee Falkenberg describes the process of turning mysterious worlds into music
Two researchers who have switched sides in this heated cosmic debate
With its wartime origins and iconic facilities, radio astronomy has always inspired curious tinkerers
Chad Orzel discusses the pivotal breakthroughs in the history of laser cooling
A conversation with Kai Bird, co-author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Robert Oppenheimer
Hear from two physical scientists applying their knowledge to create a more equitable world
Harnessing energy directly in space and from the ocean flow
What the new discovery of gravitational wave imprints in pulsar signals can reveal about the cosmos
Demand for computer power continues to soar, but can the hardware keep up?
Large language models are changing the way physics is taught and practised
Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell won a $3m prize and is giving it all to physics PhD students from under-represented groups
Circular economies and alternative lithium sources could reduce the environmental impacts
Music generated by quantum computers is intriguing from musical and scientific perspectives
Astrophysicist’s story shows the power science and human connection
ESA launches parastronaut feasibility study to make spaceflight more inclusive
Our traditional end-of-year episode will give you some holiday reading ideas
The 2022 Nobel Prize for Physics celebrated research that is underpinning a tech transformation
Investigating how sporting events can become more sustainable without losing their magic
Political wrangling over the UK’s status in the Horizon Europe research programme leaves scientists in limbo