Ep. 12: Houston, We've Got a (Lithium) Problem!

I know, I know - time travel is everyone's favorite dream. Whether in sci-fi movies (Tenet, Primer), TV shows (Star Trek, Doctor Who), or books (End of Eternity, Kindred), we've all dreamed of time-traveling to the future, of partaking in a completely-changed version of our universe. Unfortunately, though, today's episode is here to crush your hopes and dreams: we'll talk about why time travel is (mostly) a bust, and why most common time travel solutions (wormholes, Einstein-Rosen bridges, etc) are unlikely to occur. So grab your tissues, get grounded on Earth, and get ready to have a good cry - let's talk about the truth behind time travel today. 

Ah, yes. The simulation hypothesis. Now - as scary as this sounds - the sad truth is that being in a simulation would solve many physics mysteries in our universe today. Quantum indeterminacy? Check. The Many-Worlds theory? Also check. The upper limit on the speed of light? Well, unfortunately, that's also solved by our beloved simulation hypothesis. (Don't worry, though, just to keep things level, we'll also tackle why this theory is so controversial in the first place.) So sit back, put on your seatbelt, and enjoy your ride - it's going to be a freaky one. 

If you didn't know - I LOVE to read. I have always been - and will always be - a voracious reader. So, today, let's step beyond the topic of astrophysics - let's get real and personal, and talk about something that could very well further connect (or - dare I say - disconnect) us all: books. Out of the 70 books that I read this year, here are some of my favorites. I hope these inspire you, and, in return, I hope you leave me some of your favorite books that you read this year down below :) Happy reading! PS: Here is my Goodreads in case you are so inclined . . .

How did it all begin? (And how will it all end?) How was our universe created - and how did we come to be? In today's episode, we'll answer these momentous questions using the monumental Big Bang theory: a theory not only describing the birth of our universe, but also its subsequent expansion and growth from a baby universe to the vast, expansive beauty we know it as today. So how did our universe go through puberty? Well, tune in today to find out!

Uh, oh - there should be around THREE times more lithium in our universe than there actually is! So where is this missing lithium? And why haven't we discovered it? We're not quite sure yet, but let's talk about it . . .

A few episodes ago, we divulged Einstein's mind-blowing - and fundamental - theory of special relativity . . . let's expand upon that. How does distorting the fabric of spacetime connect with gravity? And, more importantly, what are the implications of general relativity for space - specifically for black holes, special universes, and time travel? I don't know, man, but tune in today to find out! (PS: please excuse my wacky, crackly, pre-pubescent sick voice. I caught the freshman flu and am paying the price.)

That's right. Empty space doesn't exist. It's a ploy by the Illuminati. A figment of your imagination. An idea created to please the non-physics-loving layperson. "But how is that true?" You ask. Well - and here's my answer - tune in to today's episode to find out. Because, today, my friends, we're talking about quantum foam - not only how it alters what we perceive as "empty space," but also how it impacts the universe both in and beyond our Milky Way.

How can a cat be both ALIVE yet DEAD at the same time?  To be honest - I did not know . . . until I learned about Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle and how that ties into quantum superposition. Tune in today to FINALLY understand Schrödinger's mysterious (wacky) cat . . . and how particles at the quantum level might just have a mind of their own. 

Why is time known as the "fourth dimension?" Where did Einstein's "e = mc^2" equation come from? Well, in today's episode, we'll tackle both these questions, along with the many others that led space and time to become inextricably linked. Newton had ideas; Mach had principles; yet Einstein's theories are what now constitute the foundation behind modern physics. But why? Well, tune in today to learn more - and to discover how Einstein's theory of special relativity revolutionized our very understandings of modern space and time.

Today, we're bringing in our very first special guest, robotics and physics enthusiast Sajiv Shah, to go over the five "W's" of human space exploration and the politics behind space travel. WHO is leading the journey for space exploration? WHEN have we explored space in the past? WHAT - and WHERE and WHY - are we exploring in space right now? And HOW - okay, so this isn’t a “W” - would our experiences in space vary from those on Earth? Yes, these are tough questions, but Sajiv and I have you covered. So just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.  (And, of course, don't forget to check out Sajiv’s work on his website sajivshah.me!)