The true cost of nuclear power

Out of the many bad arguments against nuclear power, there are two good arguments: It's too expensive and the power plants take too long to build. But are they true? And if so, why is it that nuclear power is so slow and so costly? That’s what we’ll talk about today.


The quiz for this video is here.

Nuclear Power Comeback Update: Poland Authorizes Small Modular Reactors

Nuclear power is back in fashion in many countries because of its potential to decarbonize even energy-intense industry quickly. In its latest success, Poland has authorized the construction of 24 small nuclear reactors at six sites across the country.


The quiz for this week's science news is here.

You are now accelerating: What it means that gravity is not a force

The quiz for this video is here.

Life could have begun in an interstellar gas cloud

Scientists have long speculated that life didn’t begin on earth but in space. According to a new preprint, life could have come from intergalactic gas clouds, so called molecular clouds.

The experiment that could save physics

Physicists at the University of Warwick in the UK are starting to build an experiment that could just save physics. They could be the first to measure the effects of quantum gravity and unlock progress in a field that has been stuck for more than 4 decades.

Is there science behind a fossil fuel phaseout?

Sultan Al Jaber recently said that there is "no science" behind a phase-out of fossil fuels, prompting a lot of outrage among climate scientists. I think he is right. Here I am trying to explain why.

Particle physicists make wishlist. I'm underwhelmed.

Last week, a panel of scientists named the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel, or P5, signed on to a list of policy recommendations for the US Department of Energy and the National Science foundation. And since 5 is such a nice number, they’ve come up with 5 priorities.


Join the discussion on Patreon.

There's a mysterious dark patch in the Milky Way, and it's weirder than we thought.

Quantum Computers cross 1000 Qubits Threshold! What does this mean?

IBM just announced they produced the first quantum processor with more than 1000 qubits and I got a lot of question about what this means, so let’s have a look.

Complexity: The biggest gap in modern science

Everyone loves to talk about complex problems and complex systems, but no one has any idea what it means. I think that understanding complexity is THE biggest gap in science today. What do we even mean by complexity? What do we know about it? And what’s the problem with trying to explain it? That’s what we’ll talk about in this video.
This video has a quiz which you can take here.

Climate change to force people indoors earlier than expected

A new study says that climate change will make big parts of the world uninhabitable much faster than expected. And I think they’re making a very good point.

First transatlantic flight with sustainable fuel. Is this the future of flying?

Last week, Virgin Atlantic chartered the world’s first-ever transatlantic flight powered by sustainable aviation fuel. Their Boeing 787 flight from London to New York was powered by a mix of waste oil and biofuel and intended to test the performance. What are sustainable aviation fuels and is this the future of flying?

Black Hole Singularities "Faith, not science!" Prominent Physicist Claims

This is the maybe most surprising development in theoretical physics I’ve seen for a decade or so. A well-renown physicist is saying that there’s a mistake in a proof that dates back half a century, and black holes might not actually contain singularities.

String Theory gets Competition: A New Attempt to Solve Physics' Biggest Mystery

Every scientific discipline has its holy grail, and the holy grail of physics is definitely quantum gravity. Quantum gravity is Einstein’s unfinished revolution, the missing unification of General Relativity and Quantum Theory. String theory is the best-known contender, and this week have a strong newcomer.

NASA Succeeds with Deep Space Communication Test

How much do you remember of this week's science news? You can take the quiz here.

Social media doesn't affect your emotional life, new study finds

A study just out from researchers at Durham University in the UK has found that reducing social media use doesn’t have much of an effect on people’s emotional life one way or another. Hard to believe? Let's put this new finding into context.

They found a reliable way to create antibubbles

You’ve all heard of bubbles, but have you heard of anti-bubbles? Me neither, but it’s a thing, as I just learned from this recent paper.

Bitcoin mining could help energy transition, researchers say

According to a new study from researchers at Cornell, bitcoin mining could be used to power our transition to green energy. I couldn't quite believe this either, but I think they're serious.

This drone saved 6 lives

These scientists got sued for doing their job

Science and the law come in to conflict more often than you might think. In this episode I want to tell you about several cases that I have followed which have concerned me greatly. The issue here isn't the actual scientific evidence, it is rather the way that scientists pursue and discuss this evidence, usually in a straight-forward and frank manner that doesn't sit well with courts.


NEW: This video comes with a quiz on QuizWithIt.

Experiment finds weird atomic nucleus with dumbbell shape

Move over LHC: This particle accelerator is just 10 cm long

This experiment will measure nothing, but very precisely: The quantum vacuum

The Best Sleep Advice -- According to Science

A lot of people worry about not getting the perfect sleep, an issue that’s been driven by sleep trackers along with the increase of people offering sleep-advice on social media. Today, we will be discussing the science behind our sleep problems and what can help improve our quality of sleep.


NEW: This video comes with a quiz on QuizWithIt.

Why was Sam Altman fired from OpenAI? 3 Theories

Today we’ll talk about the leading theories for why Sam Altman got fired from OpenAI, cosmic rays with HUGE energies, evidence of a an overdue supervolcano eruption near Italy, an exoplanet on which it rains sand, Microsoft’s first AI-chip, why spiral galaxies like the Milky Way are so rare, how climate engineering could save the Antarctic, cannibalistic stars, and of course the telephone will ring.

This video comes with a quiz!

Long COVID is real, but may be overestimated

Estimates say that as many as 1 in 10 people who had COVID were still affected more than 3 months later. This health condition has become known as long COVID. In this video, we will be discussing what long COVID is, how long it last, how common it is, what you should do if you think you’re affected, and more.


NEW: This video comes with a quiz on QuizWithIt.

Mars glows green - and it's not an aurora

Today we talk about why Mars glows green, an amazingly cool way to make magnets hover, a study which found that a supposed piece of alien tech isn’t alien tech, surprising absolutely no one, plans to use the entire moon as a gravitational wave detector, progress with D-wave’s quantum computer, why Saturn’s rings will temporarily become invisible, wires that learn, energy from indoor lights, and of course, the telephone will ring.

This video comes with a quiz!

Is Science Dying?

Is science coming to an end? On the one hand, it seems like scientific progress has slowed to a crawl and no big breakthroughs are happening any more. On the other hand, we are left with many unsolved problems in science that I am pretty sure have a solution. In this video I explain why I think that we need to seriously consider the possibility that we live in the final phase of scientific discovery.

New Gaia data might just have killed MOND

Today we have an update on the biggest astrophysics drama of the year, that’s an observation which seems to be ruling out the most popular alternative to dark matter. Then we have a group of geologists who claim that parts of the moon are stuck in the mantle of earth, a new and quite plausible explanation for the sudden dimming and brightening of the star Betelgeuse, plans for a smaller and more energy-efficient particle collider, the first full colour images from the EUCLID mission, earthquakes in the laboratory, a microscopic engine with record efficiency, plans to produce hydrogen with small nuclear reactors, climate scientists who say we’d be better off cooking with synthetic oil, and of course, the telephone will ring.

This video comes with a quiz!

I think net zero goals are bonkers, here's why

Everyone is talking about Net Zero. But Net Zero what? What does this even mean? Is it a reasonable goal? How far are we on the way? And do we have any chance of reaching it? For this video, we have collected all facts and numbers that you need to join the discussion.


NEW: This video comes with a quiz on QuizWithIt.

Asteroid dust killed dinosaurs, new study says

his week we have new evidence that the dinosaurs were killed by the aftermath of an asteroid impact, then we have a look at the biggest universe simulation ever, talk about a lost continent that’s been found, roman ruins in spy footage, a new record for a single photon camera, an asteroid that might contain chemical elements which are not in the periodic table, super lightning bolts, solar glass, and of course, the telephone will ring.

This video comes with a quiz!

Physicist reacts to quantum mechanics

In this video, I review and rate memes about quantum mechanics based on their accuracy, effectiveness, and funniness. It’s quite possible that you don’t want to know what I think, but I’ll tell you anyway.


NEW: This video comes with a quiz on QuizWithIt.

The sun's magnetic field will probably flip sooner than expected

Science never rests and this week we have quite a selection of news. It looks like the sun’s magnetic field will flip earlier than expected, the moon is 40 million years older than anyone thought, a group of geologists have found that Earth’s core is leaking, we’ll have a look at the tiniest particle accelerator ever, why airline pricing is such a mess, hear what the International energy agency has to say about the condition of our electric grids, how physics improves protein folding predictions, the most water-repellent surface ever, and of course, the telephone will ring.

This video comes with a quiz!

Ozempic and Wegovy: All you need to know about the new weight-loss drugs

The weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic seem god-sent solutions for everyone who’s been struggling to lose weight, a miracle cure for a problem that befalls billions of people, even Elon Musk. But what makes the drug so effective? What do we know about it? And who’s going to pay for it?


NEW: This video comes with a quiz on QuizWithIt.

Coin tosses are not fair -- science says so

Today we talk about why coin flips are not fifty-fifty, starquakes, the most powerful solar storm ever, space debris, IBM’s new brain-inspired computer chip, an exoplanet collision, a new tectonic plate, projections for AI power consumption, and of course the telephone will ring.

This video comes with a quiz!

How does quantum mechanics give rise to parallel universes?

The idea of parallel universes has captured the imagination of many. In physics, it's prominently represented by the “Many Worlds” interpretation of quantum mechanics. In this video, I want to explain how the Many Worlds Interpretation works. Is it science? Does it solve any problems? And are the parallel universes real?


NEW: This video comes with a quiz on QuizWithIt.

3 New Laws of Nature in One Week!

This week we talk about three new laws of nature, one of which supposedly shows that we live in a computer simulation. We’ll have a first look at intergalactic filaments, talk about building roads on the moon, whether chatbots understand what they chat about, a new type of qubit with a low error rate, sound waves in crystals, how to deflect lasers with nothing but air, dunes on mars, the first hurricane prediction market, and of course, the telephone will ring.

This video comes with a quiz!

Is time travel possible?

What does physics say about time travel? Surprisingly enough it doesn't just say it's impossible, it's more complicated that that. In this video I'll sort out what Einstein's general relativity and quantum mechanics tell us about time travel. And is MIT really building a time machine to find dark matter? We'll get to that.


NEW: This video comes with a quiz on QuizWithIt.

Planet Mercury is Shrinking

Today we’ll talk about a new candidate for a cosmic string, the mysterious shrinking of planet Mercury, a nuclear clock, the first quantum engine, a simulator for human diseases, whether we can find new physics with spinning black holes, AI that wants to help find aliens, how to compute with photons, and of course, the telephone will ring.

This video comes with a quiz!

Quantum Computing Newcomers: 2023 Update

In this video I look at what happened in quantum computing recently. In particular I want to talk about some newcomers like topological quantum computing, photonic computing, and optical tweezers. And whatever happened to ion traps?



NEW: This video comes with a quiz on QuizWithIt.

Physics Nobel Prize 2023 for Super-Short Laser Pulses

Today we’ll talk about the Nobel Prize in physics, yet another superconductor retraction, whether Integrated Information theory is pseudoscience, why antimatter doesn’t anti-gravitate, sand that flows uphill which I swear has nothing to do with antigravity, the world’s most powerful X-ray laser, how life could come about on other planets, why we might go extinct sooner than expected, and of course, the telephone will ring.

This video comes with a quiz!

How I reached 1 Million Subscribers on YouTube -- And you can, too.

We’ve made it to 1 million subscribers! Thank you all for making this happen. To honour the occasion, I want to summarize some of my thoughts about how YouTube works and what works on YouTube.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Quantum Computing at Room Temperature?

Today we’ll talk about raisins. Yes, raisins. Quasars with dark matter halos, pink diamonds, the last moments of a dying satellite, a new type of qubit, maybe, how to measure the length of the day with lasers, a new treatment method for brain cancer that’s got something to do with quantum mechanics, whether climate change drives migration, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

A written version of our weekly Science News goes out on Substack
NEW: We now also have a podcast!

Does the Universe have a Purpose?

If people knew one thing about Steven Weinberg, it’d be a quote from one of his books: “The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless.” In this video, I want to speculate about what he might have meant. Is the universe pointless?



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Possible signs of life on an exoplanet

Today we talk about the possibly first evidence for life on an exoplanet, with some caveats, chaos at the centre of the Milky Way, earthquake lights, a really old rock, noise cancellation for qubits, good news about air pollution, wifi that can see through walls, origami robots, the 2024 Breakthrough Prizes, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

A written version of our weekly Science News goes out on Substack
NEW: We now also have a podcast!

Don't trust me, I'm an influencer

In this video, I talk about how we talk, or how we communicate information on social media in general. Why is it so difficult to communicate on social media, what’s a parasocial relationship, and what are the problems with it?



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Climate scientist boasts about fudging own paper

Today we talk about a bubble of galaxies, a climate scientist who made his own paper worse, double magic oxygen, a chemical reaction slowed down 100 billion times, maxwell’s demon in biology, intelligent life on earth, the launch of a new X-ray space mission, drone racing, and of course the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

All you need to know about web3

What is web3? I've tried to figure it out and here is my summary of what I have learned. Tbh I have been a little befuddled by what's going on. Let me know what you think about all that in the comments.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Capitalism is good. Let me explain

Is capitalism the reason the world is going to hell in a hand basket? Or is it going to save us? What is capitalism anyway? How does money work and when do free markets fail? This video is a brief summary of a dip I did into microeconomics literature in a dark hour of my life.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Do your own research. But do it right.

It's of course totally okay if you do your own research. But you should watch out for a few things.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Quantum Superchemistry: First Experimental Observation

Today we talk about superchemistry, music in the brain, how to create matter from light, contrails, objects that take strange turns, why phone batteries might soon become replaceable, how to control fire, why we have to think about preventing hurricanes, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

A global mental health crisis? Really?

It's in the headlines everywhere that the world is going through a mental health crisis. Though, when you take a closer look, all the headlines are coming from the United States. Is there a global mental health crisis? Is it localized to just the US? That's what we talk about today.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Sun is brighter than we thought

Today we talk about the muon anomaly at fermilab, say good-bye to LK99, hear from scientists who say that sun is brighter than we thought, look at a new ion trap, talk about talk about a cold blob, plans for a new space station, delay with NASA’s trip to the moon, freeze rays, the smallest traffic light ever, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

How Dead is Moore's Law?

I've been trying to understand the limits to Moore's law and looked into what technologies are under development to push it further.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Superconductor LK99 Update

Today I have an update on the reproduction efforts for the supposed room temperature superconductor, LK 99, the first images from the Euclid mission, more trouble with Starlink satellites, first results from a new simulation for cosmological structure formation, how to steer drops with ultrasound, bacteria that make plastic, an improvement for wireless power transfer, better earthquake warnings, an attempt to predict war, and of course the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

Evidence for new physics? Or not?

Some physicists are claiming that there is something "wrong" with our understanding of the universe. Oftentimes, it's just to justify asking for funding for new experiments, a better detector, a new telescope, a bigger collider, but what if there's something more than that? Do we have evidence of new physics? Or not? In this video, we will look at dark matter and dark energy, quantum gravity, the mass of the Higgs-boson, neutrino masses, and the matter-antimatter asymmetry.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

LK99 -- A new room temperature superconductor?

Today we’ll talk about the new superconductor claim, bad news for new physics, a quantum radar, how to print origami, space-based solar power for a moon station, a dire prediction for the collapse of an ocean circulation, Europe’s first hyperloop test, why NASA shoots lasers at the rain forest, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

How to spot and avoid greenwashing

Many companies try to appear environmentally friendly without making a real difference, a strategy that’s been dubbed “greenwashing”. So, is calling a product or service “eco-friendly” just a ploy of companies to get more money out of us? What are the consequences for climate change? And how can we spot those fake claims? That’s what we’ll talk about today.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Einstein was right, again!

Today we’ll talk about Einstein, who was right again, metals that heal, a new type of stellar object, a quantum drum, how conscious awareness comes about, maybe, a better way to tell apart alien signals from boring human signals, a hot spot on the moon, illegal trade of hazardous chemicals, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

Electric Vehicles: How difficult will the transition be?

As several of you have pointed out, our recent video on electric vehicles contained several mistakes and omissions. Though now that I think about it, I'm not sure something can contain an omission. In any case, I decided to take it down and here is the revised version.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

How scientific are personality tests?

Have you ever taken a personality test? I certainly did. Recently I began wondering what they actually tell me. Is there science behind those tests? Or are they just better horoscopes? In this video, I'll tell you what I've found.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Evidence for Dark Stars in Webb Telescope Data

Today we’ll fly 13 billion years back in time, talk about dark stars, quantum payments, the efficiency of solar cells, rubber that counts, a biodiversity cycle, scientists who shoot lasers at lava, how to dissolve plastic, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

Gravity Hole Explained

Today we talk about a new atomic nucleus, a map of a fruit fly brain, an explanation for the gravity hole in the Indian ocean, a better source of quantum light, how NASA is preparing for a trip to MARS, high resolution climate models, a new type of computer memory, faster data transfer, seaweed, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

Quantum mechanics is nonlocal, but what does that mean?

Last year, the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to three physicists who allegedly found that the universe is not locally real. But what does this mean? What are the two types of non-locality? And what did Einstein's have to do with it? That's what we'll talk about today.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

First Evidence that Time Ran Slower in the Early Universe

Today we’ll talk about the first evidence that time ran slower in the early universe, how to catch light, what astronomers think about the new starlink satellites, a breakthrough in quantum computing reported by Microsoft, what helps against tinnitus, better cooling for qubits, the Euclid Mission, laser scans of Ukrainian art, a metasuit, and of course the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

Do we need IQ tests for AI?

Artificial Intelligence continues to be the talk of the town, but how intelligent are they really? Come to think of it, what do we mean by "intelligence" anyway? In this video we'll look at IQ tests for humans and for computers and see how current AIs have scored.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

First Detection of Gravitational Waves With Pulsars (Probably)

Today we talk about quantum computers that are really good at guessing, room temperature superconductors, again, how we changed the tilt of Earth’s axis without noticing, the environmental impact of the metaverse, a computer chip that mimics the human eye, whether smart drugs actually make you smart, how carbon dioxide emissions look like, flying taxis, an announcement of an announcement, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

Is the microchip shortage over yet?

The world runs on microchips, but ever since the COVID pandemic they've been in short supply. What happened? Has the situation improved now? And what are nations doing to prevent it from happening again? A fascinating piece of free market economy and its troubles that we'll look at in this video.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Plants use quantum mechanics

Today we’ll talk about plants that use quantum mechanics, the first data from a new galaxy survey, quantum utility, online hate groups, photonic computing, the most sensitive power measurement ever, how to map a tunnel with muons, bad climate news that I don’t want to talk about, and you don’t want to hear, but that we need to talk about anyway. And of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

NEW: We're now also on Substack!

The second law of thermodynamics has a major flaw.

Life needs order, but entropy increase will inevitably destroy order and eventually make life in the universe impossible. Or will it? In this video I'll explain why I don't believe this argument.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Evidence against dark matter that might also be evidence for dark matter.

Today we’ll talk about evidence against dark matter that might also be evidence for dark matter, atoms that breathe, noise cancellation with plasma, wireless power transmission in space, just and safe limits for ecosystems, an update from NASA’s mission to the Asteroid Psyche, swarms of microbots, artificial molecules, moon time, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Can we build better humans? Transhumanism and Biohacking

Mechanical enhancements and implants are becoming more and more popular amongst certain groups of transhumanists and grinders? Are we coming closer to an age of cyborgs? Is genetic screening and editing ethical? Has biohacking lost all meaning? What are nootropics? That's what we'll talk about today.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

A news search for dark matter and a quantum navigation system

Today, we talk about a new search for dark matter, how to navigate with quantum effects, why amino acids are left-handed, medical tests in a cave, the Roman space telescope, a new record for optical fibres, a water plume on Saturn’s moon, forever chemicals, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Has Physics Ruled out Free Will?

Do humans have free will or to the the laws of physics imply that such a concept is not much more than a fairy tale? Do we make decisions? Did the big bang start a chain reaction of cause and effects leading to the creation of this video? That's what we'll talk about today.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

New Evidence Against Big Bounce Models

Today we’ll talk about a new study that sheds doubt on the big bounce model of the universe, quantum repeaters, a quantum simulation of curved space time, a snake-robot, metamaterials in space, underwater mining, how to compute with water, who’s to blame for climate change, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Is the bird flu the next pandemic?

This winter we’ve seen a severe outbreak of the bird flu, or avian flu. How much should we worry about that? I’ve tried to figure out what’s going on, and, well, let me just say I’ve learned a lot of really scary things that I don’t want to withhold from you. What’s the bird flu? Is it dangerous to humans? And if so, what can we do? That’s what we’ll talk about today.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

D-wave claims quantum advantage, superconductor claim does not reproduce, a skeptical take on e-fuels & more science news from this week

Today we’ll talk about traces of your DNA in the air, a new telescope that will track down gravitational wave sources, a new quantum advantage claim, e-Fuels, a superconductor experiment that failed to replicate, nuclear fusion investments, image reconstruction from surfaces, EU regulations for artificial intelligence, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Why is everyone suddenly neurodivergent?

What exactly is autism? How is it different than Asperger's syndrome? What is internalized ableism and what is neurodiversity? Am I autistic? This is what we'll talk about today.



Transcript, links to references, and discussion on Patreon.

Science News May 17

Today we talk about quantum computing, mother trees, diamonds, microscopy with entangled photons, a supernova that we saw 5 times, a telescope made of fluid, better glasses, a new alien search initiative, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

The Origin of Life: How much do we know?

What do we know about the origins of life? From the formation of the solar system to microbes evolving into bipedal mammals with opposable thumbs, today we will look over the four major theories about how life began.



Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Science News May 10

Today we talk about Schrödinger’s cat, mind reading with artificial intelligence, a new theory for the origin of life, how many arms the Milky Way has, a design for a new space station, a 3D printed building, 3D ink that conducts electricity, a security system that uses light flashes, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

What's next for AI?

For this video we have looked at what AI applications are currently under development and add some wild speculation about where things will be going in the near future. We want to hear your speculations, too, so let us know in the comments.



Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Science News May 3: Wave-like Dark Matter?

Today we talk about wave-like dark matter, wires that learn, the core of planet mars, why quasars ignite, a superconducting highway, fabric that changes shape and colour, chemistry on a quantum computer, the Brazil nut effect, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Is being trans a social fad among teenagers?

Should transgender teens transition? This rather personal question occupies a prominent place in the American culture war. One the one side you have people claiming that it’s a socially contagious fad among the brainwashed woke who want to mutilate your innocent children. On the other side there are those saying that it’s saving the lives of minorities who’ve been forced to stay in the closet for too long. And then there are normal people, like you and I, who think both sides are crazy and could someone please summarise the facts in simple words, which is what I’m here for.



Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Science News April 26: This could explain why the sun's corona is so hot

Today we talk about magnetic resonance imaging at record resolution, why the sun’s corona is so hot, nanoscale devices that can be reconfigured, an artificial tree that produces hydrogen from sunlight, a quantum light source on a chip, a sensor for plant health, aliens, quantum standards, and of course the telephone will ring.

Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Realistic Expectations for Quantum Computing

Quantum computing has attracted a lot of attention and much of what you read in the headlines is overhyped. But underneath the hype there's real promise. In this video I go through the applications of quantum computing that we can realistically expect -- if they ever get the devices to work...



Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Science News April 19: AI Rediscovers Einstein's Time-Dilation, Solar Flares in the Lab, A Strange Star, and More

In this week's science news we talk about artificial intelligence that rediscovered Kepler’s laws, solar flares in the laboratory, nano-surgery with tiny magnets, a candidate for a strange star, what the new JUICE spacecraft will look for, how much air pollution is avoided by nuclear power, a software that creates 3d models from 2d drawings, an estimate for how much rare earth metals the energy transition will need, and of course the telephone will ring.

Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

We Could Beam Solar Energy Down From Space. But Should We?

Solar power is a nice idea. Except for the issue with the clouds. And the nights. So, how about we instead put solar panels up in space and then beam the energy down? This futuristic idea is known as “Space Based Solar Power”. It’s been around since the 1960s, but in recent years several nations have launched projects to make it reality. I think they’re not kidding. Space-Based Solar Power is about to become a real thing. But how is it supposed to work? Is it a good idea to beam energy down from space? What are the pros and cons? That’s what we’ll talk about today.



Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Science News April 12: An Exoplanet with Magnetic Field, A New Isotope of Uranium, Quantum Spectroscopy, And More

Today we’ll talk about magnetic fields on exoplanets, a new isotope of uranium, mysterious chemicals in the atmosphere, spectroscopy with quantum effects, a new way to measure brain activity, a longevity forecast, AI glasses that can read lips, better holograms, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

I think faster than light travel is possible. Here's why.

If you've been following my channel for a really long time, you might remember that some years ago I made a video about whether faster-than-light travel is possible. I was trying to explain why the arguments saying it's impossible are inconclusive and we shouldn't throw out the possibility too quickly, but I'm afraid I didn't make my case very well. This video is a second attempt. Hopefully this time it'll come across more clearly!



Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Science News April 5

Today we’ll talk about water on the moon, space skin, quantum light, how crystals grow, mind-controlled robots, blood as fuel, nano-ink, a new projection for population growth, and of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Addicted to social media -- Is this even possible?

I recently learned there’s a new trend on social media: monk mode. It means cutting out distractions and going into self-isolation to become more productive. It’s supposedly based on science and particularly concerned with avoiding social media, because that’s addictive. But can social media really be addictive? Does the monk mode work? And what’s the science behind it? In this video, we'll sort it out.



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Science News March 29: ATLAS Checks W-Boson Anomaly, New Explanation for 'Oumuamua, Hydrogen Airplane Test Flight & More!

Today we’ll talk a new explanation for the interstellar object Oumuamua, what’s up with the W-boson anomaly, two new institutes founded by NASA, an airplane powered by hydrogen, a gigapixel 3D microscope, vaccinations without the needles, concrete that talks, nano-labels, and of course the telephone will ring.

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Collective Stupidity

When we come together in groups we can be so much more than the sum of the parts. But sometimes groups are just much more stupid. Collective stupidity is the flipside of collective intelligence, and we see it a lot on social media. Why are groups sometimes collectively stupid and sometimes not? What can we do to be more intelligent in groups? In this video I explain the most important points.



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Science News March 22

Today we’ll talk about a new comet, drone deliveries, how the hydrogen economy could actually make global warming worse, a better way to control spin qubits, modular robots that could work on the moon, soft crystals, how to turn a phone into a fluorescent microscope, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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The Race to Nuclear Fustion: Start-up Overview

In this video we survey the biggest and most interesting nuclear fusion startups which want to make nuclear fusion commercially relevant. What are the different approaches, how far along are they, and what are the pros and cons. This video has been in the works for months and it's the longest video we've made so far, almost half an hour, so I hope you have a comfortable seat!



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Science News March 15: What's Up With the New Superconductor Breakthrough?

Today we’ll talk about a potential breakthrough in room temperature superconductivity, new clues about the origin of water on Earth, the best ever model of our geological past, a recent report on academic freedom, an image of the moon taken with a meta-lens, hybrid coral reefs, a new institution dedicated to finding the origin of life in the universe, the first cross-country storage for carbon dioxide, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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I believe chatbots partly understand what they chat about. Let me explain.

I used to think that today's so-called "artificial intelligences" are actually pretty dumb. But I've recently changed my mind. In this video I want to explain why I think that they do understand some of what they do, if not very much. And since I was already freely speculating, I have added some thoughts about how the situation with AIs is going to develop.



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Science News March 8: A new LHC anomaly

Today we’ll talk about a new LHC anomaly, wakefield acceleration, nuclear fusion progress, how to look around corners in augmented reality, the largest magnetic fields we’ve ever seen, engineers who have designed better wood, birds that change their colour, metamaterials that guide robots, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Marijuana: Legalize or not?

In this video we have collected all you need to know about cannabis and marijuana. What are the risks and benefits of marijuana? Is it a good idea to legalize it? We go through the pros and cons.



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Webb finds galaxies too big to exist. Science News March 1

Today we’ll talk about computers made of human brain cells, galaxies that are too big to exist, how the Brits prevented a global chocolate disaster, what the Milky Way’s black hole is having for dinner, how to get radioactive compounds out of water, an impossibly efficient light sensor, better lithium-air batteries, Google’s second milestone on the way to quantum computing, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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An Air Condition for the Planet: How Could It Work?

All power plants create waste heat that contributes to global warming. At the moment, the contribution is fairly small, but if mankind flourishes it is bound to increase and eventually it will become a problem. The only thing we an do about it is to build an air condition for the planet. Scientists have come up with some ideas how to address the problem that I hope you will find entertaining.



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Is Dark Energy Made of Black Holes? Science News Feb 22

Today we’ll talk about whether dark energy is made of black holes, four types of solar systems, exoboots, whether banning short-haul flights makes sense, 3D printing with sound, smart contact lenses, how copper makes fuel, a new method to extract carbon dioxide from seawater, and of course the telephone will ring.

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The Untapped Potential of Geothermal Energy

There is a lot of energy right under our feet, a relic from Earth's hot past as a ball of plasma. But how much can geothermal energy realistically do for us? What technologies are currently being pursued, what are the risks, and is it even carbon neutral? In this video we have collected all the relevant facts and numbers for you.



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Science News Feb 15

Today we’ll talk about a mysterious laser beam over Hawaii, brain scans in court, a link between quantum chips, self-flying airplanes, better sensors for self-driving cars, how to weave a message into your sweater, the durability of solar panels, and of course the telephone will ring.

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What's going wrong in particle physics?

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Science News Feb 8: Germany Wants to Bring Back Direct Current

Today we’ll talk about how to look inside a nuclear reactor with muons, eight new signals that came up in a search for extra-terrestrial intelligence, why Germany wants to bring back direct current, the plausibility of climate goals, what air pollution does to your brain, how to stab a potato with paper, a scalable quantum simulator, a glass sphere that imitates the sun, true stories that are more engaging than false stories, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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How the Greenhouse Effect Really Works

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Science News Feb 1: What's Up With Earth's Core? A Quantum Computer folds a Mini-Protein. NASA's Nuclear Rocket, and More

Today we’ll talk about changes in the Earth’s core, a quantum computer that folds a mini-protein, radioactive water that the Japanese want to dump into the ocean, NASA’s plans for a nuclear rocket and a transonic plane, how to send data without power, recovering signals from noise, light pollution, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Genetic Screening: Risk and Benefits

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Science News Jan 25

Today we’ll talk about advances in room temperature superconductivity, greenwashing and carbon capture, an experiment that sheds light on the mystery of cosmic magnetic fields, a robot arm with a needle, a camera with only one pixel, the supposedly coming age of clean technology, better phone memory, why rats might not have brought the plague after all, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Can the Gulf Stream Collapse?

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The Trouble(s) With Hydrogen

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Science News Jan 18

Today we’ll talk about climate engineering, quantum computers, how to tell a nuclear bomb from TNT, what an atom really looks like, random keys from cosmic rays, who is filing the most patents and on what, climate labels for food, a tractor beam that didn’t quite live up to my expectations. And of course, the telephone will ring.

Transcript, references, and discussion on Patreon.

Science News Jan 11

In today's episode we will talk about an anomaly in particle physics that disappeared and an anomaly in cosmology that was confirmed. Then we have some amazing footage from the surface of the sun, disks that defeat the second law of thermodynamics, we learn how you can see something without looking at it, talk about a new method of cooling, the demise of science, the technology of 6G, what offshore windfarms do to marine life, and of course, the telephone will ring.

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Can Time Really Slow Down?

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