Episodes

  • #25 Matt O'Dowd - PBS Spacetime, Science on YouTube, Quasars
    Sep 6 2025
    Use code coolworldspodcast at https://incogni.com/coolworldspodcast to get an exclusive 60% off. In this week's episode, David is joined by Matt O'Dowd, Professor of Physics at Lehman College, CUNY. Matt is the host of the phenomenally successful PBS Spacetime show and an avid communicator of science. To support this podcast and our research lab, head to https://coolworldslab.com/support Cool Worlds Podcast Theme by Hill [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hdkvBtRdOW4SPsnxCXOjK]
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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • #24 Colin Hill - Modern Cosmology, Hubble Tension, Exotic Physics
    Aug 8 2025

    In this week's episode, David is joined by Colin Hill, Professor of Physics at Columbia University. Colin is a world renowned expert working at the cutting edge of modern cosmology, giving us the opportunity to do a deep dive into the state of the field.

    To support this podcast and our research lab, head to https://coolworldslab.com/support

    Cool Worlds Podcast Theme by Hill [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hdkvBtRdOW4SPsnxCXOjK]

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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • #23 Geraint Lewis - Fine-Tuning, Multiverse, Cosmological Tensions
    Jun 26 2025

    In this week's episode, David is joined by Geraint Lewis, Professor of Astrophysics at Sydney University. Geraint is a proponent of the fine-tuning argument as evidence for a multiverse and has authored a book on the topic "A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos" [https://shorturl.at/xLyak].

    To support this podcast and our research lab, head to https://coolworldslab.com/support

    Cool Worlds Podcast Theme by Hill [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hdkvBtRdOW4SPsnxCXOjK]

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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • #22 Sara Walker - Origin of Life, Assembly Theory, Biosignatures
    May 18 2025

    In this week's episode, David is joined by Sara Imari Walker, Professor of Earth & Space Exploration at the Arizona State University. Prof Walker has spent the last few years developing a new concept in astrobiology known as assembly theory, which we explore in this episode.

    To support this podcast and our research lab, head to https://coolworldslab.com/support

    Cool Worlds Podcast Theme by Hill [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hdkvBtRdOW4SPsnxCXOjK]

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • #21 Edwin Kite - Early Mars, Terraforming/Settling Mars
    Apr 25 2025

    In this week's episode, David is joined by Edwin Kite, Professor of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago. Prof Kite is a Participating Scientist for the NASA Curiosity Rover and has devoted much of his career to the study of Mars' evolution and fate.

    To support this podcast and our research lab, head to https://coolworldslab.com/support

    Cool Worlds Podcast Theme by Hill [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hdkvBtRdOW4SPsnxCXOjK]

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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • #20 Natalie Batalha - Kepler Mission, Exoplanets with JWST, Future Imagers
    Mar 12 2025

    Use code coolworldspodcast at https://incogni.com/coolworldspodcast to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan.

    In this week's episode, David is joined by Natalie Batalha, Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz. Prof Batalha was one of the leaders of the historic NASA Kepler Mission which discovered the majority of known exoplanets, and in 2017 was one of the Time 100 most influential people.

    To support this podcast and our research lab, head to https://coolworldslab.com/support Cool Worlds Podcast Theme by Hill [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hdkvBtRdOW4SPsnxCXOjK]

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    1 hr
  • #19 Brian Keating - Inflation, B Modes and Losing the Nobel Prize
    Feb 8 2025

    Use code coolworldspodcast at https://incogni.com/coolworldspodcast to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan.

    In this week's episode, David is joined by Brian Keating, host of the Into the Impossible Podcast, Professor of Cosmology at UC San Diego and popular science book author.

    To support this podcast and our research lab, head to https://coolworldslab.com/support Cool Worlds Podcast Theme by Hill [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hdkvBtRdOW4SPsnxCXOjK]

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    1 hr and 53 mins
  • #18 Nick Searra - Alien Communication, Golden Record, Future Relics
    Jan 15 2025

    Use code coolworldspodcast at https://incogni.com/coolworldspodcast to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan. In this week's episode, David is joined by Nick Searra, Founder and Executive Directory of the Interstellar Foundation (https://www.interstellarfoundation.com/). The Interstellar Foundation is building updated versions of the Golden Record for the new space age - physical data storage devices that will be attached to spacecraft to serve as a record of humanity's knowledge and an attempt at alien communication through deep time.

    To support this podcast and our research lab, head to https://coolworldslab.com/support

    Cool Worlds Podcast Theme by Hill [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hdkvBtRdOW4SPsnxCXOjK]

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    1 hr and 15 mins