The universe is out there, waiting for you to discover it.
Our mission: to answer, scientifically, the biggest questions of all.
- What is our universe made of?
- How did it become the way it is today?
- Where did everything come from?
- What is the ultimate fate of the cosmos?
For countless generations, these were questions without resolutions. Now, for the first time in history, we have scientific answers. Starts With A Bang, written by Dr. Ethan Siegel, brings these stories — of what we know and how we know it — directly to you.
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Nuclear fusion explained
Why power generated through nuclear fusion will be the future, but not the present, solution to humanity’s energy needs.
It’s a strange idea to consider: that a tiny building block of matter, the atomic nucleus, holds the greatest potential for energy release.
And yet, it’s true; while electron transitions in atoms or molecules typically release energy on the order of ~1 electron-Volt, nuclear transitions between different configurations release energies a million times as great, on the order of ~1 Mega-electron-Volt.
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The Universe is already in its sixth and final era
From before the Big Bang to the present day, the Universe goes through many eras. Dark energy heralds the final one.
This is why physicists suspect the Multiverse very likely exists
A wild, compelling idea without a direct, practical test, the Multiverse is highly controversial. But its supporting pillars sure are stable.
The red color of Mars is only inches deep
The surface and atmosphere is colored by ferric oxides. Beneath a very thin layer, mere millimeters deep in places, it’s not red anymore.
Record-breaking supernova manages to “X-ray” the entire Universe
The first supernova ever discovered through its X-rays has an enormously powerful engine at its core. It’s unlike anything ever seen.
Does the expansion of the Universe break the speed of light?
Just 13.8 billion years after the hot Big Bang, we can see 46.1 billion light-years away in all directions. Doesn’t that violate…something?
All Stories
Laser energy will never exceed this ultimate limit
Amplifying the energy within a laser, over and over, won't get you an infinite amount of energy. There's a fundamental limit due to physics.
Why the Moon’s two faces are so different
The far side of the Moon is incredibly different from the Earth-facing side. 63 years later, we know why the Moon's faces are not alike.
The fundamental problem with gravity and quantum physics
We have two descriptions of the Universe that work perfectly well: General Relativity and quantum physics. Too bad they don't work together.
The biggest challenges of redirecting a killer asteroid
Sooner or later, Earth is going to be hit by a large enough space object to cause significant damage to humanity. Stopping them isn't easy.
Ask Ethan: Why does nature obey laws at all?
No matter what physical system we consider, nature always obeys the same fundamental laws. Must it be this way, and if so, why?
Neptune has rings — and you can clearly see them in JWST’s amazing new images
The James Webb Space Telescope viewed Neptune, our Solar System's final planet, for the first time. Here's what we saw, and what it means.
What does Earth look like from across the Universe?
From here on Earth, looking farther away in space means looking farther back in time. So what are distant Earth-watchers seeing right now?
Why Johannes Kepler is a scientist’s best role model
When people pick the greatest scientist of all-time, Newton and Einstein always come up. Perhaps they should name Johannes Kepler, instead.
Why “organics on Mars” is meaningless for life
Yes, NASA's Perseverance rover found organics on Mars. So did Curiosity. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean anything in the search for life.
Ask Ethan: Where does quantum uncertainty come from?
No matter how good our measurement devices get, certain quantum properties always possess an inherent uncertainty. Can we figure out why?
Saturn’s rings finally explained after more than 400 years
Since the time of Galileo, Saturn's rings have remained an unexplained mystery. A new idea may have finally solved the longstanding puzzle.
Why black holes spin at nearly the speed of light
Black holes aren't just the densest masses in the Universe, but they also spin the fastest of all massive objects. Here's why it must be so.
70-year-old quantum prediction comes true, as something is created from nothing
In our common experience, you can't get something for nothing. In the quantum realm, something really can emerge from nothing.
Highlights from James Webb’s first two months of science operations
The first set of James Webb's images blew us all away. In just 2 mere months, it's seen highlights that no one could have predicted.
Starts With A Bang Podcast #85 – Planetary Formation
As recently as 1990, we didn't know of any planets beyond our Solar System. Today, with 5000+, we're deep into the weeds of how they form.
Ask Ethan: How do fundamental particles create consciousness?
At a fundamental level, only a few particles and forces govern all of reality. How do their combinations create human consciousness?
Why Mercury enters retrograde — and it has nothing to do with your personality
No planet enters retrograde more frequently than Mercury, which does so 3-4 times each year. Here’s the scientific explanation for why.
How quantum levitation works
With the right material at the right temperature and a magnetic track, physics really does allow perpetual motion without energy loss.
Aliens, SETI, and the legacy of Frank Drake: 1930-2022
Remembering Frank Drake, who transformed the search for alien life & extraterrestrial intelligence into a full-fledged scientific endeavor.
Ask Ethan: How do telescopes look back in time?
Einstein's relativity teaches us that time isn't absolute, but passes relatively for everyone. So how do telescopes see back through time?
1.7 billion years ago, Earth had a natural nuclear reactor
Planets can create nuclear power on their own, naturally, without any intelligence or technology. Earth already did: 1.7 billion years ago.
What will humanity’s legacy to the Universe be?
The last 70 years have taken us farther than the previous 70,000. But can we accomplish more than creating a record saying, "We were here?"
The biggest difference between physics and mathematics
If you can model anything in the Universe with an equation, mathematics is how you get the solution(s). Physics must go a step further.
5 consensus ideas in astronomy that might soon be overturned
From black holes to dark energy to chances for life in the Universe, our cosmic journey to understand it all is just getting started.
Ask Ethan: Has the JWST disproven the Big Bang?
No. No no no. Just... no. The JWST has truly blown our scientific minds, but it's a pure crackpot idea that the Big Bang is now disproven.
Can science ever discover the absolute truth about reality?
Is science absolute? Its truths and discoveries guide us toward the nature of reality, but we must always remain open-minded to revisions.
The Big Bang no longer means what it used to
As we gain new knowledge, our scientific picture of how the Universe works must evolve. This is a feature of the Big Bang, not a bug.
Without Einstein, we might have missed General Relativity
Einstein's "happiest thought" led to General Relativity's formulation. Would a different profound insight have led us forever astray?
This logarithmic view of the Universe will blow your mind
As we look to larger cosmic scales, we get a broader view of the expansive cosmic forest, eventually revealing the grandest views of all.
Starts With A Bang Podcast #84 – Cosmological Mysteries
Our model of the Universe, dominated by dark matter and dark energy, explains almost everything we see. Almost. Here's what remains.