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Particles of Thought

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Science Astronomy

Latest episode

34 episodes

What Exactly Is a Law of Nature? | Robert Hazen & Michael Wong
11/2/2026 | 2 mins.
What’s the difference between a fact, a law, and a theory? Mineralogist Robert Hazen and astrobiologist Michael Wong unpack the hierarchy of scientific ideas and reveal how laws of nature elegantly unify the universe.
For more, check out the extended interview with Robert Hazen and Michael Wong.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
How Many Microbes Live on Earth? | Peter Girguis
04/2/2026 | 1 mins.
Sorry, Beyoncé, it turns out microbes rule the world. Microbiologist Peter Girguis explains how to conceptualize just how many microbes are on Earth… and how understanding this helps us look for life on other worlds.
For more, check out the extended interview with Peter Girguis.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Why Tropical Trees Don’t Have Rings | Kirk Johnson
28/1/2026 | 1 mins.
Growth rings on trees can measure time, allowing scientists to date things from the deep past. But, paleobotantist Dr. Kirk Johnson explains why, in the tropics, some trees have no rings.
For more, check out the extended interview with Kirk Johnson.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
How Weight Loss Drugs Were Inspired by Gila Monsters | Sean B. Carroll
21/1/2026 | 5 mins.
Nature has been solving problems for billions of years. Evolutionary biologist Sean B. Carroll reveals why scientists still turn to evolution’s inventions for life-saving breakthroughs, from GLP-1 drugs to statins.
For more, check out the extended interview with Sean B. Carroll.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
De-Extincted” Dire Wolf Pups Are Growing Up | Beth Shapiro
14/1/2026 | 1 mins.
In 2024, scientists claimed they achieved the unthinkable: the birth of dire wolf pups, reviving a species that vanished thousands of years ago. Now, those pups are growing—and changing. Evolutionary biologist Beth Shapiro reveals what it’s like to watch these predators mature into modern beasts.
For more, check out the extended interview with Beth Shapiro.
Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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About Particles of Thought

Particles of Thought from the producers of NOVA unleashes the universe's biggest questions through the lens of astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi and the world's most brilliant scientific minds. Should we resurrect extinct species? Are we blind to a fundamental force of nature? What secrets do ancient fossils reveal about humanity's destiny? Across 10 mind-bending episodes, each conversation dives deep into the discoveries that shatter assumptions, spark wonder, and completely transform how you understand reality. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Science Astronomy