Explain that Stuff

Chris Woodford

Welcome to Explain that Stuff... in podcast form! Yes, by popular request, an audio version of the easy-to-understand science website you can listen to round the house or on the move. We cover the basics of how things work, cutting-edge science, cool gadgets, and computers. Unlike other websites, the emphasis is on explaining things simply and clearly so you can actually understand them. Not masses of facts and unnecessary details. Just clear, simple explanation. We teach stuff the way a teacher would, by building out from what you know already. Please subscribe and stay tuned... read less

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Getting down with gravity!

Getting down with gravity!

Can you feel the force? Maybe it's gravity - the tingling attraction between everything in the Universe and everything else. Where does it come from? What causes it? How near are we to understanding it?

Episodes

Getting down with gravity!

Getting down with gravity!

Can you feel the force? Maybe it's gravity - the tingling attraction between everything in the Universe and everything else. Where does it come from? What causes it? How near are we to understanding it?

The Internet and the Brain

The Internet and the Brain

From anatomy to abnormality, we compare nature's finest marvel (the human brain) with the best that humans have so far produced (the electronic computer). How are they similar and how are they different? Is the Net becoming increasingly brain-like? Will it ever become conscious and self-aware?

Nuclear fusion - making power from smashing atoms

Nuclear fusion - making power from smashing atoms

Nuclear power plants make about 10 percent of the world's energy by splitting atoms apart, but they have a very mixed history. So what about nuclear fusion, a better kind of nuclear power, that joins atoms together? We explain how it works... and look at whether it can deliver enough power to solve the energy crisis and climate change.

Alphabet to Internet - a brief history of communication

Alphabet to Internet - a brief history of communication

From the alphabet to the Internet, enjoy a 10,000-year, whistle-stop tour through the whole history of human communication!

Artificial intelligence - a simple introduction

Artificial intelligence - a simple introduction

What is intelligence and, if it's such an essential part of being human, can we ever really hope to build an "intelligent machine"? What are the different kinds of AI? What's the difference between old-style AI and new-style machine learning? How will we know when we've built a machine that is truly intelligent?

What is science and why does it matter?

What is science and why does it matter?

Science seems our best hope for making sense of the world - and ourselves - but what makes it a better bet than, say, art or religion. What exactly *is* science, anyway? What makes a scientific theory and how do you prove or disprove one? How did science evolve through the ages and where's it heading next?

Whistling down the wind - a simple intro to aerodynamics

Whistling down the wind - a simple intro to aerodynamics

Why can't you blow dust off a bookshelf? Why are wind turbines so high? Why does coffee spill when you pour it and barges bang together? Find the answers in our easy-to-understand intro to aerodynamics!

Welcome to Explain that Stuff

Welcome to Explain that Stuff

A two-minute introduction to the podcast!