The Hyperthesis

Join the Hyperthesis Podcast as we celebrate a very special milestone - EPISODE 100! To account for a century of episodes, the Hyperthesis team have decided to change things up in this extended episode by recording our audio and video so you can watch the episode unfold. We start the episode with Liam discussing a recent analogue gravity conference he attended at the University of Nottingham, prompting him to reflect back on the first episode of the podcast. Liam discusses how his relationship with his research field has changed since our first episode, and we all chat about how we have changed in the almost three years of this podcast. We take part in answering some fun physics-based questions, and to add to the visual aspect (make sure to check out the video linked below), test ourselves in identifying AI-made images. We discuss some statistics for the show and the logistics behind recording before discussing what is in the future for us. Patrick tells a story about the measurement system that relates to 100 and we make an announcement at the end of the show, so make sure to listen to this extended episode!

Join the Hyperthesis crew in episode 99 as we talk about our experiences and thoughts on data visualization in science: how we portray data, equations, and reality versus imagination. Before delving into that, Patrick leads the episode by discussing a paper about the cycling science and lifetimes of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. Liam ends the episode with a brief history of simulation, which surprisingly dates all the way back to the year 1777.

Join the Hyperthesis team as we return to an episode without a special guest to discuss some interesting scientific phenomena. We begin the episode with a discussion around squeaking or barking sand and how little is known about how this phenomena happens. If you're interested in funding research about this, please let us know! Our main topic today focuses on the field of spectroscopy and how light interacts with matter. Spectroscopy is applied ubiquitously throughout various fields of science. It is an extremely useful method to probe properties of matter. We discuss the principles behind spectroscopy, and we explore its many applications. We end our episode with the story of the life of Lord Rayleigh who discovered the mechanism that explains why the sky is blue.

Welcome to episode 97 of the Hyperthesis where we discuss all things dark matter and physics education with Jon Clarke. Jon Clarke is a PhD student at Queen's University where he is working with the NEWS-G dark matter detector, analyzing data from the latest experimental runs. Before starting his PhD, Jon taught high school physics in the UK before providing training for a total of 300 high school physics teachers. Before we delve into Jon's work, the introduction topic touches on some new findings from the Euclid Dark Matter space telescope. Patrick ends the episode with a story about Vera Rubin, whose research is a foundation of dark matter research.

Have questions for our guest? Send Jon an email at jon.clarke@queensu.ca.

Listen to more about dark matter and the NEWS-G experiment:

Join us for this episode of the Hyperthesis as we delve into the world of the body and the small with our guest, Dr. Matt Campea. Currently working as a Scientific Specialist with Cytiva, we delve into his current work on customizable nanoparticles and previous research on drug-loaded nanoparticles. This includes developing improved methods to help with cancers, schizophrenia, and other challenging diseases. Before then, Liam discusses a new technique for drug delivery using injectable drug-containing gels whose release can be controlled through shape and composition instead of more invasive methods. Patrick ends the episode with the story about a history of people making small things.

Find Matt on various social media, and message him on Instagram.

In this episode of the Hyperthesis, we welcome Monika Azmanska, a PhD student at McMaster University working with Dr. Pat Clancy. Monika's research focuses on experimental condensed matter physics, where she examines the electronic and magnetic properties of quantum materials using neutron and x-ray scattering. We discuss what a quantum material is and delve into photonics and hydrogen storage. We start the episode discussing a new experiment that measured the size of a neutrino, and end it with a story about the father of quantum mechanics, Werner Heisenberg.

Join the Hyperthesis team as we welcome Dr. Hamza Khattak as our guest. To start, we discuss a paper which heavily cites work done by Dr. Khattak with his work on grapes in a microwave. We delve a bit into his past research, which made headlines and was featured in a variety of science communication media. We then explore the diverse work that Dr. Khattak does as a research associate at MacMaster University. His research includes soft matter systems, thin films, microdroplets, and generally poking things in new ways and trying to explain what happens. We end with a story about the history of fluid mechanics, exploring how intuitive ideas are actually quite complex.

The Hyperthesis team rings in the new year with looking at what happened in 2024. We first discuss our own research journeys in 2024, highlighting some major events and milestones. We then discuss our plans for 2025, including working to finish our PhDs. We then turn to major stories in science from 2024, highlighting some interesting stories and research from each month. We delve into everything from probes touching the Sun to mapping the brain, and many things in between.

Learn more about solar eclipses and what it's like to experience them:

In this episode, we welcome our special guest Abhishake Goyal. Abhishake is a PhD candidate in the Laboratory of Organic Photonics and Iontronics at Queen's university. His work focuses on the development and fabrication of semiconductor devices. The novel method they develop opens door to tunable photonic devices. We delve into the principles of semiconductors and the manufacturing processes used in his lab. Abhishake walks us through his day-to-day in the lab, being a father while doing graduate school, and his experience working in various parts of the world. On the topic of photons, in the introduction, we discuss an article on the first ever image of the shape of a single photon. We end the episode with the story of the life of Sir Charles Kuen Kao, the pioneer of fiber optics and the technology that led to the Internet.

Article on shape of single photon:

Join Liam, Pheely, and Patrick as we welcome Duncan Osmond to Hyperthesis. Duncan is currently a Systems Engineer with the Naval Engineering Test Establishment, but has a background in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) research. While we briefly touch on the open part of his current work, we delve deeper into MR and his research at the University of New Brunswick. Before then, Patrick talks about the inspiring and extreme field research conducted by Dr. Russell Schnell, along with new findings about how much carbon the ocean can store. Pheely ends off the episode with a story about the failed Zumwalt class destroyers of the United States of America Navy.

Join the Hyperthesis team as we venture into the realm of quantum mechanics by discussing Berry phases and the Aharanov-Bohm Effect. We break down these complex concepts and talk about their impact on quantum mechanics in general. Before then, we discuss new results from research on creating new elements in a science-based version of alchemy. Finally, we end off the episode discussing the life of David Bohm, who was a famous physicist who had a big involvement in philosophy and the Manhattan Project (without actually being a part of the Manhattan Project).

Welcome to the Hyperthesis, where this week, we welcome special guest Billy Sievers. Billy is a Ph.D Student at McMaster University studying self-intersecting surfaces inside black holes and connections to quantum gravity. Before we dive into his research (and get a fun quiz on dimensions), Liam tells us about a trinary black hole system and it's discovery and chaos. Patrick ends the episode with a cosmology-adjacent person, Hendrik Lorentz.

Join Patrick, Pheely, Liam, and special guest Jean-Marie Coquillat as we explore the depths of dark matter detection. After discussing the current state of the art of dark matter detectors at SNOLAB, we speak with Jean-Marie about his current research on the NEWS-G dark matter detector. Jean-Marie speaks about how the detector operates and how he is working on rejecting background noise the limits of dark matter detection are pushed. He also delves into other research related to his current PhD research at Queen's University. Finally, Liam ends the episode with a story about the driving force behind SNOLAB, Canadian Nobel Laureate Dr. Arthur B. McDonald.

Celebrate with the Hyperthesis as we discuss the Nobel Prizes awarded in Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine and Physiology for 2024. We delve into the meaning and controversy behind the prizes, especially discussing the foundations of AI. Before then, we discuss the history-making landing performed by SpaceX as they caught part of the largest rocket ever as it landed back on Earth. We mention the Ig-Nobel prize before providing a brief history of the Physics Nobel prize winners, John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton.

Join Patrick, Pheely, and Liam as we recap our summer of research as we start our seventh season of the Hyperthesis. We provide updates about our summer, going a little bit in depth from everything we did. This includes using dams as inspiration for ultracold atom theory, creating digital twins of forests, and talking about the publication from some of our hosts and past guests. We end the episode with an update from the world of science over the summer.

Join the Hyperthesis team as we wrap up our sixth season for a summer break filled with research and travel. To start, we discuss a publication put out by Pheely based on work done during his Master's degree. He goes into the intricacies of clustering and the idea of no free lunch as he examines trade-offs of clustering and avoiding clustering. As we segue into our main topic, we discuss the details around the scientific method and how it differs from what people are taught. We also delve into the philosophy surrounding creating hypothesis and theories, and how we know where to start doing research. Finally, Liam ends with a story on Unruh and his discovery of analogue gravity.

Join the Pheely, Liam, and Patrick for episode 82 of The Hyperthesis podcast! In this episode we discuss the field of Quantum biology which proposes that certain functions in living organisms may only be explained through quantum mechanics. Some particular examples that are covered include our sense of vision and smell, enzyme catalysis inside of the cells of organisms, and the ability for birds to detect magnetic fields through quantum entanglement. Before this, we discuss a paper that studies raisin dynamics in a carbonated beverage (yes, we know this sounds weird), and after we end the episode with some history about biological taxonomy.

Join the Pheely, Liam, and Patrick as they welcome Dr. Jonathon Riddell to the show. Johnathon is a quantum many-body physicist at the University of Birmingham in the UK who studies the foundations of statistical mechanics. We dive into everything from thermalization and quantum many bodies to how chaotic systems can be described as we explore the complex research involved in Jonathon's work. Before then, Pheely looks at aging in glass and Patrick ends the episode with the history of thermodynamics.

Join us for the 80th episode of the Hyperthesis as we discuss everything from spectroscopy and water walkers to a poem about spectres. Patrick talks about a spectroscopy conference he attended recently while Liam discusses a paper about bugs on top of water and how that relates to micro plastics. Finally, Pheely sends us off with some etymology and a poem.

Join the Hyperthesis team (including Patrick this time) as we welcome our guest David Eliot, a PhD student at the University of Ottawa. David researches the social impact of artificial intelligence along with the idea of a data economy. We discuss the intricacies of what is needed to train popular AI models while also touching on the social aspects of using AI programs and how our data is used. Before then, we discuss the use of machine learning in spectral imaging and end with a story about the history of research in AI.

Join the Hyperthesis team as we discuss the upcoming total solar eclipse of 2024 in Ontario. Patrick is on a journey to see this once a lifetime event which he will be flying in from Alberta! We start this episode off by discussing putting astronomical instruments to orbit around the moon, rather than around the earth. Then we talk about how an eclipse works, and how rare the total solar eclipses are. Solar eclipses allow us to study the sun in a different way, with the assist from our very moon. We end the episode with the story of the Battle of the Eclipse during ancient Greek era.

Join the Hyperthesis team as we welcome Dr. Austin Farrell, an optometrist based out of British Columbia. Before we delve into the biology and physics of the eye, we discuss new research around a spiral lens that could replace progressive lenses with a superior design with multiple foci. For our main topic, we discuss all things optometry with Austin . Finally, we end the story with a brief history of optics and how we've learned what we know about light and its interactions with matter.

Join the Hyperthesis team as we explore the depths of communication and the universe. To start us off, Liam introduces a theory that simulates the non-existence of dark matter and shows promise in maybe replacing it. As our main topic, we discuss a variety of ideas behind communication, include a glimpse into the past, how our current radio communication technologies function, and what the future of communication may look like. Finally, we end with a brief history of communication and the possible inventor of radio, Guglielmo Marconi.

Join the Hyperthesis team for this continuously evolving episode on evolution. To start off the topic, Pheely describes genetic algorithms and how they function. These algorithms mimic genetic evolution by taking into account mutations, cross over, and other ideas pulled directly from the theory of evolution. Speaking of which, our main topic details the history and theory behind evolution, the concept that explains the vast biodiversity on the planet. Finally, Liam finishes the episode with a brief history of biophysics.

Join Liam, Pheely, and Patrick as we welcome Nathan Eddy, a PhD student at Queen's University studying the limits of atomic thickness for nanomaterials using mechanical oscillators. Before we delve into the exciting world of very cold nanomaterials, we discuss the powerful properties of aerogels which act as incredible insulators. To wrap up the episode, Liam tells us about the history of nanotechnology.

Join the Hyperthesis team as we begin our sixth season with episode 71! In this episode, we have Dr. Wyatt Kirkby, a physicist specializing in quantum many-body systems and exotic phases of matter and their dynamics. We delve deep into his work as he works to set up a lab looking at some of the coolest matter on Earth (literally). Before then, Liam discusses the idea of second sounds, while Patrick wraps up the episode with a brief history of Paul Dirac.

Join the Patrick, Pheely, and Liam for episode 70 of the Hyperthesis. In our season 5 finale, we discuss everything from supersolids to publishing and accessing the scientific body of knowledge. As an introduction, Liam discusses the idea of supersolids, quantum mechanical wonders that are both a solid and a superfluid at the same time, which means they do not have friction. In our main topic, we discuss the methods and thoughts behind science publications and adding to the body of knowledge, from pre-prints to highly regarded journals, the process can be complex and has a lot of history. Finally, we end with a tale about the publication of Newton's Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.

Join us as we welcome our guest David Kunar! David is a PhD candidate at Queen's University studying in the Crystalline Material Chemistry Group. His research focuses on the development of a more affordable semiconductor used for ionizing radiation detection. David also delves into the chemistry and engineering of his methods, and just how these materials actually work. Before then, Patrick talks about the unknowns of hail while Pheely ends the episode with a story about a new saviour for tanks.

Today's tasty episode of the Hyperthesis focuses on the science of food and cooking. Join us as we discuss the physics of breakfast and answer important questions like how can you avoid spilling your coffee and why should you hit your toast? Before then, we discuss the physics of frying and just what happens when water meets hot oil. Finally, we discuss a bit of biology as we journey through the digestive system, a 10 metre long track of terror (for food at least).

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Join the Hyperthesis team as we ring in the new year with exciting topics, covering the physics of champagne (but not the resulting drunkard's walk), along with quantum computers and the first computer programs written. We start with a recent pre-publication that simulates how Champagne corks are popped, and the quick and chilling solution might surprise you. Next, we delve deep into the quantum realm by discussing how quantum computers function and what they can be used for. Finally, we wrap up the episode with the life, times, and controversy of Ada Lovelace, one of the first computer mathematicians.

Just in time for the start of Northern hemisphere winter, join the Hyperthesis team as we delve into the science of the season. We start our episode by talking about if the Christmas (or any other holiday) spirit exists and how it was possibly measured using fMRI. Falling into our main topic, Liam takes us through the work of Dr. Ken Libbrecht and the (magical) formation of snowflakes. Finally, Pheely provides a solution for Santa to make sure only the good kids can read the books he gives, leaving the bad kids in a quantum conundrum.

Lasers! Now that we have your attention, welcome to this episode of the Hyperthesis. Join Liam, Pheely, Patrick and our guest Troy Allen who discusses his research on laser welding. This up and coming method has many complexities, and Troy delves deep into how we can take live measurements of laser welds to improve performance and quality. Keeping with the theme of lasers, we discuss a recent paper simulating extremely short but powerful laser pulses and how they can be created with plasma. Finally, we end the episode talking about Theodore Maiman, the inventor of the laser.

Questions for Troy? Contact us!

Question, comments, concerns? Interested in being a guest on our show? Send us an email: hyperthesispodcast@gmail.com

Join the Hyperthesis team as we welcome our guest Hannah Krivic. Hannah is a PhD student at McMaster University studying biological membranes and protein dynamics. Her research focuses on using red blood cell membranes to deliver molecules to different parts of the body. Before speaking with Hannah, we discuss the controversial physics of curling with our curling expert Patrick. Liam wraps up this episode about biophysics by giving an overview of the circulatory system.

Reach out to Hannah here: krivich@mcmaster.ca

Join our stirring episode of the Hyperthesis as we discuss vortices, the atmosphere, and the legendary Edmund Halley. Liam starts us out with a fun paper that discusses the effect of swirling water in a bottle on its bounce height. Afterwards, Patrick guides us through some complexities of the atmosphere, discussing large scale phenomena from the Polar Vortex to the El Nino Southern Oscillation. Finally, Pheely discusses the life and times of Edmund Halley, for whom Halley's comet is named after.